Seasonal Selling of Magic Cards

[jcb193]

I've got a question for the people who sell T1 cards on a frequent basis (on ebay).  I have a bunch of extra T1 staples (from moxes to dual lands to Morplings to FoW) that I have been meaning to sell and I keep forgetting to do it.

1.) Should I sell them from an ebay store or live auction?
2.) Should I sell to international bidders (this has been 90% of my buyers in the past, but also 100% of my problems with paypal). 
3.) Is there a certain time of the year to sell T1 cards that is better than others (summer tournament season, Christmas, back to school)?
4.) Higher prices on MOTL or Ebay? 
5.)  I have a 100% feedback rating.  Are repacks worth it.  Would help me get rid of some tier 2 rares.

Qualified answers appreciated. 

[goobafish]

T1 cards tend to be in a rut around summer and christmas time from what I have heard, and seen. To get the best price for your cards it is always nice to see what people will pay locally, but if that is not a feasible option MOTL and Ebay are both good ways of selling. I do not mind selling to international bidders (i prefer not Spain, Italy, or Brazil) but if you do, put a clause into your auction or emails from MOTL that absolves you from responsability once the cards have left your hands. Basically say that they choose their shipping (insured, registered ect.) and that you have no responsibility past shipping it and showing a receipt. It is normally best to sell them after Christmas or in October/November when local tourneys are running.

Hope that helps.

[jcb193]

Anyone have any experience selling repacks?

[Moxlotus]

Anyone have any experience selling repacks?

Mat Endress and Eric Becker had a repack business for about 2 years.  they made infy dollahs.  The key is that you have to be honest and actually give out what you advertise.  If you advertise you are giving out a bunch of duals--give them out.  Moxen?  Give them out.  They gave out 5 moxen, a lotus, and dozens upon dozens of dual lands, painlands, wraths, and forces and 5 different ALL FOIL booster boxes (that's right, 36 pakcsX15 cards all foil)--because that's what they advertised.  And because of that, the same people kept bidding on new repacks.  Eventually, others did too.  With a proper plan, you should be able to be giving out duals, forces, wraths, painlands, shocklands, and power and still make plenty of profit.  The first few weeks are the time when its the worst.  It takes a few brave people to bid, and to leave feedback saying they got some good stuff that was almost worth their money.  People buying repacks are either morons or really smart.  The morons will buy from anyone.  It's the people who know what a fair deal is that are hard.  They are also the people that will keep coming back.

[jcb193]

Do you think this is the best way to get rid of a collection?  I'm planning on keeping my core T1 stuff, but thinking of getting rid of all the extra stuff (like beta lands, beta rares, revised duals, misc rares, old cards, sideboard stuff, etc).  It seems more efficient, and possibly more profitable, to do some nice repacks, than to list them all individually and hope for $.50 to $50. 

[ErkBek]

Do you think this is the best way to get rid of a collection?  I'm planning on keeping my core T1 stuff, but thinking of getting rid of all the extra stuff (like beta lands, beta rares, revised duals, misc rares, old cards, sideboard stuff, etc).  It seems more efficient, and possibly more profitable, to do some nice repacks, than to list them all individually and hope for $.50 to $50. 

Repacks are the way to go if you've got the time to assemble them and the patience when selling them. Not only are they the best way to get top dollar for your cards, but they give you valuable experience running a business and can give you an income stream rather than a lump sum of money.

Check out the repack auctions on eBay and come up with something unique and attractive with numbers that work. Be sure to leave a 5% to 7% factor for "bad debt" (basically shipping losses, fraudulent buyers, and concessions to customers that won't stop bitching).

[Dxfiler]

I find pre-releases to be great places to sell off spare things.  There are usually infy dealers at them and most have tables where the selling is legal :p

The best pre-releases to go to are the beginning of base sets...and it just so happens Lorwyn is in 2-3 weeks.  These particular pre-releases always attract the most players and by extension the most dealers.  Depends on where you live but most pre-releases have at least 4 dealer tables...some upwards of 7-8.  The key is to shop around.  If someone gives you a price you aren't happy with just hop to another table and thank them for their time. 

If you need cash quickly they'll give you close to ebay prices more often than not.  If you don't need cash quickly ebay is just flat out better.

I'm personally not a fan of re-packs because you have to really have a good reputation with them to make serious money.  Selling your cards individually or in playsets will make you guaranteed money that you don't have to worry about. 

If you have the time and patience to take hits then re-packs aren't a bad idea, but the risk free way to make about what most of your cards are worth is individual selling on ebay or a dealer at a pre-re.

Good luck with whatever path you choose to sell them. 

- Dave