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I think you’re onto something here. My local card shop definitely has that “third place” feeling sometimes — people aren’t necessarily there because they need to buy something. They’re there because they know other collectors will be there.

I’ve started noticing the regulars too. Guys who seem to know the employees, know each other, talk cards, look through boxes, trade, watch people rip, and just hang out for a while. It reminds me a lot of a good local coffee shop where the community is almost as important as the actual product.

Honestly, I think that’s one of the coolest parts of the hobby. You can walk into a shop knowing absolutely nobody and potentially walk out having met somebody who collects the same player or set you do.

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I am getting Anthony Daniels auto at Star Wars Celebration in April and my friend is like “Get him to sign the Golden Rod Card it would be so weird” lol I’m like “who’s weirder here, Anthony Daniels signing the card or the guy wanting him to sign the card?” But also we cannot forget the “Frank Thomas No Name Card” .

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That is such a cool backstory for a card. 😂 And honestly, I think you made the right call breaking the eBay seal. If I had something going into a Zion mag, I’d want to actually see it in the presentation I like too.

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I’ll be upfront that I’m biased here because I host a show on Fanatics Live for the shop I work for, HitSeekers. But it really has become one of my favorite ways to buy, especially when it comes to sealed product. We basically have access to just about anything sealed, so there’s usually a pretty good variety depending on what you’re chasing.

That said, I still use eBay, card shows, shops, Facebook groups, etc. I don’t think there’s one “best” way to buy cards. It really depends on what you’re looking for.

For bigger singles, I’m still a big believer in seeing the card in person when possible. For sealed, though, I love the convenience of live shows and being able to see what’s available in real time

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It’s mostly because people love those Galaxy 2021 and 2023 sets. I don’t think they printed as many of them, but some of the unnumbered refractors from those sets go for hundreds. That particular Vader was a super. It just sold 5 months ago for $31k

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As much as I hate how much eBay takes they really are the best option for hunting down hard to find stuff. No one is close to a market as big as theirs. If you want some fun window shopping though, Goldin is really cool.

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Totally get it and since there is no clear market cap, some companies absolutely overcharge. We try to create breaks that are more value focused. Can some skunk still? Yes but its going to be on a $20 spot rather than $200 spot. We aren’t one of the Big Dogs so our place in the market is to be a good value option. A good example, I just put up a 6 box break of Series 2 with no vet base, least expensive spot is $15. If you want to go big the max team is the Dodgers at $150. The real winner with all these fish in the sea over all is the collector because of all the options, you can actually shop around and find the best prices

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I could definitely see Iverson being next. His cultural impact is massive, and he has that combination of on-court greatness, personality, and nostalgia that tends to make a player’s cards age really well

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Lol exactly. If I have $13 million sitting around that I can comfortably spend on a piece of cardboard, I’m probably not going to be too worried about whether the card market is having a good year.

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Yeah, it’s pretty wild when you step back and look at how quickly it happened. Pokémon went from something a lot of people associated primarily with kids playing the games and collecting cards to a legitimate high-end collectible market.

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Yeah, I think Logan Paul absolutely played a major role in pushing Pokémon into a different level of mainstream attention. The wild part is that his Pikachu Illustrator eventually sold for $16.5 million, making it the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.

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Yeah we got teams as low as that but it’s always hard when your PC team has a big rookie. Last year I couldn’t ever get the Bucs in a break because of Emeka, now my Reds are pricey because of Sal Stewart lol

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Yeah, I think that’s a huge part of it. The hobby has basically become entertainment, collecting, and investing all rolled into one.

Ten years ago, a crazy pull might make the rounds among collectors. Now somebody pulls a 1/1 on a live stream, a celebrity gets involved, the card gets a bounty, influencers start talking about it, and suddenly millions of people who don’t normally follow cards are seeing it.

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Oh yeah, that would be a nasty chase right now. The Japanese Mega Charizard X ex in a PSA 10 is exactly the kind of card where I’d be watching the market and thinking, “Maybe I should’ve bought this yesterday.”

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Oh yeah, Shining Magikarp is an awesome choice. That card has such a unique look, especially with the contrast between the shiny artwork and the darker background. It just has that “I need to own this” factor.