Shill bidding is way more common than people want to admit.
 In this episode, we break down what it is, why people do it, and how it quietly destroys trust (and comps) in the hobby.

Timestamps
0:00 What “shill bidding” really means (and why it’s tempting)
2:20 The easiest red flags on auction sites (and what they signal)
6:35 Why “defensive bidding” is still shill bidding
10:10 How shill bidding wrecks comps and pushes collectors out
13:55 The buyer rule that saves you from getting played

 viral card show trade sparked “rip off” accusations fast — but the full story might be way more complicated.
 Let’s break down what people think they saw vs what could actually be true when liquidity, buyers, and context matter.

Timestamps
0:00 The trade clip that keeps showing up
1:07 What was traded and why it looks wild
4:10 The comment section meltdown and body language assumptions
6:10 The follow up explanation and “dad made the deal” context
12:18 The rule for trading with kids and the trade back safety net
18:20 How to handle rude comments and protect your community culture

Sports card grading sparks more arguments than almost anything in the hobby — and PSA sits right at the center of it.
 Is PSA elevating collecting… or quietly hurting it?

In this episode, we break down the real pros and cons of PSA grading, why collectors feel so strongly about it, and what grading actually does to card value, trust, and collecting culture.

Timestamps:
00:00 – PSA vs the hobby: what’s the real debate?
02:15 – Why grading exists and what it actually solves
05:00 – How PSA impacts card value and price gaps
07:00 – Authenticity, fakes, and why grading matters more now
11:00 – The biggest downside: PSA’s market control
14:00 – Grading vs personal collection philosophy

Drop your thoughts in the comments — PSA lover or PSA skeptic?

Game used memorabilia is quietly becoming one of the most underrated assets in sports collecting.
 In this episode, I break down my recent purchases and explain why I believe this market is just getting started.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Why I started buying game used items
1:05 – My first two game used jerseys
3:00 – Finding undervalued game worn shoes
6:10 – Certified vs signed only items
9:15 – Championship ceremony gear and why it matters
11:40 – Why game used will outperform signed items long term

Big changes may be coming to the hobby.
PSA’s parent company is rolling out updates that could reshape Beckett and SGC—and collectors should be paying attention.

From new labels to imaging to vault integration, here’s what’s confirmed, what’s rumored, and why it all matters.

Timestamps
00:00 Why these updates matter
01:08 Beckett getting imaging and new labels
02:11 Label design and why slabs matter
04:30 SGC expansion and turnaround times
05:32 Beckett and SGC cards going to the PSA Vault
07:01 Why cross-company set registries should exist

Fanatics isn’t just making cards anymore. Now they want to control the stories that make those cards matter.
Here’s what Fanatics Studios could do for the hobby… and what collectors should be cautious about.

Timestamps
0:00 Fanatics launches a studio why this is a big deal
1:16 Why storytelling changes perception The Last Dance effect
2:24 What Fanatics Studios is making and who they’re partnering with
6:06 From selling cards to controlling the narrative
10:38 What it means for collectors growth moments and cultural relevance
13:16 The risks manufactured hype and who gets left out
16:11 The shows Fanatics should make creator led ideas

the 4 tiers of sports card comps

Where are collectors actually buying sports cards right now? In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, I break down real December sales data showing over $381 million spent online, with eBay dominating nearly 80% of the market. We talk buyer trust, human behavior, scams, the adoption curve, and why Fanatics Collect could slowly gain ground over the next decade.

If you collect cards, sell cards, or are just getting into the hobby, this episode explains why the market looks the way it does and where it’s heading next.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Dentist shots, bad decisions, and sports cards
• 1:00 $381M in monthly card sales explained
• 2:00 Why eBay dominates the hobby
• 4:00 Comfort, trust, and buyer protection
• 6:00 A real eBay scam story (and why I still trust it)
• 8:40 The human adoption curve applied to sports cards
• 10:30 Where Fanatics Collect fits long-term
• 12:00 What the future of card buying might look like

Dr. Tyler Tarver breaks the hobby into three collector archetypes (no judgment, just labels), explains what each group contributes to the ecosystem, and argues the hobby is more of a spectrum than a war. Plus, a quick Chicken Nugget Nation giveaway at the end.

Timestamps (based on transcript timing):

• 0:00 Welcome + premise, “three types of collectors”
• 1:00 Gordy Bonkers clip, cards as a financially rewarding hobby
• 2:05 Comment reactions, “collect what fulfills you”, money risks, experience matters
• 6:10 The hobby as a spectrum, NBA analogy (rookies, ring chasers, franchise lifers)
• 8:25 Type 1: PSA Kaboom Boys (PKB), flippers and liquidity
• 11:15 Type 2: Capsule Keepers, forever collectors
• 13:00 Type 3: Portfolio Collectors, evolving collection and life seasons
• 18:30 Wrap up, why all 3 matter
• 19:40 Chicken Nugget Nation pitch + giveaway

In this episode, Tyler interviews Mike Gioseffi from Sports Cards Nonsense about his biggest hobby whiff (selling Ohtani too early), then Tyler shares his own all-time mistake: pricing a 1997 Skybox Z-Force Super Rave like a normal card and watching it walk away for $5, later comping around $1,000 to $1,500.

Timestamps (approx.)

• 0:00 Intro, biggest mistakes concept, Mike Gioseffi setup
• 1:30 The question, “Who did you whiff on?”
• 3:05 Mike’s whiff, selling Ohtani too early, lesson on patience
• 4:45 Mike’s buying range and liquidity philosophy
• 6:50 Tyler returns, travel setup, “here’s my worst mistake”
• 8:30 The $5 pricing mistake, 1997 Z-Force Super Rave context
• 10:45 The reveal, Super Rave is /50, comps explode
• 12:10 The lesson, check 90s numbered parallels, story value
• 13:30 Chicken Nugget Nation Patreon + giveaway plug, wrap