Collectors MD

After spending three days providing official media coverage at Fanatics Fest NYC on behalf of Collectors MD, I walked away more optimistic than ever about the future of the collectibles industry.

The biggest takeaway wasn't just the incredible attendance or star power - it was the conversations. Everywhere we went, collectors, hobby businesses, manufacturers, platforms, and industry leaders shared a common belief: as the hobby grows, so does our responsibility to support the people within it.

A huge thank you to Nick Jarman and The Certified Trading Card Association, Inc. It was a privilege working together to promote The Healthy Hobby Initiative (thehealthyhobby.com) and demonstrate what's possible when organizations come together around a shared mission.

As we prepare to head to The National Council on Problem Gambling Conference in Nashville this week and The National Sports Collectors Convention Inc. in Chicago next week, that message has never felt more important.

If we want to create meaningful change, we have to be where collectors are. The hobby is bigger than ever. Now it's our responsibility to help protect it.

Read my latest Daily Reflection, "The Hospital Of The Hobby", below. 👇

https://collectorsmd.com/the-hospital-of-the-hobby/

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The Hospital Of The Hobby - Collectors MD Presented By All Touch Case This past week, I had the privilege of attending Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 as part of Collectors MD‘s official media coverage, and I walked away feeling more optimistic than ever about where this hobby is headed. If you watched ABC News’ coverage of the event, you probab...

The Collector's Compass #52: The Hidden Psychology Behind Whatnot | Michael, ChiJay Cards & Breaks

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx Effron sits down with Michael, a Whatnot seller who goes by CHIJAYcards. Michael is also a lifelong collector and a member of the Collectors MD community.

Like many hobbyists, Michael's journey began with a genuine love of collecting. Over time, however, he found himself increasingly immersed in the world of live-streaming, breaks, auctions, and the constant activity that platforms like Whatnot make possible.

As both a buyer and seller, Michael has experienced firsthand the excitement, entertainment, community, and opportunity that live-selling platforms can provide. At the same time, he's also become increasingly aware of the challenges that can come with being connected to the hobby 24/7.

Michael recently made the decision to step away from streaming for a month, creating an opportunity to reflect on his relationship with collecting, Whatnot, and the role the hobby plays in his life.

Alyx and Michael discuss how his collecting journey began, what originally drew him to Whatnot, and how he eventually transitioned from buying cards to running his own streams on the platform.

They also explore the hidden psychology behind live-selling platforms, including instant gratification, FOMO, entertainment, community, the constant temptation to buy or sell, and why so many collectors find themselves spending far more time and money than they originally intended.

The conversation examines Whatnot from both sides of the screen, discussing what Michael observed as a seller, the behaviors that stood out most, and the similarities that can sometimes exist between live-selling platforms and other forms of high-stimulation entertainment.

Michael also shares the story behind his recent decision to take a break from streaming, the challenges of stepping away, the role accountability and family support played in that decision, and what he learned by creating distance from the hobby for a period of time.

Alyx and Michael discuss what a healthier relationship with collecting looks like, warning signs collectors should pay attention to, practical boundaries that can help prevent hobby burnout, and why maintaining control over our relationship with collecting is ultimately more important than any card we could ever buy.

At its core, this episode is about awareness, balance, self-reflection, and understanding the forces that keep collectors coming back long after they intended to log off.

Topics covered include:
–Michael's collecting journey
–Discovering Whatnot
–Transitioning from buyer to seller
–The appeal of live-selling platforms
–The hidden psychology behind Whatnot
–Instant gratification and FOMO
–Community, entertainment, and engagement loops
–The seller's perspective on buyer behavior
–Why collectors struggle to log off
–The similarities between collecting and other high-stimulation activities
–Taking a break from streaming
–Accountability and family support
–Learning to step back from the hobby
–Healthy collecting habits and boundaries
–Warning signs of compulsive collecting
–The role of Collectors MD in recovery and support
–Building a sustainable relationship with the hobby

If you've ever found yourself opening Whatnot for "just a few minutes" only to realize hours have passed, or wondered why certain hobby platforms can feel so difficult to walk away from, this is a conversation worth listening to. Because sometimes the most important collecting decision isn't what you buy—it's knowing when to step back.

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation around awareness, intentional collecting, and building a healthier relationship with the hobby.

Learn More & Join The Movement:
Website: collectorsmd.com
Nonprofit: lohas.org/client/the-cmd-foundation
Socials: bio.collectorsmd.com
Weekly Meetings: bit.ly/45koiMX
Contact: [email protected]
YT: ‪youtube.com/
IG: instagram.com/collectorsmd

Follow Michael:
FB: ChiJay Cards & Breaks
WN: whatnot.com/user/CHIJAYcards

Help for Problem Gambling: Call or Text 800-GAMBLER (The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey)

This Episode of The Collector's Compass is sponsored by ALL TOUCH CASE, a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% of your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTQP4Gh7lMQ

The Collector's Compass #52: The Hidden Psychology Behind Whatnot | Michael, CHIJAYcards In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Mic...

📍Collectors MD is hitting the road to continue spreading awareness around healthier, more intentional engagement in the hobby.

We're excited to announce that Collectors MD will be providing official media coverage at both Fanatics Fest NYC (July 16-19) and The National Sports Collectors Convention Inc. in Chicago (July 29-August 2).

We'll be on-site covering some of the biggest stories in the hobby, conducting interviews, and connecting with collectors, creators, hobby businesses, platforms, manufacturers, and partners from across the industry. Most importantly, we'll be continuing our mission of promoting awareness, education, and responsible engagement throughout the collecting community.

If you'll be attending either event, we'd love to connect. Whether you're interested in an interview, partnership discussion, podcast appearance, or simply introducing yourself, reach out to [email protected] to schedule a meeting.

Looking forward to seeing so many familiar faces and meeting plenty of new ones along the way. See you in NYC and Chicago. 👋

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More Than Just A Plastic Seal

Alyx Effron | July 13, 2026

Presented By ALL TOUCH CASE

Last week, Topps ignited one of the biggest debates the hobby has seen this year by announcing that its highly anticipated 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Series Basketball retail release would ship without its traditional shrink wrap. The change - currently limited to retail format - removes the plastic seal before products are sent to customers in an effort to discourage scalping and improve access for collectors.

The announcement quickly became one of the most polarizing topics in the hobby. Some applauded the move, arguing that if unopened boxes become less attractive on the secondary market, more product may actually end up in the hands of collectors instead of resellers. Others raised legitimate concerns about product integrity, tampering, consumer confidence, and whether removing the seal simply creates a new set of problems without addressing the real issue.

Like many conversations in today’s hobby, there isn’t a clear right or wrong answer. From Collectors MD‘s perspective, the most interesting part of this discussion isn’t the plastic. It’s what the conversation reveals about the modern hobby.

For years, sealed boxes have represented more than just unopened packs. They’ve become assets. Investments. Inventory. A currency within the hobby. When a manufacturer changes something as simple as the packaging, the first questions many people ask aren’t about the cards inside. They’re about resale value. How will this affect comps? Will flippers still buy them? Will collectors trust them? Will the secondary market change?

None of those questions are inherently wrong. The hobby has always included elements of buying, selling, trading, and investing. Reselling isn’t new, and neither is speculation. The secondary market is woven throughout nearly every corner of the hobby – from online marketplaces and auction houses to card shows and live breaking. Each depends, to some extent, on a healthy ecosystem of buying, selling, and trading.

But moments like this give us an opportunity to pause and reflect on just how central resale value has become to the collecting experience. If removing a thin layer of plastic dramatically changes how we value a product, what does that say about what we’ve begun valuing most?

Sometimes the biggest conversations aren’t about the product itself – they’re about what the conversation says about our priorities as collectors.

It’s worth asking ourselves whether we’re primarily excited about opening the box – or about what the unopened box represents. That question isn’t meant to criticize anyone. It’s simply an invitation to pause, reflect, and perhaps think outside the box – no pun intended.

The reality is that manufacturers are constantly experimenting with ways to balance collector access, product security, environmental concerns, and the realities of a thriving resale market. Whether this particular approach succeeds or fails remains to be seen. But regardless of what happens with shrink wrap, one thing probably won’t change. As long as demand exceeds supply, there will always be a secondary market. There will always be resellers. There will always be collectors. There will always be disagreements about how the hobby should evolve. That’s simply part of modern collecting – and it’s hardly unique to trading cards. We see the same dynamics play out across many modern commerce industries. Whether it’s trading cards, sneakers, watches, collectibles, or concert tickets, scarcity inevitably creates a resale market.

The opportunity for each of us is deciding where our own priorities lie. Are we buying because we genuinely enjoy collecting? Or are we becoming increasingly focused on preserving value, chasing scarcity, and maximizing resale potential?

Ultimately, the conversation is less about who’s right or wrong and more about what matters most to each of us as collectors. What matters most is understanding what mindset is driving our decisions. Because intentional collecting isn’t determined by whether a box has plastic around it – it’s determined by the mindset of the collector opening it.


The debate isn’t really about shrink wrap. It’s about the evolving identity of the hobby. As collecting continues to change, moments like these invite us to reflect on what we value most – and whether our decisions are being driven by enjoyment, intention, or the pursuit of the next opportunity.

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Read More Daily Reflections: collectorsmd.com/daily-reflection

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This Daily Reflection is sponsored by ALL TOUCH CASE, a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% off your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind.

https://collectorsmd.com/more-than-just-a-plastic-seal/

Nostalgia Wax To Feature

Collectors MD is proud to announce a first for the hobby.

In partnership with The Trading Card Hall of Fame, branding will officially be featured on Nostalgia Wax by The Trading Card Hall of Fame, becoming the first sealed trading card product to incorporate responsible collecting messaging directly onto its packs and wrappers.

Since launching in 2025, has grown into a national harm-reduction initiative focused on promoting awareness, intentional engagement, and healthier collecting habits throughout the hobby. What began as a community campaign has evolved into an industry-wide movement supported by collectors, creators, businesses, organizations, and recovery advocates who believe collecting should add to our lives – not take away from them.

The addition of branding to sealed wax product represents another meaningful step toward integrating responsible collecting into the hobby itself. Rather than existing only through educational content or community conversations, the initiative will now be visible at one of the most important moments in the collecting experience: before a pack is ever opened.

The goal is not to discourage collecting or diminish the excitement of opening product. Instead, it serves as a simple reminder to slow down, collect with intention, and recognize that for some individuals, today’s collecting environments can become difficult to navigate.

Collectors MD extends its sincere appreciation to Brad Sauder and The Trading Card Hall of Fame for their continued leadership and commitment to responsible collecting. As a valued member of the Collectors MD Advisory Board, Brad has been a strong advocate for advancing healthier conversations throughout the hobby.

The Trading Card Hall of Fame has also proudly featured the initiative on its homepage since its launched, helping expand awareness and reinforce the importance of intentional engagement. Their decision to now incorporate directly into product packaging represents another meaningful step forward and reflects a shared commitment to building a healthier, more sustainable hobby for current and future generations of collectors.

As continues to grow, Collectors MD remains committed to working alongside manufacturers, hobby businesses, creators, organizations, and industry leaders to expand awareness, encourage thoughtful engagement, and make responsible collecting a more visible part of hobby culture.

This milestone represents significant progress and serves as a powerful example of what can be accomplished when organizations across the hobby come together in support of a shared vision for responsible collecting.

Collect With Intention. Not Compulsion.
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Contribute To The CMD Foundation: lohas.org/client/the-cmd-foundation
Learn More About The Trading Card Hall of Fame: tradingcardhalloffame.org
Nostalgia Wax Coming Soon: tradingcardhalloffame.org/nostalgia-wax-coming-soon

Follow Collectors MD On Instagram: instagram.com/collectorsmd
Join Our Weekly Support Group: bit.ly/45koiMX
Join The Conversation On Mantel: bit.ly/4aNlkUk

https://collectorsmd.com/nostalgia-wax-to-feature-ripresponsibly/

We're incredibly grateful to Barron's for featuring Collectors MD and helping bring national attention to an important conversation that has gone largely overlooked.

As the hobby continues to evolve, it's more important than ever to have honest, evidence-informed discussions about the ways collecting environments can influence behavior - for both adults and young collectors. Awareness isn't about taking the fun out of collecting. It's about helping people engage more intentionally, recognize risk, and know that support exists when the hobby starts taking more than it gives.

Thank you to the Barron's team for shining a light on this important and pressing issue, and for helping amplify the mission of Collectors MD.

https://www.barrons.com/articles/pokemon-baseball-cards-gambling-8ebdf1be?st=capAaV&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink #

Pokémon and Baseball Cards Are Gambling’s New Frontier Mental health experts see similarities between opening a pack of trading cards and the rush that accompanies traditional gambling.

The Modern Gambling Landscape

Alyx Effron | July 2, 2026

Presented By ALL TOUCH CASE

For many people in recovery, there comes a point where gambling no longer feels like the biggest threat. Months pass. Years pass. We self-exclude. We stop visiting casinos. We avoid sportsbooks. We delete the apps. We begin rebuilding our lives.

It may start to feel like the darkest chapter of our lives is finally in the rearview mirror. We convince ourselves that because we’ve stopped gambling, we’ve left everything that came with it behind. But the reality is, the psychology behind gambling didn’t disappear – it evolved.

Today, many of the same behavioral principles that the gambling industry has spent decades refining have quietly spread into other industries. While the products may look different, many rely on the exact same formula: uncertainty, intermittent rewards, flashing graphics, wheel spins, randomization, social validation, leaderboards, limited-time offers, fear of missing out, and the constant possibility that the next click, trade, pack, or purchase could be the one that changes everything.

And it’s not just across trading cards or box breaks. Daytrading. Prediction markets. Cryptocurrency. NFTs. Mystery boxes. Gaming. Even social media.

Each offers its own version of variable rewards and high-stimulation decision making. None of these activities are inherently harmful on their own, and many people participate responsibly, but they can become problematic when approached without awareness, intention, or healthy boundaries. And for someone with a history of gambling disorder or compulsive behaviors, they deserve careful attention.

One of the biggest misconceptions in recovery is believing that abstaining from traditional gambling automatically means we’re no longer vulnerable.

The products may change, but the psychological formula often stays the same. Awareness – not fear – is your greatest protection.
In reality, many of these newer environments don’t have the same guardrails that casinos and sportsbooks do. There may be no self-exclusion programs, mandatory responsible gaming messaging, cool-off periods, deposit limits, or regulatory oversight designed to protect consumers. The responsibility often falls almost entirely on the individual.

That doesn’t mean we have to avoid every activity forever. It does mean we have to approach them intentionally. Ask yourself: “Why am I doing this?” “Am I making a thoughtful decision, or am I chasing a feeling?” “Would I still make this choice if there were no chance of a big payoff?” “Am I staying within my budget and values?”

Recovery isn’t just about avoiding one specific activity. It’s about learning to recognize the patterns that once controlled us. The names change. The technology changes. The marketing changes. But the psychology often stays remarkably similar.

The goal isn’t to live in fear or avoid every form of risk. It’s to understand ourselves well enough to recognize when excitement begins turning into compulsion. Being five, ten, or even twenty-plus years sober doesn’t make us immune. Being self-excluded doesn’t eliminate vulnerability or temptation. Recovery isn’t something we accomplish once – it’s something we actively practice every single day.

The more we understand how these environments are designed to capture our attention and influence our decisions, the better equipped we are to participate intentionally – or choose not to participate at all. Awareness creates choice. Choice creates freedom. And freedom is what recovery is all about.


The industries may be different, but many are built on the same psychological principles. Protect your recovery by staying curious, staying intentional, and remembering that your greatest investment will always be your long-term well-being.

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Follow Us On Social: bio.collectorsmd.com
Join Our Support Group: bit.ly/45koiMX
Join Us On Mantel: bit.ly/4aNlkUk
Read More Daily Reflections: collectorsmd.com/daily-reflection

Support The CMD Foundation: lohas.org/client/the-cmd-foundation

This Daily Reflection is sponsored by ALL TOUCH CASE, a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% off your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind.

https://collectorsmd.com/the-modern-gambling-landscape/

The Collector's Compass #51: Conversations That Shape The Hobby | Pang, Courtside Investor

In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx Effron sits down with Pang Ming Wee—better known throughout the hobby as —the creator and host of the Courtside Investor‬ Podcast, one of the fastest-growing long-form conversation platforms in the sports card space.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Pang has built a truly global audience by sitting down with collectors, dealers, entrepreneurs, content creators, hobby historians, investors, and industry personalities from around the world. Through thoughtful conversations with guests including Chris Hoj, Adam Gray, Jeremy Lee, Sports Card Dad, Dan The Card Man, T-Pott, and many others, Courtside Investor has become one of the hobby's most respected interview-driven platforms.

Before fully immersing himself in sports cards, Pang spent more than twenty years in accounting and finance while simultaneously competing professionally in Magic: The Gathering, representing Malaysia internationally and capturing a National Championship.

What separates Courtside Investor from many hobby platforms is the focus on people rather than transactions. While much of today's hobby content revolves around prices, hype, breaking, and market movement, Pang has built a platform centered around stories, philosophies, collecting journeys, and the lessons that shape collectors over time.

In this conversation, Alyx and Pang discuss his collecting origins, his competitive Magic: The Gathering career, the transition from accounting and finance into full-time hobby entrepreneurship, and what originally inspired him to launch Courtside Investor.

They also explore the realities of building a global hobby audience from Malaysia, the evolution of content creation within the hobby, what makes a great podcast guest, and the lessons Pang has learned from conducting nearly fifty long-form interviews with some of the hobby's most respected voices.

The conversation dives into insights gathered from the guests Pang has had on the Courtside Investor podcast, highlighting common themes surrounding collecting philosophy, hobby longevity, personal fulfillment, and what separates healthy collecting from endless chasing.

Pang also shares his perspective on the current state of the hobby, including social media's influence on collecting culture, the growing focus on money and investing, hobby hype cycles, content creator responsibility, and how collectors can maintain perspective in an increasingly fast-moving environment.

Alyx and Pang additionally discuss collecting philosophy, grail cards, meaningful cards, the future of the hobby, the opportunities that many collectors may be overlooking, and the long-term vision for Courtside Investor moving forward.

At its core, this episode is about collecting, storytelling, community, content creation, and the lessons that emerge when you spend years listening to some of the hobby's smartest and most passionate voices.

Topics covered include:
–Pang's collecting origins
–Competitive Magic: The Gathering and representing Malaysia
–Pang's accounting and finance background
–Returning to sports cards during the pandemic
–Building Courtside Investor
–Growing a global hobby audience from Malaysia
–The evolution of hobby content creation
–What makes a great podcast guest
–Lessons learned from nearly 50 hobby interviews
–Insights from the guests Pang has had on the Courtside Investor podcast
–Collecting philosophies from hobby leaders
–Social media's impact on collecting culture
–Hobby hype cycles and perspective
–Content creator responsibility
–Personal collecting philosophy
–Grail cards and meaningful cards
–The future of sports card collecting
–The future of Courtside Investor

If you've ever wondered what some of the hobby's most respected collectors, creators, and entrepreneurs have in common, or wanted to hear the perspective of someone who has spent years sitting down with many of the hobby's brightest minds, this is a conversation worth listening to.

Because sometimes the most valuable thing you can collect isn't a card—it's a lesson.

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation around awareness, intentional collecting, and building a healthier relationship with the hobby.

Learn More & Join The Movement:
Website: collectorsmd.com
Nonprofit: lohas.org/client/the-cmd-foundation
Socials: bio.collectorsmd.com
Weekly Meetings: bit.ly/45koiMX
Contact: [email protected]
YT: ‪youtube.com/
IG: instagram.com/collectorsmd

Follow Pang Ming Wee & Courtside Investor:
Website: courtsideinvestor.com
YT: ‪youtube.com/‬
IG: instagram.com/thecardboss2021 | instagram.com/courtside_investor

Help for Problem Gambling: Call or Text 800-GAMBLER (The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey)

This Episode of The Collector's Compass is sponsored by ALL TOUCH CASE, a premium display and protection solution designed to showcase your cards while keeping them safe. Use code COLLECTORSMD for 15% of your order. Collect. Protect. It’s a peace of mind.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb9L06bDTgo&t=43s

The Collector's Compass #51: Conversations That Shape The Hobby | Pang, Courtside Investor In this episode of The Collector’s Compass, Alyx sits down with Pan...