Pricing (Scripts and Notes)

[Goblin Hero]

I don't know how the function in the MA application is written, if it actually attempts to set the value if its sent a price of 0.00 or if it simply avoids the price setting routine all together if that value is sent to it.

The latter.

[dukemb]

If MA avoids writing value of 0,00 over old prices, then you don't have to do anything. So all is the way it should be.

[woogerboy21]

If MA avoids writing value of 0,00 over old prices, then you don't have to do anything. So all is the way it should be.

Great then, things should be set. But if you notice different behaviour than what you would expect let me know so we can troubleshoot.

[wilmheath]

Woogerboy - What is your policy if a site owner does not want your script ripping prices? I would prefer you not rip my site www.mtgotraders.com and if you want to rip www.capefeargames.com I don't have a huge problem with that but would of preferred you asked. We work very hard on keeping our prices up to date and it's a lot of work/man hours and it's not something I want to give out for free.
Thanks,
Heath Newton

[Goblin Hero]

site owner does not want your script ripping prices

Why? Always thought it's just a free ads for site owner. User looks at the price -> goes to your site -> buys something = profit.

[wilmheath]

site owner does not want your script ripping prices

Why? Always thought it's just a free ads for site owner. User looks at the price -> goes to your site -> buys something = profit.

The problem is a lot of people use the pricelist to run their bots which allows them to get all the benefits of an up to date pricelist with none of the work involved. I don't mind competition but I do mind it when I'm doing all the work for them.

[woogerboy21]

Woogerboy - What is your policy if a site owner does not want your script ripping prices? I would prefer you not rip my site http://www.mtgotraders.com and if you want to rip http://www.capefeargames.com I don't have a huge problem with that but would of preferred you asked. We work very hard on keeping our prices up to date and it's a lot of work/man hours and it's not something I want to give out for free.
Thanks,
Heath Newton

Goblin Hero would be the one to talk with. When creating the pricing script I asked the same question and was informed to release it. (I noticed you had posted something on other forums when people asked for help.) If policies change I am more than willing to pull the script from the releases.

edit:
also just had a thought, since you now know about the magic album application maybe you can use it to keep ties on competitors prices (not that your way overpriced) but might help out with some of the labor you mention involved with staying competative.

[rjp14]

Actually tcgplayer.com is where a lot of bots grabs their prices.

The reasons for it:

- Anyone who sells Magic cards in a large amount is linked to that database (Centralized database for all sellers)

- When parsing the data for tcgplayer.com you get all of the info from all your competition and you know who has the lowest prices and what they have in stock. (They even give you printable price lists)

- Magic is a niche market that seems to be becoming increasingly crowded in the card selling department. So more and more you will find the other sellers are using bots to sell their product to keep pace or get a leg up on the opposition. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them aren't already doing so.

I'm sure you are probably aware of the above as it has been happening for a very long time now.

Now on a side note what tcgplayer has actually done benefits the buyer and forces the competition to be more competitive. It is very similar to what often happens in the MMos of today. Where sellers use tools to gain an edge on the competition and drive the prices down.

My question is why don't you use these tools (bots) yourself? Or hire someone like Wooger to build these tools(bots) for you to use. I know there are a lot of variables but having these sorts of tools available to you is invaluable. Not using these tools is like saying I'm going to build my house with a hammer when using a nail gun can do the work in half the time. It just doesn't make sense.

I do however believe you are misguided in believing that Magic Albums tools are a problem(They are even free advertising for your site. Should the user decide to use the pricing scripts). The real problem you face is actually Tcgplayer and how its consolidates all the prices in one easy to search/gather info from place. This is what hurts you as a card seller.

Ps. I have also bought cards from your cape fear site lately and was pleased with the way the cards were shipped as well as the condition they were in as opposed to some of the other sites out there. And the time it took to arrive was very good compared to others. I am not trying to bemoan you with my comments. But rather I'm trying to show you the benefits of using what already exists and is available to you and others. I hope you understand.

Kindest regards,

Rjp14

[woogerboy21]

My question is why don't you use these tools (bots) yourself? Or hire someone like Wooger to build these tools(bots) for you to use. I know there are a lot of variables but having these sorts of tools available to you is invaluable. Not using these tools is like saying I'm going to build my house with a hammer when using a nail gun can do the work in half the time. It just doesn't make sense.

Gee thanks {honk honk} whats that? BUS! (just messing with you)

[rjp14]

You mean like this



Also I didn't mean to imply that he wouldn't pay you for your services.

[woogerboy21]

You mean like this



Also I didn't mean to imply that he wouldn't pay you for your services.

Oh I am so snagging that image!

[woogerboy21]

Alright 1.6 is up. Basic updates to all the scripts that had the SOM pricing available. Also removed the MTGO traders script per site admins request. I am more than willing to give it over to someone like Goblin Hero if they wish to include it in a distro of there own but I'm not looking to make enemies.

[wilmheath]

Alright 1.6 is up. Basic updates to all the scripts that had the SOM pricing available. Also removed the MTGO traders script per site admins request. I am more than willing to give it over to someone like Goblin Hero if they wish to include it in a distro of there own but I'm not looking to make enemies.

I do appreciate it and as I told you in the PM I really don't mind for capefeargames since there are no paper bots where you can just load up a pricelist and then run your bot. I appreciate all the responses and you all are very respectful which is rare these days. Typically if I posted this somewhere else I would get flamed and probably called a few names.

RJP- Thanks for trying us out and please let me know if you ever have any problems as we give all of our customers personal attention and make sure that they are happy with our service.

[woogerboy21]

Alright 1.6 is up. Basic updates to all the scripts that had the SOM pricing available. Also removed the MTGO traders script per site admins request. I am more than willing to give it over to someone like Goblin Hero if they wish to include it in a distro of there own but I'm not looking to make enemies.

I do appreciate it and as I told you in the PM I really don't mind for capefeargames since there are no paper bots where you can just load up a pricelist and then run your bot. I appreciate all the responses and you all are very respectful which is rare these days. Typically if I posted this somewhere else I would get flamed and probably called a few names.

RJP- Thanks for trying us out and please let me know if you ever have any problems as we give all of our customers personal attention and make sure that they are happy with our service.

Hey no worries, you were very polite about it. If you ever change your mind I can add the site back into my pricing releases. No matter how logic or illogical people oppinions may be to one another it is your business and its not my place (or anyone else's) to tell you how to run it. Hope to hear from you more often around here, dont be a stranger and good luck with business.

[Goblin Hero]

Typically if I posted this somewhere else I would get flamed and probably called a few names.

Frankly speaking, we have our rights to parse your site any way we like. It's a public info, available for all Internet users. Looks like your site is the only one who tries to obscure the prices. Believe me, it's worthless. It took a little time for woogerboy21 to write the parsing script. Every good programmer can replicate his work in several hours. You're using hashes, but same prices have same hashes. Too easy to create a hash-price table. I'd recommend you to change the scheme so hashes for same price but for different cards are different (or just add the salt to the hash so the hashes will change dayly). Even so give me several days and I'll write a simple OCR program to read the prices from the pictures itself. Everything is worthless...
Nevertheless, I respect your complain. This script won't be included in MA distribution and won't be posted on my forum. But everything is worthless... Script is already goes to public.