Theft, Protection, and the Value of Commander Decks

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DirkGently
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Post by DirkGently » 4 years ago

The Fluff wrote:
4 years ago
We played in a normal house, no need for the sarcasm. We played around 4 years single sleeved, and all white bordered card were ruined. If you won't believe then there's no one forcing you to believe that single sleeving deteriorates cards eventually.

single sleeved for years
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Just having some fun, relax. And joking aside, it's very possible you play more often than I do - I usually play once a week for ~4 hours. Someone, say, living with roommates who play magic could conceivably be getting a lot more use out of their cards than I do.

Thanks for including the scans, that's helpful for my understanding. Have you tried cleaning them? Are there actual scratches or is it just gunk?

There are other factors that might explain the disconnect: are you playing on a clean playmat? What kind of sleeves are you using, and how deep are they? How many hours a week do you play? How do you shuffle? Was the card in NM condition when you got it?

It's not really an issue of me not believing you. I've used my own collection for a lot longer than fours years in single-sleeves, and haven't experienced any damage to my cards from what I can tell. I believe it's happening to you, but it's not happening to me, at all. On my duals, which were at best LP when I got them, the borders are all snowy white, except maybe a few flecks of hand gunk on some of them, although that could have been there when I got them. I've had all of them since 2011 iirc, and they've always been in every deck they could legally be in, so they're as played as almost anything I own. And I'm running all the fetches, so I shuffle plenty.

My sleeves are pretty grimy at this point, the tops tend to have a patina of hand gunk along the inside top border for my commonly-used ones. But the cards themselves look totally fine to me. Here's my sea, probably my most-used dual - you can see the layer of gunk on the sleeve, but the top border of the card barely has a speck of dust on it.
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Perm Decks
Phelddagrif - Kaervek - Golos - Zirilan

Flux Decks
Gollum - Lobelia - Minthara - Plargg2 - Solphim - Otharri - Graaz - Ratchet - Soundwave - Slicer - Gale - Rootha - Kagemaro - Blorpityblorpboop - Kayla - SliverQueen - Ivy - Falco - Gluntch - Charlatan/Wilson - Garth - Kros - Anthousa - Shigeki - Light-Paws - Lukka - Sefris - Ebondeath - Rokiric - Garth - Nixilis - Grist - Mavinda - Kumano - Nezahal - Mavinda - Plargg - Plargg - Extus - Plargg - Oracle - Kardur - Halvar - Tergrid - Egon - Cosima - Halana+Livio - Jeska+Falthis+Obosh - Yeva - Akiri+Zirda - Lady Sun - Nahiri - Korlash - Overlord+Zirda - Chisei - Athreos2 - Akim - Cazur+Ukkima - Otrimi - Otrimi - Kalamax - Ayli+Lurrus - Clamilton - Gonti - Heliod2 - Ayula - Thassa2 - Gallia - Purphoros2 - Rankle - Uro - Rayami - Gargos - Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa - Ashling1 - Angus - Arcum - Talrand - Chainer - Higure - Kumano - Scion - Teferi1 - Uyo - Sisters
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote
Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena
Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6

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TheGildedGoose
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Post by TheGildedGoose » 4 years ago

DirkGently wrote:
4 years ago
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Dude, sleeves are like, $0.10 each. That is a lot of sebum. 0/10, would not play theft cards on you.

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DirkGently
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Post by DirkGently » 4 years ago

Lol, I wondered if anyone would comment on that when I hosted my commander cube, but nobody said anything.

Yeah it's pretty gross and I should replace them, but that's true of probably like 1000+ of my sleeves right now. That price adds up. Also I can't find my sleeves in NZ at the moment, once I'm settled I'll try to figure out a way to acquire them and maybe make some replacements.
Perm Decks
Phelddagrif - Kaervek - Golos - Zirilan

Flux Decks
Gollum - Lobelia - Minthara - Plargg2 - Solphim - Otharri - Graaz - Ratchet - Soundwave - Slicer - Gale - Rootha - Kagemaro - Blorpityblorpboop - Kayla - SliverQueen - Ivy - Falco - Gluntch - Charlatan/Wilson - Garth - Kros - Anthousa - Shigeki - Light-Paws - Lukka - Sefris - Ebondeath - Rokiric - Garth - Nixilis - Grist - Mavinda - Kumano - Nezahal - Mavinda - Plargg - Plargg - Extus - Plargg - Oracle - Kardur - Halvar - Tergrid - Egon - Cosima - Halana+Livio - Jeska+Falthis+Obosh - Yeva - Akiri+Zirda - Lady Sun - Nahiri - Korlash - Overlord+Zirda - Chisei - Athreos2 - Akim - Cazur+Ukkima - Otrimi - Otrimi - Kalamax - Ayli+Lurrus - Clamilton - Gonti - Heliod2 - Ayula - Thassa2 - Gallia - Purphoros2 - Rankle - Uro - Rayami - Gargos - Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa - Ashling1 - Angus - Arcum - Talrand - Chainer - Higure - Kumano - Scion - Teferi1 - Uyo - Sisters
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote
Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena
Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6

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FoxOfWar
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Post by FoxOfWar » 4 years ago

My cards in total have some value... but my decks are a tiny fraction of the card value pool between me & wife, I'm not exactly lugging all (currently) 33 decks with me so even that value is relatively spread, and we luckily(?) live in the middle of nowhere so even our LGS is home to a relatively small pool of players.

(Of note, the occasional shockland is as far as I'll go in terms of investing in a single deck's landbase. So that takes the actual value of a single deck down a lot, obviously.)

And, well, if someone was to break into our home, I'm pretty sure the amount of electronics here would probably get more attention than our messy cardpool :P
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pokken
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Post by pokken » 4 years ago

The electronics are covered by your homeowners for replacement cost at minimum most likely. Your magic cards are covered at jack to $500. Something to be aware of.

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Gashnaw
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Post by Gashnaw » 4 years ago

A couple weeks ago i nearly had my decks stolen (My dragon deck (Worth about 4.5k) My Chandra deck (Probably about about 100. i run all chandras in it along with some other expensive cards) Volroth (about 1500, due to lands) And a few other expensive cards (At the time i was playing my Questing beast deck) guy just walked up, grabbed my case and was about walk out with it. Luckily a friend of mine saw the case, knew i had a case like that and kinda blocked the guy asking where my case was. I now play with my case under my chair instead of on the table next to me. (You are in a game and focused you are not paying attention next to you.)

I should get my cards evaluated just so i can get them insured.

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Sinis
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Post by Sinis » 4 years ago

Gashnaw wrote:
4 years ago
guy just walked up, grabbed my case and was about walk out with it.
ngl, this made me livid

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pokken
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Post by pokken » 4 years ago

Gashnaw wrote:
4 years ago
A couple weeks ago i nearly had my decks stolen (My dragon deck (Worth about 4.5k) My Chandra deck (Probably about about 100. i run all chandras in it along with some other expensive cards) Volroth (about 1500, due to lands) And a few other expensive cards (At the time i was playing my Questing beast deck) guy just walked up, grabbed my case and was about walk out with it. Luckily a friend of mine saw the case, knew i had a case like that and kinda blocked the guy asking where my case was. I now play with my case under my chair instead of on the table next to me. (You are in a game and focused you are not paying attention next to you.)

I should get my cards evaluated just so i can get them insured.
Bag strap around your chair leg is a trick some tourney grinder taught me.

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Gashnaw
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Post by Gashnaw » 4 years ago

pokken wrote:
4 years ago
Gashnaw wrote:
4 years ago
A couple weeks ago i nearly had my decks stolen (My dragon deck (Worth about 4.5k) My Chandra deck (Probably about about 100. i run all chandras in it along with some other expensive cards) Volroth (about 1500, due to lands) And a few other expensive cards (At the time i was playing my Questing beast deck) guy just walked up, grabbed my case and was about walk out with it. Luckily a friend of mine saw the case, knew i had a case like that and kinda blocked the guy asking where my case was. I now play with my case under my chair instead of on the table next to me. (You are in a game and focused you are not paying attention next to you.)

I should get my cards evaluated just so i can get them insured.
Bag strap around your chair leg is a trick some tourney grinder taught me.
Stanley toolbox, doesn't exactly fit in my backpack.

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bobthefunny
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Post by bobthefunny » 4 years ago

Call the cops on the guy? Kinda hard for him to claim that he "accidentally" grabbed a stanley toolbox.

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Gashnaw
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Post by Gashnaw » 4 years ago

bobthefunny wrote:
4 years ago
Call the cops on the guy? Kinda hard for him to claim that he "accidentally" grabbed a stanley toolbox.
We did, held him in the store and waited for the cops to arrive (So glad my friends know I am the guy with the toolbox.)

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GuJiaXian
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Post by GuJiaXian » 4 years ago

I don't have an expensive collection to protect like others in this thread, but I did want to jump in on the topic of water/fire-proof safes. I've owned one such safe for many years to hold important documents and other items. These safes are, obviously, airtight, which means that any ambient moisture will become trapped inside as soon as you close the safe. I live in a desert with extremely dry air, but the moisture level inside the sealed safe is still high enough to cause paper to mildew and metal (even staples and paperclips) to rust. I've taken to placing a large desiccant pack in the safe to keep everything dry. Even then, the desiccant pack has to be removed and "recharged" every four weeks or so.

So, don't make the mistake of thinking that a water/fire-proof safe is a fix-all. It's a great solution (and good peace of mind), but it requires a little forethought and semi-regular maintenance.

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Gashnaw
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Post by Gashnaw » 4 years ago

GuJiaXian wrote:
4 years ago
I don't have an expensive collection to protect like others in this thread, but I did want to jump in on the topic of water/fire-proof safes. I've owned one such safe for many years to hold important documents and other items. These safes are, obviously, airtight, which means that any ambient moisture will become trapped inside as soon as you close the safe. I live in a desert with extremely dry air, but the moisture level inside the sealed safe is still high enough to cause paper to mildew and metal (even staples and paperclips) to rust. I've taken to placing a large desiccant pack in the safe to keep everything dry. Even then, the desiccant pack has to be removed and "recharged" every four weeks or so.

So, don't make the mistake of thinking that a water/fire-proof safe is a fix-all. It's a great solution (and good peace of mind), but it requires a little forethought and semi-regular maintenance.
My grandfather had a safe like that, but it also had a vacuum attached, which would not only remove the air but the moisture as well.

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Dunharrow
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Post by Dunharrow » 4 years ago

My cousin has a keypad-locked room that functions as a humidor for his cigars. Temperature and humidity control.

Would it be crazy to build that for my magic collection? Probably not too crazy.

I am definitely going to talk to my insurance providers about my collection. There has to be something.
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Post by RxPhantom » 4 years ago

Regarding moisture and our collections' susceptibility therein, here's a tip from your friendly Nexus pharmacist: get yourself some desiccants and/or silica gel packs. Put them in boxes, bags, or wherever you store your collection. They're great at absorbing the moisture in the air, and protecting your cards. You can find them in bottles of medication and even some foods. I get them for free because, ya know, I'm a pharmacist, but they shouldn't be too tough to find or order.
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DirkGently
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Post by DirkGently » 4 years ago

I've never heard of people worrying about humidity for non-foils. How can you tell it's been damaged?
Perm Decks
Phelddagrif - Kaervek - Golos - Zirilan

Flux Decks
Gollum - Lobelia - Minthara - Plargg2 - Solphim - Otharri - Graaz - Ratchet - Soundwave - Slicer - Gale - Rootha - Kagemaro - Blorpityblorpboop - Kayla - SliverQueen - Ivy - Falco - Gluntch - Charlatan/Wilson - Garth - Kros - Anthousa - Shigeki - Light-Paws - Lukka - Sefris - Ebondeath - Rokiric - Garth - Nixilis - Grist - Mavinda - Kumano - Nezahal - Mavinda - Plargg - Plargg - Extus - Plargg - Oracle - Kardur - Halvar - Tergrid - Egon - Cosima - Halana+Livio - Jeska+Falthis+Obosh - Yeva - Akiri+Zirda - Lady Sun - Nahiri - Korlash - Overlord+Zirda - Chisei - Athreos2 - Akim - Cazur+Ukkima - Otrimi - Otrimi - Kalamax - Ayli+Lurrus - Clamilton - Gonti - Heliod2 - Ayula - Thassa2 - Gallia - Purphoros2 - Rankle - Uro - Rayami - Gargos - Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa - Ashling1 - Angus - Arcum - Talrand - Chainer - Higure - Kumano - Scion - Teferi1 - Uyo - Sisters
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote
Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena
Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6

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Post by WolfWhoWanders » 4 years ago

You know, I never cared too much what condition my core cards are in... Seeing as I never really plan to trade/sell them. That being said I had a friend spill his cocktail on a deck I loaned him. Since then I've double sleeved... I would say I have slightly larger than average working man's hands and after a small grace period I've found I have no problem shuffling them. It is mildly amusing to watch others try though. Main issue for me is I use the ultra pro 150 card cheapo plastic deck boxes and the for can be pretty tight. Almost any amount of foils and it won't work at all
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