The Weekly Rip 11.9.25 [Strategy]
We explore the impact of strategy in collecting.
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The Weekly Rip
Your Stacking Slabs Sunday Update
November 9, 2025
The hobby is buzzing right now.
Cards are moving.
Markets are jumping.
Everyone’s making moves.
It feels good to be in the mix again. You open your feed and see grails changing hands, record breakers lighting up auction sites, and new releases sparking chaos at every level.
It’s fun…until it’s not.
Because that same energy that pulls you in can also pull you off course.
When things are hot, everyone starts sprinting. You feel the pressure to buy something, anything, just to stay part of the action. That’s when the smartest thing you can do is stop, breathe, and think.
Ask yourself: Am I moving because I have a plan or because I’m afraid of getting left behind?
That’s the difference between collecting and chasing.
I’ve learned that making moves that matter comes down to three things:
1. Strategy
It’s your compass.
It keeps you from drifting into the hype tornado.
When you know what fits your story, saying no becomes easy. You stop buying to fill space and start buying to fill purpose.
2. Execution
That’s the muscle.
It’s the discipline to wait for the right window and the courage to strike when it opens.
It’s learning how to negotiate with all kinds of sellers—the flipper, the “make me an offer” guy, the emotionally attached collector who needs to know their card’s going to a good home. Execution isn’t luck. It’s preparation meeting opportunity.
3. Adaptation
That’s the secret weapon.
The hobby never stays still. Players get traded. Sets lose steam. New products steal attention. The collectors who thrive aren’t the ones who resist change—they’re the ones who adjust without losing themselves.
This space rewards those who zig when everyone else zags.
You don’t have to be a contrarian to win, but you do have to think for yourself.
I still overpay for cards that mean something to me.
I still get caught up in hype once in a while.
But the difference now is that I know why I’m doing it.
That’s strategy.
That’s execution.
That’s adaptation.
So if you’re feeling the itch to make a move this week, ask yourself a few questions:
Does this fit my story?
Will I still want it when the buzz fades?
Am I doing this on my terms or someone else’s?
If you can answer yes, pull the trigger.
If not, close the app, grab a stack of your favorites, and spend some time with the cards that got you here.
That’s how you keep your passion sharp while the market spins.
That’s how you keep making moves that count.
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Reissue: Making the Market Work for You
Grant Slayton on Deals, Relationships, and Playing the Long Game
What happens when you give up a Michael Jordan PMG Championship and end up with 300 rare cards in return?
That’s the story Grant Slayton told on Stacking Slabs and it’s not just about executing a grail-for-grail trade. It’s about how deep collector relationships, well-timed decisions, and a clear strategy can unlock massive long-term wins in the hobby.
Grant didn’t just move a high-end Jordan for a quick flip. He traded it into momentum. A deal with @mksportscards that’s still paying dividends — one rare card at a time.
This wasn’t a flex. It was a masterclass.
Let’s break it down.
What We Learned from This Episode
Grant has built a reputation as one of the most trusted and dealers in the hobby — not by cutting corners, but by playing the long game.
The story starts with years of relationship-building. Before the Jordan deal ever happened, Grant and MK had already made dozens of trades. They knew how each other worked. They didn’t argue over comps. They didn’t need middlemen. They dealt in mutual respect and mutual benefit.
So when MK wanted Grant’s PMG Championship Jordan, Grant didn’t just see a big cash-out. He saw an opportunity to reshape his collection.
The return? 300 ultra-rare, collector-friendly cards. All raw. All ready to grade, flip, or trade. All handpicked by a collector who curates his collection with surgical precision.
And that’s exactly what Grant did.
He didn’t sit on the stack. He went to work:
Sent dozens off to PSA and BGS.
Picked a batch to consign immediately.
Showcased others to spark new collector interest.
The result? A snowball effect.
One card turned into ten. Then those ten unlocked fifteen more. Soon, he was holding grails again — but this time with cash, flexibility, and story equity in hand.
This wasn’t a “buy low, sell high” play. This was about unlocking upside through liquidity, creativity, and control.
But here’s the kicker: none of it would’ve worked without trust. Without Grant’s reputation. Without his long history of being easy to deal with, responsive, and committed to win-win outcomes.
What This Means for Collecting in 2025
Deal-making isn’t just about margins — it’s about positioning.
Here’s the play:
Treat relationships like long-term assets. The best deals don’t happen in DMs out of nowhere. They’re earned through consistency and character. Start building now.
Don’t get hung up on comps. If you know cards, you know what has legs. Look for liquidity, scarcity, and demand — not just recent eBay sales.
Think in moves, not moments. The best collectors aren’t attached to every card. They know when to trade up, when to break even, and when to hold.
Start where you are. You don’t need a Jordan PMG to play this game. Grant’s strategy scales. Start small. Build smart. Be intentional.
Be the collector people want to deal with. That’s how you get the next call when a grail hits the table.
I appreciate your support for Stacking Slabs. Tell a damn friend.
Take care,
Brett