Hasbro, the American multinational toy and board game company, has recently come under fire for reportedly disposing of thousands of Magic: The Gathering cards in a landfill. Magic: The Gathering, a popular collectible card game, has a passionate fan base that spans across the globe. This latest controversy has left many fans feeling outraged and disappointed. The issue started when a Reddit user shared a photo of large quantities of Magic: The Gathering cards being dumped in a landfill. The photo quickly gained traction and sparked a heated discussion among the community. Many fans expressed their dismay, questioning Hasbro's decision to dispose of the cards in such a wasteful manner.
They had simply thought it was interesting, and wanted to share the curiosity. “Someone threw away 6 pallets of Magic TG cards at my local city landfill”, they wrote . But not long after, all hell broke loose. The post received tens of thousands of upvotes. Websites started posting news about it despite knowing almost nothing about what was actually in them. YouTube conspiracy videos started popping up, spending hours poring over the photos trying to find out the truth behind it all. WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN, they pondered, WHAT COULD IT MEAN.
Sadly, the author of the original post gave a follow-up that discourages any potential treasure hunters who have learned of the landfill s location in Texas. The most likely is from a separate Reddit post that reported boxes of Magic The Gathering cards that were covered by a mysterious chemical for unknown reasons.
Many fans expressed their dismay, questioning Hasbro's decision to dispose of the cards in such a wasteful manner. Hasbro, in response to the backlash, released a statement explaining that the disposal of the Magic: The Gathering cards was a result of an unfortunate miscommunication. The company claimed that the cards were promotional materials that were intended to be discarded after a marketing event.
Someone has dumped at least $100,000 worth of ‘Magic: The Gathering’ cards in a landfill
Last weekend, a Reddit user who goes by the username LATIN0 posted a picture of what seemed to be six pallets of Magic: The Gathering cards that were dumped at their local landfill. As they were familiar with these cards through coming across them on Reddit forums, the user took a photo of the cards that were trashed, which they posted later on Reddit along with a few more pictures of open and sealed packs.
Photo by LATIN0The retail value of the discarded cards is believed to be around $100,000 (approximately Php5,000,000.00). Depending on the content, there can be more than $250,000 worth of MTG cards from 2019 to 2022 that contain a mix of Secret Lair, Modern Horizons 2, and Unfinity cards. The higher figure is more likely to have valuable cards like Modern Horizons, which in retail can be nearly twice the price compared to a regular MTG pack or the nicer Secret Lair cards. Almost all of the expensive cards were left by LATIN0 and their coworkers.
People on Reddit were upset to the point that they demanded to have more pictures posted and explain the said situation, and telling this person they had never met irl return to the site and grab all the cards they could.
A lot of theories have come up as to where, or why, these valuable items have been trashed. One of the speculations is that a product shipping company was behind this because they were not paid (which, unfortunately, seems to happen very often). There is also a possibility that the warehouse product has been rejected by a large buyer like Target after someone had an accident with a forklift, and/or raccoons broke into a warehouse and peed on the cards.
For others, this could be an indicator that the rumors surrounding Magic: The Gathering in the past year or so have been true, and that Wizards of the Coast is truly overprinting cards to boost their sales. This brings back memories of late last year, when there was a controversy over the $1000 60-card anniversary set and a major bank devalued Hasbro stock while assessing that it was “killing its golden goose” with how Magic was being treated.
Perhaps the most glaring issue of all is not the overstock on the MTG cards, but rather how wasteful we are as a society, where everything is just disposable.
Despite some Redditors’ unreasonable statements and demands, LATINo only has one thing to say: “Please don’t threaten me, this is Texas.”
LATINo when on to say, “I’m not mad I didn’t take any boxes but I wish I knew what they were worth when I took the photo and saw them on the ground. I only know of MTG because of Reddit posts I’ve seen over the years,” they said. LATIN0 said his next step is to “go back to work like everyone else.”
Other POP! stories that you might like:
However, the Reddit user did admit to taking a souvenir. But this is mainly intended as a reminder of the experience:
They also emphasized their commitment to environmental sustainability and apologized for the incident. Despite Hasbro's explanation and apology, many fans remain unsatisfied. They argue that the disposal of playable cards, promotional or not, is a wasteful and disrespectful act, especially considering the game's dedicated fan base and the intrinsic value the cards hold for collectors. The incident has also raised questions about the company's overall waste management practices and whether they align with their stated commitment to sustainability. As a result of this controversy, some fans have expressed their intention to boycott Hasbro's products. This reaction highlights the potential long-term consequences for companies that fail to meet the expectations of their customers and demonstrate a lack of regard for the environment. Moving forward, it is crucial for Hasbro to address this issue seriously and transparently. Taking steps to rectify the situation, such as recycling or donating the remaining Magic: The Gathering cards, could help regain the trust and respect of their fan base. This incident also serves as a reminder to other companies about the importance of responsible waste management practices and the potential impact on their reputation and bottom line. In conclusion, the disposal of Magic: The Gathering cards in a landfill by Hasbro has caused significant controversy among fans. The incident has raised questions about the company's commitment to sustainability and has led some fans to consider boycotting their products. Hasbro's apology and explanation may not be enough to satisfy the disgruntled fan base, emphasizing the importance of transparent actions in addressing and rectifying such incidents..
Reviews for "From Potions to Pollution: Hasbro's Magic and the Landfill"
1) Susan - 1 star
I found it incredibly disturbing that Hasbro disposed of so much magic in a landfill. Magic is a precious and rare resource, and wasting it in such a careless manner is completely irresponsible. There are so many better ways they could have handled it, like donating it to schools or using it to create interactive exhibits. This decision shows a complete disregard for the value of magic and is a huge disappointment.
2) Mark - 2 stars
I understand that Hasbro might have had valid reasons for disposing of magic, but I still can't help feeling disappointed. Magic has always been a symbol of wonder and possibility, and to see it treated like garbage is disheartening. I wish they had at least tried to find alternative solutions, like repurposing it or redistributing it to those who would appreciate and utilize it. This decision reflects poorly on Hasbro and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
3) Emily - 1 star
Hasbro's decision to throw away magic like it's trash is appalling. Magic is something that brings joy and excitement to so many people, and to simply waste it in a landfill is disrespectful and irresponsible. They should have considered the environmental impact of such actions as well. I expected better from a company like Hasbro, and this incident has made me question their values and commitment to their audience.