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

There’s a quiet shift happening in the hobby right now—one that not everyone’s naming out loud yet, but many are feeling.

Things are moving fast.
Too fast.

Products are dropping at an unprecedented pace.
Parallel fatigue is real.
Manufacturers are flooding the market with new releases—each one louder, flashier, and more “can’t-miss” than the last.

And as collectors, we’re stuck in a loop: Chase. Rip. Flip. Repeat.

The sheer volume of new wax—paired with the non-stop buzz from breakers, influencers, and algorithm-fed hype—makes it hard to even catch your breath. Before you’ve digested one drop, the next one’s already here. Before you’ve had a chance to evaluate and appreciate (or even receive) what you just bought, you’re being pushed to chase the next release. You’re still waiting on last week’s packages, but your mind is already locked on the next one.

It’s a cycle built on urgency, not enjoyment. Speed, not satisfaction.

And when that becomes the norm, collecting starts to feel less like a passion—and more like a pressure cooker.

But here’s your reminder:
You don’t have to match the industry’s pace.

You don’t have to rip every new product.
You don’t have to stay on top of every release.
You don’t have to let FOMO dictate your rhythm.

The current state of the hobby may be built for burnout—but that doesn’t mean you have to burn out with it.

Slow is still an option.
Curated is still cool.
Intentional is still powerful.

Let everyone else chase the hype cycle.
You can build something timeless.

#CollectorsMD
You don’t need to move faster. You just need to move on purpose.

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Published April 28, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

In the hobby, it’s easy to find yourself measuring your collection against someone else’s—especially in today's culture where every pickup—every transaction is shared on social media.

Scroll long enough, and you’ll find it:

• Someone pulling bigger, higher-valued hits.

• Someone with a more impressive collection.

• Someone spending five figures like it’s five dollars.

And without even realizing it, something starts to shift.

Comparison is sneaky like that.
It doesn’t just make you want more.
It convinces you that what you have isn’t enough.
That you aren’t enough.
It works its way into your subconscious—quietly, steadily—until collecting starts to feel like a competition you never asked to join.

And part of what fuels it?
The hype machine.
The endless product drops.
The 24/7 stream of "monster hits."
The curated posts showing only the wins, never the losses.
It’s designed to make you feel like you’re missing out.
It’s engineered to trigger urgency, FOMO, and self-doubt.

Falling for the hype doesn’t mean you’re weak.
It means you’re human.
These systems are built to shortcut your brain—to replace patience with pressure and gratitude with greed.
It’s not accidental—it’s strategic. It’s marketing designed to drive spending, engineered by companies that profit when you feel like you’re falling behind.

But here’s the truth:

Collecting isn’t a competition.
There’s no scoreboard.
There’s no prize for having the best collection—especially if it costs you your peace.
The hobby was never meant to be about status—it was meant to be about story.

And your story?
It’s enough.
It doesn’t need to be louder, flashier, or more expensive to matter.

At Collectors MD, we believe your collection should reflect your heart, not your insecurities.
It should feel like peace, not pressure.
It should reconnect you to who you are—not disconnect you from what you love.

So if today you feel that familiar tug—that voice whispering you’re behind—pause.
Breathe.
And remember:

You don’t have to keep up.
You don’t have to chase what’s trending.
You don’t have to let comparison and hype write your story.

You are already building something real.

Don't get caught up comparing yourself or your collection to others.
Take pride in yourself and in what you've already built—and keep building it your way, not anyone else's.

#CollectorsMD
The best collection is the one that feels like home to you.

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When? Wednesday, April 30 • 8:00-9:30PM ET

Where? Live on Google Hangout

For collectors, by collectors.

No shame. No judgment. Just real talk and support for those navigating hobby burnout, compulsive spending, or finding balance again.

This is not a webinar.

It's a safe space to listen, share, and connect with others who've been there too.

Spots are limited.

To join, fill out the quick screening form in bio or click below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDiGDXdCU1A-mMPoM_VptDxZcU6z2RqUZW2XXzC1Oronh2dQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Published April 27, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

Healing rarely happens in isolation.
Healing happens in community.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned while building Collectors MD over the last month is that this movement was never supposed to be about one person.
Not me. Not any one story.
It’s about us—a growing team of collectors, advocates, and real people fighting for something better together.

When the pressure of the hobby gets heavy—when the chase drowns out the joy or the spending spirals out of control—what saves us isn’t just personal willpower.
It’s the safety of being surrounded by people who understand.
It’s the reminder that you’re not crazy. You’re not broken.
You’re not the only one trying to find a healthier way forward.

Collectors MD exists because hobbies should be safe havens, not financial traps.
They should ground us, not bury us.
They should connect us, not isolate us.
They should spark joy—not shame, not stress, not the endless pressure to keep up with every release, every comp, every "must-have" drop.

Hobbies were never meant to be measuring sticks.
They were meant to be communal.
Creative.
Grounding.
Fun.

And that’s why we’re here.
Not as individuals shouting into the void—but as a collective voice, a movement, a real community saying: "We can build something better."

We are fighting for the hobby.
We are fighting for each other.
And when we show up—week after week, meeting after meeting, conversation after conversation—it’s proof that the strength of CMD isn’t just in the message.
It’s in the people who believe in it.

We heal in groups.
We grow in community.
We thrive together.

If you’ve ever felt alone in this journey, I promise you:
You’re not.

#CollectorsMD
The hobby was always meant to bring us together. We're just making sure it stays that way.

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Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
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Awesome convo with the great Tim Ross on #WideOpen. Thanks for having me on! 🫶

Full Episode (segment starts at ~42 minute mark)