Published August 14, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

Yesterday, Rob Veres of Burbank Cards posted a video that struck a chord with me—and I think it’s something everyone in the hobby should hear. His message was simple but powerful: the hobby needs a reset.

Rob talked about how, 10–20 years ago, card shops were designed for collecting. You could walk in and find sets, players, and topics to build your collection around. Dealers had something for everyone.

Now, too many retailers and dealers lead with the "low-hanging fruit"—gambling-style products with terrible returns, breaks as the forward face of the hobby, and a constant push toward "investing" over actual collecting.

The result? New collectors are conditioned to chase in ways that can cause harm—financially, emotionally, and mentally—and they leave with nothing meaningful for their PC.

Rob’s words are a reminder that how we present the hobby matters just as much as what we sell. Local card shops and small businesses have a unique opportunity to make collecting personal again—curating singles, sets, and affordable finds that create real connections, not just transactions.

Rob is 100% right. We’ve created an environment where bright lights and marketing hype point people—especially newcomers and kids—straight into the deep end. We fractionalize through breaks to make it "affordable", but in reality, most people walk away with cards they don’t want and value they’ll never recover.

Breaking shouldn’t be the default entry point to the hobby. It’s not sustainable to bring people in, let them get crushed, and then watch them walk away.

The truth is, there are so many ways to collect that don’t involve getting burned—buying singles, building sets, chasing vintage, focusing on specific players, or digging through bargain bins for buried treasures. This is the side of the hobby that needs to be front and center again, not just the gambling-like mechanics.

Industry leaders, especially Fanatics, have the power to make collectibility a real point of emphasis for new collectors—giving them the tools, education, and options to stay long term.

We can have a hobby where both worlds exist, but only if we’re intentional about it. If you’re in a position of influence—dealer, retailer, content creator—ask yourself: Are we building lifelong collectors, or are we setting them up to leave?

#CollectorsMD
Collecting should be about passion and longevity, not just the chase.

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