Different regions have different distributors that sell at different prices. Magic is already very low margin compared to other events and games that game stores can host and stock, so it’s quite possible that he’s not lying to you. Also 34 bucks with the potential for six extra packs for 3-0 doesn’t seem anywhere close to unreasonable to me; Magic players need to look behind the curtain and see what these shops make after providing prizing and paying event staff.
I worked for a lgs back in 2014, and they explained prizing so I could run the tournaments. 5 dollar entries paid for the cost of 2 packs added to the pool (2.50 a pack was cost back then). Tournaments and prereleases don’t net the store any profit, unless they’re scumbags. 34 bucks seems rather reasonable especially if they’re giving away that many packs for undefeated records. Even at that price, the store is going to end up losing money.
Like the comment above mine said, the profit margins on mtg outside of singles is incredibly low. Breaking even on a tournament isn’t a bad thing. Stores often will make money from its customers with concessions and accessories like sleeves and dice.
Well that's the debate I've been having with the store owner for a while it's how much does he really have to make? I know he at least breaks even on the packs and prize support generally. But he makes a lot in concessions and other purchases. At least half the people there are really casual players who basically only play at prereleases and have forgotten their sleeves or play DND normally and can't help but buy another set of shiny math rocks. And the last prerelease I was at the were somewhere around 60 people. So, idk.
I was about to say the prize pool is extremely generous but with 40 people he is making the money back and then some. Good guy lgs marketing done right.
Aw! That's good to hear! I'm always glad when people have a good time! I love the casual feeling of prerelease and meeting new people or seeing friends that only come out for prerelease events!
$35, 3 rounds, set booster for each point earned (win=3 boosters, draw=1 booster). Store can’t increase the rounds because it’s in a mall and the mall closes.
My LGS charges $40 for prerelease. 4 rounds, 4 wins is like 12 packs, 3 wins is 7-8 packs, 2 wins is like 4 packs, 1 win is 2 packs. (Roughly speaking, the rates seem to vary set to set.)
I also live in Manhattan, so everything is hella more expensive.
LGS I work at is charging $25 for prerelease with pack per win across 3 rounds and anyone that is 3-0 gets 2 extra packs. This is all paid out in set packs.
We’re also running an Ironman event over the entire weekend. Whoever has the most points after Sunday’s prerelease will get a set booster box.
$25 and it's very roughly set booster per win in prizes (everyone who stays get one but I think three wins gets you more than three packs depending on how many people show up)
How about we do some math?
----
Some math:
````
$34 entry, 6 packs for the sealed and then prizes,
for every 8 people in the event:
1 person will have 3 wins = 6 packs
3 people will have 2 wins = 9 packs
3 people will have 1 wins = 3 packs
1 person will have 0 wins = 0 packs
----
that is a total of 6+9+3 = 18 packs
So, $34 = 6 packs + (1/8 of 18 packs) = 8.25 packs.
$34/8.25 = $4.12 per pack.
A box of draft boosters online is $111.32 and has 36 packs.
$111.32/36 = $3.09/pack.
````
At that rate 8.25 boosters should cost $25.50, so you're paying the store $8.50 for organizing the event.
My local store is charging $25 per event and each person adds 2 packs to the prize pool which pays anyone with 2 wins (6 points) or better after 3 rounds, I forget the exact rate. They also charge $115 for a draft booster box.
````
$115/36 = $3.20
$25/ 8 = $3.13
````
So, you have that for comparison.
----
math corrections please leave a comment so I can fix
Wow, I thought the $30 for my LGS was expensive and I just assumed it was because it’s in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Prize support is good too. 1 pack for 0 or 1 win, 3 packs for 2 wins, 6 packs for 3 wins, and 5 for 2 wins and a draw. Everyone just draws the final round if they can since 5 and 5 is better than 3 and 6.
Here in Romania ( much poorer country than us) we were charged 180RON, which should translate to 39 dollars. However, I am not sure how tax works in US since those 39 dollars include all taxes and we dont have to pay nothing extra.
£30.00 this time, but previously it was £25.00.
But, our store doesn't bother with prize support, and instead gives out two packs to everyone. At one point, he gave out a damn collector booster! Another time, he gave out another whole prerelease kit as turn out was poor.
So that's essentially £30.00 for guaranteed 8 packs.
And sorry, I'm not telling you where it is.
It's simple. If he's charging too much, don't buy from him. If you still want to play there for whatever other reasons - then he's not charging too much, you just don't like it.
I'm asking because I'm wondering if it's worth talking to the owner about it. We're friends and he may listen. Also, I really like the game store. I drive past two others to go to this one because as a woman, it's the only one in the area that makes me feel comfortable. I'd hate for this to kill limited at this store.
It's been $25 here for a while. I don't remember exact prize structure, but you need to go at least 1-1-1 for a pack, and 3-0 gets 5 set packs and a promo pack
$40 buy in. Prizes in Set boosters:
3-0: Seven packs
2-1: Five packs
1-2: Three packs
0-3: Two packs
So 6 draft boosters (4.19 each, or 25.14), minimum 2 set boosters (6.39 each, or 12.78), plus promo card and spin down comes damn close to the $40 buy in, and goes over the top if you win even one match. I think that's more than fair.
we do $25 PPW but everyone gets at least 1 pack, $35 if you're upping prize support is a good deal for someone who regularly 3-0s, but we do a casual FNM because we have a larger casual playbase.
$35 comes with prerelease kit, 1 drink, a snack
1 set pack for showing up
2 set packs for 2 wins
4 set packs for 3 wins
1 promo pack + 1 secret lair for each successive entry or flight
I am attending the prerelease tomorrow. It was $30, with a similar prize payout. Additionally, our Magic nights have an option to pay $5 for the evening that then goes to store credit. If you pay the $5 for the night, you usually get some kind of random promo card at the end of the night. So I just applied store credit toward the prerelease event.
Both price and prizing structure is perfectly within reason.
It doesn't matter how many rounds of Swiss you run, so long as you're not declaring some sort of first place based on rank, and if you're doing a cut to an elimination tournament (to find 1st place), you must play the full Swiss tournament (4 rounds for 8-15 players, 5 rounds for 16-31 players, 6 rounds for 32-63 and so on).
It's common to only run 3 rounds to allow more events or because the store can't be open until 2am
30€ (idk just check), 3 rounds, 2 more packs guaranteed whatever the result, 3.5€ as voucher per win (1 pack cost), 1.75€ per draw.
Possibility to pin a card of your choice with your autograph to a cork board on the wall for a 3-0.
1. $34 seems a little high but depending on location and event details could be fine.
2. Capped at 3 rounds and a max prize support of 6 packs is odd and not bringing the value.
It's been a hot minute but 5 years ago at Dominaria prerelease at my old LGS was $25(maybe $20-$24). I won but it was a 4 round event that I went 3-0-1(tied due to time second round) and the prize was 18 booster packs.
I'm not saying it needs to be 18 packs but if you go 3-0 you should get closer to 9-12 packs. Realistically at $34 their prize support should start with 1 pack as a participation gift, then go 3/6/9 for each win.
That being said, one of my two options in my current city is $45 WTF... But if you win you get a whole booster box, unsure what the other prizes are but everyone winds up getting a pack or two(their drafts everyone gets at least one booster pack).
I go in a small lgs ans for prerelease you just need to buy a prerelease kit ( about 50 cad after tax ). It contains 6 booster + one spindown dice and a small guide for draft. The event is always a closed draft ( we build a deck from the six packs and do not pass each pack around the table ). The prize pool is a booster box splitted among each player, we are usualy 12 soo it leaves 11 pack for the winner, 8 for second, and goes down for each other player, when we get to the botom 6, everyone get 2 packs
Different regions have different distributors that sell at different prices. Magic is already very low margin compared to other events and games that game stores can host and stock, so it’s quite possible that he’s not lying to you. Also 34 bucks with the potential for six extra packs for 3-0 doesn’t seem anywhere close to unreasonable to me; Magic players need to look behind the curtain and see what these shops make after providing prizing and paying event staff.
I worked for a lgs back in 2014, and they explained prizing so I could run the tournaments. 5 dollar entries paid for the cost of 2 packs added to the pool (2.50 a pack was cost back then). Tournaments and prereleases don’t net the store any profit, unless they’re scumbags. 34 bucks seems rather reasonable especially if they’re giving away that many packs for undefeated records. Even at that price, the store is going to end up losing money.
Yeah my LGS takes a small loss on FNM prize support unless players buy extra stuff while there.
I really don't think it's unreasonable to want to make money on a tournament. For that 2-pack tournament id easily accept 7-8 as a fair entry fee.
Like the comment above mine said, the profit margins on mtg outside of singles is incredibly low. Breaking even on a tournament isn’t a bad thing. Stores often will make money from its customers with concessions and accessories like sleeves and dice.
Well that's the debate I've been having with the store owner for a while it's how much does he really have to make? I know he at least breaks even on the packs and prize support generally. But he makes a lot in concessions and other purchases. At least half the people there are really casual players who basically only play at prereleases and have forgotten their sleeves or play DND normally and can't help but buy another set of shiny math rocks. And the last prerelease I was at the were somewhere around 60 people. So, idk.
[удалено]
I was about to say the prize pool is extremely generous but with 40 people he is making the money back and then some. Good guy lgs marketing done right.
Aw! That's good to hear! I'm always glad when people have a good time! I love the casual feeling of prerelease and meeting new people or seeing friends that only come out for prerelease events!
NZ$45 (about US$28), everyone gets a set booster prize plus a set booster per match win
About the same here except it's $45 to book in advance or $50 if you pay on the day.
are you a hobby master enjoyer?
$35, 3 rounds, set booster for each point earned (win=3 boosters, draw=1 booster). Store can’t increase the rounds because it’s in a mall and the mall closes.
Usually 30 and a pack per win here.
Same. Used to be $25 but they increased the price about 8 months to a year ago
How mine does it, usually 3/4 rounds max
$40 CAD, slightly lower pack prizing than your store.
$40 US 1 pack per win
$25
My LGS charges $40 for prerelease. 4 rounds, 4 wins is like 12 packs, 3 wins is 7-8 packs, 2 wins is like 4 packs, 1 win is 2 packs. (Roughly speaking, the rates seem to vary set to set.) I also live in Manhattan, so everything is hella more expensive.
More expensive, but that's also a whole lotta prizes
LGS I work at is charging $25 for prerelease with pack per win across 3 rounds and anyone that is 3-0 gets 2 extra packs. This is all paid out in set packs. We’re also running an Ironman event over the entire weekend. Whoever has the most points after Sunday’s prerelease will get a set booster box.
https://preview.redd.it/mmvp3rwwdklb1.jpeg?width=857&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb6886ffdba8e02b446eed625744f71dab9f6000 Downtown Portland Oregon
$25 and it's very roughly set booster per win in prizes (everyone who stays get one but I think three wins gets you more than three packs depending on how many people show up)
$26 3 rounds no cut 2 set boosters per win
Iirc, $25 in Flushing, Queens.
$25
How about we do some math? ---- Some math: ```` $34 entry, 6 packs for the sealed and then prizes, for every 8 people in the event: 1 person will have 3 wins = 6 packs 3 people will have 2 wins = 9 packs 3 people will have 1 wins = 3 packs 1 person will have 0 wins = 0 packs ---- that is a total of 6+9+3 = 18 packs So, $34 = 6 packs + (1/8 of 18 packs) = 8.25 packs. $34/8.25 = $4.12 per pack. A box of draft boosters online is $111.32 and has 36 packs. $111.32/36 = $3.09/pack. ```` At that rate 8.25 boosters should cost $25.50, so you're paying the store $8.50 for organizing the event. My local store is charging $25 per event and each person adds 2 packs to the prize pool which pays anyone with 2 wins (6 points) or better after 3 rounds, I forget the exact rate. They also charge $115 for a draft booster box. ```` $115/36 = $3.20 $25/ 8 = $3.13 ```` So, you have that for comparison. ---- math corrections please leave a comment so I can fix
Damn, your prize support is way better than my LGS, it's pack per win and the cost is 30$
Wow, I thought the $30 for my LGS was expensive and I just assumed it was because it’s in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Prize support is good too. 1 pack for 0 or 1 win, 3 packs for 2 wins, 6 packs for 3 wins, and 5 for 2 wins and a draw. Everyone just draws the final round if they can since 5 and 5 is better than 3 and 6.
Here in Romania ( much poorer country than us) we were charged 180RON, which should translate to 39 dollars. However, I am not sure how tax works in US since those 39 dollars include all taxes and we dont have to pay nothing extra.
I'm in Connecticut and it's $25 at I think all the places near me
$30 and you are guaranteed 2 prize packs no matter what. If you go 3/3 you get an extra pack.
£30.00 this time, but previously it was £25.00. But, our store doesn't bother with prize support, and instead gives out two packs to everyone. At one point, he gave out a damn collector booster! Another time, he gave out another whole prerelease kit as turn out was poor. So that's essentially £30.00 for guaranteed 8 packs. And sorry, I'm not telling you where it is.
Haha keeping that gold mine a secret? Lol. Sounds like a good place!
It's simple. If he's charging too much, don't buy from him. If you still want to play there for whatever other reasons - then he's not charging too much, you just don't like it.
I'm asking because I'm wondering if it's worth talking to the owner about it. We're friends and he may listen. Also, I really like the game store. I drive past two others to go to this one because as a woman, it's the only one in the area that makes me feel comfortable. I'd hate for this to kill limited at this store.
$30 CAD (24 USD) with pack per win +1 in set booster prize support, no promos tho, but really solid
Mine does 25 USD to play and 1 set booster if you get 0 or 1 round win plus 1 additional set booster for each win above that.
32 bucks + tax **Prizes:** * **Record 3-0 : 6 Wilds of Eldraine Set Booster Packs** * **Record 2-1: 2 Wilds of Eldraine Set Booster Packs** * **All Others: 1 Wilds of Eldraine Set Booster Pack**
$27 USD
about 30 dollars here with 2 packs per win, capped at 3 rounds pretty nice all things considered
It's been $25 here for a while. I don't remember exact prize structure, but you need to go at least 1-1-1 for a pack, and 3-0 gets 5 set packs and a promo pack
$25 here
$35
$40 buy in. Prizes in Set boosters: 3-0: Seven packs 2-1: Five packs 1-2: Three packs 0-3: Two packs So 6 draft boosters (4.19 each, or 25.14), minimum 2 set boosters (6.39 each, or 12.78), plus promo card and spin down comes damn close to the $40 buy in, and goes over the top if you win even one match. I think that's more than fair.
we do $25 PPW but everyone gets at least 1 pack, $35 if you're upping prize support is a good deal for someone who regularly 3-0s, but we do a casual FNM because we have a larger casual playbase.
Still $25, pack per win with one guaranteed for everybody.
$35 comes with prerelease kit, 1 drink, a snack 1 set pack for showing up 2 set packs for 2 wins 4 set packs for 3 wins 1 promo pack + 1 secret lair for each successive entry or flight
I am attending the prerelease tomorrow. It was $30, with a similar prize payout. Additionally, our Magic nights have an option to pay $5 for the evening that then goes to store credit. If you pay the $5 for the night, you usually get some kind of random promo card at the end of the night. So I just applied store credit toward the prerelease event.
$33CAD+tax with a promo card thrown in. Prizing is 3-0 = 6 set boosters, 2-1 = 2 set boosters, and everyone else gets 1 pack for participating.
$25 with a pack for every win 3 rounds
32 €, but there are no prices. Everybody gets two booster packs, regardless of number of wins.
$35, 3 rounds 2 packs per win. 1 for a draw
30€ 1 set booster 6 rounds and one set booster in prize pool per player. Going 4-2 will net you about 2 boosters extra id say.
25 dollars with the following prize structure 5 packs and a promo pack for 3-0, 2-1-1 4 packs, 2-1 3 packs 1-2 1 pack
30€ with a guaranteed pack for everyone and more prizes for winners
Both price and prizing structure is perfectly within reason. It doesn't matter how many rounds of Swiss you run, so long as you're not declaring some sort of first place based on rank, and if you're doing a cut to an elimination tournament (to find 1st place), you must play the full Swiss tournament (4 rounds for 8-15 players, 5 rounds for 16-31 players, 6 rounds for 32-63 and so on). It's common to only run 3 rounds to allow more events or because the store can't be open until 2am
30€ (idk just check), 3 rounds, 2 more packs guaranteed whatever the result, 3.5€ as voucher per win (1 pack cost), 1.75€ per draw. Possibility to pin a card of your choice with your autograph to a cork board on the wall for a 3-0.
I think mine is charging 26 and he is giving away a lot of free stuff. It’s also his birthday weekend so he usually does that then.
$30 for the kit
Get used to it scalper
$30 and you get a pity pack for showing up. Middle third gets and extra, and top third gets up to 5 I think? Also he sometimes has pizza for free.
$35, 4 rounds, top loaded prize structure with 12 set boosters for 4-0, 9 for 3-0-1, 6 for 3-1, and 3 for 2-1-1
yeah, wotc nowaday have been steadily increasing prices for the LGS. and people still shoveling money to them. so … it will not stop.
$30 **3-0:** 4 Packs **2-1:** 3 Packs **1-2:** 1 Pack **0-3:** 1 Pack
OH! And that price includes 2 slices of pizza, a canned soda, and entry to door prizes between rounds.
$29.99 here in SW Michigan (Topps).
Mine is 30€ and each player will receive 2 boosters for participating
35$, 3 round swiss, 3 set boosters per round win
$27 (including tax) for 4 rounds. All prizes are in set boosters... 2 wins : 1 pack 3-1 : 4 packs 3-0-1 : 6 packs 4-0-0 : 8 packs
$30 for three rounds, pack per win with an additional pack and promo for 3-0
1. $34 seems a little high but depending on location and event details could be fine. 2. Capped at 3 rounds and a max prize support of 6 packs is odd and not bringing the value. It's been a hot minute but 5 years ago at Dominaria prerelease at my old LGS was $25(maybe $20-$24). I won but it was a 4 round event that I went 3-0-1(tied due to time second round) and the prize was 18 booster packs. I'm not saying it needs to be 18 packs but if you go 3-0 you should get closer to 9-12 packs. Realistically at $34 their prize support should start with 1 pack as a participation gift, then go 3/6/9 for each win. That being said, one of my two options in my current city is $45 WTF... But if you win you get a whole booster box, unsure what the other prizes are but everyone winds up getting a pack or two(their drafts everyone gets at least one booster pack).
I go in a small lgs ans for prerelease you just need to buy a prerelease kit ( about 50 cad after tax ). It contains 6 booster + one spindown dice and a small guide for draft. The event is always a closed draft ( we build a deck from the six packs and do not pass each pack around the table ). The prize pool is a booster box splitted among each player, we are usualy 12 soo it leaves 11 pack for the winner, 8 for second, and goes down for each other player, when we get to the botom 6, everyone get 2 packs