While attempting to price out an Unlimited Mox Sapphire, Sig discovered a surprising trend with the relative value of the Power Nine.
Sigmund Ausfresser
Sigmund first started playing Magic when Visions was the newest set, back in 1997. Things were simpler back then. After playing casual Magic for about ten years, he tried his hand at competitive play. It took about two years before Sigmund starting taking down drafts. Since then, he moved his focus towards Legacy and MTG finance. Now that he's married and works full-time, Sigmund enjoys the game by reading up on trends and using this knowledge in buying/selling cards.
This week Sig shares his recent purchases and the motivations behind them.
This week, Sig shares three reasons why he feels you should hold off on making your next Magic purchase, at least until this holiday season.
This week Sig reexamines buylist prices for Alpha and Beta and notices Star City Games now has the best prices on an array of cards across all conditions.
This week Sig discusses taking chances on buying damaged “Four Horsemen” cards, and the rare gems you sometimes discover.
Every time Sig ships a buylist order, he includes a smattering of nickel and dime cards he finds in his bulk. This week, Sig shares how he has streamlined this process to optimize for time and relaxation.
Back in 2016, Sig suggested Pokémon cards and vintage video games as alternate investments to Magic. This week he dusts off those old price charts and investigates whether those suggestions panned out and what the current market looks like for video games in particular.
The Quiet Speculation Discord recently pointed out a disproportionate number of Legends cards have been on the move. When someone other than Sig makes such an observation, it means the trend must be worth investigating further.
Introspection has led Sig to the realization that he’s become disengaged with Magic finance lately. This week he shares his reasons, and touches upon what needs to happen to “wake him up” and reinvigorate his interest in the hobby.
When focusing on MTG finance, it’s easy to lose sight of the reality that this hobby is expensive! Sig was reminded of this recently when making a purchase with his Paypal (aka Magic) account. He shares his observations and reminds everyone of the opportunity cost of this game.
It’s impossible to time the market perfectly. This can lead to a feeling of disappointment when watching a buylist constantly fluctuate. This week Sig shares his strategies–both financial and emotional–that help him buylist confidently in a volatile market.
Determining the accurate value of one’s collection has always been tricky. While TCGplayer and MTG Stocks have brought new tools to streamline the process, there’s still room for improvement. Is eBay’s recent foray into this space what we’ve been waiting for?
Sig’s not sure, but it looks like certain pockets of Reserved List cards are on the rebound. This week, he takes a close look at the market and speculates as to why there may be movement in these key cards after a brief sell-off.
