PSA Hit Pause: What This Means for the Future of the Hobby
6/5/202640 min
Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden, and Bella Shafer are back with a hobby-heavy episode centered on PSA’s submission pause and the ripple effects it could have across grading, liquidity, and collector behavior. Ryan and Brian talk through what happens when the biggest grading company slows the funnel, whether that increases the value of already-graded cards, and why timing and velocity matter so much in modern collecting. They also dig into the NBA Finals, Wemby’s long-term ceiling, Brunson’s card-market upside, the Mantle redemption pull, and the broader size of the global collectibles market. What makes the episode work is the mix of perspectives: Ryan as the hobby operator, Brian as the data-and-product guy, and Bella as the one surfacing the questions collectors are already asking. Topics Covered PSA’s pause and how it affects grading strategy Whether grading bottlenecks help or hurt value How the Finals could impact Wemby and Brunson cards The Topps Mantle redemption and why it matters What the hobby’s real market size may be Why alternative graders may benefit now Ludex Super Search and marketplace discovery The Ryan + Brian + Bella take on what smart collectors should watch next Shop now at onitathlete.com and use code COLLECTORNATION at checkout to receive 15% off your first order! Links Collector Nation https://www.collectibles.show/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/collector-nation/id1832831782 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxYLxZTsggQb44TQxnaNylA Ryan Alford https://www.ryanalford.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford/ Brian Ludden / Ludex https://www.ludex.com/ https://search.ludex.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp/ Bella Shafer https://www.instagram.com/isabellashafer/
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsBella Shafer· Host0:00
PSA has paused their submissions as of June 2nd They own two other grading companies now, so it doesn't hurt, and it might even help their brand and enterprise value anyways.
Ryan Alford· Host0:11
I mean, it'd be a great play, wouldn't it? Just to say, "Now we're back at the national. All submissions happening here. PSA is back in business, baby. All right." NBA finals start tonight. Jalen Brunson. I mean, I might actually pocket a few Brunson rookies here. If they lose, even if they got swept, I don't think Brunson's cards, the bottom's falling out. I think there's only upside for Brunson.
Bella Shafer· Host0:31
A recent projection said that right now, trading cards and collectibles are a $50 billion global industry, and that by 2032, they will be a $90 billion industry. And I would argue it could be higher than that.
Ryan Alford· Host0:45
In doubling.
Brian Ludden· Host0:46
Oh, it's higher, for sure.
Speaker 40:48
Welcome to the Collector Nation podcast, here on the Collector Nation Network. Whether you're chasing grails or calling bluffs, we take you inside the hobby. Here are your hosts, Ryan Alford and Brian Lutte.
Ryan Alford· Host1:05
What's up, guys? Welcome to Collector Nation, here on the Collector Nation Network, powered by yours truly, Bella, Brian, me, and of course, Ludex. We're at Ludex HQ there in Chicago. Ludex x- HQ, coming to us from Chicago.