Interview: How We Buy Magic Collections
Everything you always wanted to know about selling your Magic collection
An Interview with Lukas Schwendinger
Author: Three for One Trading
Lukas Schwendinger has been working as a buyer at Three for One Trading since 2018. In the meantime, he has taken over the team lead position in purchasing, looks back on years of experience in the field and is generally considered one of the experts in Europe when it comes to grading and authenticating Magic: The Gathering cards.
In the following interview, Lukas answers all your questions about our purchasing process! Have you always wanted to know what types of collections we buy, what we pay for which cards, or simply how a purchase works with us? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Lukas, tell us something about yourself!
How long have you been working in purchasing at Three for One Trading? How long have you been in charge of the purchasing team? How big is your team?
“I have been buying magic cards for Three for One Trading for over 7 years. Initially only at events and since the corona pandemic in 2020 I have been managing the purchasing office in Vienna. Our four-person purchasing team processes inquiries on a daily basis, evaluates collections of all sizes, and also gets to meet our customers in person at events or when traveling.”
What does a typical day in the purchasing office look like?
“After we have reviewed all incoming requests and submitted collections, the tasks are distributed according to urgency. We do our best to process initial inquiries within one working day and collections within two working days.
Submitted collections are processed by 1–2 buyers, depending on their size. If there is already a preliminary evaluation, the collection is compared with it and checked for completeness and card condition. Additional products and cards are evaluated individually, and every single card gets reviewed. Once the offer has been finalized, we reach out to the seller by telephone.
On request, each customer will receive a detailed list from us. For the temporary storage of customer collections, each collection receives its own specially allocated storage space. After confirmation, the finalized amount is usually transferred on the same day.”
Do you have MTG cards you want to sell?
Turn your unwanted cards into money! We buy your Magic cards and collections of all sizes. Follow the link to sell now!
General Questions
Which cards are you currently buying? Do you only buy cards that are currently still being played?
“One of the biggest advantages of selling your Magic cards to Three for One Trading is that we will make you an offer for ALL your cards. We are the leading specialist for Magic single cards in Europe and have expertise in the high-end Eternal and Old School range, but our buyers are also experts on newer releases, be it for Commander, Modern or Standard.”
Which cards are usually high in demand? What kind of collections are you looking for?
“The demand for individual cards is constantly changing. We try to offer our customers as complete an inventory as possible. Accordingly, we are always on the lookout for ALL cards. No matter if Old School sets, Legacy, Commander or Standard cards.”
Do you also buy graded cards, signed cards and other curiosities?
“The signatures of artists who no longer sign their cards today sometimes lead to considerable price increases for the cards (i.e., Christopher Rush, Quinton Hoover). We can offer more for these. In the case of regular signed cards and low value graded cards or misprints, resale often involves so much extra work that we can only offer the regular price of the card.
In the case of graded cards and misprints, it is helpful for us if a customer already has an idea of what they would expect the purchase price to be.”
How does a typical collection you buy look like?
“The collections we buy from are as diverse as the Magic players they come from: Attic finds of old Legacy cards, tournament and Commander players who regularly update their decks and hand in cards they no longer need, Old School decks from the 1990s or very meticulously kept collections. Accordingly, the scope of a card purchase ranges from an envelope with 1–5 cards to pallets of very large collections and store liquidations.
Our purchasing team works with each customer to find an individual solution in order to obtain an offer as quickly as possible and ensure smooth logistics.”
Purchase Process
Why do collectors and players sell cards to you?
“Selling your Magic collection to Three for One Trading is one of the easiest and most hassle-free options out there. You don’t have to deal with listing individual cards, picky buyers cherry-picking your best pieces, or handling customer complaints. Just one smooth transaction, with the money hitting your account fast.
At Three for One Trading, we bring decades of card expertise and a handshake-worthy level of trust to every collection we evaluate. Whether you’re selling a few cards or your entire Magic: The Gathering collection, you can count on a fair price and professional service every step of the way.
Meanwhile, many sellers come to us by recommendation, as friends and acquaintances have already had positive experiences with our sales.”
What does Three for One Trading better than other TCG traders? What distinguishes Three for One Trading from others?
- “From Players and Collectors – For Players and Collectors: At Three for One Trading, we tailor the buying process to fit each customer’s needs, whether you’re a seasoned expert or just rediscovered a box of old cards in your attic. No matter your level of knowledge or how well your collection is documented, you’ll always receive a fair and consistent offer from us.”
- “Our Commitment to Quality: We don’t believe in shortcuts. That means no blanket discounts for unsorted cards—every single card is carefully evaluated. We treat your collection with the same care and attention we’d want for our own.”
- Our 5-Star Policy: Customer satisfaction is our top priority. We’re committed to making the entire process fast, transparent, and stress-free, because selling your collection should feel just as good as playing the game.”
Do you also purchase cards outside Austria or even outside Europe?
“We buy cards from all over Europe and all other regions of the world on a daily basis. Our purchasing team provides support with a wide range of expertise regarding shipping, possible customs restrictions and even organizes a personal visit if you have a very large collection to sell.”
How long does it take to process a purchase from the initial contact to the final transfer of funds?
“We try to respond to new inquiries within one working day and to evaluate collections that we receive within two working days. However, the time required for processing varies depending on the collection and the customer’s preparation – for example, whether a detailed list of the collection is already available.”
On average, processing takes 5-10 working days from initial contact to receipt of payment.
Do I have to sort and categorize all the cards beforehand in order to receive an offer?
“The better a collection is organized, the faster we can evaluate and process it. If all the cards have already been removed from binders and sleeves, they will be given priority for processing.”
How can I ensure that my collection is shipped as safely as possible? I have heard that you also pick up collections, how does that work?
“For collections of €500 or more, we offer collection by courier service. We guide the customer through the shipping process with various packaging recommendations and corresponding videos. It goes without saying that we take out appropriate insurance when shipping a collection, and this is no problem up to a value of €100,000.“
Pricing
How do you determine the price for my extensive collection?
“To kick things off, all we need is a bit of info, this could be a list or photos of the most valuable cards in your collection. Based on that, we’ll provide you with an initial estimate of what we can offer. If the estimate meets your expectations, we’ll then arrange to view the collection in person to give you a final valuation. This can take place at our office, at major Magic events, or even at your location for larger collections.”
I have catalogued everything (i.e., with an app) and TCGplayer or cardmarket gives me a trend price. How much can I expect from you?
“Our purchase price for a collection depends very much on the cards it contains. Generally speaking, the more expensive the individual cards are, the higher the percentage of TCGplayer or Cardmarket value you can expect.
For high-end cards, we are talking about 60-80%. For very extensive collections, we are usually talking between 50-65% of the trend price.”
Is it possible to receive an exact list of the respective purchase prices for my expensive cards?
“Of course! For expensive cards, you can receive a list of the individual cards. Less expensive cards will be summarized in our valuations.”