A Typical Mississippi Tournament Weekend Experience

[TheShop]

Let me start this one by saying that I thought this might have gone in the tourney reports catagory...then I remembered what actually happened.

I had a first weekend off following my busy season at work and decided to drive an hour south of here to play a little casual vintage with a friend on Saturday.  While there, I remember that the shop another hour south of our location normally attempts to get a small vintage tournament together on Sunday afternoons.  My friend and I decide that we will throw 2 decks together an call the shop when they open to see how many are signed up (even though it would be early).  I call and the employee says "we currently have 5 signed up.".  My friend and I make the drive...

When we arrive the only other people at the store are the two guys that work there and a random standard guy and there is no signup sheet at all.  I am pissed and ask the attendant where everyone he said was signed up went...he doesn't answer.  At this point I start looking in the commons for a set of spell pierce for my friend...some stupid Type 2 player says that spell pierce blows and his deck is better(as assanine as this is...he is actually like 27 and not 12, which amazed me).  So his ugly girlfriend watched with glee as he throws a new template plains down and taps it to play-  random creature I didn't read.  I drop turn one oath...Iona hits first...he decides to try this game 3 more times then actually leaves the store pissed.

I return to the counter to check the prices on random cards I want...the prices on cards in the case are absurd:  masticore $32 nonfoil, show & tell $28, Scrubland RV SP $45...I literally laugh out loud at the ass that works there when he asks why I think those are unreasonable.  Sadly, those are the best cards in the case.  The way this shop operates, they "look up" the price online even if the card is priced in the case...shady.  I am willing to pay $16 for a set of back to basics...they are in the case for $6 per...I think this is high and ask him to look it up.  The price goes to $9 per, I offer the original $6 and he refuses...for the record, that shit will sit in the case for years down here before anyone buys it.  I laughed at him again and didn't purchase them.  I got the commons for free (buddy pitched in some change) and I dropped $2 on a Thorn of Amthyst.  Because of their general douchebaggery I only spent $2.

Guy # 2 at counter trades us out of his personal collection...his MUC gets rolled with elephant tokens...I am like 7-0 on the day.  Pathetic, these are nonproxy, so I am just as unpowered as he is.

I know this is not a tourney report, but I just wanted to share a typical bullshit tourney experience from right here in Mississippi.  Our stores don't support anything but draft and are run by idiots who literally do not know how to play.  Oddly enough, this is one of 2 stores in the state that actually carry reasonable inventory...all the other "stores" only sell packs and run 10 man drafts.  I am never going back, but that means I will not be going anywhere.  I do however take great consolation in knowing that I am 24 and work in a respectible envirnment and am not a fat 38 year old working in someone else's "minimart, collectibles, and mixed
martial arts academy.". Learn to read you ignorant bastards.

Final note- Ben Carp prices are like 1/3 of most of the cards in this shop...I handed out a few of those new business cards and told everyone there that they were being generally ripped off.  Final apologies for being so angry, but this is what makes me wan to quit...sitting at home and beating off would be more productive than going to events at this store again.

[Evenpence]

1)  What shop was this?  People from Mississippi who read this might be interested to know.  Without a name, this doesn't really do anyone any good.
2)  It also might behoove you to include constructive criticism.
     a)  That will allow you to vent your frustration while being polite.
     b)  It will also save you from infractions here on TMD.
3)  So did they actually run a tournament?  You mention you're like 7-0 on the day and that it's sanctioned, therefore unpowered.
     a)  How many people were there?
     b)  What decklist were you running?
     c)  What was the prize structure they ended up going with?

[TheShop]

While I am almost certain that people from Mississippi are so disinterested in the vintage format and avoid the shop when possible anyway-
Jaks in Gulfport.

Constructive Criticism-
1) don't blatantly lie to customers especially when this causes customers to pay money for gas-people do not buy things while angry
2) pissed off people do not buy things, at least attempt to serve the customer
3) don't tell the customer that you do not care about sales to locals because players winning and nearby casinos and military personell from the base will purchase items despite the insane markups.

That is as constructive as I am willing to be, and if this was read by store employees- the fact that criticism was made at all would lead to a banning.(has happened in past)

Finally, no the tournament did not make because  2 people were willing to sign up(me + friend).  The games I played throughout the day were to random kids that went in and out of the shop and had an attitude about how good their cards were(he I'm the best at my lunch table at jr high phenomenon).

Most of the standard and draft south mississippi player base has deserted this place anyway.  There are only 2 shops with respectible inventory( if we disregard prices) in the state anyway and everyone knows where they are.

[Qasur]

1)  What shop was this?  People from Mississippi who read this might be interested to know.  Without a name, this doesn't really do anyone any good.
2)  It also might behoove you to include constructive criticism.
     a)  That will allow you to vent your frustration while being polite.
     b)  It will also save you from infractions here on TMD.
3)  So did they actually run a tournament?  You mention you're like 7-0 on the day and that it's sanctioned, therefore unpowered.
     a)  How many people were there?
     b)  What decklist were you running?
     c)  What was the prize structure they ended up going with?

1) Shop was Jak's in Biloxi, MS. If you're from MS, you probably had at least somewhat heard of the place mostly because it's been around for 15+ years.
2) "Constructive criticism" might only be important for not be reprimanded, but there isn't anything of good to say about this place. The owner lies and cheats to players, and he's know to steal. On top of this, his day job is being a cop. Go figure. He tells us there are "5-6 people waiting" and when we arrive, there are two store clerks and zero players. This happens a lot (trust me, I used to work there once).
3) No, there was no tournament because we were the only two people there. But, out of the 7 games that were played throughout the day (some with one of the clerks and others with a random passerby who just wanted to play, yet didn't have a vintage deck). His deck won all of those games because those other decks were jank.

The underpowered aspect of the games is becaues the owner doesn't believe in doing a Proxy vintage tournament. If we had managed to pull together enough guys, then it would have been sanctioned and we all don't own power (I own moxes and recall and shops, but he doesn't have any of that anymore). Instead, the owner would rather do a Standard-set draft and give a mox away (like next weekend) instead of promoting a format that you could actually use the Mox in.

Overall, the idea wasn't to muster this huge vintage event w/a mox prize. We were doing weekly vintage events for $5 for standard packs just because it gave us a field of people to play against with vintage decks, considering it's our favorite format.

[smasher]

Sounds like the shop is his hobby and he doesn't care if he makes money or loyal customers.

I had a bad experience that your story has inspired me to share.

I go to a store holding a type 1 tournament with this being my first time in attendance. I wasn't actually going to play but I drove 2 other people to the store to play. In between rounds I traded with people that finished up early and had time to do so.

One of my trades involved me trading away a bazaar of baghdad with slight play which I valued at 200. Little did I know the shop owner had bazaar for sale for some number higher than 200 and was mad I traded mine below his sell price. He doesn't have a display case so you have to ask what he has for sale or look at a printed list of his inventory. Prior to me knowing he was mad about this I purchased some dice, deck boxes, sleeves, and maybe some other random stuff.

Later on in the day as the tournament is heading in to the finals I make some time to look at his printed inventory list. Prior to him showing me the list he tells me "you are not going to like my prices and you probably won't buy from me. I can't compete with your prices." I end up buying a play set of stifles for 28 dollars and something else which I can't recall. After I purchase the cards (my second purchase of the day) is when I find out how upset he is about the bazaar trade from earlier and how he should have had first crack at it and would have given me 200 on it. Figures he would take my money first then basically unwelcome me from his store.

I guess the 70 something dollars I spent all day plus the 2 other players in his tournament I brought at 25 each plus whatever they bought isn't any business he would like to see again.

Nice way to treat a group of first time customers. I never went back and never will. Not sure what became of the other guys that I brought with me to play.

Don't really want to share the name of the store on the forums but if you play in New England area and need to know send me a PM.

[TheShop]

That sounds about par.  I have learned that most store owners are hobbyists and nor business people.  However, I don't understand any sole proprietor who acts like a jerk simply because his name is in the door???  I am in business...how do you think those actions help your bottom line???  Shops are no different from restaurants inthis regard...you must cater to the people who aren't being disruptive or lose money.

PS-  Qasur made me think of this:  in the last 6 months there has not been a vintage tournament at any store in the state, but at drafts and standards the 2 big stores will have handed out 2 moxes, 1 twister, a bazaar, and a tabernacle in a 3 month period.  This is garbage.

[Qasur]

@smasher: Sadly, the guy started out as a true businessman and went on that way for around 9 years. He used to cater to the playerbase by giving out deals, buying stacks of good cards for a decent amount of money, and even giving discounts to the locals who bought singles all the time. Then, suddenly, he had a change of heart when he learned how other stores (in GIANT cities) were over-pricing their cards to people who could drop $200+ when they come in. So, he instituted a buy-list where he buys for like 10-20% of a card's value, then throws it in the case for 10-25% more than what it's worth...

He alienated his local playerbase by never giving discounts, overpricing his cards, and becoming a stiff dick when they wanted some sort of old-school-catering. So, what happened? They all left. His 20+ local events dropped to 1-2 random miltary guys.

The store is located right outside of a military base (the side that leads to the mall and food, so it's used by most all the airmen) and he gets lots of traffic from new players getting into Magic with no knowledge/experience of the game. So, they come and drop serious cash on drafts that they can't win (and always lose too), then get ripped off to traders who know what cards are worth, and then they end up coming back... they're the only ones who are willing to buy ANY of the singles because they don't know better and are impulse buyers AND have nothing to do with their paychecks since most everything they have is provided to them.

Also, the BS statement of "guys who win big at the casinos buy stuff" only ever happened once. My friend got $1500 and dropped in to buy a Sapphire, Recall, Jet, and 4 Mana Drains... all of which he's sold since then, and, it's the last time power and/or good cards saw any space in the cases full of cards... so it's no wonder people don't drop cash anymore. There's nothing to drop cash ON. Other than him, NO ONE has ever come in like that. More guys have come in trying to sell cards to GO to the casino's then coming FROM the casino's with money they've won.

[TheShop]

Update:

Jak's is having monthly Sealed deck tournaments for power now...but still vintage for boosters.  The tournaments are $36 entry.  Last week they had 34 people for a take of over $1200...and the prizes were:

1). UL mox pearl
2-4). Boosters

nothing else.

Prize to entry fee % was roughly 25%!!!!

Thank goodness I didn't play, let me reiterate that our stores are bullshit.

[VsTheWorld]

$36 entry is completely absurd for any sort of NORMAL prize structure, but 34 people were actually willing to pay that entry with a Pearl for first and boosters for 2nd-4th??? The customers, for being willing to pay such entry, are just as much at fault as the owner in this case though.

[thecman]

Jak's is having monthly Sealed deck tournaments for power now...but still vintage for boosters.  The tournaments are $36 entry.  Last week they had 34 people for a take of over $1200...

If it is a sealed event isn't about half of the entry fee going towards the sealed product ($3/pack*6 packs=$18)?

Still, 50% payout on remaining take is pretty terrible.

[Juggernaut GO]

Jak's is having monthly Sealed deck tournaments for power now...but still vintage for boosters.  The tournaments are $36 entry.  Last week they had 34 people for a take of over $1200...

If it is a sealed event isn't about half of the entry fee going towards the sealed product ($3/pack*6 packs=$18)?

Still, 50% payout on remaining take is pretty terrible.

But don't you see that stores are providing a service to players by holding tournaments, obviously the overhead of operating a store is justification to pay out 50% of money taken in.





that was sarcasm

[TheShop]

My favorite part of that tourney was that there were nearly 15 more people there that dis not play and just hung out...he could have lowered the margin and gotten us too.

However, you guys are right: as long as retarded people keep paying, nothing will change.

I for one just wish that a store owner here would be cool enough to:
1) set up an online store and buy collections to refresh their singles
2) hold tournaments other than draft, standard, and sealed

But it is the fault of the player base that this goes on.  At one point last year a friend and I offered to put up $300 in prizes, provide the room for the event, and loan up to 6 decks(even though it was already to be 10 proxy + $1 per additional).  It was to be a $10 entry and we called all player we knew...asked when it would be convenient.  NO ONE WANTED A TYPE 1
AND NO ONE SHOWED.  I have spent literally thousands of dollars on cards online and have offered the same price for singles to the yokels here first...after they decline, I walk out with my money.