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Author Topic:   How much do dealers buy boxes at wholesale for?
lickaneye
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posted December 06, 2011 11:04 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for lickaneye Click Here to Email lickaneye Send a private message to lickaneye Click to send lickaneye an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
Just curious what dealers buy boxes for. For Example, are dealers buying Innistrad at $60 a box?

I remember a few years ago when two local shops went into a pricing war and Ravnica boxes were basically $1.85 a pack after tax. It seems dealing Magic is very hard to sustain at these margins.

 
AlmostGrown
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posted December 06, 2011 11:58 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for AlmostGrown Click Here to Email AlmostGrown Send a private message to AlmostGrown Click to send AlmostGrown an Instant MessageVisit AlmostGrown's Homepage  Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View AlmostGrown's Have/Want ListView AlmostGrown's Have/Want List
IIRC, my LGS owner buys his boxes from his distributor at $70ish each.
 
rats60
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posted December 06, 2011 12:03 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for rats60 Click Here to Email rats60 Send a private message to rats60 Click to send rats60 an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View rats60's Have/Want ListView rats60's Have/Want List
That was basicly cost on Ravnica. Now it's over 70/box.
 
tragicmagic
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posted December 06, 2011 12:14 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for tragicmagic Click Here to Email tragicmagic Send a private message to tragicmagic Click to send tragicmagic an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View tragicmagic's Trade Auction or SaleView tragicmagic's Trade Auction or Sale
It depends. Some dealers go through distributors instead of wholesalers. Distributors essentially get everything at wholesale. It costs more to be a distributor but if you've got enough business then it's nice. I think you've gotta buy a large bulk.
 
Samite Healer
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posted December 06, 2011 12:35 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for Samite Healer Click Here to Email Samite Healer Send a private message to Samite Healer Click to send Samite Healer an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
Most store owners are paying between $71.50 and $73.50 for an in-print box.
 
Speed Demon
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posted December 06, 2011 01:53 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for Speed Demon Click Here to Email Speed Demon Send a private message to Speed Demon Click to send Speed Demon an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
So basically the days of getting a draft set off of people for $6 is over, correct?
 
dwiz
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posted December 07, 2011 03:59 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for dwiz Click Here to Email dwiz Send a private message to dwiz Click to send dwiz an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View dwiz's Trade Auction or SaleView dwiz's Trade Auction or Sale
quote:
Originally posted by Speed Demon:
So basically the days of getting a draft set off of people for $6 is over, correct?

In Europe, $6us is nearly the price of a booster. $9 a set is a good price for a set now in the US. You can pull off a draft (with re-draft afterwords as prizes) still, without buying at wholesale price.

 
MTDetermine
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posted December 07, 2011 08:05 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for MTDetermine Click Here to Email MTDetermine Send a private message to MTDetermine Click to send MTDetermine an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
Currently in China. Went to check out the MTG scene here. Nearly fainted when the shop told me their cost is $2.80 per pack or $100.80 per box......They are supposed to sell at $3.60 per pack to earn 28% margin.

But the 28% margin is not meaningful as I saw booster boxes on the internet here at $104 shipped. So people here buy booster boxes on the internet instead of LGS. LGS only get draft business or loose pack business......

Wonder how they survive. Does WOTC give its retailers such wafer thin margins?

Btw, $3.60 here can buy 3 normal meals. If the guy is thrify enough, 4 simple meals........So the number of people buying packs are not high to begin with in the first place.

 
Volcanon
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posted December 07, 2011 09:56 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for Volcanon Click Here to Email Volcanon Send a private message to Volcanon Click to send Volcanon an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by dwiz:
In Europe, $6us is nearly the price of a booster. $9 a set is a good price for a set now in the US. You can pull off a draft (with re-draft afterwords as prizes) still, without buying at wholesale price.

I've never seen $6 draft sets anywhere, anywhen. And I've been playing since 2003. Cheapest was $9.

 
dwiz
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posted December 07, 2011 10:06 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for dwiz Click Here to Email dwiz Send a private message to dwiz Click to send dwiz an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View dwiz's Trade Auction or SaleView dwiz's Trade Auction or Sale
quote:
Originally posted by Volcanon:
I've never seen $6 draft sets anywhere, anywhen. And I've been playing since 2003. Cheapest was $9.

My LGS does $10 draft now with booster prizes to the top half of competitors.

 
lickaneye
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posted December 07, 2011 12:54 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for lickaneye Click Here to Email lickaneye Send a private message to lickaneye Click to send lickaneye an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by MTDetermine:
Currently in China. Went to check out the MTG scene here. Nearly fainted when the shop told me their cost is $2.80 per pack or $100.80 per box......They are supposed to sell at $3.60 per pack to earn 28% margin.

But the 28% margin is not meaningful as I saw booster boxes on the internet here at $104 shipped. So people here buy booster boxes on the internet instead of LGS. LGS only get draft business or loose pack business......

Wonder how they survive. Does WOTC give its retailers such wafer thin margins?

Btw, $3.60 here can buy 3 normal meals. If the guy is thrify enough, 4 simple meals........So the number of people buying packs are not high to begin with in the first place.


What sucks about China is that there is one distributer and they control the market. Like many other forms of business there, it is still quite corrupt. I couldn't believe it at first, but after hearing it from two dealers and a local... I believe.

 
airwalk
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posted December 07, 2011 01:36 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for airwalk Send a private message to airwalk Click to send airwalk an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
Wow, then Chinese shops cost is about the same as the retail price of boosters here. $6 in Europe is just insane. I'm surprised the prices in Canada are so low for MTG considering milk is $2/L and bread $2.50 a loaf... doesn't make sense, food expensive, magic cards cheap...
 
hilikuS
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posted December 07, 2011 01:37 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for hilikuS Click Here to Email hilikuS Send a private message to hilikuS Click to send hilikuS an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View hilikuS's Trade Auction or SaleView hilikuS's Trade Auction or Sale
quote:
Originally posted by Volcanon:
I've never seen $6 draft sets anywhere, anywhen. And I've been playing since 2003. Cheapest was $9.

I used to do $8 drafts back in the day (no prizes though, and around when Onslaught was legal) for my friends and I. I was buying at online vendors, CoolStuffInc, CardKingdom, etc. So it doesn't seem too impossible that somebody was getting $6 draft sets.



[Edited 1 times, lastly by hilikuS on December 07, 2011]

 
WeedIan
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posted December 07, 2011 05:51 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for WeedIan Click Here to Email WeedIan Send a private message to WeedIan Click to send WeedIan an Instant MessageVisit WeedIan's Homepage  Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View WeedIan's Have/Want ListView WeedIan's Have/Want List
I get $3.50 Canadian packs and i'm quite happy with that.
 
Lord Crovax
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posted December 07, 2011 06:05 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for Lord Crovax Click Here to Email Lord Crovax Send a private message to Lord Crovax Click to send Lord Crovax an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
Local I think packs are like 3.21 and boxes 107..

Also
Duel Decks are ~19
Premium Series ~27
__________________
I shall have the souls of all who defy me. "Lord Crovax"


[Edited 1 times, lastly by Lord Crovax on December 07, 2011]

 
MTDetermine
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posted December 07, 2011 07:38 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for MTDetermine Click Here to Email MTDetermine Send a private message to MTDetermine Click to send MTDetermine an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by lickaneye:
What sucks about China is that there is one distributer and they control the market. Like many other forms of business there, it is still quite corrupt. I couldn't believe it at first, but after hearing it from two dealers and a local... I believe.

I heard that the distributor promised WOTC 2 things that WOTC like:

1) minimum sales volume
2) Strict adherence to "price stability" by restricting ability of shops to undercut prices

Well, it seems the distributor maintain "Price stability" by giving the shops high costs, which restrict the shops' ability to give discount.

And those booster boxes on the Chinese internet that goes for $105 shipped (shop's cost is $101, so thats 4% to cover profits and shipping), I believe it must be linked to "Minimum Sales Volume".

So like all things chinese, the China distributor managed to put on a facade of price stability on the surface while dumping booster boxes on the internet, becoming competitors with their own retailers.


 
Phyrexian Angel
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posted December 09, 2011 12:16 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for Phyrexian Angel Click Here to Email Phyrexian Angel Send a private message to Phyrexian Angel Click to send Phyrexian Angel an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by lickaneye:
What sucks about China is that there is one distributer and they control the market. Like many other forms of business there, it is still quite corrupt. I couldn't believe it at first, but after hearing it from two dealers and a local... I believe.

I wouldn't say it is corrupted (possibly, though), but things definitely go worse when there are only one supplier in a country, and that supplier tries to exploit a huge profit.

Similar case in Hong Kong. Distributor sells boosters to retail stores at a cost around $2.5 each pack. Retailers sell booster packs at around $3.25 each.

 
MTDetermine
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posted December 09, 2011 02:15 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for MTDetermine Click Here to Email MTDetermine Send a private message to MTDetermine Click to send MTDetermine an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Phyrexian Angel:
I wouldn't say it is corrupted (possibly, though), but things definitely go worse when there are only one supplier in a country, and that supplier tries to exploit a huge profit.

Similar case in Hong Kong. Distributor sells boosters to retail stores at a cost around $2.5 each pack. Retailers sell booster packs at around $3.25 each.


High cost of booster pack is only the start of the story......Normally, players could recoup that via higher price for cards as high cost is supposed to drive down supply, making cards more expensive. And foreigners wanting Chinese cards will have to pay a premium. As players get more for their singles, they can buy more boosters.

BUT BUT BUT BUT

From what is happening on the market, there is ground to believe that some sources with large supply of Chinese cards are dumping the cards on ebay at prices that only make sense if the cost of boosters are ~$2.

Once, a Singapore dealer told me he can get me tonnes of Chinese T2 to resell. When I tell him that I dont like to spend time opening packs, he told me that if the volume is big enough, he can deliver part of the print run to me with cards all nicely sort out based on what a print run is supposed to have, instead of individual boxes/cases.........

In China, you get worst of both worlds where cost of booster packs is high, but prices for singles are lower than world market prices.

For example, I see people buying Snapcaster at $21.5-22 on MOTL now. In China, Snapcaster is readily available for $22 + shipping (shipping will be $1.5 and valid for up till ~100 cards), and most people are trying to buy it for $20.

[Edited 1 times, lastly by MTDetermine on December 09, 2011]

 
echo part 4
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posted December 14, 2011 12:01 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for echo part 4 Click Here to Email echo part 4 Send a private message to echo part 4 Click to send echo part 4 an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
i can buy INS boxes for 87
 
Volcanon
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posted December 14, 2011 12:25 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for Volcanon Click Here to Email Volcanon Send a private message to Volcanon Click to send Volcanon an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
Any discount I get on cheap US boxes is wiped out by the fact that I may or may not get charged duty if I buy them. Which just means when I really care I'll get a US PO Box.
 
jshields
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posted December 14, 2011 05:13 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for jshields Click Here to Email jshields Send a private message to jshields Click to send jshields an Instant MessageVisit jshields's Homepage  Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
I pay about $500 per case, buying them from my friend at the wholesale price + about 20% of the wholesale price so he earns money too.
 
MTDetermine
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posted December 14, 2011 05:57 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for MTDetermine Click Here to Email MTDetermine Send a private message to MTDetermine Click to send MTDetermine an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by jshields:
I pay about $500 per case, buying them from my friend at the wholesale price + about 20% of the wholesale price so he earns money too.

So your friend, whom should be just below WOTC in the food chain, cost price is ~$420 per case or $1.93 per booster pack?

 
Fiber13
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posted December 14, 2011 06:56 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for Fiber13 Click Here to Email Fiber13 Send a private message to Fiber13 Click to send Fiber13 an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View Fiber13's Have/Want ListView Fiber13's Have/Want List
Ditto.
$80+tax.

Also, I know a vendor in NY that sells boxes for $85 all the time, even online. It's not *that* rare in the USA.

We have $7.50 drafts in my garage all the time.

quote:
Originally posted by echo part 4:
i can buy INS boxes for 87



[Edited 1 times, lastly by Fiber13 on December 14, 2011]

 
tragicmagic
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posted December 14, 2011 09:30 PM   Click Here to See the Profile for tragicmagic Click Here to Email tragicmagic Send a private message to tragicmagic Click to send tragicmagic an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View tragicmagic's Trade Auction or SaleView tragicmagic's Trade Auction or Sale
Somewhat OT, but in case anyone is interested, T&T is doing $20 fat packs of Beseiged and .99 random packs of sleeves for the holidays. Pretty sweet deal.
 
daner
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posted December 15, 2011 12:09 AM   Click Here to See the Profile for daner Click Here to Email daner Send a private message to daner Click to send daner an Instant Message Edit/Delete Message Reply With Quote View daner's Have/Want ListView daner's Have/Want List
quote:
Originally posted by Volcanon:
I've never seen $6 draft sets anywhere, anywhen. And I've been playing since 2003. Cheapest was $9.

The last time I saw draft sets for $6 was pre-Mirrodin box MSRP spike. Mirrodin forced us to hike to $7, eventually $8 around Ravnica. Now it's 8-9 depending but usually $9.

EDIT: Note...we got boxes at dealer cost for a long time, an it was $60 a box pre Mirrodin($72 after)...so selling sets to draft with our play group you actually made $ off selling @ $6.

[Edited 1 times, lastly by daner on December 15, 2011]

 

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