Trading at the Parlor
A commitment to providing the most comprehensive trades
We bid collections of any size, and ensure every card in lots are evaluated, with percentage-based bids provided on cards down to $0.08.
Preparing your Collection
We process a continuous stream of collections from just a few cards into the 10s of thousands – all to exacting standards. Help us keep the bids timely by preparing your collection before arrival!
- De-binder
Remove all cards from binders. If you need boxes to put your cards in for submission, ask at the counter, and we can provide options for you to de-binder in the play space.
For bindered storage, we recommend sleeving every bindered card. This helps reduce surface wear over time from friction within the binder page. Additionally, 3-ring binders should be avoided, as they often lead to damaging cards stored in the inner-most column of each page.
- De-sleeve
We need every card de-sleeved to process your collection. Please bring your collection to the counter fully de-sleeved, including inner sleeves.
As part of our bidding process, we need to assess the front & back of each card being catalogued for condition, authenticity, and other metrics. This cannot be accurately performed while the cards are sleeved.
- Re-box
Collections should arrive in card storage boxes, facing the same way. We recommend bundle boxes, or 2- or 3-row BCW storage boxes.
Cards should NOT be stored in stacks, in Ziploc bags, or in any undivided containers, including empty booster boxes. Ask at the counter for appropriate storage for re-boxing prior to submission if needed.
- Separate
The size of your submission, and whether it requires sifting, will effect processing time. Consider pre-separating your collection prior to submission to get more of your bid, faster! See Bid sizes, types, and timelines, below.
Johan has a collection of ~2,000 cards, mostly pack chaff from the past few sets, but knows ~10 of them are certainly worth at least $5 each. Johan separates out the 10 they think might have the highest value, and asks to submit them separately. Those cards are processed as a “10-or-less”, and the bid is available while they wait. The remaining ~1,990 cards go into the queue as an “Un-Sifted Collection”. The processing team will get back to Johan on those as soon as we get through all the pending collections in front.
Bid sizes, types, and timelines
Every collection is unique, and may require a different set of skills, tools, and methods to properly process. To provide the most accurate bid possible while maintaining our highest standards, bids of various types will necessitate different timelines.
- 10-or-less
Size: 10 cards or fewer
Timeline: 5-15 minutes
Collections of 10 or fewer cards will skip the queue! Drop them off at the counter, and have your bid completed while you wait.
Max one 10-or-less submission per day. Bids will not be processed after 7p.
- Pre-Sifted Collections
Size: 11 – 500 cards
Timeline: 1-5+ days
Collections of more than 10 cards, up to ~500 cards (which fits into a single Bundle box), and which only include cards that are exclusively valued >=$0.25 are put in queue to be processed in the order they arrived.
- Un-Sifted Collections
Size: 11+ cards (no max)
Timeline: as staffing allows
Any collection over 10 cards that includes cards valued <$0.25 requires special processing by our team to maximize your value. These collections will be put in queue, but must be meticulously sifted prior to moving further in the process.
Trade Rates
Our goal: maximum value for every submission, for every card.
Pack chaff to dual lands.
Through the course of submission processing, a value will be assigned to every card receiving a percentage-based trade rate. This value is based on both current market data of confirmed trending sales, as well as the current lowest available listings for that particular card, in its specific printing and condition.
A percentage is then applied to each card, based on its determined value. Cards valued at <$1 are only provided a credit bid option. Cards valued at <$0.08 are bid at a flat rate of $0.005 per card.
Cards are not bid if their current pricing appears too unstable. This is most frequently caused by too great a drift between recent sales and current lowest listing; Low being down too much often means we cannot be certain we could sell the card at it’s current Low, while Low being much higher than recent sales means we cannot offer what the card is likely to be verifiably worth in the coming days or weeks.
When the bid is completed for your submission, you will receive a text message with the maximum cash and credit offers. Cash offers will often include some amount of credit for cards we couldn’t offer cash on (those cards under $1). You will also be notified if any cards are being passed back due to unstable market conditions.
If you have any questions about your bid, please come down to the shop, and we can answer an specific questions you may have.
FAQs
What cards do you NOT take?
We take as broad a selection of cards as we can manage, and that we have the expertise (and staff) to move. We want to provide bids on every card you have, from dual lands to basic lands (yes, even your basics). However, there are still limits to our scope. We will not provide bids for:
- Cards valued over $1,000
- Serialized Cards
Could I get a bid over the phone?
We need to evaluate each card on its own merit; that includes identifying the precise set and printing, foiling effect, and condition. We cannot provide bids over the phone.
Why is your value so different from TCGplayer?
There are a few principal reasons you might have a different idea of a card’s value than we assigned it.
Firstly, most forward-facing pricing data is exclusively for Near Mint, which is very accurate for the first week of a card’s lifespan, but in most cases Lightly Played quickly becomes the most-sold condition; the most-sold condition has the most frequently updated Market price, and is most likely to have a Low that is very close to Market, increasing price stability. Not every condition has stable pricing, and for the vast majority of MTG cards, Lightly Played is the most-sold condition, providing the best pricing data for both buyers and sellers. For some older cards, Moderately Played may even be the most accurate value peg.
The next most likely culprit: the card submitted has many different printings that are easily mistaken. White-bordered Chronicles cards are easy to mistake for Antiquities, with a potential value factor of 5x or more. The same goes for extended art sagas, cards in The List, and a myriad others. If you ever have questions with your bid, just drop by and we can answer any questions you have.
How long is my bid good for?
We understand life sometimes gets in the way, and are happy to hold onto your collection until you’re able to come into finish up. We can also load up credit onto your account if you want credit for your submission, just text us back that you’d like the credit! Please do respond to our messages when we send our your bid at your earliest convenience.
If you do not respond when we reach out, and we have received no communication for 30 days since the bid was sent, your submission will be considered abandoned. Credit will be loaded onto your account per the bid provided.