WEBVTT 00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:05.860 Hello and welcome to the Ball Card Show, the 00:00:05.860 --> 00:00:07.980 sports podcast for the Sports Collector. This 00:00:07.980 --> 00:00:12.359 is Season 5, Episode 21. We've got a lot coming 00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:14.179 up this month in the hobby. It's really just 00:00:14.179 --> 00:00:16.140 one thing, if we're being honest about it. We're 00:00:16.140 --> 00:00:18.140 less than a month out. It's one major thing, 00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:21.079 but leading up to it, at least for us, it feels 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:24.440 like it is... Big week after big week after big 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:26.940 week. We're in a gauntlet of shows right now. 00:00:27.140 --> 00:00:30.879 Bigger shows and the stress of sourcing and all 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:33.780 that stuff is upon us. The summer season. We 00:00:33.780 --> 00:00:37.079 just finished up a local show last week in Lancaster, 00:00:37.179 --> 00:00:39.039 Ohio. I'll give a quick rundown of the next few 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:45.460 weeks. This Sunday, July the 6th. at Central 00:00:45.460 --> 00:00:50.380 Crossing Schools in Grove City, Ohio. We'll be 00:00:50.380 --> 00:00:52.659 set up at Card Fest. It's going to be another 00:00:52.659 --> 00:00:56.200 great show. These are the same people that have 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:59.420 promoted the Shipshuana show. Card Collector 00:00:59.420 --> 00:01:01.619 2 has partnered with this show. There will be 00:01:01.619 --> 00:01:03.700 a lot of familiar faces in the hobby. How many 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:08.340 tables are set up at this? Over 200. Really good 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:10.900 show. It'll be Sunday. So come say hey to us 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:13.739 there. The following week, we'll be in Xenia, 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:16.319 Ohio. The week after that, we will be at the 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.019 Eastgate Show in Cincinnati. And then two weeks 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:21.420 after that, we'll be at the National. Yeah. We 00:01:21.420 --> 00:01:23.840 might take a break the weekend before. I probably 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:25.680 won't. You may. I have a feeling we're going 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:28.239 to be very inventory poor. Yes, that's entirely 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.659 possible. Not my favorite situation to be in, 00:01:31.739 --> 00:01:33.859 but it is fun to buy. Oh, yeah. It's always fun 00:01:33.859 --> 00:01:37.359 to source. It's sourcing properly. That is the 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:40.159 challenge. Yeah. But, well, somehow we pull it 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.569 off. Quick reminder to you as you're checking 00:01:42.569 --> 00:01:44.549 in with us, if maybe you've just been introduced 00:01:44.549 --> 00:01:46.469 to the podcast through the socials or whatever, 00:01:46.730 --> 00:01:49.650 be sure to give us a like, follow, subscribe, 00:01:49.890 --> 00:01:52.569 whatever platform you're on. If you're on socials, 00:01:52.569 --> 00:01:55.370 we tend to chop up clips all through the week 00:01:55.370 --> 00:01:57.450 from the weekly podcast. If you want the full 00:01:57.450 --> 00:01:59.689 -length video of the podcast, click on the link 00:01:59.689 --> 00:02:01.790 in the bio wherever you are. It'll take you to 00:02:01.790 --> 00:02:03.269 our YouTube page. You can check it out there. 00:02:03.549 --> 00:02:06.129 We drop new episodes every Thursday. And speaking 00:02:06.129 --> 00:02:08.819 of every Thursday. What do we do Thursday nights? 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:12.340 We go live on Whatnot at 7 o 'clock every Thursday 00:02:12.340 --> 00:02:15.639 night, 7 p .m. Eastern time. And this week, once 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:18.819 again, thank you to the folks over at Juicebox. 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:21.219 We dropped a video a few weeks ago. You guys 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:22.759 that watch and listen every week are probably 00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:24.360 sick of hearing us saying this, but this is for 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:27.520 the new folks. We ripped a whole case of their 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:29.740 repack product that they sent to us, and the 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:31.819 deal we made with them was this. We don't want 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:33.280 you to pay us. We're not going to keep these 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:35.580 cards. We will give you an honest review if that's 00:02:35.580 --> 00:02:37.060 what you want. Make sure it's actually what you 00:02:37.060 --> 00:02:40.219 want. because we're going to be honest. And the 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:42.400 deal is we get to give away all these slaps. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:44.460 So that's what we've been doing the last two 00:02:44.460 --> 00:02:46.900 weeks on Whatnot. Again, this week and then for 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:48.599 two more weeks, we will be doing that. Some of 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:50.400 the highlights that we will be giving away this 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:55.439 week. How about a Yamamoto and Otani PSA 10? 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:01.439 We've got a really cool orange disco fast break. 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:04.120 Some people call it whatever. Jamar Chase color 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:07.139 match and an SGC 10. This is a fun one you don't 00:03:07.139 --> 00:03:09.360 see too often. How about Faces of the Future, 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.919 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rookie card in an SGC 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:17.830 10? Really high grade on the Z -Force Zuperman 00:03:17.830 --> 00:03:21.409 Kobe Bryant. And the big giveaway of the night. 00:03:21.550 --> 00:03:25.810 How about the Bijan Robinson Select RPA numbered 00:03:25.810 --> 00:03:29.949 to $199. All those are going to be buyer's giveaways 00:03:29.949 --> 00:03:31.889 along with 10 more things. And then we will have 00:03:31.889 --> 00:03:34.409 10 regular giveaways. So come hang out with us. 00:03:34.430 --> 00:03:36.629 Hop in the stream. One of our favorite things 00:03:36.629 --> 00:03:40.150 that we see happening. Every week in our Whatnot 00:03:40.150 --> 00:03:42.610 stream is the number of folks who start with 00:03:42.610 --> 00:03:44.530 us at 7 o 'clock and are still there at 10 o 00:03:44.530 --> 00:03:46.909 'clock. And when we're pulling orders, one person 00:03:46.909 --> 00:03:48.870 has order number three and order number 280. 00:03:49.789 --> 00:03:51.729 It's a fun thing. It feels like this podcast 00:03:51.729 --> 00:03:54.469 for three hours. That's what we shoot for. Come 00:03:54.469 --> 00:03:56.169 hang out with us. You don't have to buy anything. 00:03:56.449 --> 00:03:58.789 You can just hang out, see some cool cards, be 00:03:58.789 --> 00:04:01.669 a part of the stream. Who needs fireworks? You 00:04:01.669 --> 00:04:03.789 know what I mean? I can't stand it. There are 00:04:03.789 --> 00:04:05.689 more people that actually don't like fireworks 00:04:05.689 --> 00:04:08.800 than you realize. I don't mind fireworks. I can't 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:11.479 stand crowds of people, though. That's the worst. 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:12.879 We have a thing here in Columbus called Red, 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:15.439 White, and Boom. Kind of a big deal. Hard pass. 00:04:15.659 --> 00:04:19.420 It's a hard pass for me. I like it, but only 00:04:19.420 --> 00:04:22.259 from certain places. And they're not where all 00:04:22.259 --> 00:04:26.740 the people are. If I sound rather hoarse, I am. 00:04:27.019 --> 00:04:29.420 If Gary talks a lot in this episode, it's a good 00:04:29.420 --> 00:04:31.540 thing. I'm not going to complain about it as 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:35.759 much as normal. As we jump in, we're real excited. 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:37.540 We've got a special guest coming up here in a 00:04:37.540 --> 00:04:40.480 little bit, Alyx with Collectors MD. We're going 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.600 to be diving into a little more of the darker 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:47.259 side of the hobby. I guess we're getting a little 00:04:47.259 --> 00:04:48.899 bit of a label with the trolls that we just talk 00:04:48.899 --> 00:04:51.740 about negative things. And that's not true. Just 00:04:51.740 --> 00:04:53.560 a lot more people tend to watch the negative 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:55.720 things apparently because there's a lot of the 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:58.420 other kind of clips in there as well. Go to our 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:00.060 actual page and just scroll through our clips. 00:05:00.139 --> 00:05:02.800 You'll see one negative clip for every 20 positive 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:06.000 clips. Or for context, watch an episode. Yeah, 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:08.720 watch the whole episode. All right. Caitlin Clark 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.800 seems to be getting completely hosed by the player 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:16.639 vote for the All -Star game. Ninth among the... 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:20.920 Let's backtrack. Back it up. WNBA All -Star voting 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:24.500 has concluded. And the fan vote, Kaitlyn Clark, 00:05:24.620 --> 00:05:28.019 was number one overall by miles. Hundreds of 00:05:28.019 --> 00:05:30.060 thousands of votes. She had almost 1 .3 million 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:33.439 votes. Which, to put it in context, until last 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:36.079 year, I don't think 1 .3 million people had watched 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.779 the WNBA. Like, had attended games in the total 00:05:39.779 --> 00:05:43.889 in the 20 years of the league. Just absolutely 00:05:43.889 --> 00:05:46.470 annihilated it. That was a little bit of exaggeration. 00:05:46.470 --> 00:05:48.709 Not much of one. You have no idea. I don't, but 00:05:48.709 --> 00:05:53.069 that's a bet I would be willing to make. A blind. 00:05:53.189 --> 00:05:54.910 I would make that bet blind. Hey, you heard it 00:05:54.910 --> 00:06:00.850 here. But anybody who watches the games at all 00:06:00.850 --> 00:06:03.910 knows how good Kaitlin Clark is. It's not close. 00:06:05.189 --> 00:06:07.449 So number one in fan voting by leaps and bounds. 00:06:08.629 --> 00:06:12.439 Ninth, not overall, among the player vote. Ninth 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:19.720 among guards in the player vote. What are they 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:23.180 looking for that they're not seeing? I mean, 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:27.779 there's multiple factors, but I'm trying to understand 00:06:27.779 --> 00:06:33.839 why that might not happen. Like, ninth place 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:38.439 among guards in the player vote. Yeah. What are 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:42.980 they voting on? Not basketball skill. It doesn't 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:46.800 seem to be that. Feel free to let us know what 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:47.899 you think is causing it. The players definitely 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:51.319 lead the troop of hate ones. Yeah, it seems to 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:53.699 be that way. Not the most loved amongst players. 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:56.439 You know what they won't be hating? They're definitely 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:57.920 going to want her at the bargaining table with 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:00.180 the next CBA. Oh, yeah. They're going to be happy 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:03.079 she's there for that. So we'll let you all draw 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:04.959 your own conclusions as to what's going on there. 00:07:05.079 --> 00:07:09.300 But it's, yeah, it was shocking to say the least. 00:07:10.330 --> 00:07:13.910 Place among guards. Galen Clark. She's aight. 00:07:14.649 --> 00:07:18.389 Other players are like, she's aight. Some salty 00:07:18.389 --> 00:07:20.550 bitterness going on in there. I don't understand 00:07:20.550 --> 00:07:22.350 it. It's not that there can't be other ones. 00:07:22.470 --> 00:07:25.810 And maybe she's not the number one. There's the 00:07:25.810 --> 00:07:29.170 concept of the time they've been in the league, 00:07:29.230 --> 00:07:31.310 how long they've been playing, longevity, team 00:07:31.310 --> 00:07:34.170 leadership. But for the players to put her at 00:07:34.170 --> 00:07:36.850 ninth is a statement. Diana Taurasi being ahead 00:07:36.850 --> 00:07:38.670 of her in the player vote? No issue with that. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.060 Brittany Sykes being ahead of her in the player 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:44.019 vote? You don't know about that one. How does 00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:46.980 that happen? All right. Let's move on. National, 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:48.839 less than a month out. We're going to be there. 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:51.100 Everyone's going to be there. You should be there. 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:53.620 If you want to. You don't have to go. I've got 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:56.720 to get the numbers out for this. We do have something 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:58.740 to share specifically about the National. Gary 00:07:58.740 --> 00:08:01.180 and I will be up from Wednesday through Saturday. 00:08:02.019 --> 00:08:04.470 Staying close to the... Convention Center there. 00:08:04.870 --> 00:08:06.689 If any of you want to catch up, be sure to reach 00:08:06.689 --> 00:08:09.689 out. Hit us up on socials if there's a day you're 00:08:09.689 --> 00:08:10.970 at the show. I know there's some of you we've 00:08:10.970 --> 00:08:12.310 already talked with we'll be catching up with. 00:08:13.050 --> 00:08:14.910 But, yeah, we'd love to meet you, get to know 00:08:14.910 --> 00:08:17.029 you a little bit. Look for the What's Your Highest 00:08:17.029 --> 00:08:18.930 shirts. Yeah. And look for my hats. Maybe we 00:08:18.930 --> 00:08:20.470 get some fresh T -shirts for that. Yeah, maybe 00:08:20.470 --> 00:08:23.110 we do. Fire up the cricket, dog. Hey, all you 00:08:23.110 --> 00:08:24.970 guys out there, by the way, who are giving my 00:08:24.970 --> 00:08:27.730 hat game love, thank you so much. It really bothers 00:08:27.730 --> 00:08:29.829 Jason. I'm glad we talk about it every week. 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:32.659 Because that's the only reason an adult would 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:35.039 wear cartoons. I know. Is for it to be talked 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:37.659 about. I enjoy it immensely. The attention. I 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:41.080 enjoy the product. The reaction. No. Yeah. Just 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:43.419 the product. It's okay. Yeah, I'm a fan. I'm 00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:45.799 grumpy. I don't feel great. It's okay. You're 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:47.039 allowed. It happens sometimes. I feel like I 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:48.799 could do a really good, like, hold on, let me 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:53.470 think. I feel like I could do a good Stone Temple 00:08:53.470 --> 00:08:54.889 Pilots with my voice right now. I was thinking 00:08:54.889 --> 00:08:57.769 Oscar the Grouch. Well, that too. We can get 00:08:57.769 --> 00:08:59.210 you a little trash can to pop out. The National's 00:08:59.210 --> 00:09:02.009 up in less than a month. We just saw something 00:09:02.009 --> 00:09:04.269 on socials. PSA must have had a typo. There must 00:09:04.269 --> 00:09:06.690 have been something that was off. Because when 00:09:06.690 --> 00:09:09.649 we looked at this, you said it to me. I'm not 00:09:09.649 --> 00:09:11.029 going to say the words that you used because 00:09:11.029 --> 00:09:13.389 I'm not sure they're appropriate. But shock and 00:09:13.389 --> 00:09:16.500 awe. Shock and awe. Well, less shock, more awe. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:18.980 Yeah, we went, after we saw this, we was like, 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:21.519 okay, let's make sure this is real. So I have 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:25.580 PSA's website in front of me. Let's go over the 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:30.299 on -site costs, both for grading and for crossover 00:09:30.299 --> 00:09:35.259 service. On -site express grading with card value 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:38.240 up to $2 ,500. This one isn't terrible. It's 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:42.340 $149. Drop it off. You'll have it by the end 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:46.679 of the show. However, it just continues to climb. 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:54.740 The highest tier is $9 ,999 and up on cards, 00:09:54.779 --> 00:10:00.960 maximum insured value of $250 ,000. A little 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:03.679 crazy. Now, if I have a high -grade mantle rookie, 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:06.799 maybe I don't care too much. What's shocking 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:08.559 is how many people will be standing in line for 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:11.450 this stuff with their $300 cards. And that will 00:10:11.450 --> 00:10:14.289 happen. But here's the one that really got me. 00:10:15.149 --> 00:10:18.730 This is what really got me. You ever look at 00:10:18.730 --> 00:10:19.950 something and you're like, this information cannot 00:10:19.950 --> 00:10:21.789 be correct. Where's the typo? What am I misreading? 00:10:22.029 --> 00:10:23.509 You look over it five times and you're like, 00:10:23.529 --> 00:10:25.269 no, that's it. That's what it says. That is what 00:10:25.269 --> 00:10:29.250 it says. The crossover process. And if you're 00:10:29.250 --> 00:10:31.490 not familiar with what the crossover is, is instead 00:10:31.490 --> 00:10:35.149 of taking a card that's in, say, an SGC slab 00:10:35.149 --> 00:10:37.370 and cracking it out of there yourself and sending 00:10:37.370 --> 00:10:41.230 it to PSA directly. You give it to PSA inside 00:10:41.230 --> 00:10:44.350 that slab, and they will grade it inside the 00:10:44.350 --> 00:10:45.889 slab. And if they think it will cross over to 00:10:45.889 --> 00:10:47.590 the minimum grade you're requesting, they will 00:10:47.590 --> 00:10:51.049 crack it out and holder it. At the National, 00:10:51.230 --> 00:10:53.110 and I heard someone say that this was the we 00:10:53.110 --> 00:10:55.129 don't want to do this price, which that's the 00:10:55.129 --> 00:10:57.509 only thing that makes sense. At the National, 00:10:57.669 --> 00:11:01.750 the fee that PSA is charging you to just look 00:11:01.750 --> 00:11:05.440 at the card. and if they say no, you still have 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:12.500 to pay the fee, is $599. I hand them this slab. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:15.120 I say, hey, I want to cross this. I need it to 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:17.120 be a 10. And they look at it and they go, yeah, 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:19.799 it's not going to be a 10. That'll be $600, please. 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:25.519 Now, what's really fun is if they say yes, you 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:28.960 pay the $600, then you pay the grading fee on 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:31.559 top of it. But wait, there's more. Which starts. 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:36.220 At $400. For cards up to what value? $25 ,000. 00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:41.039 That's the lowest price you will pay at the National 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:46.840 to have this done on site is $1 ,000. Yikes. 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:50.379 Or you pay $600 to find out you should not submit 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:53.159 it. You're going to have to stand in line to 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:55.220 do that, too. You saved yourself $400. Wait, 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:58.059 no, you didn't. You lost $600. And you're going 00:11:58.059 --> 00:12:00.220 to have to stand in line for the right to have 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:02.950 them just hold you up at gunpoint. It's insane. 00:12:03.429 --> 00:12:06.649 I hope that none of you are silly enough to do 00:12:06.649 --> 00:12:10.850 this. To all of you glazing PSA is king. Do not 00:12:10.850 --> 00:12:14.070 expect less of this. No. Expect more of this. 00:12:14.590 --> 00:12:16.929 And if SGC is fading into the background, which 00:12:16.929 --> 00:12:18.330 we don't know for certain, but there are some 00:12:18.330 --> 00:12:20.090 things that indicate it's certainly possible, 00:12:20.330 --> 00:12:23.750 expect more of this. This isn't going to get 00:12:23.750 --> 00:12:25.889 better. Yeah, the monopolization of the hobby 00:12:25.889 --> 00:12:28.480 is in. Full force. We're catching full stride. 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:31.039 We've got to get all those licenses under the 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:33.879 same umbrella, and then we're there. And don't 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:36.039 get us wrong. We're not those guys out here saying 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:38.679 that, oh, you should grade somewhere else. We 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:42.080 live in reality. The reality is that PSA is king 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:45.139 of the market. Your cards in a PSA slab are going 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:47.879 to sell for more money. They are going to, in 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:50.100 the market, be worth more money. Whether you 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:52.200 like it or not, that's just the reality. Your 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:56.980 SGC10 is not worth as much as a PSA10. Your BGS95 00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:59.980 is not worth as much as a PSA10 in the market. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:03.480 It may be to you, and if it is to you, you'll 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:05.480 just own that card for a long time because it 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:08.000 ain't going to sell for what a PSA10 does. However, 00:13:08.220 --> 00:13:11.120 PSA is absolutely leveraging that reality. So 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:13.490 let's think through the math on this. let's say 00:13:13.490 --> 00:13:16.309 that you're in that bottom tier, which 99 % of 00:13:16.309 --> 00:13:18.490 what gets submitted that week will be, card worth 00:13:18.490 --> 00:13:21.549 less than, this is for a crossover, and to have 00:13:21.549 --> 00:13:25.850 it slabbed. You're in $599 and then another $400 00:13:25.850 --> 00:13:28.009 to get it slabbed. So you're in $1 ,000 on grading 00:13:28.009 --> 00:13:31.509 costs. How valuable would a card need to be for 00:13:31.509 --> 00:13:33.610 you in its current slab at the current market 00:13:33.610 --> 00:13:36.110 for you to invest $1 ,000 where that makes sense? 00:13:36.330 --> 00:13:40.230 It's got to be $8 ,000 plus at a minimum. Maybe 00:13:40.230 --> 00:13:44.639 you've got to... an SGC nine five or a BGS nine 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:49.120 five of a card that in a PSA 10 is worth 15 grand, 00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:53.000 13 grand. And it's worth eight or nine in the 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.019 slab that it's in. Okay. I guess that probably 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:58.340 makes sense, but you better be damn sure that 00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:00.779 it's going to cross. Otherwise it's 600 bucks 00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:02.679 out your pocket. Oh, and it probably matters 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:04.240 more how you got into the cart, right? Did you 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:06.399 hit it and grade it yourself? You know, you might 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:08.840 have the margin there, but man, thousand bucks 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:11.980 to find out. Yeah, that's. Like, there's a part 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:14.639 of me that's like, it would be nice with that 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:18.580 Cassius Clay rookie to know if that BVG 85 would 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:20.860 cross over to a PSA 8. Because we're talking 00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:23.120 thousands of dollars. Yeah, is it worth $600 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:25.899 to see? But if I'm wrong, that car will be worth 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:28.700 negative dollars. Yeah. Yeah. Really quickly. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:31.860 $600 to find out. You can find out while you're 00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:33.299 there. I don't want to know that bad. I don't 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:36.299 want to know that bad. Hey, for the value box 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:38.460 today, I'm really excited to set this up. I know 00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:41.279 last week we talked about one of the biggest 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:43.879 Ponzi schemes getting exposed with Chad Smith, 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:46.220 Chad Smith cards. Some of you reached out to 00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:48.039 that. We had some of you commenting that you 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:51.080 have had less than pleasant interactions with 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:55.370 this guy clear back into the 90s. In some ways, 00:14:55.490 --> 00:14:57.230 it's like you don't like highlighting the negative 00:14:57.230 --> 00:14:59.429 side of the hobby, but it's really important 00:14:59.429 --> 00:15:02.289 that people are aware of how this happens, that 00:15:02.289 --> 00:15:04.190 people are exposed when they do this kind of 00:15:04.190 --> 00:15:06.830 stuff, and that you do things to prevent that 00:15:06.830 --> 00:15:08.529 going forward. We also talked about scams last 00:15:08.529 --> 00:15:10.610 week and how we can avoid common pitfalls. For 00:15:10.610 --> 00:15:13.070 some of you, you were commenting, this is so 00:15:13.070 --> 00:15:16.009 obvious. Cool. Wasn't for you then. Don't get 00:15:16.009 --> 00:15:18.370 scammed. For the rest of you that hadn't heard, 00:15:18.470 --> 00:15:20.730 there's some ways to avoid it. But today I'm 00:15:20.730 --> 00:15:23.190 really excited. We're still talking about a side 00:15:23.190 --> 00:15:25.730 of the hobby that is a little bit on the darker 00:15:25.730 --> 00:15:28.370 side, a little bit something that people can 00:15:28.370 --> 00:15:30.269 be down a little bit more negative about. But 00:15:30.269 --> 00:15:32.809 I think it's super, super important with the 00:15:32.809 --> 00:15:35.809 way that the space is going, the way that cards 00:15:35.809 --> 00:15:38.009 get into collectors' hands, the methods we use 00:15:38.009 --> 00:15:40.250 for that. And so we're going to be talking with 00:15:40.250 --> 00:15:43.440 Alyx from Collectors MD. Who's going to share 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:47.419 in this conversation not only how to become aware 00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:50.840 of a time where you can go from collecting to 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:53.139 perhaps an addiction that could have devastating 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:56.320 consequences in someone's life to finding help 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:59.279 and support to appreciate the hobby in a way 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:02.360 that doesn't cause unnecessary harm. Right. So 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:04.720 we're looking forward to this conversation. We'll 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:06.259 definitely be following up with that here in 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:10.700 just a moment. All right, today we are joined 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:13.580 by Alyx Effron from Collectors MD. Alyx, thanks 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:16.580 so much for being here today. We appreciate you 00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:19.399 making some time to talk to us. Thank you, guys. 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:21.960 Thanks so much for having me. It's great to be 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:25.720 on the show. Really excited to talk about Collectors MD 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:28.100 and the direction we're headed. Lots of momentum, 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:31.139 lots of exciting things going on. And yeah, I 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.600 just really appreciate you guys giving me the 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:35.320 platform and the stage to continue carrying this 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:39.529 really incredibly important message. Yeah, absolutely. 00:16:40.610 --> 00:16:43.929 Good introduction there. So tell us just a little 00:16:43.929 --> 00:16:47.070 bit before we get too deep into the weeds and 00:16:47.070 --> 00:16:50.409 questions, just an overview. What is Collectors 00:16:50.409 --> 00:16:55.590 MD? Yeah, so Collectors MD, and I can kind of 00:16:55.590 --> 00:16:58.789 talk about the origin before I dive into exactly 00:16:58.789 --> 00:17:01.909 what it is and what we do. But Collectors MD 00:17:01.909 --> 00:17:05.710 started because I personally was living this. 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:10.559 issue firsthand. I wasn't some outsider observing 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:13.460 the space, observing the hobby. I was fully immersed 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:17.380 in it. I was deep, deep in the hobby and the 00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:20.980 art of collecting. And over time, what started 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:24.240 as a fun passion turned into something a lot 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:26.960 more overwhelming. I felt like I was chasing 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.920 constantly. I was ripping late into the night, 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:32.779 wee hours of the morning. I was justifying purchases 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:37.319 that didn't make sense. And worse, I wasn't really 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:41.319 enjoying any of it. I was constantly waking up 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:43.319 the next day with a pit in my stomach, just feeling 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:46.299 disgusted with the amount of money I spent and 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:49.240 sort of the rabbit hole that I went down the 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:53.319 night prior. That moment where you look at a 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:57.299 stack of packages or a bank statement and think, 00:17:57.319 --> 00:18:00.140 how did I get here? That's what really pushed 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:03.259 me to start Collectors MD. I realized there were 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:06.880 just so many people out there quietly struggling, 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:09.819 but no one was really talking about this openly 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:14.599 and honestly. There were hot takes, jokes, memes, 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:18.990 meme accounts reposting people who... you know 00:18:18.990 --> 00:18:21.269 open up and talk about what they're going through 00:18:21.269 --> 00:18:24.309 but there really was no space for real honest 00:18:24.309 --> 00:18:29.950 support so i built what i wish had existed for 00:18:29.950 --> 00:18:33.349 me a safe place for collectors who need to hit 00:18:33.349 --> 00:18:37.799 pause sort of recalibrate and feel a sense of 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:40.819 being understood and a sense of community. So 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:44.380 with that, what Collectors MD is, it's a movement 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:47.359 for collectors navigating compulsive collecting 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:51.420 and spending, especially break culture and hobby 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:55.460 burnout. We're not anti -hobby. We're pro -accountability 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:58.240 and we're pro -awareness. Those are really important 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:03.279 things. And it was created. for collectors by 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:09.059 collectors. So when you talk about that pity 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:11.299 or stomach feeling, right? Like you're looking 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:13.220 over the bank statement or the next morning, 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:15.700 you're like, man, did I really, did I really 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:17.859 convince myself two or three more breaks were 00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:19.400 going to get me back to where I needed to be 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:22.039 to chase this deficit or whatever it may be. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.180 Somewhere along the way, it was something you 00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:27.519 were very passionate about and excited about, 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:30.900 and something began to change. Are you able to 00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:34.259 look at your story or the genesis of this and 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:37.430 figure out? Here's where it went from a passion 00:19:37.430 --> 00:19:40.029 to something that may be destructive or addictive. 00:19:40.710 --> 00:19:43.009 What were the things that you started to notice 00:19:43.009 --> 00:19:45.950 where maybe some red flags were going up? Maybe 00:19:45.950 --> 00:19:47.970 you were suppressing them or shutting them up. 00:19:48.089 --> 00:19:50.430 You're saying that there wasn't really any type 00:19:50.430 --> 00:19:52.990 of peer network to keep you accountable, to check 00:19:52.990 --> 00:19:55.150 on you, to check on your well -being. What were 00:19:55.150 --> 00:19:56.990 those things you were seeing that were, hey, 00:19:57.009 --> 00:19:58.769 this has gone from passion to maybe something 00:19:58.769 --> 00:20:01.380 a little different? Yeah, it's a great question. 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:04.059 And it's one of the hardest things to spot and 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:07.359 identify because it blurs so easily, right? Like 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:09.799 one day you're just collecting your favorite 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:11.700 team, your favorite players. And the next day 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:14.200 you're chasing a case hit. You don't even really 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:16.200 care about spending the money you told yourself 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:18.759 you wouldn't touch, right? The hobby is an amazing 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:23.440 place. It really is. It combines nostalgia, creativity. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:27.039 It's community driven. But when you mix in 24 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:30.799 -7 access. And gambling like mechanics and just 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:34.259 this constant pressure to always keep up and 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:39.799 be a part of the next, you know, big group break 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:42.279 or product coming out. It can just it can start 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:44.759 to turn on you. And, you know, we're seeing it 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:47.160 happen more and more. People are just becoming 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:50.059 so burnt out. Relationships are getting strained. 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:53.900 Finances are getting wrecked. because it still 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:56.740 looks like a hobby something that you know we 00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:59.759 we enjoyed since we were kids it's hard to call 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:02.279 it what it really is which for a lot of people 00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:04.720 is compulsion and i always say it's it's not 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:07.779 about villainizing collecting it's about helping 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:10.940 people recognize when that joy is gone and the 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:13.740 behavior has just you know completely consumed 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:17.339 you and taken over interesting that's that kind 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:20.390 of leads to to a question for me because When 00:21:20.390 --> 00:21:23.230 I think about the hobby and you reference break 00:21:23.230 --> 00:21:28.049 culture, we talk a lot about how breaking in 00:21:28.049 --> 00:21:30.170 and of itself isn't necessarily a bad thing, 00:21:30.210 --> 00:21:32.890 but it can become something really ugly sometimes. 00:21:34.490 --> 00:21:37.910 The chase aspect of what this hobby is about, 00:21:38.009 --> 00:21:40.829 in my opinion, has been around since the hobby 00:21:40.829 --> 00:21:44.089 started. Whether you were chasing a Mickey Mantle 00:21:44.089 --> 00:21:47.170 rookie to stick in your bike spokes in 1952 and 00:21:47.170 --> 00:21:50.930 flipping cards with your friends to chasing Ken 00:21:50.930 --> 00:21:55.049 Griffey Jr. in 89 Upper Deck at 36 bucks a box 00:21:55.049 --> 00:22:00.589 to now when the stakes have exponentially gotten 00:22:00.589 --> 00:22:03.269 higher, the cost of wax has gotten exponentially 00:22:03.269 --> 00:22:07.380 higher. do you think that addiction and compulsive 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:09.920 behavior is something that has always existed 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.960 in the hobby? Or do you see that as something 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:16.279 that is become a relatively recent trend due 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:19.140 to outside forces? Yeah, that's another great 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:21.140 question because the hobby has been around for 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:25.440 decades, if not centuries, right? Like people 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:27.119 have been collecting cards for over a hundred 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:30.680 years. And the idea of the chase has sort of 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:33.750 always been baked into. the hobby like since 00:22:33.750 --> 00:22:36.390 the very beginning whether it was trying to complete 00:22:36.390 --> 00:22:39.690 an entire set or you know just land your favorite 00:22:39.690 --> 00:22:42.630 player in you know a pack that you picked up 00:22:42.630 --> 00:22:45.329 from the local store or just finding that elusive 00:22:45.329 --> 00:22:48.029 rookie there's always been a sense of pursuit 00:22:48.029 --> 00:22:51.130 right and over time that pursuit has really just 00:22:51.130 --> 00:22:55.630 shifted from playful passion to high stakes pressure 00:22:55.630 --> 00:22:57.349 i was actually talking to my dad about this when 00:22:57.349 --> 00:23:00.240 he was younger you know He collected cards. He 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:02.000 was into sports. But, like, it was completely 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.400 different, right? They would take cards and put 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:06.599 them in the spokes of their bicycle wheels. They 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:12.180 would flip coins and, like, you know, try to 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:14.660 win each other's cards. And it was all, like, 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:16.579 very engaging. And you were physically touching 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:18.500 them. And nobody really cared about the condition. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:26.839 You know, it was an enjoyable experience that 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:29.970 you got to. uh do with your friends with your 00:23:29.970 --> 00:23:34.450 with your family and um you know i think it's 00:23:34.450 --> 00:23:37.809 just it's shifted so much um and so the the question 00:23:37.809 --> 00:23:39.690 that you asked do i think addiction has always 00:23:39.690 --> 00:23:42.069 been a part of the hobby in some ways yes but 00:23:42.069 --> 00:23:45.029 not like it is now the difference today is the 00:23:45.029 --> 00:23:47.009 environment the digital environment specifically 00:23:47.009 --> 00:23:51.230 we now have 24 7 access there's constant product 00:23:51.230 --> 00:23:57.140 drops live stream breaks instant comps And social 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:59.880 validation tied to every single purchase you 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:02.519 make. So it's no longer just a hobby you engage 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:05.599 with at your own pace. It's become something 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:08.059 that's actively hunting for your attention and 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:12.220 for your wallet. That social validation piece, 00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:15.380 I think, is probably and mistake me if you think 00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:17.039 or correct me if you think I'm mistaken here. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:19.880 But that piece has probably been the thing that 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:22.259 has blossomed the most out of the hobby, where 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:26.619 in some ways, you know, Fanatics has been. unapologetic 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:29.359 that they are evangelizing the hobby like big 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:31.880 picture vision for them is that globally there 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:34.240 are more people collecting in the sports space 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:37.980 right yeah but with that and the money that comes 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:40.539 with it are the brands are the content creators 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:43.259 are the people that are filming vlogs and so 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:46.640 one thing that's it's not shocking anymore to 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:49.059 gary and i but we're set up at over 40 shows 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:53.380 a year there's kids walking up to us with deep 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:56.069 into the five figures in their case that they've 00:24:56.069 --> 00:24:58.190 been wheeling and dealing. 12 -year -old kids, 00:24:58.349 --> 00:25:00.490 not 18 -year -old kids. Yeah, and they've been 00:25:00.490 --> 00:25:02.509 doing a trade -up challenge for four years, and 00:25:02.509 --> 00:25:07.130 this is where they are. But when you look at 00:25:07.130 --> 00:25:09.890 the, I guess, the fractional selling piece, the 00:25:09.890 --> 00:25:12.650 gambling aspect, if you will, I think it's safe 00:25:12.650 --> 00:25:15.829 to call it that. There is a gambling aspect in 00:25:15.829 --> 00:25:19.809 this. Like, there doesn't seem to be much in 00:25:19.809 --> 00:25:23.480 the way of safeguards. Hey, along the way, if 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:26.339 you have like in reading your article, you know, 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:29.920 that just recently dropped, you shared that, 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:32.720 you know, when it comes to the sports book, there's 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:34.380 all kinds of warnings. There's all kinds of ways 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:36.599 where, hey, if you need help, here's all the 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:39.400 resources. Yet we have a group of kids where 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:42.380 if your parents are cool with you breaking cards 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:44.920 on Whatnot, you're allowed to have your own stream 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:49.859 as a teenager. And so I guess where do you see? 00:25:51.630 --> 00:25:55.089 How could this be more healthy, I guess is what 00:25:55.089 --> 00:25:56.650 I'm trying to say when it comes to that social 00:25:56.650 --> 00:25:59.309 validation piece that we're rewarding what we 00:25:59.309 --> 00:26:01.690 want repeated, right? We tell the algorithm what 00:26:01.690 --> 00:26:03.450 we want to see, but how could we do this in a 00:26:03.450 --> 00:26:06.890 more healthy way? Or what could be added to the 00:26:06.890 --> 00:26:10.329 conversation? What's a truth that needs to be 00:26:10.329 --> 00:26:12.890 understood as people talk about having that big 00:26:12.890 --> 00:26:15.269 hit or buying that big collection or flipping 00:26:15.269 --> 00:26:18.369 that prospect card that they were chasing? What's 00:26:18.369 --> 00:26:21.319 missing in the conversation? Yeah, Jason, that's 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:25.140 a really great question. And honestly, it's a 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:27.880 multi -part answer because there's a lot that 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:33.880 goes into responding to those things and layering 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:38.859 in these different levels of support and guidance 00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:41.299 for collectors, especially young collectors, 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:44.160 some of these kids. So when you look at the gambling 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:48.150 -like behavior that is... has become so prevalent 00:26:48.150 --> 00:26:50.369 in the hobby especially again with younger collectors 00:26:50.369 --> 00:26:54.130 there currently are no real safeguards in place 00:26:54.130 --> 00:26:56.650 there are zero safeguards there are no age gates 00:26:56.650 --> 00:26:59.490 on streams there's no spending limits there's 00:26:59.490 --> 00:27:02.069 no built -in accountability tools like when you're 00:27:02.069 --> 00:27:07.049 playing uh casino live casino on a on an app 00:27:07.049 --> 00:27:10.769 or you know sports betting uh generally There 00:27:10.769 --> 00:27:13.670 are tools in place where you can set a cool off 00:27:13.670 --> 00:27:16.509 period. You can self -exclude. You can set deposit 00:27:16.509 --> 00:27:19.029 limits. None of that exists on the current platforms 00:27:19.029 --> 00:27:21.569 that we have access to. It's an environment where 00:27:21.569 --> 00:27:24.569 kids can basically rip product at a rapid pace, 00:27:24.769 --> 00:27:27.430 spend money they don't necessarily have, and 00:27:27.430 --> 00:27:31.630 subsequently be publicly celebrated for hitting 00:27:31.630 --> 00:27:34.230 a nuke or a banger, what these breakers call 00:27:34.230 --> 00:27:36.990 them these days, all while internalizing this 00:27:36.990 --> 00:27:40.640 idea that value equals worth. you know which 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:43.200 equals attention and you know let's be honest 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.859 this isn't just a hobby anymore it's become a 00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:50.319 gamified ecosystem like you know from from wheels 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:54.619 in these uh live streams to random team breaks 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:58.440 to you know trade backs uh to these hype driven 00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:02.940 countdowns and you know uh repacks it's it's 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:06.200 operating exactly like online gambling but with 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:09.660 with no protections uh so what collectors md 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:12.920 is doing about it um again multi -part answers 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:16.539 so first and foremost there's a long question 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:20.359 of course yeah um first and foremost awareness 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:23.500 and education awareness and education so we're 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:26.039 starting the conversation that many in this industry 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:30.720 just have avoided for far too long we have daily 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:34.650 content Daily Reflection specifically is a series 00:28:34.650 --> 00:28:38.210 of daily journal entries that I post every single 00:28:38.210 --> 00:28:42.930 day to make sure that we are staying relevant 00:28:42.930 --> 00:28:49.349 and mindful based on all of the news and industry 00:28:49.349 --> 00:28:53.630 related things that are going on. Obviously, 00:28:53.750 --> 00:28:58.170 sharing all of this across social through. additional 00:28:58.170 --> 00:29:01.950 content. We have our weekly peer support meetings. 00:29:02.329 --> 00:29:05.769 We're naming what's really happening. And that 00:29:05.769 --> 00:29:08.910 includes the ways kids are being exposed to gambling 00:29:08.910 --> 00:29:11.789 -like behavior at younger and younger ages, which 00:29:11.789 --> 00:29:14.910 again, is just not acceptable. The next is strategic 00:29:14.910 --> 00:29:17.869 partnerships. So we've partnered with groups 00:29:17.869 --> 00:29:23.470 like Birches Health, which is a professional 00:29:25.210 --> 00:29:28.029 mental health clinic that focuses on problematic 00:29:28.029 --> 00:29:30.470 gambling and behavioral addiction so that we 00:29:30.470 --> 00:29:36.329 can offer our members professional guidance and 00:29:36.329 --> 00:29:40.710 therapy as they need it. We recently partnered 00:29:40.710 --> 00:29:45.509 with a company called Gamban, which offers basically 00:29:45.509 --> 00:29:49.890 like app blocking software. to gambling -related 00:29:49.890 --> 00:29:52.430 apps and platforms. They've now added Whatnot 00:29:52.430 --> 00:29:54.549 and Fanatics Live, among several others, where 00:29:54.549 --> 00:29:57.430 people can download that software and be able 00:29:57.430 --> 00:29:59.349 to block themselves from accessing those apps. 00:29:59.589 --> 00:30:03.609 And we're also speaking with... you know, other 00:30:03.609 --> 00:30:06.529 companies and professionals who specialize in 00:30:06.529 --> 00:30:10.210 youth addiction and digital wellness to help 00:30:10.210 --> 00:30:12.329 inform our next step. So there are going to be 00:30:12.329 --> 00:30:14.990 more partnerships rolling out, but Birches and 00:30:14.990 --> 00:30:17.869 Kanban specifically are the two that we rolled 00:30:17.869 --> 00:30:20.769 out earlier this month or earlier in June. Now 00:30:20.769 --> 00:30:25.230 that today is July 1st. The next is support for 00:30:25.230 --> 00:30:28.490 parents. So we're developing resources and eventually 00:30:28.490 --> 00:30:31.559 toolkits to not just help. you know kids and 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:34.259 adults who are in the hobby but also the parents 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:37.099 of those kids understand the risks and learn 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:39.140 how to talk to their kids about what's happening 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:41.700 in the hobby because many parents just don't 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:44.539 even understand or realize what live breaks or 00:30:46.349 --> 00:30:49.250 you know, Discord rooms or, you know, a lot of 00:30:49.250 --> 00:30:51.109 these different social platforms actually look 00:30:51.109 --> 00:30:54.490 like. And then lastly, one of the most important, 00:30:54.630 --> 00:30:57.609 which is industry reform. So we're pushing for 00:30:57.609 --> 00:30:59.990 real platform accountability, whether that's 00:30:59.990 --> 00:31:03.230 age verification, just clear warnings, limits 00:31:03.230 --> 00:31:06.150 on live spending, or more transparency from breakers 00:31:06.150 --> 00:31:08.390 and marketplaces. We're not trying to shut anything 00:31:08.390 --> 00:31:11.769 down. keep preaching we are not anti -hobby we 00:31:11.769 --> 00:31:14.549 just want to be safer smarter and more responsible 00:31:14.549 --> 00:31:18.529 across the board so all of this uh we recognize 00:31:18.529 --> 00:31:21.990 is a marathon it's not a sprint but if we want 00:31:21.990 --> 00:31:25.069 the hobby to have a future that is sustainable 00:31:25.069 --> 00:31:27.410 and healthy we can't ignore what's happening 00:31:27.410 --> 00:31:29.950 especially with this next generation so collectors 00:31:29.950 --> 00:31:32.609 md is here to make sure we support protect and 00:31:32.609 --> 00:31:35.349 empower those who are most vulnerable before 00:31:35.349 --> 00:31:38.509 the harm starts becoming irreversible Gotcha. 00:31:38.910 --> 00:31:42.049 So with that being said, and I think this is 00:31:42.049 --> 00:31:44.029 a question that I don't know if you've gotten 00:31:44.029 --> 00:31:46.230 before. You probably have. I'm not that original. 00:31:48.309 --> 00:31:52.569 It sounds like there's a lot of partnerships 00:31:52.569 --> 00:31:56.750 happening peripherally that affect what's going 00:31:56.750 --> 00:32:00.009 on, which is fantastic. Have you had any success 00:32:00.009 --> 00:32:03.750 or have you had any conversations or do you find 00:32:03.750 --> 00:32:07.000 that the main players like. Whatnot or Fanatics 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:10.160 live, are you getting pushback? Are you, are 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:12.380 you being seen as adversarial to them? Do you 00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:15.519 see a path towards them being part of the solution 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.960 or do you think this is going to be a fight? 00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:19.759 Yeah, that's a great question. And it's something 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:24.059 that again is really, really important. The industry 00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:26.640 reform initiative that we have on our website 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:31.099 is directed at those bigger players, the higher 00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:35.259 powers within the space. And, you know, honestly, 00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:39.000 Having those conversations, getting those conversations 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:41.440 rolling are challenging. You know, it's really 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:45.599 hard to sort of shout into a void and get a response. 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:48.460 Right. I mean, these companies have so much going 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:51.359 on. And the last thing they want to do is open 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:54.539 up a can of worms as it pertains to a governing 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:58.200 body overlooking what they're doing and reforming 00:32:58.200 --> 00:33:01.519 their apps and platforms and everything like 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:05.049 that. But it's it's. really important. And I 00:33:05.049 --> 00:33:11.569 think it's probably best for them if they act, 00:33:11.690 --> 00:33:15.670 you know, proactively before somebody actually 00:33:15.670 --> 00:33:18.890 comes in and makes those changes. So we have 00:33:18.890 --> 00:33:21.970 reached out to Whatnot and Fanatics and we've 00:33:21.970 --> 00:33:25.490 had positive responses and feedback. Nothing 00:33:25.490 --> 00:33:30.549 sort of concrete yet in terms of actionable items. 00:33:31.309 --> 00:33:34.710 However, things are being looked at. Things are 00:33:34.710 --> 00:33:36.730 being passed to the appropriate departments. 00:33:37.029 --> 00:33:39.690 I had a really positive conversation last night, 00:33:39.710 --> 00:33:43.450 actually, with somebody from Fanatics Live on 00:33:43.450 --> 00:33:47.970 the trust and safety team who is actively looking 00:33:47.970 --> 00:33:50.630 at what we're doing and passing it to the appropriate 00:33:50.630 --> 00:33:54.609 individuals. But to answer your question, we 00:33:54.609 --> 00:34:00.380 haven't had any really serious. pushback. Nobody 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:02.619 has really questioned what we're doing. I think 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:08.900 a lot of this is glaringly obvious and people 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:13.780 do realize that the nature of the hobby has gone 00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:16.579 in this sort of negative direction as it pertains 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:19.440 to having these gambling -like mechanics and 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:26.219 just becoming so synonymous with risk reward 00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:29.480 type, type of features. So, um, we're, we're 00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:32.699 headed in that direction, but, uh, you know, 00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:34.619 it's going to take, it's going to take time. 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:38.699 It's definitely a battle. So we have a tendency 00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:40.820 in our podcast to attract a couple of different 00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:43.300 audiences because we're not the young, cool guys 00:34:43.300 --> 00:34:46.280 on Instagram, but we're not the old set builder 00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:48.519 only kind of guys either. Uh, we're kind of somewhere 00:34:48.519 --> 00:34:51.440 in the middle with our age and we tend to have 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:54.219 no problem. pointing out some of the things that 00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:56.280 we're talking about being an issue, but I can 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:58.179 be certain that there are people watching this 00:34:58.179 --> 00:35:01.300 or listening right now that are saying, is it 00:35:01.300 --> 00:35:03.059 really? All right. I hear what you're saying. 00:35:03.179 --> 00:35:04.920 There's been some people that have spent too 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:06.880 much. They racked up with some credit card debt. 00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:10.659 Is it really that, is it really that is you guys 00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:13.840 being dramatic with this? Is this too much? What 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:18.179 like, while maintaining the dignity that should 00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:20.760 be in each person's story as they navigate this. 00:35:21.670 --> 00:35:24.909 Can you help us get a snapshot of just how quickly 00:35:24.909 --> 00:35:29.869 and exponentially this challenge becomes a compounding 00:35:29.869 --> 00:35:34.809 problem? I know Gary and I can think back early 00:35:34.809 --> 00:35:36.809 on when it was all on Facebook, right? People 00:35:36.809 --> 00:35:38.909 would go live and break. The first couple of 00:35:38.909 --> 00:35:41.269 times we saw somebody post about, I'm trying 00:35:41.269 --> 00:35:43.869 to save my family. I'm getting out of the hobby 00:35:43.869 --> 00:35:45.650 now. Everything's for sale. I don't care. Don't 00:35:45.650 --> 00:35:48.070 tag me in anything. I remember us being like, 00:35:48.190 --> 00:35:51.230 what is happening here? To those listening that 00:35:51.230 --> 00:35:53.730 may be skeptical, is there a way that you could 00:35:53.730 --> 00:35:58.389 paint a picture of how far this can go and how 00:35:58.389 --> 00:36:02.269 deeply it's impacting lives? And maybe even some 00:36:02.269 --> 00:36:04.050 of the things that family members may notice 00:36:04.050 --> 00:36:06.889 that should be a cause for concern. They shouldn't 00:36:06.889 --> 00:36:09.130 be asking a question. They should be making some 00:36:09.130 --> 00:36:11.449 help available and doing what they can. Yeah, 00:36:11.469 --> 00:36:14.230 it's a great question. And it's something that. 00:36:14.570 --> 00:36:16.769 uh is a little bit of a challenge right because 00:36:16.769 --> 00:36:18.750 a lot of people outside of the hobby especially 00:36:18.750 --> 00:36:20.889 parents they don't understand the full scope 00:36:20.889 --> 00:36:25.650 they don't understand how collecting sports cards 00:36:25.650 --> 00:36:30.329 or trading cards pokemon can um you know become 00:36:30.329 --> 00:36:32.989 an addiction or become something that looks like 00:36:32.989 --> 00:36:36.269 gambling right it just they don't understand 00:36:36.269 --> 00:36:41.150 the nature of what a live break is and all of 00:36:41.150 --> 00:36:43.849 the nuances that come with that you know how 00:36:44.879 --> 00:36:46.920 predatory some of these individuals can be. And 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:48.960 we're not saying that, again, we're not villainizing 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:51.300 the hobby or saying that every single breaker 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:53.420 is a bad actor. You know, at the end of the day, 00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:55.159 folks are just doing their jobs. They're trying 00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:56.719 to make money, put food on the table. And we 00:36:56.719 --> 00:37:00.460 respect that. We get that. But there just needs 00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:04.139 to be some accountability and some reform in 00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:06.579 terms of how these breaks are being conducted. 00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:09.519 So to answer your question, to illustrate kind 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:15.219 of what this sort of, you know. process can look 00:37:15.219 --> 00:37:18.059 like let's just say you hypothetically hop into 00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:21.260 a break last night monday night just you know 00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:23.940 you decide to grab one team or just you know 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:26.840 one box just to sort of scratch that itch you 00:37:26.840 --> 00:37:30.099 don't hit anything so you stay for the next break 00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:33.340 or you know you go after the next box just to 00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:36.440 sort of, just in case, you know, that the case 00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:38.679 hit or whatever you were chasing is still lurking, 00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:40.659 right? Because the worst feeling is when somebody 00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:43.280 else comes in and grabs the next box and steals 00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:45.099 whatever you were looking for, snipes whatever 00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:47.000 you were looking for, right? And you got the 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:51.519 breaker who's operating as, you know, the dealer, 00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:55.500 the marketer, the entertainer, all in one. Yeah, 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:58.320 exactly. They're hyping everything up. They're 00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:02.030 like, great value. great take you know what is 00:38:02.030 --> 00:38:05.369 steel uh you know like can't believe these teams 00:38:05.369 --> 00:38:08.949 are going for for solo they're just they're creating 00:38:08.949 --> 00:38:12.789 the sense of fomo right and so you kind of just 00:38:12.789 --> 00:38:15.969 get sucked in you're mindlessly pressing buttons 00:38:15.969 --> 00:38:20.389 and and bidding uh on teams or players or whatever 00:38:20.389 --> 00:38:23.690 the format of the break is uh so you get in and 00:38:23.690 --> 00:38:26.650 then next break still nothing so now you're in 00:38:26.650 --> 00:38:29.389 a couple hundred bucks uh but that dopamine spike 00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:32.380 hasn't hit yet so you continue chasing and all 00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:34.820 of this is sort of happening kind of subconsciously 00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:37.420 because you know you're you're feeling disappointed 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:40.579 but now you're in it deep enough where like you 00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:42.780 got just got to keep going right you have that 00:38:42.780 --> 00:38:45.000 devil on your shoulder that's that's egging you 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:48.039 on um and then you see someone else pull the 00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:50.519 car that you were you're after the one that you 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:54.550 uh almost took you know the team for like you 00:38:54.550 --> 00:38:56.969 maybe you traded one of your teams or you had 00:38:56.969 --> 00:38:58.710 an opportunity to trade one of your teams right 00:38:58.710 --> 00:39:00.650 before the break started but you didn't and so 00:39:00.650 --> 00:39:03.409 that fomo just hits right and so you you get 00:39:03.409 --> 00:39:05.630 into the next break and you buy two teams this 00:39:05.630 --> 00:39:07.929 time and still nothing and now you're 500 in 00:39:07.929 --> 00:39:11.929 the hole and you continue to just uh you know 00:39:11.929 --> 00:39:15.210 hit nothing and so you you just decide to go 00:39:15.210 --> 00:39:18.679 and Rip a personal box and one becomes two and 00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:20.300 two becomes three. And next thing you know, you're 00:39:20.300 --> 00:39:22.659 a half case deep. And by the end of the night, 00:39:22.679 --> 00:39:25.099 you've spent thousands of dollars and you've 00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:27.420 sort of convinced yourself all of this is fine 00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:30.260 because, you know, you might you might hit something 00:39:30.260 --> 00:39:32.739 huge to replenish all the money you just spent. 00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:35.739 And at the end of the day, 99 % of the time, 00:39:35.780 --> 00:39:38.769 you're just left with a. a pile of base cards 00:39:38.769 --> 00:39:43.110 and low -end autos or numbered veterans that 00:39:43.110 --> 00:39:46.510 are worth a fraction of what you paid. And this 00:39:46.510 --> 00:39:48.690 isn't just a one -time loss or a one -time thing. 00:39:48.789 --> 00:39:51.210 It's the start of a cycle. And if you're not 00:39:51.210 --> 00:39:53.929 careful, that entire cycle, everything I just 00:39:53.929 --> 00:39:57.409 repeated can start to happen night after night 00:39:57.409 --> 00:39:59.690 after night. And the losses compound and the 00:39:59.690 --> 00:40:01.969 guilt compounds and the urge to chase the next 00:40:01.969 --> 00:40:04.269 break, the next hit, the next dopamine spike. 00:40:04.699 --> 00:40:07.239 They all compound. So what starts out as like 00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:10.940 an innocent $30 quickly becomes 300. And then 00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:13.619 it becomes 3000. And it's all in the name of 00:40:13.619 --> 00:40:16.139 just having fun. It's just that, you know, again, 00:40:16.199 --> 00:40:19.699 hobby positivity, hobby, exactly. But for many, 00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:22.619 it's just not fun anymore. It's emotional, it's 00:40:22.619 --> 00:40:26.380 financial, and psychological whiplash. And that's 00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:28.559 why awareness and intention matters so much. 00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:31.219 And why, you know, Collectors MD exists, because 00:40:31.219 --> 00:40:34.119 it's no longer just collecting. There, there 00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:36.420 are just too many layers to this and it's just, 00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:39.840 it's become a, such a slippery slope as it pertains 00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:42.380 to chasing. And it's just so, so dangerous for 00:40:42.380 --> 00:40:44.460 so many people and they just don't realize it. 00:40:44.519 --> 00:40:49.159 Yeah. So what, what you're describing sounds 00:40:49.159 --> 00:40:55.840 a lot to me like traditional gambling addiction. 00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:58.820 Now, I think a lot of our listeners and people 00:40:58.820 --> 00:41:02.789 in general know. the signs of drug addiction 00:41:02.789 --> 00:41:05.969 or alcohol addiction. What are some of the signs 00:41:05.969 --> 00:41:11.869 that a family member might notice as somebody 00:41:11.869 --> 00:41:13.829 who's for a family member that may be falling 00:41:13.829 --> 00:41:15.449 into this type of addiction? Is there something 00:41:15.449 --> 00:41:17.750 that people should look for to start asking questions 00:41:17.750 --> 00:41:21.349 to try to bring it to awareness? Yeah, it's a 00:41:21.349 --> 00:41:24.230 great question. So you mentioned alcohol addiction, 00:41:24.429 --> 00:41:28.050 drug addiction. Obviously there's gambling addiction 00:41:28.050 --> 00:41:32.599 and Personally, candidly, I had a gambling addiction 00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:35.519 myself and I attended gamblers anonymous meetings 00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:37.900 and I learned a lot through that experience. 00:41:38.699 --> 00:41:42.340 But, you know, as as far as collecting goes, 00:41:42.619 --> 00:41:45.260 there was a missing link for me when I was in 00:41:45.260 --> 00:41:49.340 those rooms. My story didn't necessarily resonate 00:41:49.340 --> 00:41:51.920 with these folks because they just couldn't wrap 00:41:51.920 --> 00:41:55.000 their heads around the idea of collecting being 00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:57.579 an addiction. They just, again, they were on 00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:59.500 the outside looking in and they didn't understand 00:41:59.500 --> 00:42:02.219 the full scope of what I was talking about. And 00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:05.800 one thing fueled the other, you know, as far 00:42:05.800 --> 00:42:08.619 as like whether it was the sports cards fueling 00:42:08.619 --> 00:42:10.980 the gambling or the gambling fueling the sports 00:42:10.980 --> 00:42:15.880 cards. There are a lot of signs to look out for 00:42:15.880 --> 00:42:19.420 that family members and friends and loved ones, 00:42:19.579 --> 00:42:22.980 especially spouses, can look for when it comes 00:42:22.980 --> 00:42:29.019 to those warning signs. I think it starts with 00:42:29.019 --> 00:42:32.300 the financial red flags, right? Money sort of 00:42:32.300 --> 00:42:34.780 just disappearing quickly with little to show 00:42:34.780 --> 00:42:38.579 for it, obviously, first and foremost. Frequent 00:42:38.579 --> 00:42:41.719 borrowing of money or asking for loans with... 00:42:41.869 --> 00:42:45.289 vague explanations, unpaid bills or sudden financial 00:42:45.289 --> 00:42:49.710 hardship despite a steady income, selling personal 00:42:49.710 --> 00:42:52.650 items or collectibles they previously cherished, 00:42:52.750 --> 00:42:55.789 hiding bank statements or getting defensive about 00:42:55.789 --> 00:42:58.590 finances. These are things we see all the time, 00:42:58.630 --> 00:43:03.050 especially among spouses. And then beyond just 00:43:03.050 --> 00:43:05.409 the finances, there's the time and the behaviorships, 00:43:05.409 --> 00:43:08.420 right? hours spent watching live breaks auctions 00:43:08.420 --> 00:43:10.860 or just scrolling marketplaces often late into 00:43:10.860 --> 00:43:12.679 the night so just spending way too much time 00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:16.599 on our devices neglecting responsibilities that 00:43:16.599 --> 00:43:20.440 um should come first things you know at home 00:43:20.440 --> 00:43:23.940 work school etc uh canceling plans are becoming 00:43:23.940 --> 00:43:27.500 sort of withdrawn to stay home so that you can 00:43:27.500 --> 00:43:32.320 uh join the break or you know um not feel that 00:43:32.320 --> 00:43:34.880 sense of FOMO that your favorite breaker is going 00:43:34.880 --> 00:43:37.219 live at midnight and you want to make sure you're 00:43:37.219 --> 00:43:41.420 in the live chat rooting everybody on. And then 00:43:41.420 --> 00:43:44.880 lying about the time spent online or in hobby 00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:46.619 -related forums or live chats. There's a lot 00:43:46.619 --> 00:43:50.639 of dishonesty that's going on with this where 00:43:50.639 --> 00:43:53.900 people are just lying to protect themselves or 00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:56.340 protect their addiction and they don't even realize 00:43:56.340 --> 00:44:00.429 they're doing it. Sorry, go ahead. I was going 00:44:00.429 --> 00:44:01.789 to say there are a few others. There's obviously 00:44:01.789 --> 00:44:04.230 emotional and psychological changes, just becoming 00:44:04.230 --> 00:44:06.869 more irritable, moody or anxious, especially 00:44:06.869 --> 00:44:09.170 just after a bad night of ripping or financial 00:44:09.170 --> 00:44:12.590 loss, obsessing over that next product drop or 00:44:12.590 --> 00:44:16.170 hit or grail piece that you're chasing, justifying 00:44:16.170 --> 00:44:19.269 purchases with things like I had to, it was a 00:44:19.269 --> 00:44:23.469 great deal, I was due. And again, defensiveness 00:44:23.469 --> 00:44:28.150 and secrecy when people put you on the spot and 00:44:28.150 --> 00:44:31.119 ask you, what's going on with your, with your 00:44:31.119 --> 00:44:34.300 hobby habits. There's also compulsive patterns, 00:44:34.360 --> 00:44:37.340 just like chasing losses, never feeling satisfied 00:44:37.340 --> 00:44:39.280 saying this is going to be the last one, but 00:44:39.280 --> 00:44:42.039 then just jumping right back in difficulty stopping. 00:44:42.739 --> 00:44:44.940 And then lastly, like the mental and emotional 00:44:44.940 --> 00:44:47.940 strain of all this just feeling or expressing 00:44:47.940 --> 00:44:52.420 guilt, shame or regret after purchasing or ripping 00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:56.380 and mentioning feelings like. I can't stop or 00:44:56.380 --> 00:44:58.699 I think I have a problem or I don't even really 00:44:58.699 --> 00:45:01.860 want this stuff. And then most importantly, I 00:45:01.860 --> 00:45:03.940 think a lot of people just sort of use the hobby 00:45:03.940 --> 00:45:06.900 as an escape from stress, anxiety, or depression 00:45:06.900 --> 00:45:08.719 or whatever issues they're dealing with in their 00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:12.019 personal life almost as like a band -aid of sorts. 00:45:12.659 --> 00:45:15.340 I know that's something that definitely helped 00:45:15.340 --> 00:45:17.639 me when I was feeling down two in the morning 00:45:17.639 --> 00:45:20.519 after my wife falls asleep or sometimes even 00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:23.539 later, just hop into a live break and... you 00:45:23.539 --> 00:45:25.960 know, unwind that way and everything just like 00:45:25.960 --> 00:45:28.119 reality kind of disappears for a little while. 00:45:28.239 --> 00:45:30.820 And, you know, you're just chasing after that 00:45:30.820 --> 00:45:36.619 dopamine hit. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. So you, 00:45:36.679 --> 00:45:39.099 you talked about like noticing behavioral shifts, 00:45:39.199 --> 00:45:43.440 emotional shifts. When we on the podcast talk 00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:49.769 about just the math on the value in breaks. We 00:45:49.769 --> 00:45:51.869 have a tendency to have, I think Gary referred 00:45:51.869 --> 00:45:55.030 to this as like a legion of people who they have 00:45:55.030 --> 00:45:57.170 their favorite breaker. They're believing this 00:45:57.170 --> 00:46:00.489 person knows how far down each of them are, and 00:46:00.489 --> 00:46:02.389 they're going to do everything they can to sprinkle 00:46:02.389 --> 00:46:06.110 their magic pixie dust on the next pack and take 00:46:06.110 --> 00:46:09.909 care of them. But I've noticed this real sharp 00:46:09.909 --> 00:46:12.989 defensiveness around this conversation with people, 00:46:13.050 --> 00:46:17.210 almost as if. You're going to ruin everything 00:46:17.210 --> 00:46:20.010 that's good about the hobby if you point out 00:46:20.010 --> 00:46:22.150 some of these harsh realities. It's like they're 00:46:22.150 --> 00:46:24.510 defending their dealer. Right. A little bit. 00:46:24.570 --> 00:46:26.389 Right. Because they're still down. With claws 00:46:26.389 --> 00:46:32.090 out. Right. But how has fractional buying or 00:46:32.090 --> 00:46:35.070 fractional participation impacted this? Because 00:46:35.070 --> 00:46:38.329 almost every time we get a strong wave of reactions, 00:46:38.570 --> 00:46:40.210 it's when we're talking about breaking. Now, 00:46:40.250 --> 00:46:42.610 just to be completely clear, Gary will jump in 00:46:42.610 --> 00:46:45.420 a break. I'll jump in a break. We talk about 00:46:45.420 --> 00:46:47.440 our business model. We both sell cards for a 00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:51.119 living. We do not recommend breaking at any point 00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:54.900 as a model for making any kind of money in this 00:46:54.900 --> 00:46:58.840 space. Right. But it does seem like they're tethered 00:46:58.840 --> 00:47:03.039 together somehow. Like the people that have a 00:47:03.039 --> 00:47:04.659 really tough time talking about this getting 00:47:04.659 --> 00:47:07.719 out of hand are the people that seem to 90 % 00:47:07.719 --> 00:47:10.760 of their sports card engagement seems to be around 00:47:10.760 --> 00:47:15.340 breaking. Is it just as simple as it releases 00:47:15.340 --> 00:47:17.519 the dopamine a lot quicker? There's more of a 00:47:17.519 --> 00:47:22.380 chase? What's the element? I'm making an assumption 00:47:22.380 --> 00:47:25.860 that breaking is a big part of this. Why specifically 00:47:25.860 --> 00:47:28.519 do you think that fractional selling may be gas 00:47:28.519 --> 00:47:32.139 on the fire, if you will? And why do the people 00:47:32.139 --> 00:47:35.929 who are almost victims of it? defend it so that's 00:47:35.929 --> 00:47:38.210 a better way of asking that question yeah yeah 00:47:38.210 --> 00:47:41.429 it's it's again a multi -part answer i think 00:47:41.429 --> 00:47:46.130 breaking specifically um breaking culture is 00:47:46.130 --> 00:47:50.210 what has led us to a lot of this addictive behavior 00:47:50.210 --> 00:47:54.230 uh because it just mimics gambling so much so 00:47:54.230 --> 00:47:57.789 and there are no guardrails in place so people 00:47:57.789 --> 00:48:01.050 get sucked in really easily um you know they're 00:48:01.050 --> 00:48:05.119 the There's the excitement within the live streams, 00:48:05.440 --> 00:48:08.880 the lights and the overlays. And again, the breaker 00:48:08.880 --> 00:48:11.920 just pumping up the chat. Everything is chat, 00:48:12.139 --> 00:48:17.260 chat, chat. There's so much pressure and creates 00:48:17.260 --> 00:48:19.880 this sense of FOMO, fear of missing out, where 00:48:19.880 --> 00:48:22.960 you feel like you're a part of something. You 00:48:22.960 --> 00:48:28.099 feel like you're a part of, like you found a 00:48:28.099 --> 00:48:31.079 place where you belong. So there are a few things. 00:48:31.800 --> 00:48:35.139 The first is sort of the predatory selling tactics 00:48:35.139 --> 00:48:38.559 and the misinformation in the hobby. And that's 00:48:38.559 --> 00:48:41.340 something we had chatted about before we went 00:48:41.340 --> 00:48:45.579 live. I think a big issue is the predatory approach 00:48:45.579 --> 00:48:49.800 to selling cards and to pushing breaks. Breakers 00:48:49.800 --> 00:48:54.219 will lean heavily into hype and mislead with 00:48:54.219 --> 00:48:57.690 information or comps. push urgency or like use 00:48:57.690 --> 00:49:00.550 different gimmicks again, like the wheels and 00:49:00.550 --> 00:49:04.389 the trade backs, the repacks just, it's all very, 00:49:04.489 --> 00:49:08.690 very, you know, scammy. And it's all framed again 00:49:08.690 --> 00:49:11.090 as entertainment, but underneath it's, it's just, 00:49:11.110 --> 00:49:13.650 it's a pressure cooker. People are spending more 00:49:13.650 --> 00:49:15.389 than they can afford because they're being manipulated 00:49:15.389 --> 00:49:18.769 by momentum and not logic. And, you know, again, 00:49:18.829 --> 00:49:21.610 the misinformation, it's like calling out comps 00:49:21.610 --> 00:49:24.429 that are flat out wrong. you know, is like the 00:49:24.429 --> 00:49:26.969 biggest defense there ever was. Let's call it 00:49:26.969 --> 00:49:29.809 what it is, a flat out lie. Yeah, it's crazy. 00:49:30.090 --> 00:49:33.769 What drives me crazy is when breakers just use 00:49:33.769 --> 00:49:36.170 eBay to look up a comp and then they inflate 00:49:36.170 --> 00:49:38.010 the comp, but you really got to use like 130 00:49:38.010 --> 00:49:40.010 point or card ladder to see what like a best 00:49:40.010 --> 00:49:43.030 offer was accepted for. It's, you know, we're 00:49:43.030 --> 00:49:46.090 getting into semantics of it, but breakers do 00:49:46.090 --> 00:49:49.710 that all the time. Like, wow. Or they see something 00:49:49.710 --> 00:49:51.780 in the chat and they just. they consider it Bible. 00:49:51.900 --> 00:49:55.099 Like, it must be true. I saw it recently where 00:49:55.099 --> 00:49:58.159 they, it was a couple nights ago, I was watching 00:49:58.159 --> 00:50:00.500 a live stream because, you know, I'm still actively 00:50:00.500 --> 00:50:02.900 involved. And especially from like this side 00:50:02.900 --> 00:50:06.760 of the fence now, watching breaks or like watching 00:50:06.760 --> 00:50:10.300 a lot of this activity is important because I 00:50:10.300 --> 00:50:11.679 need to stay in the know and see what's going 00:50:11.679 --> 00:50:16.329 on, right? And so the breaker hit. It was a Brian 00:50:16.329 --> 00:50:19.329 or what's his name? Brian Thomas Jr. on the Jaguars 00:50:19.329 --> 00:50:22.929 from the Mosaic Sparkle Packs number to eight. 00:50:24.630 --> 00:50:26.670 Nice card. Don't get me wrong. Nice looking card. 00:50:26.750 --> 00:50:29.150 But somebody in the chat said, oh, last one did 00:50:29.150 --> 00:50:32.230 $700. And I'm scratching my head. I'm like, there's 00:50:32.230 --> 00:50:33.570 no way that's true. And I'm not going to sit 00:50:33.570 --> 00:50:35.110 there and call anybody out because that's just 00:50:35.110 --> 00:50:40.030 not what I do, especially these days. But $700. 00:50:40.070 --> 00:50:42.989 So I look it up and it's like. The last one did 00:50:42.989 --> 00:50:45.230 like 140 bucks. And next thing you know, the 00:50:45.230 --> 00:50:47.269 breaker's telling the guy who hit the card that 00:50:47.269 --> 00:50:50.269 he tripled his money. And the guy's super excited, 00:50:50.389 --> 00:50:52.630 freaking out. I mean, it's just, it's, it's. 00:50:52.889 --> 00:50:55.210 Your next break is free. And then, right. And 00:50:55.210 --> 00:50:57.050 then the next break is free. You already paid 00:50:57.050 --> 00:50:59.489 for your next two breaks free. I have a list 00:50:59.489 --> 00:51:03.829 of buzzwords or like keywords that drive me absolutely 00:51:03.829 --> 00:51:07.050 crazy. And I keep it in a notes app. And the 00:51:07.050 --> 00:51:11.380 number one phrase on that list is paid. paid 00:51:11.380 --> 00:51:13.539 you know when they when they tell tell you that 00:51:13.539 --> 00:51:17.079 you're paid and it's like it's just the lie it's 00:51:17.079 --> 00:51:20.400 a straight -up lie so um you know with that uh 00:51:20.400 --> 00:51:23.920 you know the kicker is like when somebody calls 00:51:23.920 --> 00:51:26.860 that out it's it's just like use a word that 00:51:26.860 --> 00:51:29.420 i really liked earlier an adjective uh visceral 00:51:29.420 --> 00:51:32.699 um it's it's like visceral it's almost like tribal 00:51:32.699 --> 00:51:37.699 tribal backlash and why and so yeah within that 00:51:37.699 --> 00:51:41.059 ecosystem what's happening is You have this community 00:51:41.059 --> 00:51:43.719 introduced through breaking that probably digitally 00:51:43.719 --> 00:51:46.280 were exposed to card collecting first. They're 00:51:46.280 --> 00:51:48.019 being introduced through socials and all this. 00:51:48.539 --> 00:51:51.719 They're getting their case full of cards that 00:51:51.719 --> 00:51:54.440 were these hits that are $700. They're walking 00:51:54.440 --> 00:51:57.000 into card shows, interacting with real humans 00:51:57.000 --> 00:51:59.380 that they're seeing face to face. I do this for 00:51:59.380 --> 00:52:01.400 a living digitally. They're interacting as well. 00:52:01.440 --> 00:52:02.659 That's a little harsh. I shouldn't say it like 00:52:02.659 --> 00:52:05.019 that, but they're face to face with other collectors 00:52:05.019 --> 00:52:07.599 in a room. Yeah. And what they believe is $10 00:52:07.599 --> 00:52:11.219 ,000 of equity. or whatever they want to call 00:52:11.219 --> 00:52:13.460 it. They're learning they have less than half 00:52:13.460 --> 00:52:15.980 of that. So they say, well, I'm not going to 00:52:15.980 --> 00:52:18.539 any more shows. Those dealers are crazy. Those 00:52:18.539 --> 00:52:20.159 collectors don't know what they're talking about. 00:52:20.300 --> 00:52:22.940 They only go for the lowest comp. And then they're 00:52:22.940 --> 00:52:25.179 just creating an echo chamber and staying insulated 00:52:25.179 --> 00:52:27.440 with the same group that's feeding. I mean, is 00:52:27.440 --> 00:52:30.559 that what you're seeing too? 100%. I'm seeing 00:52:30.559 --> 00:52:32.639 that pretty forward, but it seems to be like 00:52:32.639 --> 00:52:37.119 a self -compounding issue. Absolutely. Yeah. 00:52:37.480 --> 00:52:42.780 Yeah, yeah. These breakers have like stands now, 00:52:42.940 --> 00:52:46.320 you know, this army of keyboard warriors that 00:52:46.320 --> 00:52:48.800 just will defend them to the very end. And so, 00:52:48.800 --> 00:52:52.260 you know, you asked why that is. And I think 00:52:52.260 --> 00:52:55.480 it's because for some collectors, these breakers 00:52:55.480 --> 00:52:57.539 have become more than just breakers, more than 00:52:57.539 --> 00:53:00.360 just sellers to them. They've become these personalities, 00:53:00.480 --> 00:53:06.219 these, you know, higher, you know, than. These 00:53:06.219 --> 00:53:09.380 holy heroes of sorts. And it's become like a 00:53:09.380 --> 00:53:12.159 community. And in some cases for them, it's like 00:53:12.159 --> 00:53:14.460 an emotional anchor, right? They look forward 00:53:14.460 --> 00:53:17.340 to watching their favorite breaker go live. It's 00:53:17.340 --> 00:53:19.659 like watching your favorite TV show, right? And 00:53:19.659 --> 00:53:21.960 when someone critiques that breaker, that person, 00:53:22.000 --> 00:53:24.980 it can feel like an attack, a personal attack 00:53:24.980 --> 00:53:28.239 on the entire group identity. So it's not just 00:53:28.239 --> 00:53:30.820 like you're wrong. It's you're threatening the 00:53:30.820 --> 00:53:33.940 place where I found this belonging. And there's 00:53:33.940 --> 00:53:35.920 also this like sort of cognitive dissonance, 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:37.940 right? You've spent thousands with a breaker, 00:53:38.079 --> 00:53:40.079 let's say, and someone points out that they're 00:53:40.079 --> 00:53:42.539 giving you bad info or, you know, scamming you 00:53:42.539 --> 00:53:45.039 or manipulating comps or whatever the case may 00:53:45.039 --> 00:53:46.920 be. And, you know, that could just be a really, 00:53:46.960 --> 00:53:49.239 really hard truth to swallow. So instead of like 00:53:49.239 --> 00:53:54.619 sort of reevaluating and, you know, taking a 00:53:54.619 --> 00:53:57.179 step back and thinking, hey, this person might 00:53:57.179 --> 00:53:59.960 actually be wrong for a change, people double 00:53:59.960 --> 00:54:04.989 down and just defend it at all costs. It's tough 00:54:04.989 --> 00:54:08.389 because a lot of people are just so stuck in 00:54:08.389 --> 00:54:11.570 their ways and they're not going to be convinced 00:54:11.570 --> 00:54:16.550 one way or another whether this is predatory 00:54:16.550 --> 00:54:20.650 behavior or not. It's almost like they're brainwashed, 00:54:20.789 --> 00:54:25.570 sadly. Again, it's pushing the awareness and 00:54:25.570 --> 00:54:28.130 getting this message out there before it's too 00:54:28.130 --> 00:54:31.070 late across the board. Well, let's talk about 00:54:31.070 --> 00:54:34.099 that. We've talked about... a lot of what this 00:54:34.099 --> 00:54:38.260 looks like, how it affects people, the really 00:54:38.260 --> 00:54:40.460 negative impact a lot of this can have on somebody's 00:54:40.460 --> 00:54:44.199 life. Let's talk about your tagline and mission 00:54:44.199 --> 00:54:47.039 statement. Tell us what collecting with intention 00:54:47.039 --> 00:54:51.599 means and how that is implemented. Yeah, no, 00:54:51.699 --> 00:54:55.340 it's honestly our North Star. It's the most important 00:54:55.340 --> 00:54:58.139 part of Collectors MD, collecting with intention. 00:54:58.320 --> 00:55:00.980 It's not about telling people. what to collect 00:55:00.980 --> 00:55:04.380 or how to collect it's about asking why right 00:55:04.380 --> 00:55:06.840 why this card why this purchase and it doesn't 00:55:06.840 --> 00:55:10.079 necessarily have to just be uh cards sports cards 00:55:10.079 --> 00:55:13.199 tcg it could be any collectible item it could 00:55:13.199 --> 00:55:16.420 be uh you know memorabilia it could be sneakers 00:55:16.420 --> 00:55:24.139 watches handbags nfts uh 67 cars exactly like 00:55:24.139 --> 00:55:28.760 uh you know um there's digital items or currency 00:55:28.760 --> 00:55:32.739 within gaming now? Like, so, you know, it's all 00:55:32.739 --> 00:55:36.099 about evaluating why this purchase? Why now? 00:55:36.420 --> 00:55:39.760 Is it for nostalgia? Is it for connection? Or 00:55:39.760 --> 00:55:41.719 are you just trying to fill a void? Are you just 00:55:41.719 --> 00:55:45.239 trying to, you know, get that, that quick hit, 00:55:45.340 --> 00:55:47.900 and then move on to the next. So collecting with 00:55:47.900 --> 00:55:49.920 intention just means being honest with yourself. 00:55:50.719 --> 00:55:53.300 It means slowing down, taking a beat, choosing 00:55:53.300 --> 00:55:56.300 quality over quantity, and defining your own 00:55:56.300 --> 00:55:59.579 path in the hobby or your hobby instead of letting 00:55:59.579 --> 00:56:02.019 hype steer you. And it's also about community, 00:56:02.119 --> 00:56:05.099 having honest conversations, supporting one another, 00:56:05.300 --> 00:56:09.199 and making sure or making it okay to say, hey, 00:56:09.300 --> 00:56:11.719 I'm struggling right now. I need help. That's 00:56:11.719 --> 00:56:14.139 okay. Because when intention leads the way, when 00:56:14.139 --> 00:56:17.159 intention is, you know, again, your North Star, 00:56:17.320 --> 00:56:19.969 your guiding light. you actually get so much 00:56:19.969 --> 00:56:22.289 more out of the hobby, not less. Like for me 00:56:22.289 --> 00:56:27.670 personally, I at a point had over 500 pairs of 00:56:27.670 --> 00:56:29.670 sneakers when I was really deep into collecting 00:56:29.670 --> 00:56:34.670 sneakers. I had over a dozen cases or those Zion 00:56:34.670 --> 00:56:38.210 cases filled with slabs and top loaded cards, 00:56:38.510 --> 00:56:42.969 you know, just completely packed to the brim. 00:56:43.289 --> 00:56:48.260 And, you know. I couldn't really enjoy or appreciate 00:56:48.260 --> 00:56:50.780 what I had because one person doesn't need to 00:56:50.780 --> 00:56:52.719 have that much stuff. You have more than most 00:56:52.719 --> 00:56:55.139 dealers. I know exactly. Like when you, when 00:56:55.139 --> 00:56:58.159 you break it down, when you curate it, it allows 00:56:58.159 --> 00:57:01.179 you to appreciate what you have so much more. 00:57:01.340 --> 00:57:03.360 Again, one person doesn't need all that. So, 00:57:03.360 --> 00:57:07.239 you know, I now I've, again, I've, I've reduced 00:57:07.239 --> 00:57:09.639 the size of, of my collection across the board, 00:57:09.699 --> 00:57:13.599 sneakers, memorabilia. cards, hats, jerseys, 00:57:13.599 --> 00:57:15.340 everything that I've collected over throughout 00:57:15.340 --> 00:57:20.320 my life, I have consolidated it into much smaller 00:57:20.320 --> 00:57:25.159 sizes. And I just appreciate it so much more 00:57:25.159 --> 00:57:26.860 because again, I'm collecting with intention, 00:57:27.159 --> 00:57:30.500 not compulsion. So that's, that's just, that's 00:57:30.500 --> 00:57:32.380 so incredibly important and something that I 00:57:32.380 --> 00:57:35.039 think people don't even take a beat to think 00:57:35.039 --> 00:57:38.820 about. I'm curious. this is one that we didn't 00:57:38.820 --> 00:57:40.880 talk about before but as you're mentioning that 00:57:40.880 --> 00:57:46.019 does building a pc help you to collect with more 00:57:46.019 --> 00:57:50.440 intention like kind of defining it's like for 00:57:50.440 --> 00:57:53.280 me eric davis from the reds is my pc luckily 00:57:53.280 --> 00:57:56.800 for me he's very affordable but as a kid he was 00:57:56.800 --> 00:58:00.780 somebody that was a legend to me um does when 00:58:00.780 --> 00:58:03.000 you're setting like setting intention around 00:58:03.000 --> 00:58:06.239 it Like, do you have a PC right now? Here's an 00:58:06.239 --> 00:58:08.739 athlete or here's a team. Does that help you 00:58:08.739 --> 00:58:12.619 in some way or not necessarily? Yeah, I mean, 00:58:12.639 --> 00:58:15.880 I think it depends. You know, it depends how 00:58:15.880 --> 00:58:19.260 you're going about collecting that specific player 00:58:19.260 --> 00:58:24.599 or specific set. Obviously, focusing on a PC 00:58:24.599 --> 00:58:27.119 gives you a more clear target. So instead of 00:58:27.119 --> 00:58:30.019 like ripping everything that's new or like, you 00:58:30.019 --> 00:58:32.900 know. getting that sense of FOMO. So you have 00:58:32.900 --> 00:58:35.099 to join every single random break. You start 00:58:35.099 --> 00:58:38.179 asking yourself, does this card or does this 00:58:38.179 --> 00:58:41.300 set fit my collection? Is this a card I've genuinely 00:58:41.300 --> 00:58:44.900 been looking for? This simple sort of filter 00:58:44.900 --> 00:58:47.360 you can call it can dramatically reduce impulsive 00:58:47.360 --> 00:58:49.139 purchases. It's helped me a lot because like 00:58:49.139 --> 00:58:52.380 I've decided, you know, there are certain boundaries 00:58:52.380 --> 00:58:55.659 and it's, they're not that serious. It's like, 00:58:55.679 --> 00:58:58.199 I just no longer collect horizontal cards or 00:58:58.199 --> 00:59:01.530 I no longer collect. jersey pieces if there's 00:59:01.530 --> 00:59:04.929 no ink on them. You know, I no longer really 00:59:04.929 --> 00:59:07.909 collect like die cuts or, I mean, it's like specific 00:59:07.909 --> 00:59:09.409 cards. Like I don't really collect defensive 00:59:09.409 --> 00:59:11.610 players in football anymore. You kind of just 00:59:11.610 --> 00:59:15.650 create these like personal limits that gives 00:59:15.650 --> 00:59:19.809 you a more refined, a more curated focus on what 00:59:19.809 --> 00:59:22.170 you're looking for. And it helps you collect 00:59:22.170 --> 00:59:26.269 smarter, right? A focused PC forces you to research. 00:59:26.909 --> 00:59:29.530 which cards matter most for your player or your 00:59:29.530 --> 00:59:32.230 theme, like whatever the case may be, what price 00:59:32.230 --> 00:59:34.610 ranges make sense, what, you know, where to find 00:59:34.610 --> 00:59:36.989 real value versus just the hype driven chasing. 00:59:37.469 --> 00:59:40.010 You're more informed, you're less reactive, and 00:59:40.010 --> 00:59:42.610 that can make the hobby feel more meaningful 00:59:42.610 --> 00:59:46.550 and just like less chaotic. It also builds like 00:59:46.550 --> 00:59:49.570 an emotional connection, you know, whether it's 00:59:49.570 --> 00:59:51.710 like your hometown team or a player just who 00:59:51.710 --> 00:59:56.289 you grew up. rooting for uh like kind of brings 00:59:56.289 --> 01:00:00.329 back memories um a pc is is very personal in 01:00:00.329 --> 01:00:02.130 that sense and that kind of collecting again 01:00:02.130 --> 01:00:05.090 like it roots you in nostalgia connection and 01:00:05.090 --> 01:00:08.889 joy just not just that that dopamine hit um but 01:00:08.889 --> 01:00:10.949 you know it can also be dangerous right because 01:00:10.949 --> 01:00:14.900 if you start to uh overextend and you're like 01:00:14.900 --> 01:00:17.500 i need every single parallel in the rainbow for 01:00:17.500 --> 01:00:20.260 a specific player you're never going to get there 01:00:20.260 --> 01:00:23.159 right it's just it becomes lucrative because 01:00:23.159 --> 01:00:26.539 these sets now just every year they they add 01:00:26.539 --> 01:00:29.219 more and more parallels more 41 of ones this 01:00:29.219 --> 01:00:31.719 year you know more and more formats like one 01:00:31.719 --> 01:00:36.539 of ones have lost their uh sort of um intrigue 01:00:36.539 --> 01:00:38.960 and their their value because there's such an 01:00:38.960 --> 01:00:42.800 oversaturation of them like Victor Wembanyama 01:00:42.800 --> 01:00:46.909 had thousands if not tens of thousands of different 01:00:46.909 --> 01:00:50.210 one -of -ones across every Panini set every top 01:00:50.210 --> 01:00:53.030 set you know in his rookie year like that's absurd 01:00:53.030 --> 01:00:56.110 you know so it's like and then everything is 01:00:56.110 --> 01:00:58.130 everything is the true everything's right like 01:00:58.130 --> 01:01:00.750 if everything is the true then what is the actual 01:01:00.750 --> 01:01:05.030 true it's it's don't let the market or the the 01:01:05.030 --> 01:01:08.360 hobby or the industry manipulate that You get 01:01:08.360 --> 01:01:10.800 to make that decision with your own collection. 01:01:10.900 --> 01:01:13.800 And then the industry tries to hand you on a 01:01:13.800 --> 01:01:16.840 silver platter, a product like Mercury, knowing 01:01:16.840 --> 01:01:21.940 that that value is never, ever going to be seen. 01:01:22.400 --> 01:01:24.460 And within three months, it may fall out. Now, 01:01:24.480 --> 01:01:26.000 is it unique? Is this a generational player? 01:01:26.099 --> 01:01:27.900 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And 01:01:27.900 --> 01:01:29.579 they're going to find one of those every year 01:01:29.579 --> 01:01:32.119 in one sport. It's going to be there. That's 01:01:32.119 --> 01:01:33.219 something that drives me insane. Because they're 01:01:33.219 --> 01:01:36.340 here to make money. Right. The players are being, 01:01:36.400 --> 01:01:38.579 the athletes are being exploited now because 01:01:38.579 --> 01:01:42.360 the manufacturers, the platforms, the breakers, 01:01:42.420 --> 01:01:45.679 they're taking advantage of the fact that these 01:01:45.679 --> 01:01:49.719 players sell and they're using their likeness 01:01:49.719 --> 01:01:53.079 in a way that, again, is predatory, right? They're 01:01:53.079 --> 01:01:56.019 like, you have to have Caitlin Clark. This product 01:01:56.019 --> 01:02:00.679 that came out yesterday. I mean, everybody sort 01:02:00.679 --> 01:02:03.159 of feels the same way. A $30 ,000 ceiling on 01:02:03.159 --> 01:02:05.980 a Dutch auction. What are we doing? For two cards. 01:02:06.260 --> 01:02:08.260 For two cards. And like, I respect the heck out 01:02:08.260 --> 01:02:10.619 of the fact that the WNBA has burst onto the 01:02:10.619 --> 01:02:14.699 scene. Yeah. Caitlin Clark has redefined what 01:02:14.699 --> 01:02:19.039 women's basketball looks like and how it's. perceived 01:02:19.039 --> 01:02:22.059 and spectated like i love that one of those cards 01:02:22.059 --> 01:02:25.300 i love the direction it's going in but like the 01:02:25.300 --> 01:02:28.519 fact that you know people are willing to pay 01:02:28.519 --> 01:02:31.360 that kind of money to chase the kaboom or the 01:02:31.360 --> 01:02:34.239 one of one or the what are they the lady logo 01:02:34.239 --> 01:02:37.699 man or the logo lady it's it's silly it's it's 01:02:37.699 --> 01:02:40.760 ridiculous honestly and uh every year we have 01:02:40.760 --> 01:02:44.199 something new thrown at us when i was reintroduced 01:02:44.199 --> 01:02:46.260 to the sports card hobby early on in the pandemic 01:02:47.039 --> 01:02:49.659 Everybody was all about Zion and Ja. I mean, 01:02:49.679 --> 01:02:53.599 Zion and Ja couldn't be more yesterday's news 01:02:53.599 --> 01:02:57.400 if they tried. Every year, it's something new. 01:02:57.659 --> 01:03:00.619 The following year, it was Ant -Man, LaMelo. 01:03:00.940 --> 01:03:02.699 I mean, it was more so LaMelo, actually. And 01:03:02.699 --> 01:03:05.159 now LaMelo, people don't really care as much 01:03:05.159 --> 01:03:07.780 about him. It's all about him. And Halliburton 01:03:07.780 --> 01:03:10.659 in that class. The following year, it was Cade 01:03:10.659 --> 01:03:13.539 Cunningham and Jalen Green. Jalen Green just 01:03:13.539 --> 01:03:15.639 got shipped off to Phoenix. Nobody cares about 01:03:15.639 --> 01:03:18.139 him anymore. Following year, we had Paolo and 01:03:18.139 --> 01:03:21.760 Chet. You know, it's like every year it's something 01:03:21.760 --> 01:03:25.480 new. Now Cooper Flagg is all the hype. So next 01:03:25.480 --> 01:03:28.340 year, I'm telling you, it's going to happen all 01:03:28.340 --> 01:03:31.860 over again. There's a kid coming into the league. 01:03:31.880 --> 01:03:35.380 His name is AJ DePansa, I think you pronounce 01:03:35.380 --> 01:03:38.559 his last name. He's another generational talent, 01:03:38.619 --> 01:03:40.280 once -in -a -lifetime player that we're never 01:03:40.280 --> 01:03:43.150 going to see again. Apparently the top five picks 01:03:43.150 --> 01:03:48.369 for the 2026 NBA draft are all arguably number 01:03:48.369 --> 01:03:52.429 one picks. You got Carlos Boozer's kid. There's 01:03:52.429 --> 01:03:57.269 a few others. But we get fed the same story every 01:03:57.269 --> 01:03:59.849 single year. Yeah, it's all hype. It's all manufactured 01:03:59.849 --> 01:04:04.530 hype. Yeah. So we've had a really good conversation 01:04:04.530 --> 01:04:07.659 here. Bring this to a close. A couple questions 01:04:07.659 --> 01:04:11.480 that go together and then one to finish out with 01:04:11.480 --> 01:04:13.039 because we want to give you a chance to kind 01:04:13.039 --> 01:04:15.119 of cast your vision and share some other ways 01:04:15.119 --> 01:04:17.559 that people can find you and your community. 01:04:17.920 --> 01:04:21.900 But I guess what resources do you guys offer 01:04:21.900 --> 01:04:25.219 to people and how can people reach out to you 01:04:25.219 --> 01:04:28.719 to get started on that recovery? Yeah. So we 01:04:28.719 --> 01:04:32.039 offer a variety of things right now. So we talked 01:04:32.039 --> 01:04:35.280 briefly about the weekly support meetings. Again, 01:04:35.360 --> 01:04:37.519 those are private, safe and confidential virtual 01:04:37.519 --> 01:04:40.659 video calls where collectors can share openly 01:04:40.659 --> 01:04:43.300 and connect with others navigating similar challenges. 01:04:43.599 --> 01:04:47.380 There is a Google form that you can fill out. 01:04:47.599 --> 01:04:50.300 It's basically just a screening form, but it 01:04:50.300 --> 01:04:52.420 allows us to collect your information, your email 01:04:52.420 --> 01:04:56.460 address and understand. sort of your story and 01:04:56.460 --> 01:04:58.980 what kind of support you need. And then from 01:04:58.980 --> 01:05:03.599 there, we add you to the weekly meeting. And, 01:05:03.699 --> 01:05:06.099 you know, it's obviously not mandatory or anything 01:05:06.099 --> 01:05:08.719 like that, but you can come and go as you please. 01:05:08.880 --> 01:05:12.219 It's completely free, no strings attached. You 01:05:12.219 --> 01:05:14.340 join, you talk about what you're going through, 01:05:14.420 --> 01:05:17.840 share with others, hear from others. And it's 01:05:17.840 --> 01:05:22.199 just a really, really great way to sort of go 01:05:22.199 --> 01:05:26.010 through. your first stage of recovery and therapy. 01:05:26.190 --> 01:05:28.429 It's very cathartic. So we've, we've created 01:05:28.429 --> 01:05:30.630 a community through that, which has been amazing. 01:05:31.130 --> 01:05:33.969 We also produce content on a daily basis. So 01:05:33.969 --> 01:05:36.869 we have daily reflections. Those are basically 01:05:36.869 --> 01:05:39.489 thought provoking essays and journal entries 01:05:39.489 --> 01:05:42.710 designed to inspire clarity and intention in 01:05:42.710 --> 01:05:43.989 your collecting journey. Those are published 01:05:43.989 --> 01:05:46.150 every single day. Haven't missed a day since 01:05:46.150 --> 01:05:49.969 we launched a collector's MD on March 26th. We 01:05:49.969 --> 01:05:53.639 have Other forms of content. So expert informed 01:05:53.639 --> 01:05:57.539 breakdowns, resources and personal stories designed 01:05:57.539 --> 01:05:59.659 to educate, inspire and help collectors reflect 01:05:59.659 --> 01:06:03.000 more intentionally. We have our podcast, The 01:06:03.000 --> 01:06:05.360 Collector's Compass, it's called The Collector's 01:06:05.360 --> 01:06:08.199 Compass. Those are honest conversations with 01:06:08.199 --> 01:06:10.219 collectors, industry voices and mental health 01:06:10.219 --> 01:06:13.440 advocates just talking about, you know, the nature 01:06:13.440 --> 01:06:15.730 of all this and why. Collecting with intention 01:06:15.730 --> 01:06:18.050 is so incredibly important. We have recovery 01:06:18.050 --> 01:06:20.409 tools and educational resources. So those are 01:06:20.409 --> 01:06:22.110 tools and materials to help better understand 01:06:22.110 --> 01:06:24.730 compulsive collecting behaviors and how to manage 01:06:24.730 --> 01:06:27.309 them. We have our strategic partnerships, which 01:06:27.309 --> 01:06:30.289 we mentioned with Birches and Gamban. And then 01:06:30.289 --> 01:06:32.630 lastly, the industry advocacy. We're actively 01:06:32.630 --> 01:06:34.769 pushing for reform across platforms, breakers 01:06:34.769 --> 01:06:36.769 and mortar places to create a safer and more 01:06:36.769 --> 01:06:38.949 transparent collecting environment. So you want 01:06:38.949 --> 01:06:40.769 to check out any of that. I know I just gave 01:06:40.769 --> 01:06:44.119 you a lot. You go to collectorsmd .com. At the 01:06:44.119 --> 01:06:46.800 top, there are two different drop -down menus, 01:06:47.000 --> 01:06:49.000 one for Discover, which is basically all of our 01:06:49.000 --> 01:06:51.559 content, our news and announcements, inspiring 01:06:51.559 --> 01:06:53.519 quotes, things like that. And then there's one 01:06:53.519 --> 01:06:56.039 for Resources. So that's where you can find access 01:06:56.039 --> 01:06:59.119 to the Google form for the weekly meetings, the 01:06:59.119 --> 01:07:01.440 Collector's MD Recovery Guide, which is the foundation 01:07:01.440 --> 01:07:04.219 of our meetings, which was adapted from the Gambler's 01:07:04.219 --> 01:07:07.219 Anonymous Yellow Book, which we use in GA meetings. 01:07:07.420 --> 01:07:10.059 It looks like this. This is the GA Yellow Book 01:07:10.059 --> 01:07:13.219 that it was adapted from. The industry. reform 01:07:13.219 --> 01:07:15.280 initiative that I mentioned. We have a collector's 01:07:15.280 --> 01:07:17.739 MD hobby dictionary so that you can stay in the 01:07:17.739 --> 01:07:21.539 know and educated and go about your hobby journey 01:07:21.539 --> 01:07:25.119 responsibly. And, you know, so you're not falling 01:07:25.119 --> 01:07:27.940 behind. There's a get help section. And then 01:07:27.940 --> 01:07:30.739 there's two sections that touch on our partnerships 01:07:30.739 --> 01:07:35.139 with Birches and Gambin. So lots going on. We're 01:07:35.139 --> 01:07:38.500 on social as well across the board. You can check 01:07:38.500 --> 01:07:41.960 us out on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube. 01:07:43.539 --> 01:07:47.619 X. We're also on Mantle. That's a really great 01:07:47.619 --> 01:07:52.039 place to join the conversation and just be part 01:07:52.039 --> 01:07:55.639 of the daily content that we put out. Are you 01:07:55.639 --> 01:07:58.639 guys familiar with Mantle? I am familiar. Only 01:07:58.639 --> 01:08:01.340 recently I've been seeing a lot more on it. I 01:08:01.340 --> 01:08:05.260 have no idea. It's basically like a Discord type 01:08:05.260 --> 01:08:08.800 of platform, but it's specifically designed for 01:08:08.800 --> 01:08:11.940 the hobby. um so there's not like you know all 01:08:11.940 --> 01:08:14.219 the extra fluff that you you would see on on 01:08:14.219 --> 01:08:17.739 discord or reddit um but it's it's a really really 01:08:17.739 --> 01:08:21.819 great place where you can um you know join different 01:08:21.819 --> 01:08:26.460 types of groups uh or marketplaces and uh be 01:08:26.460 --> 01:08:29.859 a part of the the daily discussion so we're on 01:08:29.859 --> 01:08:32.909 there as well Awesome. Perfect. Well, Alyx, we 01:08:32.909 --> 01:08:35.409 can't thank you enough for your time to do this. 01:08:35.510 --> 01:08:37.390 I know that when you reached out, we were like, 01:08:37.470 --> 01:08:39.130 somebody wants to talk with us in the podcast. 01:08:39.369 --> 01:08:43.090 But the more we dove into what you're doing, 01:08:43.210 --> 01:08:45.170 I think what you're doing is essential. I think 01:08:45.170 --> 01:08:48.770 it's needed. I really hope that in the short 01:08:48.770 --> 01:08:52.649 future, anyone that's in this community of collectors 01:08:52.649 --> 01:08:55.390 that finds themselves in a place or comes to 01:08:55.390 --> 01:08:57.489 a place of awareness that they could use some 01:08:57.489 --> 01:08:59.890 help sees that that's what this is. This is not 01:08:59.890 --> 01:09:02.949 a place to just dump shame on people, but it's 01:09:02.949 --> 01:09:05.529 a place to provide help and a way forward and 01:09:05.529 --> 01:09:07.770 a way to collect with intention. I really love 01:09:07.770 --> 01:09:09.550 that. That's a really beautiful resolve with 01:09:09.550 --> 01:09:11.770 what you're doing is that you're helping to kind 01:09:11.770 --> 01:09:14.449 of restore what's beautiful about the hobby. 01:09:15.130 --> 01:09:17.789 essentially. Um, and, uh, we can't thank you 01:09:17.789 --> 01:09:19.729 enough for your time. Uh, we'll be definitely 01:09:19.729 --> 01:09:21.510 encouraging any listeners. If you're listening 01:09:21.510 --> 01:09:23.890 in and take advantage of these resources, they 01:09:23.890 --> 01:09:25.729 are available to you. And we know we'll only 01:09:25.729 --> 01:09:28.010 be hearing more, uh, from you and collectors, 01:09:28.149 --> 01:09:31.010 uh, MD in the future. So thank you so much, Jason, 01:09:31.010 --> 01:09:33.649 Gary, really appreciate it. Uh, it was a pleasure 01:09:33.649 --> 01:09:37.770 chatting with you guys and, um, yeah, I'm really, 01:09:37.850 --> 01:09:41.050 really excited to see where. collectors md takes 01:09:41.050 --> 01:09:43.270 us in the coming weeks in the coming months so 01:09:43.270 --> 01:09:45.829 uh thank you again for giving me this opportunity 01:09:45.829 --> 01:09:48.869 to to talk to go into great detail about what 01:09:48.869 --> 01:09:52.130 we're doing and uh appreciate you guys being 01:09:52.130 --> 01:09:54.500 a part of the journey Absolutely. Thanks again, 01:09:54.560 --> 01:09:57.140 man. All right. Thanks so much, Alyx, for joining 01:09:57.140 --> 01:10:00.119 us. Hopefully you guys found that interview to 01:10:00.119 --> 01:10:02.699 be helpful. I know we learned a lot of things 01:10:02.699 --> 01:10:06.260 from it. And if you have any questions or you 01:10:06.260 --> 01:10:09.079 want to reach out, Alyx gave you all the ways 01:10:09.079 --> 01:10:11.739 that you can follow them. And if you need support, 01:10:12.020 --> 01:10:15.920 join their support group that is free and you 01:10:15.920 --> 01:10:19.140 can get some of the support that you need. One 01:10:19.140 --> 01:10:21.920 thing I would add, too, we talked about it last 01:10:21.920 --> 01:10:26.210 week. that element of guilt and shame that people 01:10:26.210 --> 01:10:30.250 can feel in dealing with that reality. And for 01:10:30.250 --> 01:10:33.409 you and I, we have firsthand seen people that 01:10:33.409 --> 01:10:36.430 we know in this space, very active in the hobby, 01:10:36.510 --> 01:10:40.430 lose way more than they ever should. And we're 01:10:40.430 --> 01:10:44.569 not talking about cards or money. So if you're 01:10:44.569 --> 01:10:47.970 in that place, just know that there's help and 01:10:47.970 --> 01:10:49.979 there's support. And we encourage you to get 01:10:49.979 --> 01:10:52.640 that. And we want to help you any way we can 01:10:52.640 --> 01:10:54.800 to find what you need. So be sure to check them 01:10:54.800 --> 01:10:58.279 out on that. Up next, let's move into low -end 01:10:58.279 --> 01:11:02.239 liquid. This one is kind of a fun one. This is 01:11:02.239 --> 01:11:03.439 your world, my friend. There's different tiers 01:11:03.439 --> 01:11:06.000 of low -end liquid. There's low -end liquid, 01:11:06.140 --> 01:11:09.260 and some of you think $20 cards. There's low 01:11:09.260 --> 01:11:11.899 -end liquid that moves for $5. And then there's 01:11:11.899 --> 01:11:13.199 the low -end liquid you're probably going to 01:11:13.199 --> 01:11:16.340 get offers at like $175 free shipping on. Yeah. 01:11:16.560 --> 01:11:19.930 And we're down. in the bargain basement today 01:11:19.930 --> 01:11:23.050 for this set. The only reason I'm bringing this 01:11:23.050 --> 01:11:25.369 set up is when I sell one, I usually sell five 01:11:25.369 --> 01:11:28.409 to ten of them at a time. And that is the Collector's 01:11:28.409 --> 01:11:32.739 Choice Stick 'ems. Now. If you're a product of 01:11:32.739 --> 01:11:34.920 the 80s or 90s, you definitely remember these. 01:11:35.020 --> 01:11:37.359 There were some even later in the 90s. Oh, that's 01:11:37.359 --> 01:11:39.779 my favorite variation of these. This is not the 01:11:39.779 --> 01:11:42.119 stickums, but in the same family, the bobble 01:11:42.119 --> 01:11:44.180 heads, the bobbing heads is what they're called. 01:11:44.340 --> 01:11:46.479 Technically, where you could that's a Clemens 01:11:46.479 --> 01:11:48.199 right there where you pop the head out, put it 01:11:48.199 --> 01:11:50.319 on a stand. A lot of these other ones that there 01:11:50.319 --> 01:11:52.840 are multiple stickers of each player. Just look 01:11:52.840 --> 01:11:55.380 at here. I've got Kenny Lofton. There's Cal Ripken 01:11:55.380 --> 01:11:59.100 Jr. A lot of big stars in the game. And chances 01:11:59.100 --> 01:12:01.220 are you had one of these on. your trapper keeper 01:12:01.220 --> 01:12:04.300 in the 90s really good chance of it or it was 01:12:04.300 --> 01:12:07.260 stuck underneath the desk at school or you put 01:12:07.260 --> 01:12:09.020 it on the wall and left it there for a couple 01:12:09.020 --> 01:12:11.039 months and then your parents wanted you to peel 01:12:11.039 --> 01:12:13.119 it off and you peel paint with it whatever whatever 01:12:13.119 --> 01:12:16.560 the cause sounds like a memory more than anything 01:12:16.560 --> 01:12:19.380 else uh if you're buying these buy them as cheap 01:12:19.380 --> 01:12:21.939 as possible this is stuff that usually is in 01:12:21.939 --> 01:12:24.609 like a a bulk box of nothing and you go pick 01:12:24.609 --> 01:12:26.430 through and there's 20 of them in there. You're 01:12:26.430 --> 01:12:28.090 in them under a penny a piece because you bought 01:12:28.090 --> 01:12:29.970 thousands and thousands of cards. What's your 01:12:29.970 --> 01:12:31.449 sell -through rate on something like that? I 01:12:31.449 --> 01:12:33.130 don't know exactly the sell -through rate on 01:12:33.130 --> 01:12:35.470 this, to be fair, because I don't want to project 01:12:35.470 --> 01:12:38.630 it. But what I can say is when it sells... It 01:12:38.630 --> 01:12:41.689 may not be super quick, but when it sells, you're 01:12:41.689 --> 01:12:43.430 selling in multiple quantities. So this is more 01:12:43.430 --> 01:12:47.149 of a multi -quantity slash low -end liquid. It's 01:12:47.149 --> 01:12:48.350 not something where it's like, oh, good, a new 01:12:48.350 --> 01:12:50.310 Stickums is out. There's a ton of these out there. 01:12:50.710 --> 01:12:53.170 But this is more of a nostalgic piece for people. 01:12:53.350 --> 01:12:55.489 That's why they're buying this. It's a really 01:12:55.489 --> 01:12:57.470 cheap set if somebody does do that kind of stuff. 01:12:57.609 --> 01:13:03.109 But I think if I've dropped in maybe 50 of these, 01:13:03.149 --> 01:13:05.430 I've sold over half in the last few months. Yeah, 01:13:05.430 --> 01:13:07.659 there you go. Could be off a little bit on that, 01:13:07.720 --> 01:13:10.060 but definitely one to keep an eye out for. You 01:13:10.060 --> 01:13:12.520 will see them in, like, bulk. So don't sleep 01:13:12.520 --> 01:13:14.699 on that. If you're evaluating a bulk deal, hopefully, 01:13:14.880 --> 01:13:17.260 if you're selling low in liquid, when I talk 01:13:17.260 --> 01:13:19.340 about some of these low in liquids cards, like, 01:13:19.399 --> 01:13:21.439 when you're looking at the four -row box, if 01:13:21.439 --> 01:13:23.579 you start seeing five, six, or seven of the different 01:13:23.579 --> 01:13:25.939 low in liquid cards we've brought up in the last 01:13:25.939 --> 01:13:28.789 20 episodes. That means, hey, there's stuff in 01:13:28.789 --> 01:13:30.050 here that's going to sell for me. That's the 01:13:30.050 --> 01:13:31.390 reason we're doing that. So hopefully it helps 01:13:31.390 --> 01:13:33.250 you buy a little bit better, make a little bit 01:13:33.250 --> 01:13:34.890 more, and move that money a little bit quicker. 01:13:35.050 --> 01:13:36.689 Ooh, that kind of had a nice ring to it. Perfect. 01:13:37.210 --> 01:13:39.189 Low and liquid. You want to talk about some baseball? 01:13:39.390 --> 01:13:40.789 Let's talk about some baseball. So it's time 01:13:40.789 --> 01:13:43.329 for the lookout. Now, a couple things I want 01:13:43.329 --> 01:13:45.470 to say. The player I wanted to talk about this 01:13:45.470 --> 01:13:48.329 week, I didn't get the chance to because he got 01:13:48.329 --> 01:13:50.569 called up before we could record this episode, 01:13:50.689 --> 01:13:52.689 and that was Yankeel Fernandez. Sure you did. 01:13:53.840 --> 01:13:55.899 I was high on him. We talked about him last year. 01:13:56.020 --> 01:13:58.800 Big power hitter for the Rockies. And then I 01:13:58.800 --> 01:14:00.260 also want to talk about another call -up that 01:14:00.260 --> 01:14:02.340 happened before we could record this episode, 01:14:02.380 --> 01:14:04.319 which is a guy we talked about probably six weeks 01:14:04.319 --> 01:14:06.960 ago, and that was Colby Thomas for the A's. He 01:14:06.960 --> 01:14:09.960 is now on the Major League roster. This week, 01:14:10.020 --> 01:14:12.699 we're going to talk about Joe Mack, who is a 01:14:12.699 --> 01:14:15.479 catcher for the Miami Marlins organization. He's 01:14:15.479 --> 01:14:19.020 in AAA. Joe was a first -round competitive balance 01:14:19.020 --> 01:14:21.159 round A pick. So he was the number 31 overall 01:14:21.159 --> 01:14:25.479 pick out of high school in 2021. Never had any 01:14:25.479 --> 01:14:28.100 questions about his defensive prowess. Offense 01:14:28.100 --> 01:14:30.180 was a struggle for the first two to three years 01:14:30.180 --> 01:14:32.960 of his career, mostly because he really, really 01:14:32.960 --> 01:14:36.890 struggled with breaking balls. he still struggles 01:14:36.890 --> 01:14:39.670 to an extent with breaking balls. He's gotten 01:14:39.670 --> 01:14:41.810 better at laying off them. However, he used to 01:14:41.810 --> 01:14:44.069 be relatively passive early in counts, and last 01:14:44.069 --> 01:14:46.489 year he changed his approach and started really 01:14:46.489 --> 01:14:48.850 attacking anything that looked like it was a 01:14:48.850 --> 01:14:51.739 fastball. in the zone early in counts, and it 01:14:51.739 --> 01:14:54.399 made a massive impact in his overall game. Last 01:14:54.399 --> 01:14:57.939 year, he was fifth overall in the minor leagues 01:14:57.939 --> 01:15:01.279 among catchers in home runs. He hit 24, and he 01:15:01.279 --> 01:15:03.680 won the minor league gold glove award for catchers 01:15:03.680 --> 01:15:07.020 in 2024. So far this year, he's gotten the bump 01:15:07.020 --> 01:15:09.739 to AAA. He's got eight home runs. He's hitting 01:15:09.739 --> 01:15:14.880 260 with a 343 OBP and a 420 slugging percentage. 01:15:15.020 --> 01:15:17.539 Now, that's only a 763 OPS, and you might be 01:15:17.539 --> 01:15:19.840 going, why are you talking about this guy? Very 01:15:19.840 --> 01:15:23.199 simple. If you are a catcher in today's baseball 01:15:23.199 --> 01:15:28.319 and you are even moderately average at the plate, 01:15:28.420 --> 01:15:30.859 you're a big league starter if you're a great 01:15:30.859 --> 01:15:32.920 defender. Can I interject? I never do during 01:15:32.920 --> 01:15:35.239 this segment. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Does what 01:15:35.239 --> 01:15:39.500 you just said point out how crazy big of a deal 01:15:39.500 --> 01:15:41.060 it is that Cal Raleigh's doing what he's doing? 01:15:41.100 --> 01:15:44.380 Yeah, absolutely. It's insane. The Cal Raleigh's... 01:15:45.160 --> 01:15:47.300 Don't exist. Hasn't happened since Piazza. We 01:15:47.300 --> 01:15:48.760 were talking about this. The Cal rallies, the 01:15:48.760 --> 01:15:51.539 Adley Rutchmans, the guys who are above average 01:15:51.539 --> 01:15:55.159 to really good at the plate and decent defense. 01:15:55.819 --> 01:15:58.140 Adley's a gold glove caliber defensive catcher. 01:15:58.159 --> 01:16:00.239 Cal rally is not, but he's not a detriment back 01:16:00.239 --> 01:16:03.100 there. But Joe Mack is a guy who is going to 01:16:03.100 --> 01:16:06.100 be a gold glove caliber catcher defensively. 01:16:06.819 --> 01:16:09.159 He just handled a no hitter the other day, as 01:16:09.159 --> 01:16:12.939 a matter of fact. But he also. has some pop, 01:16:13.079 --> 01:16:17.199 and can hit. The Marlins are in a position now 01:16:17.199 --> 01:16:22.140 to have a really, really strong platoon back 01:16:22.140 --> 01:16:24.319 there between Augustin Ramirez and Joe Mack. 01:16:25.760 --> 01:16:29.279 Joe Mack, his cards are in 2021 Bowman Draft. 01:16:29.800 --> 01:16:33.319 They're still relatively affordable. Very reminiscent 01:16:33.319 --> 01:16:36.100 to me of a guy like Hunter Goodman, who's really 01:16:36.100 --> 01:16:38.979 made waves this year for the Rockies. He doesn't 01:16:38.979 --> 01:16:41.720 have quite the pop that Goodman has, but he can 01:16:41.720 --> 01:16:46.739 be a high -end 70 % guy of a platoon and DH the 01:16:46.739 --> 01:16:49.420 other 30 % of the time and get a day or two off 01:16:49.420 --> 01:16:53.539 a week to Ramirez behind the plate. But overall, 01:16:53.800 --> 01:16:56.100 I think, again, a guy that's going to be up after 01:16:56.100 --> 01:16:58.100 the All -Star break, which is sneaking up on 01:16:58.100 --> 01:17:00.640 us really quick here. But his cards, one more 01:17:00.640 --> 01:17:04.479 time, 2021 Bowman Draft, still very affordable 01:17:04.479 --> 01:17:08.779 and on a team that's starved for as much help 01:17:08.779 --> 01:17:11.380 as it can get. I don't think he's down too much 01:17:11.380 --> 01:17:14.859 longer. Yeah, yeah. Quick reminder before we 01:17:14.859 --> 01:17:17.039 head out today. For the end of this episode, 01:17:17.159 --> 01:17:20.159 we'll see you tonight, 7 p .m. Eastern on Whatnot. 01:17:20.760 --> 01:17:23.340 Every single Thursday, one of the nice little 01:17:23.340 --> 01:17:27.000 buyer givies, this nice little B. John Robinson 01:17:27.000 --> 01:17:31.760 RPA out of select to $199, along with nine other 01:17:31.760 --> 01:17:33.800 buyer's givies, another 10 giveaway slabs as 01:17:33.800 --> 01:17:37.279 well. Be a part of it. Bookmark it. Hang out 01:17:37.279 --> 01:17:39.819 with us. Yeah. Anything else? No, we always go 01:17:39.819 --> 01:17:42.199 live on TikTok right before our Whatnot show, 01:17:42.279 --> 01:17:43.680 so if you want to come hang out with us for about 01:17:43.680 --> 01:17:46.039 a half hour there too, come hang out with us. 01:17:46.100 --> 01:17:48.119 This has been the Ball Card Show, the esports 01:17:48.119 --> 01:17:49.899 podcast. For the Esports Collector. Bye now. 01:17:50.140 --> 01:17:50.420 Peace.