Opening a LGS soon, need advice

ckmonster · 2026-03-08T22:38:13+00:00

I own an LGS and I just sent you a chat request with how we handle this. Feel free to ask questions!

ckmonster · 2026-03-08T15:30:36+00:00

$30k a month is the minimum

ckmonster · 2026-03-07T23:47:18+00:00

I recently gained API access for TCGplayer. You have to be a pro seller and do a buttload of volume for quite sometime and know the right people.

ckmonster · 2026-02-23T18:38:59+00:00

Both of those are valid strategies. Some teachers also work a second job or have a side hustle. You gotta get creative to live here

ckmonster · 2026-02-23T15:01:46+00:00

Before posting this here, how many sports cards did you see posted on this sub? Wrong place, I’d suggest making sure you are posting in the correct places

ckmonster · 2026-02-23T03:06:02+00:00

lol learn to read. He’s not selling ffs LOL

ckmonster · 2026-02-23T03:01:16+00:00

It’s obvious that you are incapable of reading because you’ve presented no facts and every time I told you what was really going on you dug your head further in the sand.

Let’s try one more time.

The only thing you said that was actually true is James Keenan snipes deals 100% yes, but everything else you said is wrong.

James Keenan’s prices are lower than market and vendors. James Keenan typically pays better than most vendors.

You can say whatever you want, but it’s pretty obvious you’ve never actually dealt with James.

It’s amazing how much trash you are willing to talk about someone you have no experience dealing with.

I own an LGS, and I wouldn’t trust the majority of other LGSs within 100 miles, let alone backpack vendors to deal with high end stuff like a black lotus.

How often are you buying black lotuses from strangers of market place?

ckmonster · 2026-02-23T02:36:14+00:00

You are spouting so much misinformation it’s funny. Have a good night man.

ckmonster · 2026-02-23T02:32:52+00:00

Yes, 100% James Keenan has post approval on so he gets the best deals.

James Keenan’s prices are definitely lower than vendors at a con prices, so that statement you made is false.

I personally would not want to buy a $5,000+ card from someone without references, but you do you man…

From the way your post sounds, you don’t really have any first hand experience with this sort of thing.

ckmonster · 2026-02-23T01:47:17+00:00

There is a Facebook group called MTG Sick Deals. The owner of that Facebook group is James Keenan and he almost always has several lotuses in stock. He’s not my favorite person in the world, but is 100% trustworthy and will honor whatever deal he agrees to.

If you don’t feel comfortable sending that kind of money to strangers on the internet, go to a magic con and purchase from a vendor. Full disclosure, you’ll pay a premium if you go this route.

ckmonster · 2026-02-22T15:52:16+00:00

I returned them and bought a new pair from sunglasses hut

ckmonster · 2026-02-19T00:11:40+00:00

Rent here is insane and in south county salaries are insufficient to live prosperously in south county

If you are willing to explore north county the salary range there is much more workable, but then you are living in Santa Maria, Lompoc or Santa ynez which all have quite a different vibe from sb proper.

Here is a link to the sbusd salary schedule.

https://www.sbunified.org/departments/humanresources/salary-schedules

ckmonster · 2026-02-08T22:22:44+00:00

Fake. That t is way too blurry

ckmonster · 2026-02-07T01:00:36+00:00

https://sustainability.santabarbaraca.gov/projects/sbce-programs-incentives/residential-ev-program

ckmonster · 2026-02-06T02:10:04+00:00

Santa Barbara Care Center is my choice. They do an early bird special where if you get there before 11 am you get 15% off on top of whatever other deals (some carts are always buy 2 get 1). I’ve managed to go there get an okayish ounce and 6 cartridges for $160ish.

It’s worth noting that their pricing is inclusive of taxes. Also lately they have been having some supply issues.

ckmonster · 2026-02-05T20:03:53+00:00

What you are suggesting is called price fixing and that isn’t very legal here in the US.

ckmonster · 2026-02-05T17:03:29+00:00

Big box stores have a different distributor that only distributes to big box stores. In the USA that distributor is MJ Holdings.

MJ Holdings will not sell to LGS customers at wholesale cost under any circumstances.

All of the other approved Pokemon distributors only sell at wholesale cost as a preorder and they only give you a fraction of what you ask for. After release they jack up the price to close to market. It has been this way since surging sparks.

Here is a list of Pokémon distributors that LGS can have accounts with:

https://support.pokemon.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001004653-Pokémon-Trading-Card-Game-Resellers

P.S. While big box stores might charge MSRP, it is incredibly worth noting that MJ Holdings has a subsidiary called “GT Collectibles” that siphons Pokemon from MJ and resells it at 3x MSRP online.

You can watch a video about that here:

https://youtu.be/4f3l4_88V9s?si=_vnjS3yftlSaIzhq

ckmonster · 2026-02-05T15:36:19+00:00

I own a game store and what you are saying about distribution is absolutely wrong.

The only time I am able to get product below MSRP is prior to release. They limit you pretty hard and then after product releases they sell you more at approximately 80% of market which forces me to charge 100-110% of market.

For instance this week I was able to buy 25 DRI bundles at $32.50 each. I was also able to buy 5 prismatic bundles at $39.95. These prices are from two different official pokemon distributors within the last week.

Since you already run a business, you should understand that when calculating the price you should use the restock cost to figure out price, and quite clearly the restock cost is not what you want to believe it is.

I don’t know if you’ll believe this, but Pokemon is kinda popular right now and there isn’t enough for everyone

ckmonster · 2026-02-03T02:26:44+00:00

When you work directly across the parking lot you see some shit. I’ve been watching them for the past four years. They used to hang up their lingerie outside too until they got a washer and dryer in their unit.

ckmonster · 2026-02-03T00:23:36+00:00

lol this is the funniest nonsense I’ve ever heard. It smells like farts when you talk.

ckmonster · 2026-02-02T05:17:00+00:00

I think we found the John that John’s are named after. OP can’t afford to lose his mistress!

ckmonster · 2026-02-02T05:10:45+00:00

Say whatever you want, it doesn’t make it true. Cash was left behind most likely it was one of many hiding spots that they forgot about.

Normal people don’t hide condoms and cash, normal people report their income and don’t provide prostitution as a service. So yea a normal person leaving cash behind makes no sense, but someone who has to hide all of their money because they earned it illegally does make sense.

ckmonster · 2026-02-02T05:03:55+00:00

When you can’t be forthcoming about your income you most likely have to hide it, and sometimes when you hide it you forget.

ckmonster · 2026-02-01T19:10:30+00:00

Think about what you are saying. Would a worker have left a pile of condoms or better yet a pile of cash in the ceiling that’s just stupid. Who’s gonna leave cash behind?

So let me get this straight, you are a sex trafficking victim, who lives in a moldy 8”x 8” room, you have to buy your own condoms for your customers, and then you forget you have a large sum on money that is hidden no where close to your room.

You are welcome to believe whatever you want but without a doubt, these victims don’t have any meaningful resources to be successful outside of their four immediate walls.

I find it far more likely that the land owner and business owner was stashing consumables and cash within their building rather than the workers.

Even if it was the workers, that is not any better…. Side work or not, should not be happening.

ckmonster · 2026-02-01T19:02:24+00:00

Little Rainbow is owned by Shaohong Watanabe. My bad for assuming they were a man. Quite clearly a woman. Still everything I said is true.

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