Tariff — Sorcery | 1W
Each player sacrifices the creature they control with the greatest mana value unless they pay that creature's mana cost. If two or more creatures a player controls are tied for greatest, that player chooses one.
Launching a Magic: The Gathering and collectibles shop was always going to be a leap of faith. For us, sourcing sealed MTG product from a reputable Malaysian supplier via eBay was a smart move—until the tariffs took effect this past weekend. Now, playing cards imported from Malaysia face a 20% + 10¢ per pack tariff. What looks like a small policy shift has become a major disruption to small game and hobby stores like mine.
What’s Really Happening with Tariffs Right Now
Here’s what the tariff landscape looks like as of today:
- A baseline 10% “reciprocal” tariff took effect on most imports in April (Easyship, AP News).
- Country-specific tariffs on Malaysia began on August 7, 2025, with rates ranging from 25% to 40% (MarketWatch).
- An adjusted tariff rate of about 19% was eventually applied to Malaysia (Wired).
- Legal challenges are ongoing: a federal appeals court ruled these tariffs unconstitutional, but they remain in place pending further review (The Guardian).
What It Means for Cool Story
As a new store selling sealed Magic boosters, singles, collectibles, etc., this tariff structure hits hard:
- Thin margins on MTG sealed product are evaporating.
- Every booster box ordered now costs more, forcing me to consider raising prices or reducing inventory.
- Cash flow gets tighter as upfront capital needs grow.
Tough Decisions Ahead
Do we stock fewer sealed products and risk disappointing customers? Do we raise prices and risk losing you altogether? The tariff decision leaves small business owners like us in an impossible bind, especially when competing against large-scale retailers who can weather such shocks more easily.
Adapting for Survival
Our short-term plan is to reduce order sizes, diversify into collectibles not impacted by tariffs, and be transparent with customers about why prices may shift. Long term, we're monitoring the political and legal fights over tariffs while exploring alternative suppliers in tariff-free regions.
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Running a Magic: The Gathering and collectibles store is about more than selling cards. We want to build up our community. These tariffs may deal us a tough hand, but like any good player, we adapt. With creativity, persistence, and a little luck, we’ll keep the game going.
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