What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to Stacking Slabs. This is your hobby content alternative.

I am Brett. I host this podcast. I love talking about sports cards. Each and every week when I get the opportunity to sit here and deliver the flagship episode, it's always one of the most exciting time parts of my week.

I drop my kids off, come home, get my thoughts organized early in the morning, looking out my the office windows at Stacking Slabs HQ, seeing people walking.

It's just exciting. It's invigorating for me. Got my coffee. All the things, man. I get an opportunity to sit here and reflect on something that is top of mind for me that I think might resonate with you.

And I wanna say thank you to all of the loyal listeners of Stacking Slabs last week. I got so many comments about last, flagship in talking about the different personas and paths in the hobby and how they all interact and intertwine.

I got some individuals letting me know that they thought it was the best flagship ever, which is awesome.

I appreciate that the feedback is fuel to the fire in what I'm doing. And I'll just say this upfront, man. We go through these iterations with whatever we're working on.

And right now with stacking slabs, there is more exciting things that I'm thinking about, that I'm working on, that I'm delivering to you right now, more now than ever before, and it feels like the list just continues to grow.

I'm very excited about some of the conversations. I'm excited about, content that is coming. We'll say this. Today's episode is about letting go, about why selling that card you just bought doesn't make you a flipper.

I want to dig into this topic. It is something that has been top of mind for me. I have been observing other collectors in this space.

I have been thinking about my own personal operating, and it felt like this topic needed to be addressed. So that's what we're going to dig into to today. But before we dig into that, I wanna make an announcement.

Last week, we saw the end of auction talk, and appreciate everyone, all the messages, all the love, I made mention to someone who sent me a message about people that they were talking to who were upset about it, and my response back was just, I'm glad people care.

And that is the mark of great content for me. When it goes away, people care.

And I want you all to care about what is happening here, And I also want to be as transparent as possible to share as much as I can about things I'm working on in ways that I can continue to show up and offer value to you, the collector.

And so a part of this process with sunsetting auction talk definitely wasn't easy. There is so much that goes into it, and I'm sure there'll be a story for another day.

But my main mindset was there is a big group of collectors each and every week that show up on Thursday to listen to that conversation, and I don't take that for granted.

And I know this especially based on all the messages that I received about people listening to auction talk on their commute to and from work, people listening to auction talk, during, workouts, everything.

I mean, everyone you all shared it all with me to let me know how much you appreciated that show. And so my mindset was because there is this show that people deeply care about, how do we replace it?

And you can't just, like, replace something that has been running for fifty seven episodes overnight with something that you is immediately going to maybe hit.

Shows take a while. Shows take, some trial and error. I've been doing podcasts, and I built my career around podcasts for the last, you know, six or seven years. Literally, you started talking on a microphone.

Great things happened. And now this is what I do for a living. So I understand how shows work or I think I do and the how you create a show that has longevity. So I'm looking for, I'm looking for whatever I deliver here.

I primarily want longevity. I want it to be something that is lasting. But most importantly, I want this to resonate. So in the spirit of what we do here and creating shows, and that's what I'm in the business of.

I'm in the business of creating shows, creating shows that resonate with the collector and have longevity. And I don't want to not show up and deliver something that is quality when quality leaves.

And so we are going to right out of the gates, we're going to we've been working on a new show concept, and we're not waiting a month or two months for that show concept to hit your feeds on Thursday.

We're this is feels very much as I'm trying to make this happen, which it's okay because this feels it's a feels very startup mode for me.

And startup mode is the last decade what I've been in. So, like, this is, like, one of the first time this last week with Stacking Slides where it was like, I feel like I'm in startup mode again.

I'm, like, trying to, build something that quickly, ship it, mentality done is better than perfect, but just bring something to market.

Bring something to collectors that you all give a shit about. And it's going to take a while for you all to give a shit about it because you're gonna have to get used to it, and it's gonna be different.

But I swear, I'm gonna do whatever I can to continue to offering offer you collector content because I don't think there's enough of it in this space. And for what I listen to, it's done, and then I'm always yearning for more.

So I want stacking slabs to be a platform that not only delivers quality, deliver shows with longevity that resonates with you, but also can be niched down into specific categories.

So part of what I'm working on is number one, a new show that I'm going to announce.

And if you show up and you look at the Stacking Slabs main feed tomorrow or Thursday, whenever you're listening to this, there'll be a new show that's there. We're gonna talk about that new show.

But then, also, I am working on ways that I can begin to deliver new content to you that is highly personalized to specific categories in the hobby. So that is going to take a while to get everything off the ground.

But I am just saying all this to let you know that if you're looking for collector content, look no further. Stacking slabs is your hobby content alternative, alternative, and we'll continue to freaking make it happen.

The show on Thursday that will drop will be a new show that is added to the stacking slabs main feed. And the new show is called smashing bin. Bin, we all know, buy it now. What makes a collector smash bin?

That is a question that personally through the series of doing auction talk when I was formatting episodes and digging into card ladder and pulling data, that is a question that continue to be top of mind for me.

Why is a collector smashing bin in this moment on this card?

So much of the card sports card market conversation revolves around the auction wins, the last comps, and the record sales. But what about the moments when a collector sees a card and just can't let it go?

When logic takes a back seat to desire, instinct, and pure collecting passion, Smashing Bin is gonna be a show that explores the psychology, strategy, and significance, but behind buy it now purchases.

Each week, we'll analyze notable bin smashes. We'll discuss why we think collectors pulled the trigger and what that says about the market. We'll dive into the data. We'll compare prices, track trends, uncover stories, all of this.

I'm gonna dig in, use card ladder, of course, because card ladder is the official data provider of stacking slabs, but we'll we'll bring collectors behind the numbers to examine what really happens in those critical moments.

So I mentioned, it's like flying. It's like changing an engine and flying a plane at the same time.

Right now, we're gonna have a revolving door of guest hosts, and that's how I'm I'm building it out. And the guest hosts are going to have a bin smashing story that they're going to be sharing as a part of the episode.

First guest host for smashing bin is gonna be my good friend, Paul Wardle at Wardle Combat. He DM'd me as I was teasing this out, and he has got a great bin smashing story that is going to set this freaking new show off right.

I'm here to deliver premium and quality collector driven content for you. That's what stacking slabs is built on, and that's what we're gonna do.

So make sure you tell a damn friend, and that show is gonna be hitting your feed tomorrow. Also, because I got to, if you want more content, I'm I'm testing more content than ever before in the Patreon.

Go run over to the link in the show notes, hit it, and join the group, man. It's a great group. I'm really fired up. Alright. So let's get into the topic.

I bought a card a few weeks ago. When I bought the card, it fired me up, got me really excited. It fit inside the collection that I was developing and building, but I just put it in a box to be sold through consignment.

If you have dealt with that experience or have judged a person for that experience, I think this episode is going to be for you. This isn't about flipping. This is about adapting.

It's about making the best decisions for your collection in real time even when that means letting go. We are the CEOs of our PC. Okay? I say it all the time. It's a little gimmick. It's a catchphrase, but I think it matters.

We, as collectors, and it's part of human nature, might get concerned or worried about what other people think about what we're doing in our activity. When it all comes down to it, we need to make the best decisions for us.

And sometimes, because we can't control what's going to be available or put in marketplaces, We have to make moves even with cards that we recently bought because what showed up in the morning when we woke up that we can't believe and we can't stop thinking about means a whole lot more than a recent purchase or two.

There is a perception that collectors should hold cards for a long time, and if they don't hold cards for a long time, then they are a flipper.

I think we all have this superpower when people postcards, then we see them for auction or a story sale. We ask ourselves, like, didn't they just buy that?

Our minds instantly go to the negative. We don't take the time to reflect on the situation or maybe even reflect on the situation for ourselves and thinking about all the moments maybe we have been in that.

I think the mindset creates guilt or shame around natural, rational collecting decisions. In this hobby today, there's this unspoken rule, this invisible judgment that says, if you sell a car quickly after buying it, you are a flipper.

And in some circles, that word carries a lot of baggage. I believe that mindset is limited and creates a trap for collectors.

It places moral weight on what should be a practical decision. You start asking yourself questions. Am I going to look bad if I sell this? Will people think I'm just in it for the money? Do I have to explain myself?

Suddenly, collect collecting becomes performative. You're not just making moves for your collection anymore. You're managing other people's perceptions. Let's take a step back, and I'm gonna say it one more time.

You're not making moves for your collection anymore. You're managing other people's perceptions. Remember, you are the CEO of your PC. This is where guilt comes in. You feel bad for doing that thing that actually makes sense to you.

It's things like selling a car to fund something bigger, letting go of a recent pickup because a grail popped up, moving quickly because the opportunity window is small.

In any other market, this kind of agility is respected. It's called being strategic.

There but in collecting, it gets lumped into flipping. And I ask myself this question, and I love to explore these questions. This is the foundation for why we show up and deliver content each and every week.

When you're asking yourself the question why, what comes to my mind is because the hobby often romanticizes this long term hold or this idea of long term holds.

There's this nostalgia driven idea that true collectors never sell. I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm I I basically spend any discretionary money that I have on sports cards. I talk about sports cards every day.

My livelihood is around sports cards. And in order to get to that point, you know, you have to consider I have to consider myself a collector, but there is there is nothing true about not about selling.

Selling is not a negative. That's not how it works. That's not most of us. Cards are fluid. Collections evolve, and letting go is often the path to finding something even better.

Why would we limit ourselves? Why would we stay stagnant if by making moves in our collection, we can that we can lead to a better collection with better cards that make us feel better?

I don't understand it. I think the guilt or the shame comes from internalizing other people's expectations. But the only expectation that matters in collecting and building your collection is your own.

Does this move serve your collecting goals? If the answer is yes, then there's nothing to feel bad about. I will be the first to acknowledge that there are pump and dumpers.

And, no, that's not what we're talking about here. When we're when we're let me when we're talking about a pump and dumper, we're talking about, manipulation. We're talking about a lack of authenticity.

We're talking about, something that is manufactured where someone is buying cards, then they're doing whatever they can to use their platform to prop up the cards with no, transparency around selling those cards, and then those cards are being sold.

Pump and dumpers, no good. That's not what I'm talking about here.

There's a big difference between flipping and collecting with a purpose. And if you look at flipping and collecting with a purpose, it comes down to two very important things in my mind. These two things are intent and transparency.

Intent is your why. Are you buying a card just to sell it for more a week later, or are you buying a card because you thought it was a fit, but then something else surfaced and now it's time to pivot?

The first flipping the first is flipping for profit. The second is making moves to build a collection that actually matters to you. It's a mindset thing. Flippers chase margins. Collectors chase meaning.

Flippers chase margins. Collectors chase meaning. Next, you've got transparency or how you carry yourself. Are you hyping up a card online to manufacture demand before you dump it, or are you open about what why you're selling?

You don't have to explain every decision you make. And I see the post when people post cards are for sale and they, like, feel like they have to justify. You don't have to justify anything.

You don't have to. You don't have to explain every decision you make. But when you're honest, especially with yourself, people can tell. Collectors respect moves made with purpose. What they don't respect is manipulation.

So the next time someone throws shade at you on a card you sold fast, ask yourself this question. Was my intent to build a better collection, and am I being real about it? If the answer is yes, you're not flipping.

You're curating. You're progressing, and there's nothing wrong with that. There is an emotional and strategic reality to collecting sports cards. In time in time available for cards, it's not our choice.

Cards don't appear on our schedule. Collectors are often reactive to what's available. How many times have we woken up in the morning and seen a card available on eBay, and it's a lot of money, but we need the card.

And we our our minds start racing, and we start measuring that card in the rest of our collection, and then we start processing cards that we can consolidate to get that card.

To me, those moments are why I show up every day. Those moments are uncomfortable, but, damn, they're exciting. I think about recently.

I think about the Angel Reese gold prism that popped up. That card wasn't on my list, but when I saw the card, when I saw the price, and I thought about what it could how it could fit into my collection, I had to make moves.

I had to get rid of cards that I just picked up. There's another example, and I'm not gonna share the card because I don't have it in my possession yet, but it was another one of one high end card.

Same thing happened. Almost every time a cult's finite pops up that I really want, I have to go and dig in.

And sometimes the cards that have to go are cards that I just picked up. I think this is adaptive collecting, and we we should not be punished for being adaptable.

The other point that I just gotta make here is that when we sell cards that we just picked up, we're losing money almost every time, and no one ever talks about it.

This is where it gets real. We we have to give up to get something new, and it's not just put a box of cards together.

But if you play the game, which I don't, the game I play is create a box of cards that can go fund this other card, and I'm not looking at each of the cards individually.

I'm looking at it as a whole. But if you're looking at it each as each card individually and you're buying you're selling a card that you just bought a month ago, and it's most in most every case, it's going to lose value.

These are sunk costs. Your egos can prevent collectors from making from making smart moves.

I think our egos are a big part of this, and we don't talk about it enough. But we all have egos. Right? And we don't want we don't wanna damage our egos when we do this. But short term losses always can lead to long term wins.

I think about all the moves that I had to make, and I don't even remember the cards now, and that's a good thing. I always think when you get Reddit cards and you don't remember them, there's a reason why you don't remember them.

But I just remember, like, when I bought all of those luck finites in one shot last summer and got the got basically, it was like, I've been ten months of trying to get these cards, then all of a sudden was like, okay.

I'm ready. Meet me, and let's do this. And then the price, gee, I had no I I just had to go, and I just had to make moves quickly. And I didn't even think, oh, I bought this card yesterday, or I bought this card three years ago.

It didn't matter. I wanted those cards more than anything else. There are always these moments in our collect collecting that we have to level up and make these decisions. What are yours?

I think as I'm thinking about this more and as we're leaving this episode, I'd encourage you all to maybe reframe the way you think about it, where, holding forever doesn't is not necessarily a measuring stick for good collecting.

Letting go is not necessarily a measuring stick for failure. Adaptive thinking is collecting with purpose. It's not necessarily about accumulation. It's about what makes you happy, and sometimes that's quick moves.

It's curation. Letting go of a card doesn't mean letting go of collecting. It means leading into it. Have you ever had to move a card fast to make a play on a card you needed? Let's hear about it. Share that.

Tag me on Instagram at stacking slabs. This is your hobby content alternative. Appreciate you showing up, showing out. Hit the follow button. Tell a damn friend. We'll be back. More stacking slabs on the other side. Talk to you soon.