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.

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

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👀 TOPPS X LABUBU 👀

Topps just announced they’re creating trading cards in collaboration with Labubu.

Pre-order will begin October 20th. Will you be snagging any?

https://youtube.com/shorts/pUGVDSCVHvg?si=soFhvTV_Kqteao0r via @YouTube

I was at the mall and came across a Pop Shop vending machine. I was hoping to find my first Labubu, but sadly there weren’t any in the vending machine. Are there any Labubu collectors on Mantel?

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

The sneaker bubble isn’t just bursting—it’s echoing.

And if you’ve been around the hobby long enough, you’ve heard this sound before.

We heard it when sports cards exploded during the pandemic, only to crash back to earth when supply flooded the market and demand dried up. We heard it when Pokémon prices skyrocketed, driven by influencers and hype, until the market became oversaturated and disillusioned. We’ve heard it in the luxury watch world with Rolex, in the vintage space, and yes—even in collectible toys like Beanie Babies, Funko Pop!, & Labubu.

It always starts the same way:

• A new hype cycle hits.

• Scarcity meets demand.

• The resale market lights up.

• And for a while, everyone wins.

Until they don’t.

Just like collectors who once camped out for Target restocks or battled online bots for Nike Dunks and Yeezy's, today’s resellers are waking up to a brutal truth:
This isn’t sustainable. It never was.

Raffles aren't lottery tickets anymore. General Release Jordan's don’t double in resale value on StockX.

And that once-exciting package or padded envelope you rip open mid-week? It’s quite often a subtle reminder of yesterday’s hype and today’s regret.

Every bubble shares the same turning point:
When people stop buying because they actually like something—and start buying because they’re afraid to miss out. That’s not passion. That’s fear. That’s not collecting. That’s compulsion disguised as commerce.

And eventually, when the music stops—and it always does because all hype fades, and all good things come to an end—you’re left holding inventory instead of joy. Stuck with a massive collection that you can't even move if you wanted to.

Air Jordan’s. Labubu. There’s always going to be something people chase for the quick flip. But aftermarket prices always eventually settle. What was once a $30,000 pair of sneakers is now accessible for under $500—because Nike decided to retro the once-coveted, impossible-to-obtain Undefeated Jordan 4's. Hype fades. Trends shift. Markets correct. Just make sure you’re being mindful when making those purchasing decisions. Buy what you like. Don't get sucked into the hype.

How many people got burned on "cant-miss" items? Yeezy's. Off-White collabs. Supreme box logos. Zion rookie cards. NBA Top Shot. Bored Ape NFTs.

Boxes stacked to the ceiling of sneakers that lost 90% of their resale value in just a few years. Stacks of base rookie cards people spent a fortune on grading during the pandemic, under the impression they were stashing a gold mine. A closet or drawer full of “assets” with no exit plan.

It wasn’t just hype. It was genuine belief. That if you bought enough, flipped fast enough, held long enough, you’d win. But for so many it turned into shame, debt, denial, and a quiet sense of failure nobody wants to talk about.

What once felt exciting now feels exhausting, just taking up space.

Here’s the truth: Bubbles don’t just leave wreckage—they leave room for rebuilding.

Every crash is a chance to reset. To reflect. To return to intention.

Ask yourself:
Am I collecting because it fulfills me? Or because I’m chasing a feeling that never lasts? Am I building something meaningful? Or am I just flipping to stay afloat?

The market will always change. Hype will rise. And hype will fall. But intention? That’s the one thing that holds its value.

So let the wave crash. Let the noise fade. Let the bubble burst. Let the chase end. Because when it’s all said and done, what remains should still feel worth. That’s why intention is important.

Collectors MD was created for these moments. When the high wears off, and reality sets in. When the game you once loved starts to feel like a trap, or a burden.

You're not alone. You're not crazy. And you’re not stuck.

#CollectorsMD
When the hype fades, let what’s left still feel like home.

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Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
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