1327 - Ramblings with John Keating

Dr. James Beckett: Sports Card Insights

Dr. Beckett and his friend John Keating address the ever-evolving landscape of sports card collecting, highlighting personal experiences and delineating the fine line between learning and reliving undesirable experiences, including operational challenges, customer service frustrations, and the impact of corporate changes at Beckett Media. Additionally, the conversation pivots to the broader card-collecting industry's trends, emphasizing the implications of monopolies, the shift towards high-value cards, and the financial dynamics driven by big players like Fanatics and Panini, as well as the balance between maximizing short-term profits and fostering long-term hobby health, touching on the cult of gambling in sports and the potential future of collector conventions. 01:31 Customer Service Challenges 03:36 Industry Changes and Market Dynamics 07:40 The Role of Data in the Hobby 07:51 Monopolies and Market Competition 14:24 Card Shows and Community 17:16 Gambling and the Hobby's Evolution