Card Collection Survey - Sorting / Storing / Collecting

[SimpleHiker]

I was wondering how other players deal with there cards. What cards to you buy, keep, and collect. How do you sort and store them? How do you keep track of your collection? Do you trade, if so how? Guess it is easiest if broken down into several topics:

A)
What cards do you collect and save?
Only the T1 cards your currently playing with? T1 and other format cards? A large or small pool of usable cards? Collect sets or card that interest you?

B)
How is you collection sorted and stored?
Do you use binders or boxes? Sorted by set, color or play environment?

C)
How do you keep track of your cards?
Collections pretty small keep track of it in your head? Computer spread sheets, database or other program? Note book? What about cards your collecting for sets?

D)
Do you trade and if you do how?
How do you set up your trade binder? Do you trade online? Picky trader? Trade in only T1 or also in other formats cards?

F)
What environments do you play in?
T1, 5-color, Type 4, Highlander, T2 etc?

G)
How do you acquiring cards?
Buy boxes, singles, draft, trade. Where stores, ebay, online?


I figure this will be a nice way to share hints and tips on dealing with the huge mass of cards I have accumulated over the years.

SH

----- Posts Merged -Zherbus -----

My answers-

A)
I collect and try to build sets from Alpha - Masques currently. Also collect broad range of any T1 playable cards. Also interest in 5-color and highlander. I do admit to having a strange fetish for MTG pre-made crap such as box sets, and older precon and champ decks, the are great fun to play casually.

B)
I have a binder of Type 1 cards sorted by color. Then my cards are divided in binders by set then color. Example: You could pick up the Arabian Nights book then flip to the red cards which are then sorted alphabetically. The T1 binder takes priority. I also have a big trade binder full of crap.

C)
I keep track of my sets by using excel spread sheets. It took a long ass time to make these sheets then sort out all my cards.  I can look at my sheets and see how many of the card I have, if it's in the set binder or t1 binder.
I keep track of my t1 binder in my head, I also keep a little notebook of cards I want to pick up for decks and there ebay prices, if they are expensive.

D)
I do keep a trade binder but I do not trade much. Most players in my area are T2 and I don't buy any new cards. I am hoping that Legacy picks up as more of a official DCI event for PTQ and such. I do get a little more trade action now because of extended season. I have a MOTL account but usually only buy singles from other people.

F)
T1, 5-color, Highlander

G)
Buy singles from ebay, motl and real stores.

[AceOfJacks]

A)
What cards do you collect and save?
Only the T1 cards your currently playing with? T1 and other format cards? A large or small pool of usable cards? Collect sets or card that interest you?

Mostly T1, some Extended and Type 2 ... mostly because of friends.  they play other formats, while I prefer casual T1.  I try to get sets of some cards, while I usually try to get at least the amount I require for a deck.  Once I get the ones I need for the decks, then I don't worry as much about finishing the set unless I don't need anything else the trading person has to offer.
I also collect random cards for fun.  For example, I have 82 copies of Mistform Ultimus.  1 Foil -_-

B)
How is you collection sorted and stored?
Do you use binders or boxes? Sorted by set, color or play environment?

Binders for rares, T4 Stack in a box(I just started, and I'm using a wierd card pool for T4, so it's less than 300 cards), all commons and uncommons are at a friends house, where he mantains them.

C)
How do you keep track of your cards?
Collections pretty small keep track of it in your head? Computer spread sheets, database or other program? Note book? What about cards your collecting for sets?

I don't track my cards as efficiently as I would like.  Most of it is just in 2 or 3 binders, as I don't have as much as I would like.

D)
Do you trade and if you do how?
How do you set up your trade binder? Do you trade online? Picky trader? Trade in only T1 or also in other formats cards?

I don't trade as much anymore, since all I have for trade is pure junk.  I don't have enough to trade for anything good.  All the good cards are in decks ... while the rest is literally just in a binder.  I do not trade online.

E)
There is no E.

OMGWTFBBQ!

F)
What environments do you play in?
T1, 5-color, Type 4, Highlander, T2 etc?

I play Casual T1.  My friends play Casual T1, Extended and T2.  We also play T4, and Limited.

G)
How do you acquiring cards?
Buy boxes, singles, draft, trade. Where stores, ebay, online?

Recently, it's just been buying boxes and/or packs of the new stuff and playing limited or just playing casual games with friends.  I also sometimes buys singles from people that I meet up with, so that I can help my friend's collection.  Once we can get to a relatively even ground (rare-wise) then I can start attempting to advance my collection.  I'm sick of seeing my friends not play with duals just because I'm using them in my Survival deck.

[wonkey_donkey]

E)
There is no E.

OMGWTFBBQ!

Is this monty python misquote deliberate or accidental ? Either way, it made me laugh a bit, as it may well do to anyone who's seen the Australian Philosophers sketch.

Tom

[AceOfJacks]

Intentional.  Completely intentional.

[wonkey_donkey]

In which case, I bow to your superb taste in comedy   .

Tom

[AceOfJacks]

*raises hand in victory*

[Zherbus]

Goddamn, half of this thread is someone using the quote function like it was their job. Edited because I hate scrolling down more than necessary.

A)
What cards do you collect and save?
Only the T1 cards your currently playing with? T1 and other format cards? A large or small pool of usable cards? Collect sets or card that interest you?

Just Type 1 and Standard playables which means I have extended stuff too.

B)
How is you collection sorted and stored?
Do you use binders or boxes? Sorted by set, color or play environment?

I have 4 2-row boxes, a 5-row box, 4 single row boxes, my deck case, and about 6 binders.

C)
How do you keep track of your cards?
Collections pretty small keep track of it in your head? Computer spread sheets, database or other program? Note book? What about cards your collecting for sets?

I mostly remember the important stuff. If I can't find it in like 15 minutes of looking, I'll just buy it.

D)
Do you trade and if you do how?
How do you set up your trade binder? Do you trade online? Picky trader? Trade in only T1 or also in other formats cards?

Trading sucks. Nine times out of ten, someone is trying to get a better deal and is completely shitty about it. If I need a shitty 4 dollar rare from you, don't fucking hold it over my head trying to get the desperation out of me to trade you 10 dollars worth. I don't care, just take something thats not too outrageous.

Yeah, I never trade anymore.

F)
What environments do you play in?
T1, 5-color, Type 4, Highlander, T2 etc?

Type 1, Draft, Standard.

G)
How do you acquiring cards?
Buy boxes, singles, draft, trade. Where stores, ebay, online?

eBay, SCG writer credit, draft.

[Bram]

A)
What cards do you collect and save?
Only the T1 cards your currently playing with? T1 and other format cards? A large or small pool of usable cards? Collect sets or card that interest you?
I collect Drew Tucker cards, and have a complete collection save an AL Plateau (one needs something to wish for). Other than that, I really don't collect. I just buy / trade for what I need, which happens to be all the stuff that's good in T1.

B)
How is you collection sorted and stored?
Do you use binders or boxes? Sorted by set, color or play environment?
I have several large-ish boxes where I keep my commons. They're sorted by color, set and alphabet (I know, I know....). I keep my unplayable uncommons in several binders, which are basically unsorted. I keep my playable T1 uncs and rares cards in one large binder (sorted) save my power and shops andsoforth, which are in the vault. Also, I have two trade binders; one with decent/expensive rares I don't need anymore, and one with crap rares and good uncs/commons (you know, for throw-ins).

C)
How do you keep track of your cards?
Collections pretty small keep track of it in your head? Computer spread sheets, database or other program? Note book? What about cards your collecting for sets?
I keep track of only the good (playable) T1 cards, and the cards in my trade binders (mostly for financial purposes....I like to see what I'm getting out of this). I do this in an Excel worksheet. I don't keep track of my commons and uncs, largeley because it's kinda useless, and I don't keep track of my Drew Tucker collection largely because I know it by heart.

D)
Do you trade and if you do how?
How do you set up your trade binder? Do you trade online? Picky trader? Trade in only T1 or also in other formats cards?
I trade sometimes. I never trade just for the sake of trading of for upping the value of my collection or whatever (unless it's an insane deal). I tend to only trade when I need something, and that doesn't occur very often at all anymore (save my 4th germanBB Tundra, I'm pretty much set). I have 2 trade binders; one with decent stuff (not power though, I'm talking like 'Nether Voids' etc; most valuable stuff up front) and one with throw-in rares and good uncs. I am an asshole when it comes to random selling, though.

'I value this at 10 euros.'
'But that's what the STORE sells them at!'
'Fine, then buy them over there. Kthnxbye.'

Basically, needing neither the money nor the cards puts one in a comfortable position when someone is rummageing through one's binder.

F)
What environments do you play in?
T1, 5-color, Type 4, Highlander, T2 etc?
I WOULD have said solely Vintage, but last week saw my first game of T4 and I must admit I'm rather addicted.

G)
How do you acquiring cards?
Buy boxes, singles, draft, trade. Where stores, ebay, online?
I have never bought a box, and I haven't bought a booster since Saga. I buy most my cards online. For asian cards I use Michael French (over MOTL; best trader/seller I have ever encountered....highly recommended) and several dutch online stores (www.cardexchange.com and www.gameforce.nl). Occasionally, I venture out to US stores when fancy takes me (www.cardhaus.com, usually). I also use ebay a lot (for buying, not selling) but it def. comes in second place after regular online stores. Thirs is probably trading/buying from individuals atr tournaments etc (this is how I got most of my REAL good cards).

[The M.E.T.H.O.D]

My collection is very small since Ive been in this game for about 2 years.

I keep playable commons and uncommons in a huge rook case (Those boxes ment to hold like 5 rook cases).

My t4 deck is in a long white box.

I have a t1, t2, ext, deck in a box.

My trade stuff, foils, staples are all in one huge binder in my bag.

I keep bulk commons and uncommons from draft in a junk box to proxy on and to sell in bulk whenever it accumulates.

So basically, I always have my whole collection in my bag.

[Whatever Works]

A.) My collection makes up about 100,000 cards. I have been playing for 9 years, and as you can probably guess I keep everything.

B.) My collection is stored in a farely complicated organized manner. I have 1 long box with 7 rows for all my type 1 stuff. where I have each row dedicated to the following (5 Colors, Artifacts, Lands)... From there I seperate them into set, and then alphabetically.

The type 2 or random old cards I have seperated by set... then color... the alphabetically... I have been pretty good about this until Kamigawa where I have started to slack off a bit, and currently just have a big box where all of those cards are just radomly chucked in. Overall i Have about 15 or so boxes that hold about 8K cards each, and I have them stored on the bottom of my shelf (literally cant put them higher cuz shelf will colapse).

C.) I keep track of my collection as stated to answer B. I also have a spread sheet that I use to keep track of my more important cards (power/duels/cards over $10). I have already 18 completed sets, and I acquired those by random luck... I only start thinking complete set when I realize (hmmm... you have alot of Kamigawa u might be missing just a few cards for a set...profit!!!) Otherwise Its a waste of time (Or im just to lazy).

D.) I am not the biggest fan of trading... At tournements If someone asks to trade I usually tell them to come back later, or trade later and then never trade. I try to be fair with deals, but there is nothing I hate more then having someone try to intentionally screw me, or pertend they know the values of cards (when you know they are lieing to try and cheat you). Or when people have cards in there trade binder that are good, but everything that is good is not for trade... with comments like "Oh! I want to trade for your foil, Asian, Signed Fact or Fiction... But then wont even let you add a freaking foil daze into the trade... OMG so ennoying....

E.) I play everything (accept extended cuz it sucks)

F.) I acquire my cards through packs that I generally get for free by winning the local tournements every single week (90+%) I also acquire cards through coolstuffinc.com (fair prices + good servise), and Ebay.com

[mogote]

A)
What cards do you collect and save?
Only the T1 cards your currently playing with? T1 and other format cards? A large or small pool of usable cards? Collect sets or card that interest you?
I'm keeping cards playable in both Eternal formats and some cards for casual play as well.
And I'm collecting cards with artworks from my favourite Magic artists (mainly Rebecca Guay and Rob Alexander).

B)
How is you collection sorted and stored?
Do you use binders or boxes? Sorted by set, color or play environment?
All the rares ( a good 500) in one binder and some part of the uncommons and foils in another binder. The rest is stored in a cupboard.

C)
How do you keep track of your cards?
Collections pretty small keep track of it in your head? Computer spread sheets, database or other program? Note book? What about cards your collecting for sets?
I use Excel sheets to keep track of all my rares and playable/ valuable uncommons and commons. Also I'm estimating the value of each card in an extra column there to get an idea of the total value of the collection.

D)
Do you trade and if you do how?
How do you set up your trade binder? Do you trade online? Picky trader? Trade in only T1 or also in other formats cards?
I always carry a small binder with tradeable cards with me. Everything I want to keep in my collection I always leave at home (for security and weight reasons). I try only to get Legacy/ Vintage playable cards in trades, unless it is very much in my favor.

F)
What environments do you play in?
T1, 5-color, Type 4, Highlander, T2 etc?
Vintage & Legacy for tournaments; casual for fun

G)
How do you acquiring cards?
Buy boxes, singles, draft, trade. Where stores, ebay, online?
Most of my cards I get through eBay. Sometimes I aquire some cards on MOTL.
If a Magic set seems promising (e.g. Mirrodin) I'm byuing a booster box, otherwise I'm only buying a few boosters/ tournament packs per set.

[VGB]

A) I'm trying to get complete cardsets of every set ever made, except Portal/Starter/3 Kingdoms because they suck :p.  The only cards I am currently missing are Alpha (all of them), Beta (75%), Legends (50%), and 5th and 6th edition.  Also, if a good new set comes along - lots of chase rares/good commons and uncommons - I will buy the hell out of it - let's just say I got a few boxes of Mirrodin...

I also try to get multiple playsets of all T1 staples - for an example, just click on my sig and check out the blue card section.

B)  I keep my sets in binders, 1 of each card per slot (foils/artist proofs/misprints go in the same slot reversed).  Just so I know which set is in each binder, I cut the set/expansion name from a booster box and run it in the spine of the binder, and have the booster box picture and 1 of each booster pack pic in the binder cover.  Looks pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.  I have about 15 binders just for my sets.

The rest of my cards are in 5,000 ct boxes (4 of them), and I have a single small box with excess foils.  I have 2 trade binders that only have cards in it that I have more than 5 of that aren't in decks.  One is commons that I give out for free to people trying to build decks, and the other is rares and uncommons.

C) I keep an EM database that is more or less correct.  I organize my cards by set and card number in chronological order, up to 4 of each (unless I consider it a T1 staple).

D) I'm a very picky trader - I rarely make offers; I usually just wait for people to come to me.  Most cards I get I just buy.

F)  I'll play any format anybody wants to play me in.  I've recently taken a huge liking to T4, though.  With the right stack, the games are all about playskill, and you never have to worry about crap like mana screw - also,  many people who find regular Magic too complicated can easily pick up and play T4 (Magic, the Yu-Gi-Oh!-ing).

G) I buy singles on Ebay and sets from TheLotusGuardian.  Ocassionally I'll pick through cards at a shop just so I have stuff to give to people to help them build decks - but sometimes I run into mad crazy stuff; for example, I picked up like 20 lotus petals for a dollar not too long ago digging through a box of commons.  I also have something like 100 Mercadian Masques foil lands that I got for free just by noticing them behind the counter and asking for them - I believe they were leftover FNM prizes at a shop that no longer hosts FNM.

[Matt]

A) What cards do you collect and save?
I collect any commons and uncommons that look like they could be useful one day. I only get rares when I know they're good or they're insanely cheap. I never spend more than $10 at a time Magic shopping, and I never go more than twice a month.

B) How is you collection sorted and stored?
I have a box with several decks and some random deck cores in it. I also have a little paper bag with some more decks, and in a third box are miscellaneous good cards+a Rebel deck+my bad cards, which are sorted by color, effect (all blue bounce is together, etc.), and casting cost.
I also have a box that I keep for playing Limited out of, which I've carefully balanced among colors and included only 'good' cards (limited-ly speaking). I also have three or four decks in deckboxes that just float around, and finally I have a box with all my supplies in it. This sounds haphazard but it fits nicely into a letter/legal size box lid.

C) How do you keep track of your cards?
Well as I stated above about 85% of my cards are in decks or in deck cores that I keep together. The rest are sorted. I don't have all that many cards since I never bought packs and sold or gave away most of my horrible cards.

D) Do you trade and if you do how?
Not really, since everythig I have I intend to keep.

F)
What environments do you play in?
1.5 almost exclusively, but really it's what you would call "casual 1.5," meaning I'm limited by what cards I own. Occasionally I'll proxy duals or something.

G)How do you acquiring cards?
Ebay or local stores. I'm looking into online purchases though.

[Bardo]

My collection is odd in that I only have about 300-400 cards. I played from Fallen Empires (end of 1994) and stopped playing after Mirage came out (late 1996); by then I'd traded for all of the power and duals I needed. A couple of years later I actually threw all of my cards in the trash, except for 2 decks and a small box of about 2 dozen cards. I probably should have donated them or given them to someone, but that's just what happened.

Then I started playing seven years later after Mirrodin had came out--and I've been very careful to not collect any crap since then. Now I just get the cards I need to play the decks I want to play (mono-Blue, GAT, Tog, Super Grow, U/R/w; EBA; mostly blue-based aggro-control stuff). I have the most minimalist collection of anyone I know. I am simply ruthless when it comes to purging my stuff (cards or otherwise). If I start to accumulate crap that's not as hot as I thought it should be (poor evaluation on my part), I just add them as throw-ins on MOTL trades or give them to my friends who are working on their collections. If they really suck, I just throw those cards out.

A) What cards do you collect and save? Only playable cards that I can pack into my T1/1.5 decks. Nothing else, except for a few cards I just like having, like Phelddagrif, Mirri, Forgotten Ancients, and a few others.

B) How is you collection sorted and stored? No binders. I have a 250-card box that I keep all of my playable commons/uncommons (Ophidians, Mox Monkeys, etc.) and a 50-card box that I have all of my unsleeved Power, duals, good rares, and cool cards that I like. Everything else is sleeved up and in a deck. Oh, and I got a CHK Samurai theme deck as a gift. There's only a few cards I have as support to that deck that aren't in there.

C) How do you keep track of your cards? Just memory.

D) Do you trade and if you do how? With friends, but mostly MOTL. I only trade for T1/1.5 playables. I'm a picky trader only in that I have so few wants.

F) What environments do you play in? T1/1.5/a little Extended/Highlander. That's it.

G) How do you acquiring cards? < $2: I buy online (SCG or Blackborder); $5 or thereabouts: eBay; > $10: trade.

[illuzion]

A) What cards do you collect and save? I collect anything I need.  I save everything.  Additionally, I sometimes collect cards while they are dirt cheap if I imagine they will increase in value (currently accumulating most Affinity commons while they are 5/10 cents).

B) How is your collection sorted and stored? Most complete sets are in binders or those little hard plastic boxes.  The rest is in 2-4 row commons boxes or one of many singleton boxes.  Oh and, there are piles of cards that are commonly used.  I'm thinking of having a 'library card catalog'-style peice of furniture made so I can tidy up the pile of boxes.

C) How do you keep track of your cards? I used to keep an excel spreadheet a long time ago, but updating it became bothersome.

D) Do you trade and if you do, how? This is why I wanted to post in this thread, really.  I loathe trading.  Or should I say, traders?  Most of the traders I run into are total asshats.  It's like they're out to rape people on trades just so they can brag about it.  Lately, I've been running into people who say they are "getting out of magic" or "liquidating for rent" or something of the sort, and then I go through their binder and they quote me barely under what the store charges (or would charge).  I usually stop after the first few quotes, roll my eyes and give them the most evil look I can muster.  Most traders I run into rank in just above theives on the scale of scum and villany in magic.  I guess it just pisses really me off that they treat me like their doing me a favor by trying to take my good cards away from me.  I want to stab them in the face!

F) What environments do you play in? Almost none.  I avoid Type 2/block and limited like the plague, which means I rarely play at all these days since, locally, there isn't a player base beyond those formats.

G) How do you acquire cards?  I buy singles.  I don't even open packs I win at tournaments, because I'm thoroughly convinced that they generally devalue instantly upon opening.  I get said singles from eBay (rare playsets), Cardshark (uncommons, off-rares) and commons bins at local stores.  On rare occasions, I'll use Google/Froogle.  A recent example: I wanted P2 Sleight of Hands.  There were none on Ebay and Cardshark sellers had them at about $2.  I looked on Google and most online stores want $2+, but lo and behold, ABU is selling them for 50 cents.