Source:
https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-3fgsg-1acace5
Dr. Beckett shares a hobby dinner conversation from the Watter’s Creek Show with out-of-town collectors discussing how rising wax prices and the growth of breakers have affected the hobby, and whether breaking is good or bad. Guests recount their collecting origins, from inheriting older brothers’ cards to buying singles instead of packs, and one collector’s focus on Star basketball with questions about how many high-value cards remain ungraded. The group also explores the lack of cultural diversity in collecting and efforts like Anthony Devine’s Rise program. They debate Fanatics/Topps “wave” releases, dynamic pricing, allocation, single licenses, and whether today’s box prices are sustainable. Additional topics include grading and consignment backlogs, potential AI/automation, investor-driven flipping vs true collecting, and the changing landscape of card shops and shows.
00:34 Collector Origins and Breaking
01:20 Upper Deck Career and Diversity
03:32 Star Cards and Grading Odds
06:37 Future Wax Box Prices
10:58 AI and Robotics in the Hobby
12:50 Collectors vs Flippers Debate
14:29 Nostalgia Pulls and Blank Backs
16:41 Sealed Wax and Store Boom