Is a Trade Binder worth my time?
Gear forum
Posted on Sept. 15, 2015, 3:31 p.m. by Coinman1863
The title says it all. I personally have never had a trade binder for all my random odds and ends, is it worth it? I just was considering it because I saw the trading pet peeves thread which made me ask the question.
And if I do get a binder, what kind should I get?
Servo_Token says... #3
Yep, 100% worth it. It keeps your cards organized and in better condition than just some box, and trading is the best way to get the cards you need.
My first binder was literally a dollar 3-ring from Walmart and a pack of Ultra Pro binder sleeves, which were like $3. Any binder will do for your first one. I personally like Max Protection's binders if you want to go a bit more spendy.
September 15, 2015 3:43 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #4
Yes.
I can't stand it when people have their trades sleeved up in a fat pack. Or worse, just thrown into a box. A binder is a cheap and efficient way to maintain and protect your collection and undoubtedly worth it.
As for a binder, it's up to you. A simple 3-ding binder with the Ultra Pro binder sleeves will be just fine. I semi-recently upgraded to a Deck Tutor Four (12 cards per page opposed to 9) binder. If you really like your playsets, this binder is a great way to display your collection. Little pricey, but I love it.
September 15, 2015 4:23 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
If you want to trade, and if you want people to take you seriously when you trade (i.e., if you want them to spend their time on you), then you should give the impression that you're a competent trader.
Having a presentable trade binder is the first step in doing that.
You don't have to go for a Monster or UltraPro binder, either (I personally hate those ones, but they offer good protection. I use a 3" office binder with tabbed dividers and loose 9-pocket card sheets. I duct taped it so that it's sturdy, and it has served me well over the course of my career.
If you don't have a binder (which would mean you have your cards in a box or bag), you're going to damage your cards in storage or transportation or allow other people to damage them as they look through them. Plus, you immediately give the impression of someone who can't be bothered to organize or take care of what they have, regardless of how much you actually care about trading.
September 15, 2015 5:53 p.m.
Binders are useful for a lot more than trading. I only have a page and a half of cards I'm actually interested in trading away. The rest of it's sideboards, maybeboards, shopping lists for cards I'm looking for, and incomplete decks. There's maybe two pages of cards I want to trade at the beginning.
A binder should be higher on your priority than a deckbox. To this day I use a Theros fatpack box I found in my LGS's trash, and I will upgrade my binder again long before I stop using it as a deckbox.
September 15, 2015 7:45 p.m.
I've been using a magic 2012 Deck Builder Kit box for the past 2 years, but haven't been very active with trading. It would probably make finding cards a lot easier than searching through stacks of cards only sorted by color.
VampireArmy says... #2
This thread was moved to a more appropriate forum (auto-generated comment)
September 15, 2015 3:38 p.m.