A buylist is not just a percentage. A shop may want four copies of a tournament staple, zero more copies of a slow-moving rare, unlimited clean basic lands for an event, and only one damaged copy of a collectible card for the display case.
Good buylist rules tell the buyer what the shop wants before the cards reach the counter.
Start with demand and current stock
For each card or group, decide:
- whether the shop is buying it;
- which conditions are accepted;
- target stock level;
- hard stock ceiling;
- cash percentage or amount;
- store-credit percentage or amount;
- location or sales channel that needs it;
- exception authority.
A single rule of "60% cash, 70% credit" cannot answer whether the shop already owns twelve copies.
Use stock ceilings to prevent automatic overbuying
Example rule:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Card group | Current-format staples over $5 |
| Target stock | 4 per printing |
| Hard ceiling | 8 per printing |
| Accepted condition | Near Mint or Lightly Played |
| Cash rate | 60% of approved reference |
| Store-credit rate | 70% of approved reference |
| Above ceiling | Manager approval only |
The numbers are examples. The important part is that the buyer can see both the normal target and the point where another copy requires a reason.
Make condition part of the rule
A shop may buy a Lightly Played tournament staple but decline a Damaged collector card. Another shop may want Damaged copies for budget players.
Define accepted condition by card group and use a consistent condition standard. Do not let the employee quietly price a rejected condition at an arbitrary lower percentage.
If a card fails the normal rule, the options should be clear: decline it, send it for review, or use an approved exception path.
Separate market reference from payout policy
The rule needs two inputs:
- the value the shop accepts as the current reference;
- the percentage or fixed amount the shop will pay.
Example:
| Card | Reference | Cash rule | Cash offer | Credit rule | Credit offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card A | $40 | 60% | $24 | 70% | $28 |
| Card B | $8 | fixed $3 | $3 | fixed $4 | $4 |
Do not change the reference to hide a payout exception. If a manager wants to offer $27 cash for Card A, preserve the $40 reference, the normal $24 recommendation, and the approved $3 exception.
Handle a full binder as a rule run
Suppose a customer brings 180 singles. The buyer should not apply one mental percentage to the whole binder.
Group the result:
- 64 cards match normal buy rules;
- 18 exceed stock ceilings;
- 7 need condition review;
- 81 fall below the shop's individual-card threshold and move to bulk review;
- 10 are declined because the shop is not buying that product or condition.
The customer can then understand which cards drive the offer and which need another decision.
Review rules after the stock changes
A useful rule can become harmful after a reprint, rotation, ban, major price movement, or a large collection purchase.
Review signals include:
- stock repeatedly hits the ceiling;
- copies sit unsold past the shop's review window;
- buyers override the same rule often;
- one location is overstocked while another is short;
- the shop keeps declining cards customers frequently request;
- condition disputes cluster around one card type.
Record who changed the rule, when it changed, and why. Historical trades should retain the rule and reference used when their offer was made.
Do not confuse identified value with available cash
A binder may fit the buylist and still exceed the day's payout capacity.
Before the customer accepts a large cash offer, confirm the approved payout source and operating cash floor. Offer timing, alternate pickup, store credit, or another approved method according to shop policy rather than draining a register unexpectedly.
Use this buylist rule template
- Rule name:
- Game / set / card group:
- Printing and language scope:
- Accepted conditions:
- Target stock:
- Hard ceiling:
- Market reference source:
- Cash payout rule:
- Store-credit payout rule:
- Minimum individual-card threshold:
- Above-ceiling behavior:
- Manager exception threshold:
- Effective date and reviewer:
- Next review date or trigger:
A buylist becomes operational when two trained buyers can run the same binder through it and explain why the shop wants some cards, pauses on others, and declines the rest.