Trade Binder Organization
Gear forum
Posted on Nov. 23, 2014, 11:40 p.m. by ducttapedeckbox
Hey everyone. Apologies if this post is not placed properly. As the title suggests, it is about different methods of organizing trade binders.
I was in the process of writing an article about this topic over the summer, but school and other things happened and I have not had the time to get back to it. I just returned home for Thanksgiving break, and found myself reorganizing my trade binder. This post is going to condense some of the thoughts I was going to include in my article, but my overall goal is to leave this discussion with an idea of how I would like to organize my trade binder.
Anyways, organization always depends on what your organizing, how much of it you have to organize, and how particular you are about your organization. When it comes to Magic trade binders, the size and 'density' determines your organizational method, along with the level of order you are looking for. By density, I mean the bulk-to-staple ratio you expect to have in your binder. For some, their trade fodder mostly consists of bulk rares and it is worthwhile for them to keep the bulk in their binders. For others, they can fill entire binders with chase cards. Then you get me right in the middle with a small enough collection to store my rares of all values in a single binder, but big enough to consider two binders.
Organization also comes down to the most efficient way to get people to look though your entire binder. Below, I will list three general methods of organization that I have considered:
- Show me the Goods -- Keep the value of your collection in the front. If you are looking to make some big value trades, you want the individual you are trading with to know you can make serious inquiries about the bigger pieces you want. If they start flipping and do not see much, they will likely lose interest.
- Modest -- Keep the value in the back. Let the person you are trading with flip through your entire binder before seeing the goodies. Maybe they will see something smaller they need, instead of looking straight for the value.
- Hide n' Seek -- Disperse the value throughout your binder. Keep the person looking at your binder interested by having them find a surprise on every few pages.
I've tried the first and third of these methods, but I cannot tell which works best. Currently, I have my binder set up with Standard value, eternal value, foils, chase C/U, and bulk. This all fills a 2" binder rather tightly.
How do you organize your binder? What do you like to see when you open a binder? Please note the size of your collection as well.
Epochalyptik says... #3
I keep my value cards in another binder entirely. I only pull that binder out if I know I'm dealing with a trader who will only work with value cards. My primary binder has enough moderate cards to secure me a deal, but nothing like Force of Wills or Noble Hierarchs.
November 24, 2014 2:13 a.m.
I do what Epochalyptik does. I have one binder for your average under $10 stuff and another binder for my over $10 stuff, but in reality my high value binder is things like LilianaOTV and legacy stuff that's worth quite a bit. Both of my folders are sorted by colour then by guild, then by shards and wedges. Within each colour section the cards are alphabetical.
November 24, 2014 4:36 a.m.
I have multiple ringbinder folders with the removable, plastic, 3x3 (I think it's 3x3, could be 4x4 - haven't been home in a while) sheets. Whenever I need to add more to my binder I just add more plastic sheets; easy. I have so many cards that going by colour and then alphabetical is by far the best way. Everyone knows the colour of the cards they want, and if not, they know which colours are their favourite.
November 24, 2014 4:41 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
I can fit most of my stuff into two 3" binders. I normally keep a Standard section (bear in mind that I don't play Standard, so I'm not exactly keeping a lot of value in this one) and an eternal/Modern section in the first binder. The second is for all of the value cards (which probably comprise the majority of my collection at this point).
Everything is organized by tabbed dividers, which mark sections for each color as well as colorless and multicolor. I never really bothered alphabetizing my binders because it's such a pain in the ass if your collection frequently changes. I do try to make sure copies of the same card are next to one another, though.
Recently, I pulled all of the true bulk from my binders. I'll probably sell it off the next time I'm at an event.
November 24, 2014 4:44 a.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #7
My trade binder changes so frequently I've decided that it's way too much work to alphabetize the whole thing and I have my foils in front, then the higher value stuff, then organized by rarity.
November 24, 2014 10:51 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #8
In general, you should avoid clumping together all of your high-value stock because people are likely to flip to that page and never bother looking at the rest of the cards. This makes it harder to get rid of the less appealing stock.
November 24, 2014 11:16 a.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #9
I guess I'll organize by rarity then. I'd organize by color but it's so hard to keep everything in the same spot since my binder seems to change so much.
November 24, 2014 11:37 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #10
Thanks Epochalyptik, ChiefBell, and ThisIsBullshit. I have 8 or so pages of value that I've been trying to decide what to do with. I should disperse them throughout the binder? Also, what about chase C/U? Not of value, but things that are often added in as trade fillers like Young Pyromancer or Delver of Secrets Flip? I have them in their own section right now, but should I disperse them as well?
November 24, 2014 2:55 p.m.
Just do it by colour, honestly. That disperses them narurally.
November 24, 2014 2:59 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #13
@ ChiefBell -- I have my binder sorted by color now, except the value cards are separated. I'll just randomly put them back in. Do you keep foils with the rest? Or Promos? Just everything by color, regardless of what it is?
@ ThisIsBullshit -- Commons/uncommons people usually want. Treasure Cruise, Delver of Secrets Flip, Path to Exile, etc.
November 24, 2014 3:06 p.m.
I have all of my cards of value in my binder, sorted by color, and I have a box of bulk cards sleeved with penny sleeves
December 3, 2014 10:10 p.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #17
I keep my rares (and chase uncommons) in colour/alpha order. Standard first by set, then modern as a group, then legacy as a group.
Anything under about $50 is in the binder. The few cards I have worth more (that I'm not using) I just keep a note in a slot (ie "ask me about my unlimited Underground Sea")
imirk says... #2
OCD Method, Mono Colored Pages organized by set in alphabetic order.
November 24, 2014 1:59 a.m.