Published August 23, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

When COVID-19 hit, the world shut down. For many of us, collecting became a lifeline. With nowhere to go and nothing to do, many of us were introduced to modern-day break culture—the hobby exploded—virtual engagement, marketplace scrolling, social media galore.

It was natural to gravitate toward community, connection, and nostalgia during lockdown. But as Dr. Shah reminded us when he joined us for Episode #7 of The Collector’s Compass, this “boom” carried its own hidden cost: it sparked what could only be described as a pandemic within the pandemic.

At first, a simple base card or parallel of your favorite player was more than enough enough. But over time, the dopamine baseline shifted—heavily.

The joy once sparked by a pack of cards now required a numbered auto, a super short print case hit insert, a one-of-one.

As Dr. Shah explained, “that baseline of dopamine starts to elevate… until the original baseline is dissolved“.

What started as a pandemic pastime quickly became a pandemic within a pandemic. The resurgence of sports cards wasn’t just about nostalgia—it also fueled cycles of compulsion that many are still struggling with today.

What began as fun soon evolved into dependency, mirroring the same tolerance patterns seen in substance abuse and alcohol addiction. And with 24/7 access to breaks, auctions, and streams in the palm of our hands—no matter where you were located in the world—the cycle became relentless.

The real pandemic eventually ended. But for many collectors, the dopamine pandemic was just beginning. The accessibility of apps, constant exposure to hits on social media, and normalization of gambling-like mechanics made it harder than ever to unplug. For some, disappointment, anxiety, and even depression filled the gaps where the next dopamine hit didn’t land.

Looking back, it’s clear: what started as a way to connect during isolation left many isolated in a different way—trapped in a cycle of compulsion.

That’s why awareness, boundaries, and reform matter so much today. Because this “second” pandemic hasn’t gone away. It’s still here, still spreading, and it’s up to us to build the guardrails that the industry refuses to.

At Collectors MD, we believe in naming these truths—not to shame collectors, but to shine a light on what too many are silently battling. The “first” pandemic ended, but this one won’t unless we fight it together.

#CollectorsMD
The pandemic ended, but the dopamine pandemic kept spreading. Together, we can help spread awareness to ultimately slow it down.

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Published August 18, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

The hobby moves fast. Very fast.

Drops typically sell out in seconds, Dutch auctions bait us into panic buying, countdown timers push us toward impulsive decisions, and social feeds bombard us with highlights of what everyone else is buying or hitting out of latest product.

With new, high-priced sets dropping at a relentless pace, the hobby quickly turns into a “flavor of the week”. Our attention spans shrink, and what felt like an exciting must-have yesterday is often forgotten the very moment the next shiny release is forced on us by the manufacturers, platforms, & breakers.

It’s easy to feel like we’re always behind—always missing out. That pressure can lead us straight into insidious cycles of overspending, regret, and frustration.

But collecting was never meant to look like this. It isn’t supposed to be a full-blown sprint toward an ever-moving finish line—it’s supposed to be a journey meant to be savored. The greatest collections weren’t built in a single weekend at a card show—or during a 2AM tilt session on Whatnot. They were built over years, sometimes decades, with care, intention, and patience.

Patience gives us permission to pause before purchasing a card or item we don’t really want, just because it’s in front of us—or joining a break just because we’re feeling overwhelmed by an emotion that often triggers us—whether it be anxiety, stress, or even boredom.

Patience allows us to save—not just financially, but also mentally and emotionally—for the pieces that truly hold meaning, rather than burning through our budget on short-term hits like a dopamine junkie.

Patience quiets the noise long enough to remind us that the hobby should bring peace and connection—not panic and chaos.

When we practice patience, we shift from reaction to intention. We stop letting algorithms, auctions, and hype dictate what we buy. Instead, we start curating our collections to reflect who we are, not what we’re pressured into buying.

The reality is, the cards will always be there—maybe not that exact listing, that exact serial number, or at that exact price point—but opportunities always come back around.

What doesn’t come back as easily is the money we lose to impulsive decisions, or the peace of mind we sacrifice when panic or FOMO pushes us to make rushed purchasing decisions.

So today, let patience be your compass. Step back, breathe, and trust that the best parts of collecting aren’t found in the hustle and bustle—but rather in the slow, intentional pursuit of items that bring you lasting joy and a peace of mind.

#CollectorsMD
Patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about choosing peace over pressure.

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✍ The Collector’s Crossroads
by Brews & Breaks

You bought the hype.
You ripped the box.
You pulled the card.
And for one glorious Sunday, your rookie QB threw two touchdowns, ran for another, and had ESPN whispering “future MVP.”

"Bro… this card’s going to the moon."
— You, 7 months ago

Now it's Year 2.
The hobby's moved on.
And your $200 slab?

Just sold for $42 and a tear-soaked top loader.

🧠 Welcome to the Rookie Year Trap

The cycle is older than the Chrome finish on your 2018 Luka:

1. 🔥 Rookie hits the league

2. 📈 Card prices spike on first sign of talent

3. 🤯 Everyone buys in

4. 📉 Year 2 reality check hits

5. 😩 Market crashes harder than a Select Blaster resale

6. 🧠 That is when the real collectors start buying

🧊 The Cold Truth: Rookies Almost Always Dip

Even the good ones.

🧵 Jalen Hurts? Huge dip after Year 1.
🧵 Justin Fields? Crashed, then climbed again.
🧵 Zion? Dipped. Chet? Dipped. Mac Jones? Dipped... then vanished.

And yet… every year, someone forgets.

Like when the actual Washington Commanders
— yes, the NFL franchise with all the charm of a 1978 Ford Pinto —
bought Jayden Daniels’ 1/1 Black Finite Prizm BGS 9.5 from Roth Cards at Fanatics Fest…

For $500,000 and a signed jersey.
All for a guy with one NFL season under his belt and zero guarantees of greatness.

Spoiler:

That card isn’t going up. That card is cemented at peak hype.
Unless Jayden turns into MVP Lamar + prime Mahomes + walks on water, it’s a half-mil slab of regret.

And that’s from the team that drafted him. If that’s not a warning sign, I don’t know what is.

💡 Will’s Rookie Rule:

“I don’t chase rookies — I wait for the dip and then go shopping.”

You don’t have to predict greatness.
You just have to survive the panic-selling window when everyone else realizes they overpaid for a hollow silver and a dream.

🛒 When Should You Buy a Rookie?

✅ After the first injury
✅ After they lose in the Wild Card Round
✅ When Twitter says “He’s washed”
✅ When PSA 10s go for less than grading fees

That’s when the room is quiet.
That’s when the hype is gone.
That’s when you pounce.

🤫 Bonus Tip: Ignore the “Next Mahomes” Narratives

For every Mahomes, there’s a Sam Darnold.
Or a Drew Lock.
Or a Trey Lance.
Or a Jordan Love (pending evaluation).

The safest play? Let the rookie wave crash… and buy at low tide.

🔁 Rinse. Repeat. Win.

The rookie dip happens every single year.
You can either:

• Ride the rollercoaster and scream all the way down
  or

• Watch calmly, buy low, and smile when the market comes back around

You’re not a bad collector.
You’re just early… and in this hobby, that’s the same as being wrong.

So next time you feel that FOMO during Week 1?
Breathe.
Wait.
And buy when the timelines go silent.

Until next time,
Keep Sippin’ and Rippin’

— Will @ Brews & Breaks 🍻

#RookieCardTrap #SportsCardInvesting #CardFlipping #BuyTheDip #JaydenDaniels #FanaticsFest #BrewsAndBreaks #PSA10Life #HobbyTruths #CollectorsCrossroads #CardMarketTips #HobbyHustle #CardCollector #TradingCards #SportsCards #GradingReality #FlipOrFlop #RookieYearDip #InvestSmart #SlabLife #FOMOisReal #CardBuyingTips #NFLCards #TheHobby

Published June 01, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

Color Blast. Color Wheel. Downtown. Kaboom. Manga.
True Gold. Tie-Dye. Snakeskin. Tiger. Zebra.
FOTL-Exlusive Orange Pulsar. Black Pandora. Black Finite.
The ever-elusive One of One.

Concourse Level. Premier Level. Club Level. Suite Level. Field Level.

Every. Single. Year.

The names might change.
The borders might get sharper (or softer).
The chromium might pop a little more (or less) under the right studio lighting.

But it’s the same set. Over and over again.

Did you know there are over 3,000 unique one-of-one cards in 2024 Panini Select Football alone?
That’s not a typo—3,000 so-called “one-of-a-kind” cards in one product. One sport. One sub-brand. One year.

Between hobby, FOTL, international, retail—base tiers, insert sets, autographs, RPAs, patches, and exclusive parallels—True Black, Black Velocity, Black Disco, Black Dragon Scale—the idea of a true 1/1 has been completely diluted.

When thousands of “unique” cards exist in a single release, we have to ask:
How rare is rare, really?

Here are four different Patrick Mahomes Color Blast inserts from various years of Prizm Football—same insert, slightly new pose, minor design tweaks, and every year it’s sold as a once-in-a-lifetime type of hit. The same formula applies to almost every so-called “SSP insert” in the hobby.

Let’s be honest—this isn’t innovation. It’s oversaturation.

Breakers scream like it’s 2020 all over again.
Influencers pretend this year’s Downtown is more iconic than last year’s.
Manufacturers repackage the same chase cards like they’ve reinvented gravity.

But deep down, we know the truth:
Same formula. Different rookie class. Same vets. Slightly tweaked design. Slightly louder hype.

And us, the consumers? We eat it up like. Like mindless slaves to the hype.
Every. Single. Time.

Not because we’re naive—
Because the hobby trained and marketed us to believe that this might be the year.
The year it moons.
The year you hit big.
The year your guy breaks out.
The year it’s finally different.

But here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud:

It’s not remotely different.
It’s just marketed a little better.

If you’ve ever opened a pack and felt nothing—this is why.
If you’ve stopped caring to learn these gimmicky new insert names—this is why.
If you can’t tell what year a card came from without checking the back—this is why.

The hobby doesn’t need more parallels, more case hit inserts, more tiers, more chases.

It needs more intention. More balance. More honesty.

Until then?

Rinse. Rip. Repeat.

#CollectorsMD
Same wrapper. Same rush. Same regret.

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