So, it seems like most of southern california has terrible payouts, looking at GPTs/PPTQ prizes, FNM prizing and general events.
Most stores in central LA payout in store credit, usually resulting in 25/15/10 or sometimes 20/10/5 for FNMs - no free packs or any perks and now usually FNM promos are just given to 2 people per format.
My main store, (MegaCity One) which I'm pretty faithful to, had the absolute worst prizing for modern masters draft - store credit. Normally ending in $25/$15/$10 as their standard draft. Not even pack payout. I was also saddened to see their prices were about the same as SCG Preorders for Magic Origins. (but thats another tangent)
Another store in OC had a payout of 3 packs to third place.....with 45 people attending that FNM event. (SoCal Magic)
I played up in the Santa Cruz area and San Jose area randomly when I would travel up there for work. Prizing seemed much better, same $5-$6 entry, but payout seemed to be double if not more. 3rd place standard on wednesday I got 7 packs (Mythic Games) - 12-14 people total. Seems a lot better than the OC store I just mentioned.
What are the experiences in your areas?
Please note where you are from and if you can name the stores. I'd like to slowly construct a list beneficial for the community as a whole. Time to call out these cheap TOs raking in $25-$35 entries for major events and paying out in total about $100 and 2 boxes of cards.
I've also noticed at my LGSs - when they add like $20 extra to the prize pool, whether it be a staple or more packs or cash - MORE PEOPLE COME (crazy concept)
Yes I understand rent and costs, but these things are where profit margins should soar, but don't rip off the consumer completely, what is my incentive to PAY you to PLAY MY CONSTRUCTED deck for an event that only last 3 rounds? 4-5 Rounds is best IMO for paying entry to, otherwise I should just do casual play and save my money for a hamburger.
(Hell I feel like going to a GP and just doing infinite constructed has more profit than playing 9 rounds/scrubbing out since GPs for STANDARD CONSTRUCTED are hitting $70 for entry. That's absurd, but also another tangent)
So people - what is the prizing support in your area like? Are you satisfied? Do you feel like your LGS is fair with prizing, or are they a little cheap?
MythGames Calgary.
It's a long drive but so is anything else. xD
First off they have a rewards program. I think it basically works out to $1 spent = 1 point. 100 points = $10 off so approx 10% discount. However they don't give points on everything and they just recently changed it to points expire in 90 days. (Used to be 18 months) but old points are grandfathered in which is good.
I like all the staff members, I've seen some bad days but nothing horribly, they're normally just awesome.
Prizing for prerelease was,
3-0 9 packs
2-x 4 packs
1-x 1 pack
Doubled for 2HG.
Normal events are "Swiss" at 2 packs of your choice a win, while constructed is store credit (I think, dunno prices)
They do a lot of sealed and drafts.
The store's called the gaming goat.
This is all sore credit
1st: $70
2nd: $50
3rd: $40
4th: $30
5th: $20
6th: $10
7th: $10
8th: $10
$10 entry, you're allowed to use store credit.
From a western suburb of Chicago, oak park. 4 rounds
$10 back for entry is better than 0 back!
Quote from: MuggyWuggy on July 17, 2015, 04:55:24 PM
$10 back for entry is better than 0 back!
Yup. The payout is freaking sweet there idk how they profit much off of this they only get 20-25 people.
They must sell singles at a good rate
My locals
Modern 6$ entry top 3 vary in store credit (3$ credit per head) also they raffle mm2015 packs usually about 2 packs.
.
Standard 5$ entry once again 3$ per head
.
Draft 10 regular 30 mm2015 prize is still 3 per head.
.
Best deal is pre releases 2 slices of pizza free per person
Quote from: Kaalia with haste on July 17, 2015, 04:45:14 PM
The store's called the gaming goat.
This is all sore credit
1st: $70
2nd: $50
3rd: $40
4th: $30
5th: $20
6th: $10
7th: $10
8th: $10
$10 entry, you're allowed to use store credit.
From a western suburb of Chicago, oak park. 4 rounds
Sweet Jesus where is this shop?
GameHaven is weak
I go to a small store in Brookline (Boston suburb), payouts for Saturday drafts (costs $15) are 2$ per person in draft, so usually $16 to first, and $1 per person in draft to second ($8). This is in store credit. Yeah the prizes kinda suck but I like the store and everyone is pretty friendly there. I can't remember what the prerelease prizes are. They're pretty good though.
Pack a win in any format. Drafts $15. Sealed is $25. FNM $5.
People must be buying them at a decent rate tho too, since they have so much credit. Smart guys, no need to cash out, better to give credit and move useless singles (the owners are there to make cash and move product
I've actually been considering opening am LGS. There's nothing like it within about an hour of me and lots of people commute that far. Just don't have a building or money. xD
I don't normally do drafts, and when I do, I do it for the cards, not to make a deck. But today apparantly the M.O. prize was a Liliana :P
Mesa Comics, mesa arizona
Not sure the way they do prizing for prerelease but for going 3/1 net me 5 packs.
Most of the time going 3/1 at fnm($5) will net 3-4 packs.
Universe games Mpls mN
Wed night modern free to enter 3 wins gets you packs
Also 2 packs for $6 during events
Local FNM-Organizer organizes pretty much only drafts and sealed.
€13,- entry for draft, €25,- for sealed.
One pack stakes each round.
Heard some complaints about prize support for casual Wednesday legacy $5 entry at a local store that is trying to just get people to come down for an almost dead format (save for GPTs and one store's staple tournaments)
"why are people giving away a {serum vision}s? Why not a set of {brainstorm} or {lightning bolt}?"
So let us math:
Serum visions is $13 mid common
Brainstorm and lightning bolt $1-$2 common.
People would be happier with $8 worth of trades over $13?
I understand one card is for a format and another isn't, but the fact a $13 card is even offered rather than just entry pay out seems good. People always gotta complain though when given a good deal