The monopoly has officially begun. With Fanatics now holding the licenses for MLB, NBA, and NFL, the hobby has entered uncharted territory—one where the same company that makes the cards also sells them, markets them, and controls the experience.

But when the line between manufacturer, marketplace, and casino starts to blur, who’s protecting the collector?

This episode breaks down how Fanatics’ rise has reshaped the hobby—from casino-style promotions on Fanatics Live to the loss of creative competition—and what it means for collectors moving forward.

At Collectors MD, we aren't anti-hobby—we're pro-accountability.

Because if Fanatics is going to control the future of collecting, they also need to protect it.

Catch the full episode now live on all major platforms, link in bio.

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Published October 19, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

In the hobby, few things feel more deflating than pulling a redemption. You tear through a box, heart racing, hands shaking—and instead of the autograph you were promised, you receive a soulless piece of cardboard—a glorified I.O.U. stamped with an expiration date that, if you’re opening older product, has likely already passed. And even when it hasn’t, the chances of ever seeing that actual card are about as reliable as the redemption process itself.

That tiny rectangle of stock, with its printed sticker and scratch-off code, represents everything frustrating about how manufacturers have handled collectors’ trust. Whether it’s Panini, Fanatics, or any card company that relies on redemptions, the message is the same: “We’ll get to it when we get to it.” Sometimes you wait weeks. Sometimes months. And sometimes years. Other times, if/when it finally does arrive, the player’s long out of their respective league—and the card’s lost all relevance, value, and meaning it was supposed to hold.

When you finally reach out to customer “support” for answers, you’re met with indifference—a maze of automated replies, empty apologies, and vague assurances that lead nowhere. It doesn’t matter how “valuable” the card is—what’s lost isn’t just cardboard, but trust.

As Geoff Wilson recently discussed on his show, Panini’s redemption process in particular has long been a disaster—slow, understaffed, apathetic. But even as the era shifts to Fanatics and Topps, the system itself still feels broken. Collectors deserve better than placeholder promises.

For years, collectors have grown accustomed to the familiar sight—plain Panini mailers arriving months (or years) after the initial thrill of the pull has long faded—each one a quiet reminder of a process that’s become more about patience than passion.

Despite the broken system and lack of customer service, I do want to be fair to the manufacturers. We understand that not every athlete signs their cards and that it’s virtually impossible to fulfill every single autograph in every product. In many cases, the companies are simply at the mercy of the athletes—and that part is understandable.

But fairness goes both ways. So instead of accepting the status quo, let’s reimagine what redemption fulfillment could look like if the industry actually evolved with intent—placing creativity and collector experience at the forefront, instead of convenience and cost-cutting. For an industry driven by “innovation”, this shouldn’t be a tall order. We can do better than black/white box replacements or simply extending redemption expiration dates by a decade—an announcement that honestly felt more like satire than progress.

What if, instead of a plain white filler, we received something worth keeping? A thoughtfully designed insert that actually fits the set—a piece with aesthetic and emotional value. A redemption that isn’t a disruption or a burden, but a continuation of the story. The code could even be invisible or scannable—something secure, seamless, and non-destructive. Because no collector should have to scratch away a card’s beauty just to claim what they were already owed.

Redemptions don’t have to be symbols of disappointment. They could be reminders of trust—evidence that the companies making billions off collectors actually care about the collector’s experience.

The year is 2025. We have self-driving cars, supercomputers in our pockets, and artificial intelligence reshaping entire industries. Yet somehow, we’re still stuck scratching cardboard for an I.O.U. passed off as a “redemption”—part of a process that’s already proven clunky, outdated, and stacked against collectors. What this hobby needs isn’t another outdated system—it needs innovation, transparency, and genuine respect for the collectors who keep it alive.

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The hobby moves forward when accountability replaces excuses—when those in power stop cashing in on empty promises and start honoring them.

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Published October 15, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

It’s almost impressive how quickly Topps and Fanatics can find a way to commercialize whatever’s trending. Every viral character, toy, or pop-culture moment eventually finds its way onto a piece of glossy cardboard—branded, numbered, and ready to rip. The latest example? Topps Chrome Labubu.

For anyone who’s been paying attention, this move isn’t surprising—it’s the same pattern we’ve watched play out over and over again. The second something gains cultural traction, it’s turned into another product, another short-term money grab disguised as innovation. There’s no connection to the hobby’s roots, no creative storytelling, no lasting artistic vision—just another shiny set aimed at feeding the same reward loops that keep collectors clicking “bid” or “add to cart”.

It’s not that crossovers or collaborations are bad. In fact, when done authentically, they can bridge worlds, attract new fans, and celebrate shared nostalgia. But that’s not what’s happening here. What we’re seeing is manufactured relevance—companies chasing attention, not connection. They’ll slap a logo or character on a card, surround it with the same familiar parallel designs and facsimile autographs, and market it as the greatest “invention” that every “true collector” needs. And the truth is, many of us fall for it—not because we’re greedy or careless, but because the system is designed to make us feel like missing out equals losing status or joy.

Topps Chrome Labubu—the latest “must-have” drop no one asked for. Another glossy reminder that in today’s hobby, even the most obscure trends can be repackaged, refracted, and resold back to us as something “essential”.

The saddest part is how numb the hobby has become to it all. Ten years ago, people would’ve cackled at the idea of a Chrome set built around an obscure vinyl toy monster. Today, it drops with a full marketing rollout, influencer unboxings, and secondary-market listings within hours. The excitement feels familiar—but it’s hollow, recycled, and transactional.

Every time we chase the next quick-hit release, we move further away from what collecting used to stand for: connection, curiosity, discovery, and care. Those things don’t fit neatly into a numbered parallel run. They can’t be pre-sold or artificially scarce. They grow slowly, intentionally—over time.

So maybe the real reflection today isn’t about Topps or Fanatics at all. It’s about us. About the moment we start asking ourselves: Am I collecting this because it genuinely brings me joy—or because the algorithm told me it should?

Because every dollar we spend sends a message. Every blind purchase signals what kind of behavior we’re willing to accept. And while one person opting out might not change the system overnight, a community of mindful collectors can.

We deserve a hobby that honors creativity, not exploitation. That rewards authenticity, not manipulation. And it starts with remembering that not every trend is worth chasing—and not every product deserves our attention.

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Every trend doesn’t deserve your wallet—sometimes the healthiest move is to simply sit it out.

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The Fanatics era isn’t just a shift in licensing—it’s a shift in power. With full control over MLB, NBA, and soon the NFL, Fanatics has become the first true monopoly in modern hobby history. But as innovation takes a backseat to consolidation, a deeper issue has emerged: the casino-like marketing tactics driving their new platforms.

In this episode of Behind The Breaks, host Alyx Effron, Founder of Collectors MD, unpacks the rise of the “Fanatics Era” and the dangers hiding beneath the hype. From "Spend $5,000, get $500" promos to algorithmic “rewards” designed to keep collectors ripping, this conversation explores how the largest company in the hobby is now operating like a casino—without a license, without guardrails, and without oversight.

Alyx dives into how nostalgia is being weaponized, how credit cards are being normalized as tools of compulsion, and why collectors of all ages deserve transparency, limits, and consumer protections. Because when childhood collectibles are used as casino props, the line between hobby and harm disappears.

If Fanatics is going to control the hobby, they must also protect it. This episode challenges collectors—and the industry—to demand accountability before it’s too late.

Subscribe, comment, and join the movement. And remember to collect with intention, not compulsion.

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Do you learn anything from your lost auctions