Some questions have been coming up lately about who Collectors MD partners with and what our intentions are. We want to clarify a few things openly and transparently:

First, we have no affiliation with Fanatics, Whatnot, or Arena Club - no partnerships, no collaborations, no financial ties. But that’s not really the core issue.

Collectors MD exists to reach the people most affected by the parts of the hobby that mirror gambling mechanics: fast-paced ripping, hype/chase-driven environments, and high-energy buying formats. If we want to help the hobby’s most vulnerable collectors, we can’t do so by only partnering with organizations who already agree with us. That’s preaching to the choir.

We have to show up where the harm is happening - on the platforms, in the communities, and alongside the influencers and creators whose audiences actually need real support. If the opportunity arises to work with a major platform or company in order to bring real harm-reduction tools, education, and support to their users, we will absolutely consider it. Not to endorse how they operate, but to protect the people engaging with it.

That’s exactly why crisis hotlines partner with casinos, why 1-800-GAMBLER ads run inside them, and why harm-reduction teams collaborate with platforms where risky behavior occurs. We can’t help from the sidelines - we have to be present in the environments where people are navigating these challenges.

Collectors MD isn't here to gatekeep, take sides, or pretend the modern hobby is black and white. We’re here because:
-Some collectors overspend and hide purchases and debt from loved ones.
-Some feel an immense amount of internal pressure to keep up.
-Some chase hits until they feel sick, ashamed, or stuck.
-Some lose their joy for a hobby they used to love.

Those people deserve support and a place to talk, learn, and reset, regardless of what platforms they use or who they follow.

So while we hear and respect the criticism, we stand firm on this: our credibility comes from showing up for the people who need help, not from staying "pure" or avoiding association with anyone controversial for the sake of optics.

If the mission is to make the hobby safer, healthier, and more sustainable for the foreseeable future, we can’t only operate in the safe corners of it.

https://x.com/collectorsmd/status/1994548821213274215