Pricing Magic: the Gathering's 30th Anniversary edition at $999.00 (USD) is an insult to players and collectors. Providing one free copy to WPN retailers (three free copies to WPN Premium stores) is an attempt to keep retailers from complaining about this product while Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast uses direct-to-consumer channels to increase its revenues at the cost of its retail partners. We demand that Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast immediately:

1. Reprice this product to reflect the fact that these are non-tournament-playable cards, to a price point that is accessible to all Magic: the Gathering fans, players, and collectors.
2. Support local game stores by abandoning plans to sell this or the repriced product directly to consumers.
3. Ensure adequate supply of this product throughout the year of the 30th anniversary celebration, reprinting as necessary to meet demand. 
4. Issue a public apology to the Magic: the Gathering community for this blatant attempt at profiteering. 

"30th Anniversary Edition" was announced as a reprint of reserve list cards from the Beta printing, with a gold-bordered non-tournament legal card back. Unlike early set releases that included one of each card from a printing, this product will contain four 15-card booster packs with randomized content.

While many Magic: the Gathering players Have long sought reprints of reserve list cards, the pricing and distribution choices associated with this printing preclude most fans, players, and collectors from being able to afford this product while simultaneously hijacking revenue from local game stores through the use of a direct-to-consumer sales channel.

At its $999.00 price point, this is product is not intended to allow the whole of the Magic: the Gathering community to celebrate Magic's 30th anniversary. This product is squarely aimed at so-called "whales"  and speculators. By doing so, Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast snubs the vast majority of fans, players, and collectors who have been responsible for the game's growth and success over these past 30 years. While acknowledging that there are increased production costs associated with design and packaging of this special reprint product (e.g. packaging design, card back, print setup, marketing), it is difficult to conceive of those additional costs being ever than 50% higher than producing any other four booster packs containing 60 cards. This product should be made available to consumers priced comparably to any normal Magic set, or at most, priced comparably to a master's set. Every fan, player, or collector should be able to acquire at least one pack of this product at an affordable price. Better yet, make these 30th Anniversary Edition packs the Welcome Boosters for this anniversary year! 

Using direct-to-consumer sales channels for this anniversary product is an insult and a slight to all local game store operators, since the game's present popularity would not have been possible without their support over the past 30 years. Consumers that purchase this product directly from Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast have $999.00 (USD) less to spend in local game stores, which were vital to Magic: the Gathering's initial adoption and long-term success.

Providing some free product to WPN member stores (three boxes {four booster packs each} to WPN Premium stores, and one copy to all other WPN stores) may seem generous, but It causes problems for the vast majority of non-Premium stores that receive only one box. Store owners may sell the product, generating some zero-cost revenue, but how is the store operator to decide which customer gets the product? That's if they sell it at all; some may choose to keep it for themselves, as an investment. They may offer it as prizing for their events, but if that prize is advertised there is a high likelihood that competitive players from outside the stores regular community will fill the seats in an attempt to win it.

Finally, as a product intended to celebrate Magic's 30th anniversary, this product should not be a one-time limited production run. This product should be printed and reprinted as necessary to ensure adequate supply during the anniversary year.

If you heed our petition, it will do much to restore our trust and faith in your company and the ongoing future of Magic: the Gathering. If you choose to disregard our petition, we fear that this may become the final anniversary celebration for our beloved hobby. Doing so would send a clear message to all: that you will exploit the goodwill of your fans, players, and collectors to prioritize short-term profits over the health of the game and the product over the long term.