Moving cards, in two acts

<ACT ONE>

A college friend showed me his old magic cards. I hadn't realized he kept playing after college for a while. He had sold all his dual lands, mana drains, etc. What he had left, he wasn't sure. He thought he knew, but he really didn't. I tried to guide him to the TCGplayer scanning app, and explain how sales worked. Either buy-lists, or stores, or on-line via places like FB groups. What I wound up doing was guiding his cards through the sales process. 

 

  So I wound up taking high grade photos of the fronts and backs. I then shopped them around to various sources I knew. The first was via local dealers, but they were offer below 50% of what I thought we might be able to realistically get. Moved on from there to on-line buy-lists. Found them to be- eh. From there I went to one last method, sell the entire lot via FB groups. I gave us a couple days to find a valid buyer. I had a couple re-sellers hit me up, and we were getting way closer to the dollar figure I thought the cards should fetch.

  A collector hit me up and was going to pay the full amount I was asking. The wheels fell off the bus when his friend backed out and our deal fell apart. However, I had gotten some good feedback from one and they were very responsive and laid their entire bid out. We struck a deal, information was exchanged, and I started the sales process which consisted of:

 

• videoing me packing up the cards
• buying priority shipping with USPS and insurance. 
• photo of package with shipping label
• video of me dropping the package at the local post office

And we tracked the package.  What was supposed to take 2-3 days, wound up taking 5. Turns out Tulsa is a little in the middle of no-where for the USPS. Everything settled. My friend was happy. The buyer was happy. I got a perntage for doing all the leg work. Which means, I am buying new cards for my D&T deck. First purchase? Beta Plains of course. (I've got a problem) Second purchase, more storage boxes.

<ACT TWO>

   Six-seven months ago, a contact of my wife was looking to sell her husband's magic collection from when he was young. I couldn't believe my luck! The box that said Torment  Uncommon x4 just about had me jumping to run over right then to buy the box of cards. Well, that deal fell through. The husband got cold feet, they were going to move, etc. Oh well, I could help sell what he had maybe? Nope... things just didn't happen. If it had just two of the Cabal Coffers, everything else would have been FREE. oh man. Damn. I kept thinking about it, but it was a missed opportunity. It happens.

Fast forward to a couple days ago. They must have completed their move because the wife was done. They liked that I still played the game and wasn't trying sell the cards for profit. I always buy the cards and trade for stuff I need. Thats been my game since I started. Slowly make my way upwards. They agreed to a price, and everyone was happy.

The resulting cards were PRETTY good. He had way more than I expected. Most of the cards were NM, and some where at worst MP in condition. The jackpot was finding 6 Cabal Coffers. Ha. Found several foil basics from Invasion, 7th, and Odyssey. Early foils are EXPENSIVE.
    I attempted to video the opening, but it failed hard because there was so much to pull out and figure. The collect was from the very era I quit before. I only had brief understands of what should be good. So I wound up scanning a lot of cards. 

I might keep a couple of the Cabal Coffers because the reprint currently in MH2 is at Mythic and while the price tanked- EDH players LOVE that card. Anyone playing black wants one, even if its the worst color in the game right now.