The Last Homely House
Middle-Earth => Bag End => Topic started by: Kenddrick on January 22, 2010, 10:24:30 PM
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A random rant:
You guys may not know but here in Singapore, it's crazy.
I have only found 1 shop that still sells LotR: TCG.
Booster packs go for USD$3 (limited to Mines of Moria, Mount Doom and Bloodlines)
Starter decks go for USD$14 (only left with Bloodlines: Arwen)
ROTK Anthology retails for USD $50
Shadow Booster Box retails for USD $70
So obviously, the shop isn't the best place to go if you are looking for best value.
While on ebay however, the cost of shipping is usually almost once or twice the price of the items. A box of Ages End costs me USD$40.
So I find it very fustrating as I love LotR: TCG a lot. :(
Any comforting words are welcome :(:(
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Well singapore is a lot closer to Wellington then Amsterdam....
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Here's the latest:
A box of FOTR starters: USD $15
Cost to ship via USPS: USD $40
:(!
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you're kidding?! Guess someone is trying to get a profit :(
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It's always like that. ARGH. :(
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The prices in your original post are about typical for how much the game cost back when I was collecting it here in the US. I remember when I was able to buy 10 TTT boxes for $70 apiece - what a steal! Bulk discount!
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Well, I'm now worried on how to get new players in my country with the situation like that.
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Actually, still better to be able to buy any cards, I can't by any cards at all in here!
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Actually, still better to be able to buy any cards, I can't by any cards at all in here!
Second that.
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Actually, it's not as much profit as you might think. Shipping from the US to Singapore is expensive on the US postal chart (http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/ps_027.htm). Shipping one three-pound box is roughly US$25.
What I would do is arrange to buy several boxes. Your best bet is the Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box for US$44. If I remember, four booster displays fit inside that box. If you got someone to open the boxes and arrange the boosters, you could probably get 6 displays worth of cards. US$8 per box is more reasonable for shipping.
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The prices in your original post are about typical for how much the game cost back when I was collecting it here in the US. I remember when I was able to buy 10 TTT boxes for $70 apiece - what a steal! Bulk discount!
That's what I was thinking. Those prices sounded spot on for when the game was first released.
I try not to think about that though... I gave Decipher A LOT of money.
Correction, I gave Rick Eddleman a lot money =)
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I dont agree. LOTR is no longer in production and should be a cheaper card game to play than a current release like MTG. Whilst living in a country where cards are still available and you can walk away with boxes for @20-25 USD is nice, others don't have access, and this prevents them from playing (which is bad for all of us if we still like to play). Some are students and lack the income to support crazy shipping fees that are either designed to make a quick profit (or a results of massive inflation in postage costs from USA).
I remember when i set a rule for myself on Ebay. Never buy from UK - shipping is too much and the Aussie dollar is pathetic next to the pound. However, lately it is cheaper to buy from UK than USA - and thats with the Aussie dollar remaining pathetic next to the pound but almost on par with the US dollar.
Gone are the days that I could get bargains from USA when the Aussie dollar was strong against the American dollar. And its not because the price of cards have gone up - it is soley the steep rise in postage costs.
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I dont agree. LOTR is no longer in production and should be a cheaper card game to play than a current release like MTG.
no, you're wrong, it should cost more. In my economics class this year, I've learned that in general, the price of something is inversely proportional to the supply of that object, so the less there is of something the more it will cost.
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I dont agree. LOTR is no longer in production and should be a cheaper card game to play than a current release like MTG.
no, you're wrong, it should cost more. In my economics class this year, I've learned that in general, the price of something is inversely proportional to the supply of that object, so the less there is of something the more it will cost.
You're partially right... If nobody buy's it then it should become cheaper! So it depends on the market and I think that there are not many players in singapore. So it doesn't makes sense that het uses high prices because he won't sell it if people think he's to expensive... question of who is the most patient.
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BTW... USD$3 is how much booster packs cost... IN AMERICA!
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price depends on supply, demand, perhaps the quality of product, greed. Early sets that remain available generally have a low price - supply remains high and demand remains low = low price.
I can buy a box of Mines of Moria for $22 AUD from USA (postage is $37 AUD, incidently it does not cost anywhere near this to post a box to Australia from USA but Ebay don't charge fees on postage so it is an easy way for sellers to boost their profits - i don't buy internationally any more due to sellers greed on postage rates). Luckily, I can buy a box of MoM locally for $40 AUD with another $10 AUD for postage which is a much better deal but not as good as it should be due to the greed factor on international postage rates.
A box of Treachery and Deceit on Ebay is $628 AUD from USA (postage is $32 AUD). This is a case of limited supply drives the price up. Again greed is the driving factor here. Note that the seller feels less inclined to profiteer on postage - although the price is still well above what it should be for postage.
I would never pay $3 for a booster of MoM but would jump at one for T&D. I can pick up boosters of LOTR in local hobby stores from relatively available sets for $2.50 AUD on clearance, but don't because the price of a box is a much better deal.
Product generally is quite cheap if you have access to it in your country. If not, the price can be unfairly high as sellers want to make profit on postage. I empathise with Kenddrick on this issue, because he says the supply in Singapore is not good, so if he wants to buy LOTR he has to line the pockets of greedy sellers that overcharge on postage.
Rant over :)
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Well I have the same situation, but. There's a but. In general US has the most stock left, and shipping in the US is general low. What I have done in the past with NappyKorn, who should be here more often, since I miss him :cry:, is the following.
I ordered a box of stuff, send it to his address. He unpacked the whole lot, I told him what uncs/commons I would need (not much) and he send those cards + rares to me. Way, way cheaper, but you have to trust the person at the other end of the deal. That is the beauty though...trusting people kicks #$&*@! :D
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BTW...the ammount of money I spend on LotR :-k :lol: hahahahaha.... Probably enough money to visit all of you on various trips. I had not discovered lotr on the Internet, and bought my boosterpacks 4 euros a piece from the local retailer, haha. €150 per month easily, especially with actions like the promo's. Friengd of mine started later, spend less money, bought a whole lot of more lotr cards...well, it happens :D
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Well I have the same situation, but. There's a but. In general US has the most stock left, and shipping in the US is general low. What I have done in the past with NappyKorn, who should be here more often, since I miss him :cry:, is the following.
I ordered a box of stuff, send it to his address. He unpacked the whole lot, I told him what uncs/commons I would need (not much) and he send those cards + rares to me. Way, way cheaper, but you have to trust the person at the other end of the deal. That is the beauty though...trusting people kicks #$&*@! :D
Yeah, where the #$&*@! is Nappy? We were dealing and then woooooop, he just vanished!