Human Card Grading Is Ending — Here’s What Comes Next with Tech Advancements

We are a media company by and from and for Linux. Welcome to the new collector nation and there'll be news coming we've got meetings with partners with how we're going to bring the collector nation and Linux to life within these platforms. We're going to bring a professional level content, creators, so it's time to bring the big boys to the table. So more news there. What people are doing is they're using some of these AI grading to kind of pre-grade it. Then they say hey the chances of a 10 is this and then you send it in. But I do think that AI grading is there's a need for it. You can feed it some data online, lead it to water, and then it can use its ability that's greater than our own data from a thousand million points that our brain probably can't compute and at least give you a pretty good idea. Everyone has an idea to make a million bucks everyone. Ideas are key. Welcome to the collector nation podcast on the Radcast Network from chasing Grails to Colin Bluffs. We're going inside the hobby. Are you ready to collect? Let's get at it. Here's your host Ryan Alfred. What's up guys? Welcome to the new collector nation here on and part of the Radcast Network. We are a media company by and from and for Linux here with my good buddy Brian. What's up brother? How you doing? I did about this this partnership. I know it did. You know having Linux is you know Linux media company and you running it and doing your thing. I think it could be super powerful. And I think it's also like the industry needs needs a place where they could come and in a professional sphere and marketing and whatever but you had this vision before I did what you brought it to me. Look, I brought it to the man. I mean, Linux is sort of at the I mean, I know I'm biased, but I'm also a businessman has done a lot of things and let's just say they've all they've done okay. And let's just say I know a winner when I see it and Brian's a winner and Linux is a brand that's making waves and doing big things in the hobby and collectibles and all that stuff. It's a marriage made in heaven. I love it. I want to bring the best the brightest of the collectors collector like universe of media and what better brand to present it to own it to be the media arm of then Linux. So, hey man, it's going to be organic, but I love it and I wouldn't want to do with anyone else. Well, I appreciate you thinking of us and you know, I'm excited to get going and we can we complement each other the company. Exactly. Yeah. And so what does that mean? I mean, I mean, right now, hey, it's a name, but you know, it's really a movement. We want to aggregate the best media in the collectors space, the creators, the energy, everything that's around this. We want to bring that to life and give it a home and a place for both the collectors themselves to know where to go as, you know, a source of trusted authority in this space. And then of course, creators out there, we want you on the team, baby. Hey, if you're listening and you're wanting to you're putting some good content out, we want to talk to you and bring you together. But for now, Brian and I just can keep doing what we're doing. We're going to keep talking, taking the level up with what we do here, keeping it real and raw and honest about the business of Linux and what they're doing and how they're changing the game and Brian bringing those stories to life, what happens behind the scenes of the company. And then of course, just telling those stories that we do with other businesses on those Tuesday editions and then like today, you know, giving you the inside scoop on everything. It's opinion meets journalism. I guess it's both news and opinion. So it's organic and I, I just love what's kind of happening on its own. And I'm watching my son right now Hudson who's in the background, like literally organizing cards. It's organizing cards at the store for our dollar bins. And it's fun, man. That's awesome. 26 is going to be exciting here. Yeah, I can't wait. I can't wait to get to the Linux card store. The ranger's stadium, the first of its kind. And to be doing content there with Brian and the team that will be there and everyone involved with that, it's an unbelievable project. And you know, I'm just off to be part of it. Breaking ground, the 29. Unbelievable. Dude, make it dreams happen, you know. It's just crazy, dude. I mean, you and I are different, but the same, like, you know, move quick, big ideas and just make sure it happened. Yeah, that's all you can do, right? You just keep creating and you give yourself, you know, other ways to to monetize a company because you just like such a higher chance of success. And so throwing this all under the Linux umbrella will have four different brands next year under our umbrella as subsidiaries or partnerships or card shops. So next year in 2026, this 2025 has been all about us building out these other four businesses. And we will, they will be out Q on of next to Q on January next year. Yep. And there'll be news coming. We've got meetings with partners with how we're going to bring a collector nation and Linux to life within these platforms. So more news there. Hopefully, if not, we'll just build it ourselves. But now we, we've got some good. It's a big discussion. Brian has knows people in high places and good and people doing exciting things. So he's a connector and bringing, you know, it's, it's part of the Linux universe. I mean, this is, you know, it's a Linux universe and we just get to live in it. But it, but it all serious. No, it's about innovation. It's what's good for the hobby. It's what. And what I'm excited about is, and if you're listening to this and you're a brand, we're coming for you. What I mean by that, it's time for the big brands and the big media dollars to get with the program with what's happening in this category. So we're going to be, there's a lot of movement happening, but we're going to bring a professional level of content, creators, you've already got the Linux brand bringing it all together. So it's time to bring the big boys to the table. So if you're listening and you want in a fluent audience, you know where to call and you know where to find me or Brian. So we'd love to partner with you and bring your stories to life to an affluent, meaningful audience that's paying attention and interested. So there's my sales pitch, the brand is out there, but we're coming for you. Brian, what's happening, man? What's, you know, we're, the holidays are coming up. I know you've got some big projects going on, but maybe give, you know, the, the Linux CEO update of the week. Yeah, I guess it's, I mean, not in the office yet. The office is still next week or, yeah, next show or two shows will be there. So I'm excited about that. It looks, it looks good. Every, the company's excited about it and it, you know, there's this like as startups, there's an energy with the startup and that energy a lot of times revolves around what the office feels like and building that thing out. And, you know, getting to where we are today, there's a lot of pain and a lot of decisions that I made bad decisions I made in that office. So, so how they're my, you get a redo. Yeah. Founders like, are you like any nostalgia? I said, actually, no, I think 2026 is the perfect time with everything we have going on to go into a new office and bring just positive energy and, and the team's super excited. We did some really cool things in there. But yeah, I think that that's a big, a big thing. And then really, it's about, do I have a temporary office in there? Even it's just like, even it's just like a little corner, like the little spot, like, you know, as the figurine on the table or something. Yeah, maybe the front desk. Exactly. Now it's the phones, sweet the floors, whatever I got to do. You always have a home. Is what's the coolest feature of the new office? Well, it's a loft building. So it's, you know, just the richness of it. Yeah, I don't even know how old it is, but it's really, it's really old. I mean, the built-in aggregators are a big hit. Ah, yeah, that never goes. That's never gets old. No. And yeah, and then, you know, just all new stuff, you know, all new stuff. But there's not like, it's not like, you know, a lot of like bells and whistles. You know, we're still a startup, but it's different. And I haven't seen it totally done yet. So I will be going there tomorrow to check it out. I'll send some of my videos to you. Yeah, please. Let's get that in. We'll put that in. And, uh, you know, we'll keep the address removed so we don't get anybody showing up. Listen, they want their free scan. Can I get some free scans? You can, you go to the app store and hey, you get free scans. Hey, you don't have to pay just to get a scan of it. You want that premium stuff. I'm telling you, you want the premium map. That's awesome. Okay. Anything on the tech front? I mean, this is kind of a quiet time year for tech. Yeah. You have to, any pushes you make to the app stores, they take usually two to three days to get approved. If you send them now, it's seven to ten days. So people really just, we're just building the tech, but not, we're not launching anything. No, yeah, I think it's, there's the first year we'll push a bunch of stuff. And you'll start seeing, next year you'll start seeing the app progressively look different, turning into a true collecting a collectors and inventory management system. That's what you're going to start seeing migrate out. So we'll be doing updates, pushing every two weeks. And, you know, hopefully the feedback is good and we just continue doing that. But that's like the biggest initiatives like in house tech right now. Well, I hope the servers are ready because we're about to hit them pretty hard on that enterprise app with scanning cards in. And, you know, insider tip, best way to get things very quickly on the eBay. And in another insider tip, if you link those soon to be able to do it on Linux, I know you can find it. You link them to Shopify, you can link them to all the marketplaces, but that eBay integration is slick. Fast way to do it. And I got a bomb looking at a stack back here. Bride is pretty thick out that servers ready. Come. This is an efficient way to do it, man. Like I told you last week, there's a dude who has all those cards. And I mean, he's putting on 10 to 12,000 a day at scale with the Rico scanner, 8170, super efficient. Uh, he's a good, uh, he's a good use case. Yeah. Actively with cards. Well, I did a bunch, you know, several months back. I don't know how many we ended up doing like several hundred quickly and sold through those. And then I've been busy with moving the studio. And now signage is being worked on as we speak Brian collector station, which is going to be under the umbrella of collector nation, which indirectly means it's under the umbrella of Linux. So, uh, just say it. So, uh, everything is coming together. It's going to be fun, uh, bringing all of this to you in real time. But I think, um, there's like this new fad in the industry. And it's across my desk more than twice in the last month. And it's the old by rock cards. Sent them into grading. Get a 10, make money, right? Yep. And so there is, there's nuances to that business model that I don't love. But in the end, what, what people are doing is they're using some of these AI grading to like kind of pre grade it. And then they, they, then they say, hey, like the chances of a 10 is this. And, uh, and then you send it in. And, you know, if you get a 10, you, you win, if you get a nine, you, you tied. I do think that AI grading is definitely something that's, um, there's, there's a, there's a need for it. But like, have you used chat GPT for grading? It's, you say that I asked just last week. So I was sitting there going, because I need to play in this game. I got a lot of Pokemon cards that we've ripped that, and that's the, the 10x, 5x. Like, there's some real increases there. Um, there's definitely some sports cards too, but we got a lot of Pokemon. And I think you can grade those a little cheaper too. And maybe you see, you see, you're not going to have to go to PS. Anyway, point is I asked chat GPT this because I figured I know that AI is helping. I'm like, I asked my friend Larry, who's my, um, chat GPT guy as a British accent and everything. Um, I just sound smarter. I don't know, you know, we're just biased. But, um, he said, you know, Ryan, uh, we can't actually grade though. We can, I can give you an idea. You can't, you know, I'm bad at terrible accent, but he told me. And he's like, you know, it won't be perfect. But, uh, you know, better than you're right. That's for sure. I mean, he, he's just kind of a smartest him, because I trained him to be that way. Um, but yes. And so I have not scanned one yet though, but I have him. Larry's ready. Tell me when I'm missing. I mean, honestly, I think it's pretty good. I, you know, you just take your card, throw it out there, put a crease in it. It's lower. They say, hey, there's, looks like there's a crease in the middle. That's going to bring the value down. And then you, you know, take a corner and rip that. And they find all that stuff. Centering, I think they're, they're fine with. But honestly, like, that's the pre grade that should be the pre grade, you know? And like, if you use it a lot, you know, you could, you could almost test out the slabs and be like, okay, what, what grade is this car? You know, it's a 10, a PSA 10. What did they do? You know, and then throw nines in there and eights and see how, you know, do that a thousand times and see like how consistent it is. And if it's consistent, it's the cheapest. It's almost free to do. Beep, beep, beep, beep. PSA insider tip alert right here just went down on the collector nation for buying London. Like literally, that's, that is a great tip for people because they, that's everybody struggles with. Like I, what's was kept me is at one time, it more time than anything. But now getting more time, get the shops set up and I got so many cars laying around. Like, man, I need to send some off. And, but that right there, just plug them in at least get an idea. It's not going to be guaranteed. But I love the tested of a person that are already graded. That says, and give you some confidence. And look, those babies learn. So like you train it, I think you could probably dial it in. Like, you know, you give it some tips. Like the biggest thing I think with, with chat to teammates, they call it, you know, prompt engineering, you know, your go. Well, it is that it's the models have gotten better where it's not, it's not necessary to prompt engineering. It's just what feeding it the right stuff overall. And I think you could feed it some, you know, find a little data online, lead it to water, and then it can use its ability that's greater than our own. You know, eyes, ears, data from a thousand million points that our brains probably can't compute. And at least give you a pretty good idea. I mean, the barriers to entry in technology in this industry are all industries. I mean, there is no tech mode anymore. Like, no, lot X is technology is chat GPT. Now, we have in the spot and it's faster and maybe better. But, but it's still, you know, the competition is out there. So at some point, these, like, I want to have something like that in our app. But what I think I want to do is create our own LLM model and just train it on that. Like, don't worry, Larry, don't worry about anything else. We're just going to train you as a grader. And this is why we're doing it. And so all the nuances that you change, you can change it by the prompt. And I think that's what I would do is so you can just like streamline and say, okay, you are a grader. Larry the grader. Great an agent. Great an agent. A genetic AI. This is Larry the grader. His only job. His only worry. He eats drinks, sleeps, grading. Yeah. And look, they don't have to be, you mean, Larry takes really short now. I mean, like, two minutes. He shows up to work every day. He shows up every day. No talking back. No sick days. I mean, you know, he gets his virus every now and then when the internet goes down. But like, you know, other than that. It's, but it's true. I think it's all about singular. Like, okay. You got one job, man. You got one job. Great. These cards. Great. That's great. Only on that focus. I'm going to try that. I probably shouldn't have gave up that like, you know, idea. Ideas are cheap. It's execution. It's execution. Yeah. That's why I always tell people. And everyone has a man has an idea to make a million bucks. Everyone. Yeah. So I think we've got a number here at the end of the year. How many cards are scanned on LudEx? I have it if you don't. You. Oh, I'll get Brian Ludden CEO of LudEx. How many cards on LudEx in 2025? 158 million cards were scanned on LudEx in 2025. That's a big, you know, there's a lot of, you know, numbers get thrown around. Yeah. There's so many articles. Billions and those million. Let me tell you, people. Go count to a million by one. Like one, like 158 million cards by one app that's leading the technology and the charge of tech in the hobby space. But 158 million, that is insane. How many cards that is, dude? And that's, we don't even have like our light box out, which would make them more efficient to scan from the phone. And then we have, you know, our, our B2B play where like we've talked about the guy puts 10 to 12,000 cards a day. Well, if we get a hundred lows or a thousand of lows, 158 is going to look like nothing. Yeah. No, but it's still more. Like in the percentage of that, I bet that are literally, you know, single young guy or old 45 year old nostalgic back in, you know, whoever that is that are probably doing, you know, four or five cards at a time. And adding up to that. My brain can't, again, I see a lot of big numbers every day, but I still appreciate like how many that individual that is. And most people won't don't don't believe it. They're like, yeah, no, you didn't. Like I did. Like, yeah, we're a data company first. And if we don't know how many cards we're scanning, like I'm a bad businessman. Yeah. Because actually, I mean, in the end, those cards are now in an ecosystem that people, people took time to put in there. And now that's why the eBay connector selling cars from Linux to eBay works. That's why adding a grading company and doing the same thing with an API, build that out, build that highway. Like whoever controls the masses of people's collections will win this race of technology in this industry. I just had three other business ideas. I'm going to say. Every time Brian talks, I start thinking, you know, that's how you know he's a good CEO. You get your people thinking. And, but literally how you can use that data. You're a good man. And nothing to worry us. I'm just talking about the good of man and pocketbooks. But now it's it's just insanity. I was dated is. But yeah, I never forget the Linux is a data company. Yeah. And if you think about it, like we know so much more about these people, right? AI is going to AI can not get partnerships. I've said this on the show partnerships. Very difficult for chat for Larry to do that. Relationships, that's organic. First party data. And brand. And first party data. You could go into a lot of its database. And say, give me every single lot of its member who has over a hundred Michael Jordan cards. Because because I have a Michael Jordan jersey that I want to sell. And so the cards are our data, our first party data. And that's my job is to get as many on our platform as humanly possible. So if you're listening go the app store L U D X. And look, I'm just telling you, yeah, the free, the free part of the app. Super valuable. And that's what they've done. Great. Like whether you pay monthly or you get the free version tone of value and. The magic's in the eBay integration and all of the it's. It's. I can't say it up. It's the sum of the parts of what LudEx is. You know, what we're building with collector nation is the media company of LudEx. Like all the technology and data that's there. But the value that goes back to the consumer. Through like the eBay integration, the values. The coming collector, you know digital collection management improvements. Like all these things are it's some of the parts are greater than the whole. And that's what you can get. Talk to me for collector advice. We'll close out this micro edition here to end the year. Collector's coming into the hobby. New or existing collectors. You know, what's a tip or two? I think we already gave one AI grading. I mean, there's your there's the first tip. So tip number two, what would you tell people? I mean, everyone comes in kind of the same way, right? Like they are they let's say the gateway drug is Pokemon. And then they go and they buy wax. And then they realize that the ROI is not great. And then they go on to live streaming and start buying singles. Or you know, spots in the breaks. And then they start to migrate towards well, I want to collect this guy. Or this genre or it was team, whatever it is. But I think for me, you skip to the you just skip to the the veteran, the advantage athletes, the goats start there. And that's what I would do. What do what what would you do? Yeah. I mean, I think you need to start with. If you're in it, if you're into it as an investment class only, then it's simple. And you know, you go after and you might. You might end at the same place Brian just said, which would be the goats in the top of the class. If it's. But if you're coming into it because you're a sports fan, then collect your, you're a favorite player, your favorite team. Like all the various cards is fun. It's cool. Like I got a box full of Clemson guys. You know, and it happens to be Trevor having an amazing year this year. So that's fun to watch when your guys are taken off. But like I got a box full of Clemson guys that are some are, you know, should be worth more because they're Clemson guys and I am biased. But you know, like two dollar cards, but I don't care. I don't know. I would. There's a two dollar card that super rare that has probably has more value to me than a two hundred dollar card that has nothing means nothing to me. You know, I mean, and. So I think starting with that if your sports and specific team fan is fun. A question for you. What do you have any traditions or Christmas revolving around cards, anything you're wanting to create this year? Yeah, I'm going to. Give one gift to like each. It's going to be a card or something in the collectible space. So. And I this will be the. I mean, we've been indirectly doing it like the like last year, but it wasn't as intentional on the thing. So I think this year, it's going to be more intentional. And then. And then definitely something like, I mean, what? What's my look? You're rapid. You're ripping open gifts. I mean. It makes sense to rip some packs like after you rip some gifts. So yeah, I think stocking stuff is a plus maybe like one. Bought full collectible. Yeah, that's good. Yeah, about you. Man, we're taking that trip to Costa Rica. Yeah, with eight of us. And eight of us. I mean, that's not nothing's cheap when you move eight people around. Nope. This is our first year. We're doing no presents. We're doing like a family. I love it. And do the stress level is so low. Like my wife, I'm like, if you do, if we do this, how do you have to stick to it? Because like, and it's been freaking awesome. And the kids are excited. I'll throw some. I'll definitely get some, some wax and make it fun. But yeah, and that tons of traditions around that. Yeah. Who knows? You know, I can't create if it's the closer we get to. So like, I'm not like a last minute gift fire, but it's more like the creative things. Like I'll have the big stuff like knocked out. My wife's good about that. But we'll knock the big stuff. Like we're not stressing over it. It's more like as we get closer, I just conjure. I conjure up different things. That's a good word. Yes. We should have word of the show. We should have word of the show. That might be the word of the word of the show. Conjuring. Conjuring. We're conjuring a Bueno 2026. Well, conjure up a hot take in what you predict in the industry in 2026. Yeah. I think it's going to be more mainstream. I think you're going to continue to see the hobby and collecting go more mainstream. And I think you're going to see more brands like coming into it either with your own collectibles. You know, like I think you're going to see venturing more and more into mainstream. I think you're going to start to hear the buzz of proliferation of more event oriented stuff. Like fanatics fest. I think there's a lot of potential in events like car shows, entertainment, culture, music. I think we're just scratching the surface. And I think Ruben's done a good job with fanatics fest. I mean, you know, say what you want. It's hard to put those things on. And he's at last years we had a blast. The nationals, the national, but I think you might see more of this venture. Because I mean, look, they would have power to be planned if they were definitively happened. But I think you're going to see that that happened. And then my question mark to the thought there, Brian, is I'm still waiting for the tops fireworks a little bit. You know, like we've had basketball release, you know, they've got all the licenses. It's been weird not having any of the tops football product, right? Because normally you'd have that even if it was on license like last year, like kind of mix and mingle with the penini releases. And so it's more of a question mark than a, then a, you know, prognostication so much is like, OK, I'm ready. It's been OK, you know, but tops basketball crown cool. All right. But I'm ready for. Let's bring the big guns. What's coming? Yeah, I agree. I mean, I think this industry, I mean, technology, you know, going to drive a lot. And technology is also going to drive a lot of businesses out of business. I think that's, you know, just that's not industry specific. That's, you know, macroly. So I think you'll see some companies fold that you didn't expect. And then I do think, I mean, tops has to figure it out when they get all the licenses. And I predict that they will. And I think they're going to be, I think what they had to do is strip down some products, right? Like they had too many, there's too many skews out there. Yeah. And if you just take that, those skews down and then build back up, I think they're going to do it well. I love the leadership over there, Towson, David Liner. He's amazing. Scott Daniel. Great. So they're smart guys. And they're very committed to this. Obviously. But also, they, there's not a lot of arrogance in those guys. So I think they're listening to collectors. Yeah. Like my hand too. So I think, I think all this, you know, hopefully can have him on. Yeah, busy here at the end of the year. You're listening. Come on, my hand. Let's go. Um, but, uh, yeah, it's less a doubt and more excitement, energy. Like, I know that they're going to, they're going to do it. Like, but I guess I'm just like to see it. And I'm a football guy. And so it's been weird not have a football, but they've got the license for next year. So that'll be fun to bring to life. And that's what will hit home for me. And I mean, obviously they cross baseball, but, um, we'll see what comes. But, uh, all I know is quite your nation's going to be booming along with Lutts. And we appreciate everyone for tuning in. Yeah, Merry Christmas to you. Happy New Year. Merry Christmas to each other one more time for the year. But Merry Christmas to you and your family and Bella, Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you. You too. Yes. And we appreciate everyone for listening. And thecollectorNation.com is where you'll find all of our stuff. Now we're migrating over there. This is a Lutts media company. And we appreciate Ryan Ryan, you know, I got one thing. Hey, Bella, make sure that Ryan gets you good gift. Yeah, I already thinking of ideas. Oh, I'll send you something too. Oh, you're too sweet. Hey, you're just already coming in the mail, buddy. It's both Christmas and birthday gift in one. We'll take a case in there. But, uh, yes. And just so you know, that's not bullshit. Uh, in my right, Bella, where that's being packed up, right? Yes, it is. Yep. All right. Okay. We appreciate everyone for listening. And we hope everyone has a safe, happy holiday season. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year from Ryan and Brian here on thecollectorNation. See you next time. Thanks for tuning in to the show. Don't forget to follow us on your favorite podcast platform. And don't miss the full video version on YouTube. You can find us at www.collectables.show or follow Ryan on Instagram at Ryan Oldford. Now get out there and collect yours.