What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to Stacking Slabs. This is your hobby content alternative, and we're here. We're back. It is flagship Wednesday for all of you listening to this on launch day.

Appreciate you being here. It's a fun time of the week. It is a time for me to sit here and talk cards with you. I think the topic for today is something that is always stewing in my brain.

And the best part about making my entire professional career about having conversations with other collectors is that those collectors say things when we're recording episodes or just casually in conversations that trigger these thoughts in my brain, and then I say, you know what?

That would make for a damn good flagship episode. And so that's what we're bringing to you today. We're gonna be talking about the unavailable card, the psychology protocol, and the power of a strong offer.

I often find this dynamic between cards that we want and our approach to, getting them or the our lack of approach to staying stagnant very, very fascinating fascinating. We tend to settle.

We tend to think that because the card is unavailable, we still should approach that card much like we would approach a card on a major marketplace like eBay. That is not the case, so I wanna dig into that in today's episode.

Want to, I guess, thank, Michael at roundtree thirteen cards for the inspiration. If you listen back to that collector conversation, he talked about the Adrian Beltran rookie suit or not rookie.

Sorry. The super fracture first appearance in a rangers, jersey that he needed to go ham and needed to make it happen, over a series of communications, to land that card.

And I think there's a lot of lessons that we can learn from that. So that episode, if you wanna go back, it was a Friday conversation a couple weeks ago.

I think it was a really good, chat. But I wanna dig into that. Obviously, gotta get my plugs in from the top. Make sure you're following stacking slabs. We're doing a lot here.

There's almost a new show every day. We will be doing even more. We are growing this damn thing. So if you wanna make sure that you know what's going on or you're continuing to get new shows to your feed, make sure you follow it.

We'll ask this. I've been hitting this drumbeat, and I've got, like, this small amount of time where it's like, how many things can I ask my audience to do?

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But let's get into the topic. So the unavailable card.

Michael's thoughts on his Superfractor, acquisition was inspiration, and then I started to think about my personal collection and cards that were not available that I love in my collection and what I did in order to make those cards a part of my collection.

I'll also reference, the last smashing bin episode with Matthew nineteen fifty six tops guy. Love that conversation. Make sure you go check that one out.

But he flipped the table on me during that episode where he just asked me, like, what what's my favorite card in my collection? 2014 Andrew Luck, black finite Prizm PSA 10. I've talked about that card.

I've told stories about that card. I love that card. I think, 24 twenty fourteen Black Finite, is my favorite card in the Panini era, and that card was such a catalyst for my obsession with my Colts' Prizm collection.

It was really like, I had a lot of pieces, but it was that card that told me, dude, you need to, like you love this stuff.

Like, you have an opportunity right now because the these cards have been released, you know, over the last decade or so.

You have an opportunity to do something really special that makes you feel really happy. So, like, don't get distracted. Do whatever you can to build out the most badass Colts Prizm collection that you possibly can.

So that card is my favorite card because it served as inspiration to build the favorite my favorite part of my collection, something that I get really freaking excited to continue to grow and continue to build.

It's like an endless project. It's phenomenal. Like, there's no there's no there's no stopping because there's so many cards that I love and so many cards that I'm chasing.

And now it's why that card is my favorite card along with the beautiful aesthetic and all those other qualities that we love in sports cards.

But then that thinking about that too, so this is how I'm I'm letting you this is how the the sausage is made with these episodes. So I had the Michael conversation. He talked about strong offers on cards that are unavailable.

That question was turned back to me by Matthew nineteen fifty six TopSky. And then I started to think about, okay. Well, what are the cards in my collection that I had to make a strong offer on because they weren't available?

And instantly, we're we're coming up on a year anniversary of this, which is insane. It it you know, like, I feel like I've had these cards for a lot longer than a year, but the fact that it's only a year is is is insane to me.

And I went back and looked on the communication, but, did a lot of episodes and did a drumbeat of, like, how I made this happen, after I acquired the massive Prizm Andrew Luck Hall of last year, and this was the hall of halls.

I landed a bunch of stuff. We're we're talking optical vinyl, luck, lot of one of ones, just unbelievable.

But the the rainbows, just insane. Like, they it was a deal that was consummated in the Shelbyville Casino parking lot here in the great state of Indiana. The episode is in the archive if you wanna hear the full story.

But the big biggest part of that deal was, like, the gasoline for my Colts Prizm chase, and that was the the picking up the black finites in one black pulsar because 2015 doesn't have a black finite.

It has a black pulsar. I in that one fell swoop along with so many other cards, I picked up the I already had the twenty fourteen.

I picked up the twenty fifteen, which is the Polsars one of one. Picked up the twenty sixteen Blackfinite, twenty seventeen Blackfinite, and twenty eighteen Blackfinite, and one deal.

And so, like, the unicorn of the situation where I not only know where these cards are, but, the the person who owns these cards lives, like, thirty minutes from me. And, you know, how do I get these cards?

And so we went back and forth for probably six months until I finally realized, dude, you need a I need to, like, just be aggressive. I need to make an offer. I need to do whatever I can to land these cards.

And so finally, I realized the game that was being played, and I delivered the strong offer. And I looked back on it today. I delivered the offer, and this is something you always wanna hear in response. It was, hey.

We're not too far off. I was thinking it was this price. Can you meet me in the middle? And it I think I went up, like, not even a thousand bucks, maybe, like, $700 from the original offer, and that's how I got the deal done.

But it I wouldn't have never have happened because the cards weren't available. It would never have happened unless I, as the person who wants the cards, said this is what I'm willing to pay.

And, you know, I probably would have paid probably two, three times what I what I ended up paying, But you can't I didn't wanna reveal the level of crazy I I was when it comes to these things.

But that's the backdrop, and that's the context in my personal story that I wanna use going into this episode, and I'm really hoping that what we talk about today can help you out if you're going through this.

So let's start here. What makes a card available or not? I think it's really good to put definition around available versus exist. So a card showing up on Instagram doesn't mean it's on the market.

We post our cards all the time, our mail days, and some collectors post those because it's a badge of honor. They like to share. They like the conversations that start. Other collectors post because the they're always selling.

But just because a card shows up on IG doesn't mean that it's on the market. I think availability is is about intent to sell, not just visibility. So that's something good we should know.

Just because someone's posting something doesn't necessarily, mean it's available. I think emotional attachment does determines availability. Some cards mark more important milestones in a collector's life.

The twenty fourteen luck is a perfect example. I talked about it at the top. And a big reason why I love collecting luck is because the way it ended for me as a fan, this helps, heal the wounds of the way his career ended.

And by collecting him, I get to focus on the good times and the happy moments. I think the cards that we have in our collections that are tied to personal stories aren't necessarily moved.

They might be moved, but personal stories and that emotional connection is usually, are usually ingredients that cards aren't for sale. Think collectors, collector's mentality, lock cards.

I think we we say, like, this is a cornerstone. It's not leaving unless everything leaves. We hear that a lot. I wouldn't sell this unless I was selling everything. And I think availability can change with life events.

You know, you buy a new house, you have a new kid, you're collecting pivots, personal reasons. But I think those things are too, worth consideration when we're thinking about what cards are available or not. Timing is always an issue.

Right? It's like we don't know the timing and what the other person is going through. But I think it's we should all understand, like, there is always a way to start a conversation about a car that's not available.

Like, that is one of the main themes that I wanna deliver in this episode. I think scarcity makes collectors defensive. The rarer the card is, the more likely it's being held for the long haul.

And that means, like, one of one's low number grails or hard to find, you know, player issues are always guarded tightly. And I think visibility does not necessarily always equal market status. Many collectors post for community.

They post their cards because they want to connect, and it's not about the commerce side. And I think understanding that showing does not always equal signaling intent to sell is really, really important.

So if I'm thinking about what makes a card available or not, whether it's from my own personal collection or from somebody else's, those are some of the things I like to think about. I'll also say that it's wild to think about.

But if you think about or if you approach the hobby from a perspective that it's always moving, it's always changing, and you feel like there's always a chase for something bigger or better, no matter how often or how confident you are in a card in your case right now that's you say this isn't available or it's never available, I think the fluidity of actions that we participate in in the hobby makes that statement a statement that necessarily isn't set in stone.

That's just my opinion. I think there's a right way to inquire when a card isn't available. I think this is, like, one of my favorite topics in the hobby is just interactions and, communication.

I've spent the better part of my career studying consumer behavior, the psychology of individuals, communication, good communication versus poor communication, the impact of words, and how the words we use really, really matter.

So this part of this conversation is really important to me and I think should be important to you if you're trying to land a card that is not available.

So this is, like, fundamental, like, being a good human, but they're really good reminders for us as we're trying to navigate complex situations, like taking cards out of somebody else's collection that they don't have listed for sale and don't show any reason why they have it for sale.

And I think, first and foremost, it starts with you being a good person and being an excellent communicator.

So think about it this way. Start with respect. It's always good to acknowledge the situation. Don't try to act like you don't know what's going on or don't try to think that you're smarter than the other person because you're not.

They're in control. It's their card. If you put off vibes that aren't respectful or make them feel uneasy, they're just gonna ignore you. So I think starting with respect is really important.

Acknowledge that the card isn't listed for sale. Use phrases like, I know this might be a p PC piece, but if it ever moves. What's really important, and I've, I've this is another important ingredient.

And when I was hiring, the most outside of, like, intelligence of an individual, like, measuring intelligence, which I think is critical, the other quality for me and the roles that I would hire for would I'd always be like, I'd always dig into curiosity.

I'd always wanna know, like, is this person curious?

Because if this person is curious, they're probably not gonna be good working with or for me. I think the same is true just in terms of this situation where we need to lead with curiosity and not lead with urgency. Ask about the card.

Ask about the story behind the card. Be curious. Almost in a way, act like you're, you know, having a conversation where you're showing genuine genuine interest, not just as a buyer, but as a collector who appreciates it.

We're trying to build connection. We're trying to build trust. Curiosity is an amazing, way to do that.

It's about building rapport. If someone you've never spoken to if it's someone you've never spoken to before, don't open with an offer. Engage over time. Comment on their collection. Build familiarity. We wanna be transparent.

We wanna be be intentional. Let them know why the card that they own that's not for sale matters to you. You can say things like, I've been chasing this parallel for years or this card ties to this player collection that I'm building.

That context is really helpful. Think it's about persistence without pressure. So Michael talked about revisiting the owner multiple times when he was trying to land the belt tray.

Think it's about being polite with follow ups every few months, and things change so much in those months. The person that you're trying to get the card from might be going through something.

They might be onto another card. You never know, and that's why follow-up is really important. I have this rule when someone reaches out to me about a card that's not available. I always say this. I always say it's not available.

It's not for sale, but reach out to me in six months, and let's check-in to see where I'm at. You know what happens? Nine out of 10 times, there's no follow-up in six months. And so that tells me that person didn't really want the card.

But if there is follow-up in six months and that person did take me up on that offer, whether I sell it to them or not, my respect level for them to reengage tells me that this individual really wants this card, and possibly, I should entertain that.

I think accepting a no gracefully is really important.

Not every chase ends in a deal, and that's okay. But I think maintaining respect leaves the door open. This, in my opinion, there's no this isn't a rule book, but this is, in my opinion, is the right way to inquire about a card.

I think there's you you can also be aggressive, like, there's an aggressive approach to this or to show the individual how serious you are. And being aggressive in in sports, in life, it has its trade offs.

Sometimes, it it works, and sometimes being aggressive leads to something different. And I think the biggest thing and all you all my dealer friends listening to stacking slabs here are probably gonna love this.

So this is for you, all you dealers out there setting up at shows, who have a large inventory of cards and who deal with a bunch of these interactions for a while, I think I think you'll appreciate this.

But if you want the card from somebody who has the card, show, don't tell, don't ask what would it take. Lead with an actual offer. You're not on offense. They're in no position in this scenario are you on offense.

The card isn't available. The card is not for sale. So if you want to have a conversation, if you want to land that card, the bet and you wanna be aggressive about it, don't ask a question.

Lead with an offer. This helps cut through all the indecision and shows you're not just kicking the tires. I think the offer has to create tension.

We're trying to find tension between the owner of the card and their willingness to potentially entertain a conversation. I think that's really important. Think about it in steps. Start with a conversation.

You need to have the conversation before you land the card. If your offer is strong enough, it will make the owner think. That is important. I think you gotta be thoughtful and you gotta be strategic in the way you structure your offer.

Most dealers in this scenario prefer cash, but, also, the individual with the card also is probably a collector. So there might be an opportunity to deal cash in by looking at their page, you might have cards that you could throw in.

I think offering that that optionality between offers, cash plus a rare parallel might be helpful. But my my gut tells me in most of these scenarios, like, a cash offer is king.

You can signal urge urgency, but if you signal urgency, make sure you do it without pressure. Use limited time framing. This is my top priority right now, and I've got the funds ready. This is my top priority now.

This card, the one that you own that's not available, and I've got the funds ready. That phrase in and of itself builds curiosity because the individual on the other side will funds. How much funds? Like, what are you thinking?

Regardless of if the deal gets done or not, we, as the owners of those cards, will always entertain the offer because we wanna know what the market value is, and there's not a better way to get the market value of a card than hearing directly from someone who wants the card and what they're willing to pay.

I think we need to help them feel like the opportunity is real and now.

Never ever nickel and dime. If the card is truly rare and meaningful, come with your bet. Put your best foot forward. The goal isn't to win the deal. It's to win the card.

This is really important. When you're going through these scenarios, you're not you should never do it of I'm gonna be aggressive and get this card because then I'm gonna try to sell it two months, and I know I can make it three x more.

Like, the this happens when you really want the card because you need the card for your collection. I think letting the offer reflect how much it means is really important.

You want the person who owns the card to feel that. The strength of the offer eventually makes owners reconsider. I think a strong offer can help reflect our identity as a collector.

It says, we know what we love. We've prioritized, and this card rises above the rest. Most collectors don't know what their white whale is, but when you're in this scenario, you do.

It communicates conviction, not curiosity. You're not browsing. You're building a beautiful collection, and that piece that that individual owns will help enhance it. You're willing to stretch because you care deeply about the piece.

Strong offers tell your story. When you finally land the card, the story is baked into it. I tried three times. I offered big. I made it happen. And other collectors remember. Other collectors remember.

Even if the card doesn't move, you've signaled your seriousness. That reputation could lead to future opportunities and separates you from passive collectors. You've been waiting for the right listing. You're creating opportunity.

One of the last things I wanna hit on before we get out of here hopefully, hopefully, you're enjoying this episode. I'm enjoying talking about this. Why it's smarter to go big on a grail than fill the void with small pickups?

I I think I'm in this mode right now, and I've talked about this on the series, the vaulted series, where it's like, I'm just trying to avoid collection clutter.

I don't want filler cards that often distract me from what I want. I don't want more just because it makes me feel good when I get the mail day because, typically, I regret it later.

I'm trying to practice delayed gratification, building a war chest, and waiting for the right moment. And I don't fear overpaying on the one card that I really need. I fear spending thousands across dozens of forgettable cards.

Clarity brings contentment. Going all in on one grail creates peace of mind for me. I feel more fulfilled with a single card that I love than the 15 you kinda like. That Andrew Luck story, those cards absolutely kick ass. They rule.

I love them. They're pillars in my collection, and I'm constantly trying to figure out how do I do this again. Like, this is like a one can I do this again? Is this like a once a year thing? And that's what's really motivating to me.

I think there's always noise in the market. Every week, there's a new product type in auctions, and I think not letting that those things distract you me as a collector or you as a collector, from what really matters is important.

Don't be distracted by side quests. Don't be distracted by shiny objects. If you know where a card is, consider what I'm talking about in this episode to land it.

Let's close out this episode. Maybe some closing remarks before we get on out of here is just recognizing the chase is part of the magic. The story behind acquiring a grail makes the card more meaningful.

The friction, the work, the negotiation, it always adds value. Keep putting yourself in that position. Have the funds ready. Keep your wants known. Build the relationship so when the time comes, you're the first call.

And never settle. The grail is worth the wait. Let the market be loud. Stay focused on your silent chase. We're doing a lot of fun conversations, content here on stacking slabs.

Make sure you tell a damn friend. I do appreciate that. Really loving doing these episodes. You all take care. More stacking slabs coming at you soon. We'll talk to you.