Published October 17, 2025 | By Ambre L, Collectors MD Community Member

As the initial excitement of collecting began to wane, I learned that not everything that sparkles is truly valuable. Many times, the cards and collectibles that seemed destined to change my life turned out to be far less extraordinary than they appeared. Through this realization, it became apparent that collecting—while rewarding and fulfilling—also carries the risk of financial pitfalls if not approached with care.

Witnessing loved ones experience disappointment, chasing promises of treasures only to discover they were worth much less than expected, deeply influenced my mindset. This eye-opening experience led to a transformation in both my collecting habits and my outlook. I made a conscious decision to step back from constantly searching for and desiring the next rare find.

Moments like these remind me that collecting doesn’t have to revolve around what’s mine—it can also be about what we share.

My collection has undergone a significant transformation over time. Initially, I was drawn to expensive comic busts, investing heavily in these prized pieces. That interest eventually shifted toward risqué anime figures, further fueling my enthusiasm for collecting. However, after losing thousands of dollars on various collectibles and comics, I realized the need to change direction.

As a result, I began focusing on sports “bad guys”—athletes with controversial reputations who fascinated me since childhood. What began as a simple passion soon turned into an obsession. Over time, though, that fixation mellowed into a curiosity I now enjoy sharing with others. Rather than collecting for personal gain, I take pleasure in searching for intriguing additions and sharing the stories behind these unique figures with fellow enthusiasts.

In embracing the so-called “bad boys” of sports, I began to see how even the most flawed figures can tell powerful stories about consequence, redemption, and human complexity.

The way my collection is perceived—the glances and the whispers—gives me a sense of pride, as it is truly my own creation. While some people collect things that might seem unusual to others, my interests have led me down a unique path. I’ve amassed memorabilia centered around forgotten crimes and athletes unlikely to ever be honored in the Hall of Fame. Despite their obscurity, these figures have earned a permanent place on what I call my Murder Shelf.

Alongside these, I also treasure one-of-a-kind cards personally crafted for me or autographed with my name. These occupy a place of distinction on my Personal Shelf, sitting right next to the Murder Shelf. Each shelf represents a different facet of my collecting journey—and together, they form a display that is both deeply personal and completely unique.

#CollectorsMD
True value isn’t always in what we own—it’s in what we understand.

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

The hobby has always been about joy, nostalgia, and personal meaning—not treating every card like a stock to be speculated on. Yet time and time again, mainstream platforms and companies frame stories only through the narrow lens of profit and loss. What was once about childhood wonder is now repackaged as a cautionary tale of dollars “lost”.

Yesterday, Fanatics published a post across social media from their @fanaticscollect channel describing a childhood decision as a “$3,000 mistake”. The card in question—a 1st Edition “Blaine’s Arcanine” from one of the original Pokémon sets—had been pressed into the grip tape of a skateboard when its owner was a teenager. Years later, it resurfaced, labeled in hindsight as a financial blunder. The headline focused not on creativity or nostalgia, but on what could have been if the card wasn’t all but destroyed—a valuation number on a grading scale, forever tied to money left on the table.

Calling this story a “$3,000 mistake” is pure rage bait—chasing engagement instead of honoring the real spirit of a childhood story. The hobby should be about joy and nostalgia, not reducing every card to a profit calculation.

Calling this story a “$3,000 mistake” misses the point entirely. It wasn’t a mistake—it was a memory. It was passion. It was creativity. That card didn’t just sit in a shoebox or a slabbed case gathering dust; it lived. It went out into the world, joined a kid on adventures, and became part of his identity. It represented freedom, imagination, and the magic of Pokémon—exactly what made this hobby special in the first place.

By reducing it to a lost profit calculation, we don’t just insult that story—we reinforce the toxic message that collecting is only valid if it pays. This is the same mindset that has turned the hobby into a speculative marketplace, where cards are constantly flipped, hyped, and exploited. It’s the mindset that fuels gambling-style breaks and addictive spending habits. And it’s the mindset we’re working to challenge every single day at Collectors MD.

What many people in the comments got right is that this is what collecting should be: freedom, expression, joy. One collector said, “The card went with him on adventures. True to the Pokémon story.” Another wrote, “Bro thought it’d be dope to put a card on his board. That’s priceless.” These aren’t financial takes—they’re reminders that the value of collecting is found in the stories, not the spreadsheets.

At Collectors MD, we believe moments like these are guideposts. The value of collecting isn’t measured in resale prices or market charts—it’s measured in the memories we make and the meaning we attach. Cards are supposed to remind us of who we are, where we’ve been, and what we love. And when we lose sight of that—when every card becomes an “asset” or a “missed opportunity”—we lose the very soul of the hobby.

Profit Fades. Passion Remains.

#CollectorsMD
A card skated into childhood isn’t a $3,000 mistake—it’s a $3,000 memory.

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I had the pleasure of joining The Geoff Wilson Show to share my vision for a healthier hobby. Collecting can be fun, social, and community-driven—but too often it leans on gambling-like mechanics. Imagine if odds were transparent, limits and safeguards were built in, and the focus shifted back to connection, nostalgia, and the why behind what we collect.

At its best, collecting should feel like a celebration, not a trap—it should feel like passion, not compulsion.

#CollectorsMD | #RipResponsibly | #CollectResponsibly

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOv0dLCkZVj/?igsh=MXZ5OTJ0Zm9lM2dhcg%3D%3D

Published July 13, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

What if buying and selling trading cards became illegal tomorrow?
What if every card in your collection instantly lost any and all monetary value?
Would you still collect?

Would you still admire that parallel just because it looks cool?
Would you still flip through your binder or stack of slabs simply because it brings you peace, joy, or nostalgia—not just whether you’re “up” or “down”?

Today’s hobby culture constantly assigns monetary value to everything. The moment you rip a pack, your brain starts scanning: What’s this worth? What can I grade? What can I flip? What’s the comp? Did I break even?
It’s natural. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with tracking value, making smart investments, or even flipping cards for profit. But at some point, you have to ask yourself:

Am I collecting with purpose—or just chasing dollar signs?

If all you see are dollar signs and market trends when you look at your cards—and the peace and purity that collecting once provided has been replaced by a fixation on profit—it might be time to ask yourself: Are you still collecting, or just looking to cash out?

The deeper you go, the harder it can be to separate joy from judgment. When everything becomes a potential sale, it’s easy to forget why you ever loved this stuff to begin with. The nostalgia. The beauty. The connection. The story. The you that once collected without any thought of resale.

Today’s reflection:

• Pick one card from your PC.

• Ask yourself: Would I still love this if it were worth nothing?

• If the answer is no, ask: When did that change? And why?

You can collect with strategy and still lead with heart. You can hold value and meaning in the same card. But if profit becomes the only driver, the hobby stops being a hobby—it becomes a job. And jobs rarely fill us the way purpose does.

#CollectorsMD
It’s okay to care about value. Just don’t let it be the only reason you collect.

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