Observations on the current state of the hobby from a show this weekend

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by Nostalgia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8j25o3p0Hs

Interesting and not great for the hobby.

Is it not great though?

[Qubits]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Is it not great though?

It could be great if it gets Fanatics to re-evaluate their current strategy.... but that's unlikely to happen.

[ThoseBackPages]

#ThanksTopps

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Nostalgia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8j25o3p0Hs

Interesting and not great for the hobby.

Fine for my hobby. Everything I buy are products that are previously released and doesn't involve Fanatics. This hurts investors, breakers, and flippers. Just wish it would impact the stupid mystery box repackers more. The hobby will be just fine.

[Qubits]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Fine for my hobby. Everything I buy are products that are previously released and doesn't involve Fanatics. This hurts investors, breakers, and flippers. Just wish it would impact the stupid mystery box repackers more. The hobby will be just fine.

Fanatics crumbling would likely only help the repackers. Less competition from the core products for their stupid mystery box products in breaks.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Qubits

Fanatics crumbling would likely only help the repackers. Less competition from the core products for their stupid mystery box products in breaks.

Yup, my feelings as well. Some of these mystery box influencers have a following of gamblers that will continue to support them.

Grading seems to be doing fine, even CGC is increasing their sports grading numbers week over week. BGS will be done by the end of 2024 if they continue to operate in their current state...

[ThoseBackPages]

but but but.... TenX!

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

but but but.... TenX!

I think they are hitting their goals. They didn't mean that they would 10x the hobby. They meant they would 10x hobby boxes and they are getting close .

[ThoseBackPages]

10x their pockets!

[Twalk1975]

What improvements do you see if Fanatics drops out? I think they've actually been improving somewhat since last year. The MVP buyback seems to have been well received. I like the flagship design this year. I've only opened Heritage, Cosmic, and Stadium Club this year, but I thought they were all better than last year. 2022 was definitely a mess, but the last fifteen months or so have seen some improvement.

[KhalDrogo]

Fanatics isn’t going anywhere.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Is it not great though?

I love it. I'm gonna be saving some money on singles on top of being right this whole time. Win, win.

[dunquixote1]

Setup at a show this weekend in Michigan. Had really good traffic. Did really well. My take away is that Ohtani is absolute king right now. Some guy came through and pretty much was buying out all dealers if their Ohtani cards. I also had tons of interest in anything Soto.

[Cracktoast]

As said Fanatics isn't going anywhere they are focusing on the big Fan Fest shows for the time being. It's evident they put the cart before the horse with the regional stuff. The biggest take away from me as reported by Neo is they are likely going to move Fanatics Fest next year to sometime in middle to late June before The National. A move that will likely benefit both shows as long as Fanatics get details locked down by end of January so people have enough time to plan for both and not wait until late May to early June to trickle out info. Then people get excited for The National even more so than normal coming off Fan Fest.

[ironfireman]

Originally Posted by Nostalgia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8j25o3p0Hs

Interesting and not great for the hobby.

Not really a surprise. They bought Topps around the height, pumped it endlessly for a couple years and now the bills are coming due.

[ironfireman]

Originally Posted by Qubits

I went to a 110 table show in Simpsonville, SC today and it was pretty good. I'd have preferred more vintage but I still found enough cool stuff to buy that it was worth the drive.

Yeah that was a nice little show. Not as good as the Spartanburg Fairgrounds show, but definitely a great space. I spent 4 hours buying and talking to guys. Decent crowd lots of kids and families. And free! Free parking - a nice food truck out front where I got an fresh made egg, cheese & biscuit for $4.

[solt0131]

SELL EVERYTHING NOW AND GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN.

Vegas Dave was right.

[NYRE2PECT]

Even IF Fanatics were to divest Topps, the next buyer has to carry to the weight of the costs of the licenses. Might be better in the long-term for the hobby, but I cannot see much happening with the pricing structure.

10X, errrrrr, no X.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

They can’t keep ‘24 Update products on the shelf at my local Target. Everything is fine.

[Picklepete]

Did anybody go to that show in Tampa put on by immortal seats ?
Bunch of autographed guests.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

They can’t keep ‘24 Update products on the shelf at my local Target. Everything is fine.

They were probably removed for not selling and taking up valuable shelf space. The FOMO wagon riders have moved onto bitcoin now.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

They were probably removed for not selling and taking up valuable shelf space. The FOMO wagon riders have moved onto bitcoin now.

Unlikely. I think it’s due to too many collectors going hard trying to keep up with you.

[dunquixote1]

It makes sense Fanatics would have a desire to acquire capital. When a company pivots or acquires new entities there’s always going to be a dip in their margins and free capital. Fanatics is fine.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I think it’s due to too many collectors going hard trying to keep up with you.

It would definitely explain the global decline in birth rates.

[imbluestreak23]

Rubin doesn't realize that he is the cuck for the athletes.

He tried to be buddy buddy with the stars, equity in their contracts, bend the clector over by 10Xing quantity/product lines/cost to consumer. The athletes are just bending him over taking him to pound town with the deals he signed with/for the player associations.

GOOD!