New player, how much to trade for a lost march cards?

[lazydude777]

Been looking to make a standard deck within new player budget. Seen TrickyGym game play of Nuzzel March and I liked it. My question is how many packs should I trade for asking for the essential pokemon cards? My understanding is that they are from previous expansions and even 4 of them should cost about 1-2 packs but I wanted to make sure. 

 

4x Hoppip

4x Skiploom

4x Jumpluff

4x Natu

x4 Trumbeak

 

Edit:

Also these

 

4x Lost Mixer

4x Professor Elm's Lecture

 

 

For that matter is there a chart online I can just consult for such matters?

Edited February 21, 2019 by lazydude777

[Chasista]

More or less. I would say each set of 4 Pokémon could be a pack, but I don't know if you'll find that trades. Use to be more like mixed (2 Hoppip+2 Skiploom+2 Natu+2Trumbeak = 2 packs or 3 packs or whatever). Lost blender and Elm could be a bit more expensive, 2 of them = 1 pack.

 

I have some spare if you're interested, add me in game, same name.

 

Edit: I've reviewed and Jumpluff seems to be a bit more expensive. !-2 packs each.

Edited February 21, 2019 by Chasista

[WigglyDude]

Hello me again, sorry used an old account by mistake, meant to delete it. I added you already, I appreciate the help.

[Otakutron]

I just built my first Lost March deck a few days ago; I think prices for the deck finally rebounded.

 

Using The Guru Trading Cave's prices

http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/45628-the-guru-cave-trading-co-gctc-open-and-back-to-business/

 

Trading groups like this used to be common, but I think Guru's is the last one.  Think of them as the "convenience stores" of trading; you'll pay a bit more than you would taking your time and posting offers yourself, or digging through the public offers until you found a good one, but you're saving hours, days, and maybe even weeks of trading and waiting time in doing so.

 

Here are the prices they have for the cards you listed, for their most common version, in "generic packs":

 

Hoppip - 0.5

Skiploom - 0.75

Jumpluff - 2.5

Natu - 0.5

Trumbeak - 0.75

Lost Blender - 0.75

Super Boost Energy - 0.25

Viridian Forest - 0.75

 

Professor Elm's Lecture isn't in the latest, winning Lost March lists.  If you still prefer to go that route, they have it at 0.33.  I added Super Boost because it is how the deck deals with Shuckle-GX, and so it is in many lists now.  Viridian Forest isn't necessary, but most lists run one of it or one of Shrine of Punishment; besides the usual benefits, you need it to knock out Prism Star Stadium cards.

 

Several of these prices are suspect because they are based on guidelines for Unlisted cards.  In fact, Jumpluff and Super Boost Energy (under the incorrect name of Ultra Boost Energy) are the only ones actually listed in the guide; the others were calculated based on general rarity guidelines Guru uses.  As I was tired of being three Jumpluff, a Skiploom, and a Super Boost Energy shy of having a Lost March deck, I went ahead and traded for them at closer to the above prices.  Skiploom was an easy add-on to a Jumpluff, so I saved there, but Super Boost Energy required trading a 1.00 value pack, not a 0.25 one.

 

If the numbers are odd, this is the usual "some packs are worth more than others."  Guru has both Team Up and Lost Thunder packs as 1.00 trade values, to give you an idea.

[RobRatt]

I just built my first Lost March deck a few days ago; I think prices for the deck finally rebounded.

 

Using The Guru Trading Cave's prices

 

http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/45628-the-guru-cave-trading-co-gctc-open-and-back-to-business/

 

Trading groups like this used to be common, but I think Guru's is the last one.  Think of them as the "convenience stores" of trading; you'll pay a bit more than you would taking your time and posting offers yourself, or digging through the public offers until you found a good one, but you're saving hours, days, and maybe even weeks of trading and waiting time in doing so.

^^ Do NOT use Guru Cave as a price guide.  Terrible advice.

 

Every price is going to be marked ABOVE RETAIL that people ask for in Public Trading.  In many cases, substantially higher.  And the "selling price" in Public trading is usually too high already.

 

When there were 4 or 5 Trading Companies, you could reliably do a cost comparison between them.  There was competition, and value was modified frequently (kept current).  You can't price shop when there's only one source with a profit motive.

 

It works as a general reference, and you might save time.  But searching in-game is always the best indicator of price, checking both what players "sell" them for, and what others are "offering."

 

We're talking about very common cards here, from recent sets.  Always place your own trade offer to get them.  It's easy, quick, and the most economical.

Edited February 21, 2019 by RobRatt

[Otakutron]

@Robratt... so you're saying what I said, only in a more hostile manner? O_o
 

I just built my first Lost March deck a few days ago; I think prices for the deck finally rebounded.

Using The Guru Trading Cave's prices

http://forums.pokemontcg.com/topic/45628-the-guru-cave-trading-co-gctc-open-and-back-to-business/

Trading groups like this used to be common, but I think Guru's is the last one. Think of them as the "convenience stores" of trading; you'll pay a bit more than you would taking your time and posting offers yourself, or digging through the public offers until you found a good one, but you're saving hours, days, and maybe even weeks of trading and waiting time in doing so.

Emphasis added.
 

If you don't have time to "get good" at trading, you can use Guru. I strongly recommend developing your own trading skills, @lazydude777. I don't think I've ever used Guru, and I only used some of the older trading groups when I was desperate to get a card ASAP. I could have been more clear, though; when using them as a price guide, you think of them as setting the cap on what you should spend. If you're working hard trying to make trades but you find you're spending as much as what you'd "pay" going through Guru, you did it wrong. XD

The general rule of thumb is that you offer no more than half of what someone like Guru is asking when you post a public trade. Even that is on the high side; the more patient and experienced you are, the lower you start. One of the best traders I know only did 20% to 25% of list price, then increased as needed. He also kept spreadsheets tracking all of the data. I don't have his skill, his patience, or his inclination to carefully track the data, so I start at half-price.

I brought up Super Boost Energy because I actually offered 0.25 worth of packs for it, but no takers, and I had acquired everything else by that point. So I looked at the current, active public trades posted for Super Boost Energy, and took the "best" one, even though I was dramatically overpaying. Because I valued having the deck now when I could enjoy it versus missing my window to play but getting it for much less.

 

The "convenience store" comment was all about that; you buy something at a convenience store because it is convenient; rarely do they have better prices than a grocer or retail store, let alone a discount retailer.  You pick up pop or batteries or whatever at a convenience store - usually also a gas station in my area - because you were stopping for fuel anyway.

Hope that clears things up.

Edited February 21, 2019 by Otakutron

[RobRatt]

@Robratt... so you're saying what I said, only in a more hostile manner? O_o

No, I don't think we were "saying the same thing" at all. 

 

1.  Use Guru Cave as a price guide.

2.  Here's the direct link.

3.  Think of them as a convenience store.

4.  You'll save hours, days, and weeks of difficult trading.

 

You couldn't give much worse advice to potential traders.

 

If my viewpoint seems "hostile" to that, so be it.

Edited February 21, 2019 by RobRatt

[RobRatt]

Been looking to make a standard deck within new player budget. Seen TrickyGym game play of Nuzzel March and I liked it. My question is how many packs should I trade for asking for the essential pokemon cards? My understanding is that they are from previous expansions and even 4 of them should cost about 1-2 packs but I wanted to make sure. 

 

4x Hoppip

4x Skiploom

4x Jumpluff

4x Natu

x4 Trumbeak

 

Edit:

Also these

 

4x Lost Mixer

4x Professor Elm's Lecture

 

For that matter is there a chart online I can just consult for such matters?

Making your own trade offers is always best.  Knowing exactly what to offer gets easier when you see patterns.  To get a handle on it, look at what players are "selling" them for.  That's easy enough to search.  And then offer what you'd guess they bought them for, because the "traders" are not losing profit at those prices.

 

For the most part, Commons and Uncommons are very cheap.  Even the playable ones can be added to just about any trade for next to nothing.  For example, you should be able to get 50 Commons for a single good pack, and at least 30 Uncommons.  If others recognize them as part of a known meta deck, this might vary.

 

If you place your own trade offers in Public:

 

You can easily get 4 Hoppip and 4 Skiploom (8 cards) for just about any of the SM-era packs.

 

You can easily get 4 Natu and 4 Trumbeak (8 cards) for one of the better packs (LOT or TEU).

 

^^  Keep in mind, these are actually high offers for Commons and Uncommons.

 

90% of the Supporters can be picked up with an offer of 4 for a regular SM-era pack (0.5 value).  Many times, someone will accept 8 for 1.0 value (a better pack).  Professor Elm's Lecture is one of the cheaper Supporters.  Because it's got "Lost" in the name, and others recognize it's use in Lost March, the Lost Blender are typically 4 for 1.0 value.

 

Of course, in the group you're looking for, Jumpluff is the most expensive.  If you search Public Offers, you'll see the asking price (what I call Retail) is typically 2.0 value for one, or 3.0 value for two.  You can pick them up, all day, every day, at these prices.  Patience will get you a better deal if you make your own offer at 1.0 value (a better pack).

 

Long story short, if you post your own offers, with a little patience, you should be able to get all of these cards for 7.0 value or less.

 

Please, let me know by PM how these trades worked for you.  If you'd like, send me a friend request in the game, and I'll give you Hoppip, Skiploom, Natu, and Trumbeak (4 each) for free, which will make things a little easier.  You may need to remind me of this post.

Edited February 22, 2019 by RobRatt

[Otakutron]

 

 

RobRatt, on 21 Feb 2019 - 4:30 PM, said:
No, I don't think we were "saying the same thing" at all.

1. Use Guru Cave as a price guide.
2. Here's the direct link.
3. Think of them as a convenience store.
4. You'll save hours, days, and weeks of difficult trading.

You couldn't give much worse advice to potential traders.

If my viewpoint seems "hostile" to that, so be it.

Obviously, I could give much worse advice... but you know what? Instead of running through your points, I actually decided to re-read my own initial comment for like the fifth or sixth time. Which means I realized there were several bits I left out. Ouch. Not claiming you'd agree with it anyway, Rob. Pretty sure you wouldn't, actually, but it means even by my own standard, I gave bad advice. I'd edit, but I learned a long time ago that is a bad idea when something like this is in dispute. I must apologize twice then, as I had to edit in me saying "Sorry, Robratt." because I was indeed wrong.

@lazydude777 I messed up, and I'm sorry. I meant to make it crystal clear that you only use something like Guru as a "price guide" when you don't have something better and while knowing they're asking too much. You don't pay their prices unless you cannot wait... and you'll almost always be able to wait. Some folks don't feel like waiting, some folks just aren't good at trading. Big difference, though, from what I actually said. I wanted to give you an idea of the worst you'd be paying for the deck. Give or take the odd weekend event on the PTCGO, like how they temporarily had all the booster packs you could win from tournaments all being SM - Team Up instead of something random.

The message board rules don't really like us linking to unofficial sites, or at least I've gotten in trouble for it, even when it is something like PokéGym. Guru closed down a bit ago and only recently re-opened. If there's another good price guide on this message board... then I messed up even worse than I finally realized. I also took your username at face value - if I'm not an otaku, I at least resemble one - so I wasn't too worried about explaining the detailed trading process right away. I figured you'd ask if you were interested in more.

I stand by the convenience store comparison. I just forgot to make it clear how badly overpriced stuff tends to be... because that's how I view buying stuff at convenience stores. I've certainly done it, because sometimes you just really want a beverage, snack, whatever while you're driving somewhere, but didn't think to bring one with. XD I also wanted to share my recent experience building the deck myself. I tried trading for Jumpluff with offers assuming Guru was asking two to five times the going rate and... crickets. Eventually, I offered only a little below it and got them. With Super Boost Enregy, same thing except I had to pay four times what Guru was asking! Maybe I just needed more tries. Still worth mentioning, even if only as an example of "This is what happens when you're not patient."

Edit: I also need to be careful. The entire reason for the "convenience store" comparison was to stress that sometimes it may be worth it to use a trading company thread. I'd rather we had at least one than none. I'm too used to explaining why sometimes asking (and paying) a premium price is justified. I'm just doing a disservice to everyone. >_<

The good news is, RobRatt explained in detail how to trade, and even offered some help. Hopefully, before you took the bad advice. Edited February 23, 2019 by Otakutron

[abinhathbour456]

hey lazydude777 since I saw the name guru being the hot topic of this whole post add me I will send you everything you need its against my rules since I have a company but this time I will do them for free for u.