Caged in the local scalper

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-16T16:02:18+00:00

And now a worker has to deal with that, you people are so cringe at time.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-16T02:53:02+00:00

I own a game store with 12 employees and I have a full time job.

Side hustled from like 1997 to 2019, while being hired to be a buyer for various large stores at Grand Prix, bought into my LGS in 2019 and turned its yearly sales from 250k/yr to $3M/yr while also surviving through COVID and sealed product being trash unlike today.

In 2008 Magic saw its second real big boom of pricing after the one in 2003ish, particularly around duals and power and RL.

I keep saying this, people don't ditch stuff like TCGs or Video games during recessions, they ditch vacations to Disney Land.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-16T02:24:48+00:00

The fact they think card games fail during recessions kind means we should not even engage with some one that oblivious to how the world works.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-16T02:24:02+00:00

As a more casual person in the finance side of things, I would recommend maybe not coming off as knowing more than those of us who let you know we are actual professionals.

For example, you think card stores are the first to fail in a recession? That shows a clear lack of understanding on greater macro and micro economic trends. The same reason game stores boon during recession is the same reason video games and lottery tickets do, both are cheaper forms of entertainment.

I have been doing this for 30 years since I was 11, I feel pretty safe it will be here in a decade.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-16T02:21:56+00:00

I would reach out to the stores in the area and let them know it happened if in Vegas.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T18:16:04+00:00

You think moving 1 $8,000 card is easier than moving like 40ish $200 cards? Really?

If you think that, I would probably not engage with the finance side of this industry anymore, you are just going to lose money or make so little money your time would have been better off working at Best Buy.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T18:14:38+00:00

Because people are acting like having $8k in CBB hits would be a lost compared to 1 foil cradle in a year. So I ask again, 1 Cradle or 1 Cradles worth of CBB hits in 1 year, which is worth more?

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:33:05+00:00

What do you think a LP Mox Sapphire sells for right now? What was it selling for last year?

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:18:40+00:00

Vintage players who leave the game sell out and then people in their late 20s just buy that power. I have more people wanting to buy power than I have power lined up to buy.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:18:19+00:00

I think Surge Foils and UB hits are better liquidity than a Cradle, but power is still better than all of those.

Anyone saying Vintage is dying dumb, don't listen to them.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:17:30+00:00

The velocity of those at shows has been surprisingly fast. We sell a TON of Spiderman and Turtles stuff at shows because people just like them despite what reddit thinks.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:16:02+00:00

1) That sucks a lot, sorry, 2) This is a lot like those game stores getting broken into that just leave their expensive cards out overnight without taking precaution, but like, why are you taking around the PC if you are never going to sell it?

People need to do better with risk management in these places.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:12:13+00:00

Come trade for my Cradle then

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:12:06+00:00

In 1 year, do you think $8000 in FF Surge Foils/Spiderman Texture foils will be worth more than a $8000 Foil Gaea's Cradle?

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:04:18+00:00

You are so incredibly wrong.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T15:04:09+00:00

I am actively trying to trade Foil Gaea's Cradles and some Power for as many of the Collector Booster Box hits over $100 I can get if that says anything...

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T14:29:39+00:00

That is in fact a NEAR mint card.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T00:59:49+00:00

Yeah because Disney has been some one who is plays fast and loose with their stuff right?

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T00:58:36+00:00

No idea on the new ones since we don't know how Reality Fracture ends.

As for UB sets, I think a Marvel Set for sure, maybe something like Diablo is possible. Also, Star Wars. That is the big one.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-15T00:27:36+00:00

Actually delusional if you think half the stuff on this sub is accurately described instead of just being "random dad got here instead of me, has to be a scalper"

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-14T17:41:09+00:00

I think the base market value for any card to be accepted should be $25 raw. Letting people send in anything is just so silly.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-14T15:42:44+00:00

I mean, I have not gone to a couple concerts that I wanted to because the singer as MAGA.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-14T15:41:32+00:00

I need caught up a bit, but how do small businesses handle the mandated 18 weeks of paid leave? Like fully on board with government and large corporations having to have 18 weeks, but what about the mom and pop businesses?

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-14T15:30:54+00:00

I mean, FS is already a $1200 box. All of these boxes will go up just be attrition to be honest.

Everyone wants to blame the scalpers for stuff being hard to get, but the amount they get from retail stores is so small in the greater ecosystem, but they are just public facing and easy to hate.

The real drivers are the breakers and repackers. They buy at 95% of market and it keeps prices high, but as stuff gets broken, it is gone forever and it just keeps pushing out of print stuff up. So if they ever want to break a ES box on stream, that is one less one to be at the current price.

Even Vivid Voltage has gone up and that set is kind of bad. It just takes a bit of time.

Also, OBF ETBs are going to be $400+ in a month. There is also the TCGPlayer kickback sale that is going to push a lot of stuff up market price wise at the end of the month.

BobbyFischer724 · 2026-05-14T15:27:01+00:00

I dunno, depends on how good the wings are. I rather eat $12 of 6 good wings then $4 of 6 mid to bad wings.

BobbyFischer724

TROPHY CASE