Join Dr. Beckett, Samuel Evans, and John Newman as they dive deep into various hot topics in the hobby. They discuss the competitive nature of card grading, particularly eBay's integration with PSA, and the complex relational dynamics it introduces. The hosts also explore how the sports card market reacts during periods of economic uncertainty, including tariffs and stock market fluctuations. Additionally, they examine the trend of active and retired athletes buying into or owning local card shops, highlighting cases such as Tom Brady and JJ Hoover.

 

00:54 Grading and eBay's Role in the Hobby

04:05 Economic Impact on the Hobby

05:11 Tariffs and Their Effects on the Hobby

07:22 Card Prices and Market Dynamics

11:19 Players Investing in Card Stores

Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein discuss strategies for monetizing Rich's weekly email newsletter, which he has developed over the past decade. Despite technical difficulties with the audio, they explore various monetization tactics, including obtaining sponsors, accepting non-cash payments, and enhancing the content's usefulness. They also touch upon the growth and evolution of sports card shows, the importance of fresh inventory, and effective promotional techniques for dealers. 

 

00:45 Rich's Newsletter: Origins and Evolution

01:37 Expanding the Newsletter's Reach

02:49 Monetization Strategies and Challenges

06:09 Effectiveness and Feedback

07:29 Innovative Event Ideas and Experiences

Dr. Beckett and Rich Klein delve into the complexities of sports card variations. They discuss the history and philosophy behind cataloging and classifying these variations, highlighting specific examples such as the 1974 Topps checklist variations and the 1984 Donruss Diamond King variations. Despite technical issues with the audio, the episode offers valuable insights into the intricacies of card collecting, the importance of both card fronts and backs, and the efforts of platforms like Beckett and COMC in providing detailed catalogs.

 

00:58 Discussing Card Variations

02:38 Cataloging and Price Guides

03:55 Challenges in Identifying Variations

06:22 Importance of Card Fronts vs. Backs

11:02 Modern Card Variations and Challenges

The final part of Dr. Beckett's conversation with Angela from COMC's marketing team. They discuss COMC's strategies for national shows, including daily specials, robust Wi-Fi setups, shipping logistics, and the meticulous care taken with high-value cards. The episode also covers how COMC handles card submissions, the importance of data, and projections for the upcoming Chicago National. Angela also shares behind-the-scenes insights on the team's work dynamics, their crucial FedEx partnership, and the honor of being part of COMC's national team.

 

00:48 Show Activities

01:30 WiFi and Technology at the National

02:43 Shipping Logistics and FedEx Partnership

04:09 Card Valuation and Submission Process

10:47 Employee Experience at the National

Dr. Beckett and COMC's Angela Loeffler discuss the inside scoop on COMC's presence at the upcoming National Sports Collectors Convention. Learn essential hacks for efficiently submitting and selling your sports cards, including how to sort your collection to avoid common pitfalls.

 

01:13 Card Submission Strategies

02:16 Navigating the National

03:31 COMC Booth Experience

05:21 Using the COMC App

09:54 Customer Service vs. Marketing

Dr. Beckett delves into the controversial topic of shill bidding in sports card auctions. The discussion, taken out of his recent appearance on Jeremy Lee's Sports Card Live, explores both offensive and defensive forms of shill bidding, why they matter, and their impact on the sports card ecosystem, as well as on current comp-ologists, such as Chris HOJ McGill of Card Ladder.

 

02:20 Defensive Shill Bidding

03:49 Ethical Dilemmas in Auctions

05:40 Impact on Market Comps

07:24 Historical Perspective on Price Guides

13:10 Auction vs. Buy It Now: Comparative

Dr. Beckett reviews various hockey card boxes from Upper Deck including 2024-25 OPC, 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 2, 2024 Upper Deck Skybox Metal Universe Champions, Clear Cut, Allure, and EX 2000. Dr. Beckett offers his insights on the value, design, and features of these products, including serial numbered cards, inserts, autographs, and the market dynamics.

 

02:58 In-Depth Look at Upper Deck Series Two

05:00 Exploring Skybox Metal Universe Champions

06:13 Clear Cut: Premium Autograph Cards

08:43 Allure: Beautiful and Affordable

10:27 Skybox EX 2000: Nostalgic and Condition Sensitive

Key topics include Fanatics' distribution mode clarity, PSA's response to tariffs affecting the hobby, and the emerging role of breakers in the market. Dr. Beckett (and other panelists) discuss Whatnot's challenges, debut patches, the abundance of one-of-one cards, and the evolving nature of sports card collecting.

 

00:49 Fanatics Distribution Model Discussion

04:01 Impact of Tariffs on the Hobby

07:39 Fanatics vs. Whatnot: Platform Standards

09:11 Debut Patches and Player Involvement

Dr. Beckett delves into the history and growth of soccer cards and stickers, focusing on Greg Landsdowne's upcoming 10th anniversary update of his book 'Stuck on You.' Dr. Beckett answers questions about the rise of card grading in the UK and Europe, and the globalization of the sports card market, especially post-COVID. We also discuss the evolving value of soccer cards and the impact of major events like the World Cup on the hobby, and why knowledge is crucial in this expanding field.

 

00:23 Panini Soccer Stickers: A Historical Perspective

01:22 Greg Lansdowne's Questions and Insights

04:35 The Evolution of Sports Card Grading

05:58 The Future of Sports Card Publications

10:01 Collector, Investor, Dealer: A Personal Journey

10:51 The Impact of the World Cup on Soccer Cards

Dr. Beckett discusses the turmoil surrounding Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks, including reactions from a recent card show. He shares a humorous AI-generated rant from a fictional crazed Mavericks fan and addresses the pros and cons of AI in sports commentary. The episode delves into Luka’s potential future with the Lakers, his impact on the hobby, and the complexities of sports fandom.

 

00:21 Luca's Impact on the Basketball World

01:49 The AI Experiment: A Rant on Luca

03:28 Reading the AI-Generated Rant

05:24 Analyzing the AI Rant

06:42 Luka's Future and Hobby Implications