The struggle over the price of Magic: The Gathering<\/em> trading cards is continuing in a downward spiral following the release of the Throne of Eldraine<\/em> (ELD<\/em>) Brawl decks, threatening the survival of local game stores.<\/p>
Wizards of the Coast (WotC) and Hasbro have once again put local game stores in a bad position by underestimating the demand for MTG<\/em> trading card preconstructed Brawl decks. WotC removed the MSRP on all Magic<\/em> products earlier this year, which was a move that was supposed to benefit customers and retailers alike.<\/p>
But the result has been nothing short of controversial. Distributors still suggest an MSRP to major retail outlets, such as GameStop, Target, and Walmart\u2014and the local game stores. On the surface, this shouldn\u2019t cause problems. But when there’s a shortage of product, as is the case with the ELD<\/em> Brawl decks<\/a>, the local game stores wind up on the losing end.\u00a0<\/p>
With the ELD<\/em> Brawl decks releasing today (Oct. 4), the price differential is extreme between local game stores and major retailers. A Reddit user<\/a> said they were able to purchase the preconstructed decks for $21 at a GameStop in southern Kentucky. The price at a local game store or an online seller, like CardKingdom<\/a>, however, is running anywhere from $30 to $55.<\/p>
Related: MTG Throne of Eldraine<\/em>: What\u2019s included and where to buy it<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
