5 Years of Holding MTG Sealed Product

Summary

In this video, Louie from Kitchen Table TCG reflects on his experience with Magic: The Gathering sealed products, particularly from the War of the Spark and Throne of Eldraine sets. After holding onto these products for five years, he shares his decision to sell them, citing issues with storage, space, and the shifting market. Louie discusses the impact of live-streamed box openings, the rise of chase cards, and the changing dynamics in Magic: The Gathering’s sealed product market. He concludes that his time and space are better invested elsewhere, while still maintaining a love for the hobby.

Takeaways

• 😀 Louie discusses his experience with collecting and investing in sealed Magic: The Gathering products, especially from the War of the Spark and Throne of Eldraine eras.
• 😀 He originally promised to hold his sealed product for at least five years but eventually decided to sell it due to frustrations with storage and the lack of significant price increases.
• 😀 The market for older draft booster boxes has changed significantly, with fewer people interested in opening them, especially in the face of newer, more exciting products.
• 😀 Louie emphasizes that the rise of 'rip and ship' and live-streaming events has shifted the demand for certain products, with fewer people engaging with older sealed products like War of the Spark.
• 😀 The value of older boxes has not grown as expected, with Louie feeling that the market for these boxes lacks a strong catalyst to drive prices up.
• 😀 Louie highlights that storing and moving large quantities of sealed product over time can become a logistical burden, especially when space is limited.
• 😀 Despite moving many boxes and feeling the space constraints, Louie still believes that investing in sealed products can be profitable, but only if they are stored in the right conditions and are in-demand products.
• 😀 Louie has now shifted his focus to investing in collector boxes, which he believes have more potential due to their engaging nature and the large chase cards they contain.
• 😀 He explains that collector boxes are easier to store and have more community engagement, especially when compared to draft booster boxes.
• 😀 Ultimately, Louie advises against overstocking older draft boxes, as newer formats with serialized and chase cards seem to offer better investment opportunities in the current Magic: The Gathering climate.

Q & A

What prompted Louie to sell his sealed product collection?

Louie was frustrated with the process of constantly moving his sealed product due to basement flooding. After five years of storage and promise to hold the collection for that long, he decided it was no longer worth the hassle and space it occupied.

Why does Louie believe sealed products, particularly from the War of Spark era, are not as valuable anymore?

Louie argues that the market for sealed products has changed. The appeal of older sets like War of Spark has diminished because people no longer want to open these boxes for fun or financial gain. The introduction of serialized cards and chase cards in newer products has shifted the market focus.

How does Louie feel about investing in sealed products like War of Spark or Throne of Eldrain boxes?

Louie believes that investing in sealed products can still be a valid strategy, but for certain older sets, the investment potential has dwindled due to changes in the industry, such as the rise of streaming platforms like Whatnot and the abundance of reprints.

What role do streaming platforms play in the decline of sealed product value?

Platforms like Whatnot and the popularity of 'rip and ship' streams have made it clear that people want to open more exciting, high-chase products, which have shifted demand away from older draft boxes like War of Spark and Throne of Eldrain, which are less appealing to streamers and collectors.

What other costs did Louie face when holding onto his sealed product collection?

Louie mentions storage costs, the time and energy spent moving the boxes due to flooding in his basement, and the opportunity cost of using space and resources for products that weren't actively selling or being used.

Why does Louie believe that collector boxes are a better investment than draft boxes?

Louie believes collector boxes are a better investment because they offer more exciting products for people to open, with higher demand and better chase cards. They also take up less space, making them more practical from both an investment and storage perspective.

How did Louie handle his sealed product stock after listing it on TCGPlayer?

After listing the sealed product collection, Louie mentioned he had a successful weekend, completing around 750 to 900 orders, although his focus shifted toward selling products that are more aligned with current market trends, such as collector boxes.

What does Louie believe about the long-term growth of older draft boxes like War of Spark?

While Louie acknowledges that these boxes might gain some value over time, he feels the potential for significant growth is limited due to the lack of strong catalysts like chase cards or streamers who want to open them for entertainment or profit.

What is Louie's advice regarding the storage and management of sealed product collections?

Louie advises that if you do not have sufficient space or a dedicated warehouse, it's better to reconsider holding onto large amounts of sealed product. He emphasizes that space and storage can be better utilized for more lucrative investments or operational needs.

Why does Louie keep a couple of boxes of sealed product despite selling most of his collection?

Louie kept a few boxes for personal use, mainly for casual drafts with friends. He enjoys having some sealed product on hand for the enjoyment of drafting rather than holding it purely as an investment.