Thehobbywhispers

An anti-monopoly think tank published a paper this week on what it calls the “crisis of concentrated economic power." Fanatics and its collectibles business was a key topic.

ICYMI: The American Economic Liberties Project took aim at Fanatics' collectibles business this week in a paper on the business of sports. "The market consolidation by Fanatics has fundamentally altered the merchandise and trading card market for collectors and fans."

@CardPurchaser what do you guys think? Bowman Best Hobby Box and the bid went for 1.00. However, @pordes_chase did not honor the bid and refunded the bidder. Nothing in their TOS or policy in their shop indicating they would do that. They can run the price of the auction at a floor if they want to or indicate their is a reserve but didn't. Does this violate @FanaticsCollect @fanaticslive @Topps TOS since this break happened on fanatics? This is the type of shady activity that will tank the credibility of said apps. Curious if Fanatics does anything. What are you guys thoughts?

@BiggestJohnStud @CardPurchaser @pordes_chase Mush mouth, scammy, scumbag.

@nyoutlaw91 @Hobby_News_Plus @MikeMahan @CardPurchaser Fanatics shill sighted.

@toppsmedalion @Hobby_News_Plus @MikeMahan @CardPurchaser Wahhhhhhhh STFU 🤡

@MikeMahan @CardPurchaser ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

@BasedUsually @Hobby_News_Plus @MikeMahan @CardPurchaser Always funny to see morons comment that have no clue how I run my business. Scalping customers is not the way. But please attack someone that hates seeing these prices much less charge them.

@toppsmedalion @Hobby_News_Plus @MikeMahan @CardPurchaser Oh no you won’t be able to sell a Topps chrome hobby box for 1200 bucks. What a travesty

@toppsmedalion @MikeMahan @CardPurchaser My lcs hasn't gotten much product. He was sent 2 boxes of chrome nfl. Two. Store has been in business for 40+ years and helped lay foundation of industry. 2 boxes. A case of topps series 1. Etc. Said it's unaffordable now, too. thanks @MikeMahan

@itsgeoffwilson @SportsCardRadio Plenty of dirty boots out there. Keep licking them clean.

@SportsCardRadio As normal, you have no idea what you are talking about. No one is surprised that your card shop failed, but many other card shop owners have a great experiences building successful businesses.

I was aware of this before fanatics took over, both at the company level and at the distribution (Peach State, GTS, Southern Hobby). Back in the day it was about $10k got you direct. But the underlying problem isn’t Topps, or the employees, it’s the business of modern wax. When it’s hot - you can make money but it’s hard to get. When it’s ice cold (bad RC class, downturn) you can get it but can’t make money. Sure, a handful of breakers and shops will build a good business in that environment but chances are it won’t be you. So as a businessman you have to adapt. I’ve been to all these conferences (Topps, Industry Summit, etc), I’ve had a shop, I’ve had allocation, it’s really hard work and you don’t make that much money. If it’s not about the money, then you let the Tom Brady’s and big breakers do their thing and you carve out a niche. If it’s about getting rich, get the hell out of cards and focus on stuff that is way bigger. Video games, board games, toys, Legos, books, crafts. Flipping tickets, car parts, tools, something else. At the end of the day, owning a shop is not special, not very valuable, and you get paid accordingly. I learned this when I was 23 - unfortunate many of these guys are 40++ but never too late to pivot.

“We are in partnership on a profit sharing model for all hobby releases.”

@sportscardinfo @FiloFoomp @SportsCardRadio Thanks for spreading the word Andrew.

Anonymous Letter Accuses Fanatics Of Pay-To-Play Breaker Program sportscardradio.com/anonymous-lett… via @SportsCardRadio

I remember an interview Mahan did with Chris Olds back when he was at Beckett. Every other word out of Mahan's mouth was "consumer." I don't recall him using the word "collector." Telling.

@toppsmedalion @BosCardHunter I have spoken about this since 2018 when a lot of us started getting squeezed out after years of building up the distributors business…they got cut out in 2022 & the poison has just about reached the ‘million dollar club’ in 2026. Topps on pace to control all by 2030

@LundoCalrossian @toppsmedalion @Hobby_News_Plus @MikeMahan @CardPurchaser Most shops have opted into retail reserve which has taken a lot of said product from retail stores and have to be sold at opening price point.

@LundoCalrossian @toppsmedalion @Hobby_News_Plus @MikeMahan @CardPurchaser Enjoy that while you can. Big box stores have already started charging scalper prices for Pokemon. Don’t be surprised when it comes to sports.

@chefmatt1978 I’m sorry to hear that brother.

Dave and Adam’s is a complete disgrace to the entire hobby. Stop spending money with them. They only fixed it because they got outed.

@Nebula8jg There are some out there just have to find em. A lot have resorted to buying from secondary because their allocations were cut. On a product like this one it is going to be very tough with secondary being insane.

@toppsmedalion You know of any good ones that sell new product at MSRP? I don't.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but seems that the big box stores are the only place where you can get product at MSRP. Every LCS that I've been to charges "market". Since that's the case, I'm totally cool with starving LCS and giving all the allocation to big box.

@Nebula8jg You’re definitely not wrong. It’s like everything, there are good shop owners and bad shop owners.

@toppsmedalion Not buying it. I've seen shops with ample stock of product and price it to the moon just because "market". It's happening all the time and has been for a while. If ripping people off is the only way they can stay in business, they deserve to go under.

@defnottabot @ourtradingcards That is a miserable human right there brother. Entertaining, but miserable.

@toppsmedalion @ourtradingcards He went to my page and commented on a post of mine saying I blocked him when I didn’t then he blocked me lmao

Imagine typing all of that to someone who has been a shop owner for a very long time and gives a damn about everyone that walks into their shop. You don’t care cool, get out of the hobby. I’m invested in my shop and my customers