You can now setup weekly or monthly spending limits, as well as weekly or monthly view time limits on the Whatnot app. A Fantastic feature that is now enabled to keep users from perhaps spending more than they should on items during a specific time period.

Of course, neither Whatnot nor any hobby "influencer" are promoting this much needed feature, but it is there available to anyone. It is super important to not get caught up in the hype, swiping relentlessly for teams/players/singles that are overvalued and out of your budget. There is nothing more impressive than being responsible.

Our [GorillaShip's] business model is built on people buying within the hobby but we do NOT want people to buy outside of their means. No sports card is worth financial strain or debt.

Buy Smart, Think First, #RipResponsibly

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTilcPoD7vH/

Published December 30, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

There’s an uncomfortable truth we don’t talk about enough in the collecting space: the same platforms that claim to build community are quietly exposing children to environments they were never meant to navigate.

I saw it firsthand recently. I was watching a live stream on one of the major platforms—not as a participant, but as an observer. Someone who stays close to the space to understand what’s really happening behind the scenes. The stream had over a thousand viewers. The chat was moving so fast it was unreadable. Energy was high. Money was flying.

And then something felt off.

A user in the chat kept repeating the same messages. Asking how to buy. Asking how to get noticed. Asking for attention. Other viewers started to realize what was happening and asked the question out loud: How old are you?

The answer came back quickly. “I’m 11.”

What followed was deeply unsettling. The child was clearly overwhelmed, excited, and desperate to be seen. Their messages started shifting from curiosity to urgency—“I only have five minutes”, “my iPad is about to shut down”, “how do I buy?” It became glaringly obvious that parental controls were about to kick in, and the child was racing against a clock they barely understood.

Then it happened. They bought a box.

Hundreds of dollars, spent in seconds. The chat exploded. People cheered. Some laughed. Others joked about how angry the kid’s parents were going to be. And the breaker—whether intentionally or not—continued on as if nothing unusual had occurred.

An 11-year-old had just made a high-dollar purchase inside a live gambling-adjacent environment with no guardrails, no intervention, and no meaningful age protection. And the most alarming part? He had zero idea what he’d just done.

What starts as curiosity quickly becomes pressure, and in a system designed to reward speed over reflection, there’s no space for a child to slow down or understand what’s really happening.

And that’s when it really hit me. This isn’t about collecting anymore. This is about exposure. About access. About systems that are optimized for engagement and spending—not discernment, not protection, and certainly not child safety. These platforms are fast, emotional, and deliberately frictionless. They’re designed to keep people clicking, watching, and buying. And when those mechanics are placed in front of children, the results are predictable.

The most concerning part? This isn’t rare.

Stories like this are becoming common. Kids using their parents’ credit cards. Five-figure charges appearing overnight. Families finding out only after the damage is done. Lawsuits are already emerging. And yet, meaningful safeguards remain almost nonexistent.

That’s where the conversation HAS to change.

Education can’t just be aimed at collectors anymore. Parents need to understand what these platforms are, how they work, and why they’re fundamentally different from the card shops many of us grew up with. This isn’t flipping through binders with friends. It’s live commerce, social pressure, artificial urgency, and monetized attention—all wrapped in nostalgia and disguised as a childhood pasttime.

And this is where guardrails matter. Not as punishment. Not as restriction. But as protection.

Guardrails are not anti-hobby. They’re pro-collector. They exist so enjoyment doesn’t turn into harm. So curiosity doesn’t become compulsion. So kids can engage safely without being pulled into environments they’re not developmentally equipped to handle.

Because structure doesn’t ruin fun—it preserves it.

If this industry wants to survive long-term, it has to reckon with this reality. Platforms have a responsibility. Parents need better information. And the community has to stop pretending this isn’t happening.

We can love collecting and still demand better. We can protect joy and protect people. And we can do it before more damage is done.

#CollectorsMD
Guardrails don’t limit the hobby. They protect the people inside it before harm has a chance to take root, especially young collectors who can’t yet recognize the risks.

—
Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Support Group
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In this episode of The Collector’s Compass we’re continuing a powerful conversation that began back in August—this time turning awareness into action.

Our guest, Alijah (@Hoosier_Pulls), has been one of the loudest and most authentic voices pushing for reform, transparency, and accountability within the hobby. After our first discussion around repacks, short-fuse auctions, and the hidden gambling mechanics shaping collector behavior, we’re bringing it full circle with a deep dive into guardrails, reform, and real change.

Together, we unpack how the hobby can evolve responsibly—without losing the joy that makes it special. From realistic spending guardrails and self-exclusion tools to platform accountability, influencer transparency, and community-driven reform, this episode explores what a healthier future for collectors actually looks like.

Alijah shares how intentional collecting isn’t about walking away—it’s about walking smarter. We talk about the role creators play in shaping behavior, why EV context and sponsorship labels matter, and how Collectors MD’s partnerships with Birches Health, Right Choice Recovery, PGCC, and Gamban are helping collectors set boundaries before burnout begins.

We also introduce Unboxed Powered By Collectors MD, a new weekly community meeting created in partnership with PGCC—Thursdays from 7–8 PM ET / 4–5 PM PT—where collectors can engage in open conversation about reform, recovery, and safer engagement.

Whether you’re a content creator, a breaker, or a collector trying to find balance again, this episode offers real solutions—not just critique. Because the future of the hobby depends on more than passion—it depends on protection, empathy, and intention.

Also make sure to check out our full discussion on hoosierpulls4689's channel—where we first unpacked the truth about compulsion, reform, and what real change in the hobby looks like.

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

Watch The Episode On YouTube

Learn More & Join The Movement:
Website: collectorsmd.com
Socials: hopp.bio/collectorsmd
Weekly Meeting Sign-Up: bit.ly/45koiMX
Contact: info@collectorsmd.com
YouTube: ‪‪@collectorsmd‬
Instagram: @collectorsmd

Follow Alijah:
YouTube: ‪@hoosierpulls4689‬
Instagram: @hoosier_pulls

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehy3lM0rYPc&t=491s

Someone has been taking notes 📝 but is this enough to protect the customer? 🤔

Published September 29, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

In the heat of the chase, boundaries dissolve. Adrenaline surges, limits blur, and suddenly the rip feels like it never ends. That’s when the role of local card shops and breakers becomes critical. Because when collectors are at their most vulnerable—caught between the thrill of the chase and the fear of missing out—someone needs to step in.

True stewardship of the hobby isn’t about wringing out every last dollar in a night’s live stream or break. It’s about knowing when enough is enough. It’s about recognizing when excitement has tipped into compulsion. It’s about shops and breakers asking themselves a hard but necessary question: Am I protecting this customer’s love of the hobby, or am I exploiting it?

At Collectors MD, we firmly believe the future of the hobby depends on accountability and responsibility. Shops and breakers who step up in these moments—who prioritize people and purpose over profit—do more than save collectors from financial strain. They protect marriages and friendships, they preserve peace of mind, and they keep alive the purity and joy that collecting was always meant to bring.

We’re actively partnering with leaders and influencers across the industry to embed #CollectWithIntention and #RipResponsibly into shops, breaks, and live streams—bringing responsible messaging into the heart of the hobby ecosystem.

Because the truth is, the fastest way to lose a collector is to burn them out. When spending spirals out of control, when the guilt outweighs the joy, that collector doesn’t just walk away from one shop—they walk away from the hobby altogether. The best way to keep people engaged isn’t to push them to the brink; it’s to help them build a healthy, intentional relationship with collecting.

That’s why Collectors MD is working to partner with breakers and shops across the industry. Our mission is to bring “Responsible Ripping” messaging into live breaks, card shows, social posts, ads, and storefronts—creating environments where collectors feel supported, not preyed upon. This isn’t about policing fun. It’s about building guardrails that protect joy before it turns into regret.

If you own or work at a card shop or break company, we invite you to reach out. Together, we can create a culture that chooses sustainability over short-term gain, and responsibility over recklessness. Because protecting the hobby means protecting the people inside it.

Collect with Intention. Not Compulsion.

#CollectorsMD
The future of the hobby belongs to those willing to protect its people, not just profit from them.

—
Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Support Group
Join The Conversation On Mantel
Read More Daily Reflections