Price Manipulation?

Economics forum

Posted on Feb. 5, 2021, 7:36 p.m. by RNR_Gaming

Has anyone noticed the recent spikes in price manipulation? People are listing cards way above their median value to spike the value of certain cards - if you shop around you can easily find better prices but tcgplayer has been especially volatile lately.

Massacar says... #2

Things started to get wacky especially after a lot of the big buyouts started happening for RL items during the beginning of Covid-19.

At least what I have noticed anyway. But looks like everyone was wrong about how my Jeweled Lotus would retain value.

February 5, 2021 9:01 p.m.

RNR_Gaming says... #3

It's not just RL cards. Wyluli Wolf for example. Granted, the 1 that spiked is Arabian nights - but most of the listing are around 5-8 bucks you can still get an mp for 8 on one of the listings but there are two NM copies that are about 35+ each; This spikes the median makes things a bit wonky due to there only being 2 pages worth of the card. Low supply makes for easy targets and if you were to go onto any sight itd show a 270% spike and I'm sure FOMO will get the best of some people.

February 5, 2021 9:47 p.m.

RNR_Gaming says... #4

On a side note I have proxies up a jewled lotus for tasigur and I've been really liking it lol

February 5, 2021 10:24 p.m.

Caerwyn says... #5

Building on what Massacar wrote, the buyouts are focused mostly on the RL, since those are the safest things to buy out, but there also have been buyouts of other cards that are unlikely to be reprinted, particularly if those cards have unique effects. Speculation on what the next EDH staple is going to be also drives a lot of buyouts--we frequently see price spikes on cards that might be relevant to newly-spoiled legends.

As for Wyluli Wolf , I think I read that there were people that were trying to buy out Arabian Nights cards as that set's age makes it ripe for collectors, RL cards or not.

Mcat1999 - TappedOut is not a great place for going off on political rants, particularly rants heavily based on factual errors and extremely questionable political analysis.

February 7, 2021 12:47 a.m.

MollyMab says... #6

At least we got a great example of the dunning kruger effect.

But yeah there have been a load of spikes recently. People buying. People collecting therefore not selling etc. I sold a volc a few years back to help a friend and its since doubled in price. I own 4 duals and a MUD/Post deck and those are being used to fund FFS in the future. I own a bunch of other RL stuff and those are going up.

Just know that generally these spikes tend to slump a bit. They spike. Then people try to sell their copies of a card few people want and the price slumps a bit at its higher spot. The issue with a lot of RL cards is finding someone who wants them.

February 8, 2021 4:39 a.m.

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