Lotus ScanHow to Set Up MTG Card Price Alerts
A step-by-step guide to help you set up mtg card price alerts quickly and accurately.
Price alerts notify you automatically when a card reaches a price you care about, whether you are waiting for a card to drop low enough to buy or watching for a spike that means it is time to sell. Without alerts, you have to manually check prices and hope you catch the window. With them, the information comes to you at exactly the right moment. Setting up effective alerts takes just a few minutes and can save you hundreds of dollars over a year of collecting.
Step-by-Step Guide
Identify cards you want to monitor
Make a list of cards you want price alerts for. These typically fall into two categories: cards you own that you'd sell at a certain price, and cards you want to buy when they drop below a target. Keep this list focused - alerts for every card in your collection creates noise that drowns out the signals.
Tip: Start with 10-15 cards maximum. You can always add more once you see how the alerts work for you.
Set target prices for each card
For each card, decide your trigger price. For sell alerts, set the target above the current price at a level where you'd be happy to sell. For buy alerts, set it below the current price at a point where the card becomes a good deal. Research the card's price history to set realistic targets rather than wishful ones.
Choose your alert platform
Different tools offer different alert mechanisms. Lotus Scan provides in-app price tracking and history charts that make it easy to spot when a card hits your target. For dedicated price alerts with push notifications or email, services like MTGStocks and EchoMTG offer alert systems specifically built for MTG finance.
Tip: Combine multiple tools: use Lotus Scan for tracking your collection's overall value and a dedicated alert service for specific card targets.
Configure alert thresholds
Rather than a single exact price, set a range. For a card currently at $15 that you'd buy at $10, set the alert for "below $10.50" to give yourself a buffer. Prices move fast during reprints and spikes, and a too-precise target might trigger a second too late.
Review and adjust alerts monthly
Revisit your alerts at least once a month. Remove alerts for cards you've already bought or sold. Adjust targets if the card's baseline price has shifted significantly. Stale alerts are worse than no alerts because they train you to ignore notifications.
Make It Easier with Lotus Scan
Lotus Scan for iPhone simplifies this entire process with AI-powered card recognition, real-time price tracking, and intuitive collection management. Just point your camera and scan.
Pro Tips
- Set alerts for cards on the Reserved List if you're interested in long-term MTG investing. These cards can only go up in scarcity.
- The best time to set buy alerts is right after a reprint is announced. Set the target to where you think the floor will be (usually 40-60% below the pre-reprint price).
- Don't set alerts on cards you're emotionally attached to. If you'll never actually sell your foil Jace, a sell alert is just noise.
- Group your alerts by urgency. "Sell if it hits X" alerts should grab your attention immediately. "Buy below X" alerts can wait for your weekly review.