The Weekly Rip 7.13.25 [Relationship capital]
We explore the power of relationships and why it's important to be mindful of your investment in relationship capital to open doors to new opportunities for your collection.
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The Weekly Rip
Your Stacking Slabs Sunday Update
July 13, 2025
Relationship Capital Is the Real Currency in the Hobby
When I think about the most meaningful cards in my collection, I don’t think about what they last sold for.
I think about how I got them.
Not through bidding wars or sniping auctions. Not from waking up in the middle of the night and checking eBay. Most of the time, the cards that matter most to me came from people. A tag in a story. A heads-up before something got listed. A quiet message from someone who knew I’d care more about the card than anyone else.
That’s relationship capital.
It’s not a strategy. It’s not a shortcut. It’s the long game. It’s what happens when you consistently show up in this hobby—not just to collect, but to connect.
I spent fifteen years working in marketing for software companies of all shapes and sizes. My job was to build trust. Not through a single ad or campaign, but over time. Repetition. Consistency. Respect. That same mindset has carried over to how I approach collecting and how I’ve built Stacking Slabs.
When I started this platform, I didn’t have sponsors. I didn’t even know what it could be. I just knew I wanted to build something that meant something. I wanted to elevate voices in the hobby. I wanted to contribute. And most of all, I wanted to form real relationships with people who were just as passionate as I was.
That approach didn’t just shape Stacking Slabs—it shaped my collection.
The best deals I’ve made didn’t happen because I had the most money.
They happened because someone trusted me with a card that mattered to them. They knew it would go to the right place.
That’s the power of relationship capital.
We all love the cards. But the cards don’t show up in a vacuum. They show up through people. And the way you treat those people is often the difference between seeing the card you want or never knowing it was available in the first place.
Here’s how I think about it:
Every interaction in this hobby is either a deposit or a withdrawal.
You’re either building trust or breaking it.
You’re either someone people want to share with or someone they avoid.
Collectors remember. The ones who tag you in listings. The ones who offer you first crack at a card. The ones who help you land something you’ve been chasing for years. That doesn’t happen out of luck.
It happens because you’ve made yourself someone worth doing business with. Someone who shows gratitude. Someone who listens. Someone who gives back without keeping score.
And when you do that over time, the hobby opens up in ways you can’t manufacture.
You get access.
You get support.
You get your best cards.
So if you’ve made it this far, I’ll leave you with a few things to think about:
1. Are you making deposits or withdrawals?
Not just when you’re buying or selling, but every time you engage—on Instagram, at shows, in DMs. Are you adding to someone’s collector bank account, or are you taking without giving?
2. What are you known for?
Not what cards you collect—but how you show up. Are you known as someone who’s fair? Responsive? Honest? Are you the type of person others want to deal with again?
3. Would people come to you first?
If a card you’ve been chasing became available, would someone think to tag you? Would they want you to have it? That answer says a lot more about your collecting future than any price point ever will.
Relationship capital compounds.
It builds over time.
And it pays you back in ways money can’t.
If you’re trying to build something that lasts, start there.
The cards will follow.
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The Stacking Slabs Patreon is the only place you can get access to exclusive episodes like From 3 where we walk through interesting information about 3 cards that were recently sold. This week we cover the 97-98 PMG Championship sales of Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, and Alonzo Mourning. We explore the cards themselves and how these sales might impact the broader 90s basketball card market.
Reissue: Relationship First, Cards Second
Justin (@outofsteptrading) on Trust, Community, and the Real Currency of the Hobby
What happens when your next card doesn’t come from a listing, but from someone who already knows it belongs with you?
That’s the story Justin shared on Episode 217 — and it’s not just about NASCAR cards. It’s about the value of being known, being consistent, and building a collector identity that draws cards your way.
Justin doesn’t chase trends. He’s not optimizing for likes or attention. He built a lane and more importantly, he built relationships inside that lane.
So when a Richard Petty 1/1 surfaced, the seller didn’t tag 20 people. He messaged one.
Because he knew exactly where that card should go.
Let’s break it down.
What We Learned from This Episode
Justin’s page is out of step for a reason — it’s not meant to follow the herd.
His collection is shaped by his upbringing, his dad’s role on a pit crew, and the races they watched together. It’s Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. It’s early NASCAR inserts and modern NT laundry tags. It’s cards that aren’t shared for hype — they’re shared because they matter.
That clarity has created connection.
Over time, Justin has built relationships with other NASCAR collectors who know what he’s looking for. He gets DMs before cards hit eBay. He gets tagged in rare 1/1s. He’s created a feedback loop where people root for him to land the cards that fit his collection.
And when you have that kind of collector equity — when people trust your intent — you gain something more valuable than inventory.
You gain access.
One example: Justin got a call from a friend who owned a Richard Petty 1/1 NT auto patch. It wasn’t listed. It wasn’t shopped. The message was simple: “If it’s going to anyone, it’s going to you.”
That’s what relationship capital looks like in action.
It’s not about volume. It’s about presence. It’s about showing up so often, with so much clarity, that the cards eventually start finding you.
What This Means for Collecting in 2025
If you’re tired of being one of 50 bidders, start becoming one of one.
Here’s the move:
If you collect something niche, show it off. Make your intent obvious. Don’t worry about engagement — worry about identity. Let people know what you love so they can help.
If you want first shot at rare cards, invest in people. Comment. DM. Trade. Ask questions. The best cards rarely come from the public feed — they come from a collector who already knows you care.
If you’re building something meaningful, share the story. Explain the “why.” That’s how trust gets built. And once you have that trust, deals start coming to you — not the other way around.
That’s what makes collecting sustainable. And that’s how you win without chasing.
I appreciate your support for Stacking Slabs. Tell a damn friend.
Take care,
Brett