1540 - Hobby Dinner Convo: Ten Year Forecast

Dr. Beckett shares a hobby dinner conversation from the Watter’s Creek Show with out-of-town collectors discussing how rising wax prices and the growth of breakers have affected the hobby, and whether breaking is good or bad. Guests recount their collecting origins, from inheriting older brothers’ cards to buying singles instead of packs, and one collector’s focus on Star basketball with questions about how many high-value cards remain ungraded. The group also explores the lack of cultural diversity in collecting and efforts like Anthony Devine’s Rise program. They debate Fanatics/Topps “wave” releases, dynamic pricing, allocation, single licenses, and whether today’s box prices are sustainable. Additional topics include grading and consignment backlogs, potential AI/automation, investor-driven flipping vs true collecting, and the changing landscape of card shops and shows.

 

00:34 Collector Origins and Breaking

01:20 Upper Deck Career and Diversity

03:32 Star Cards and Grading Odds

06:37 Future Wax Box Prices

10:58 AI and Robotics in the Hobby

12:50 Collectors vs Flippers Debate

14:29 Nostalgia Pulls and Blank Backs

16:41 Sealed Wax and Store Boom