OK y'all. This one hurts my heart.
One of the best guys in the hobby, my LCS owner Mike, had his shop broken into a few nights ago. The thieves made off with some serious stuff, and he still doesn't even know the full extent of it because he's still picking up the pieces.
If you see someone selling, flashing, or bragging about weirdly high-end stuff that feels out of character, please pay attention. Not just anyone can show up with things like a $24k box of Transcendent, rare $7500 Mahomes autos, etc, without raising some eyebrows.
This stuff represents decades of blood, sweat, and tears from one of the most upstanding families you could ever hope to meet, along with some pretty incredible team members who pour themselves into that shop every day. It makes me sick to see something like this happen to anyone, especially people like them.
I have full faith that the hobby watchdogs, dealers, collectors, and card show crews won't let this stuff quietly disappear. I don't think these criminals understand what kind of reach we have. As a collective, I assure you, we can figure this out. They don't get to just ride off into the sunset. They did this to one of us...so they did this to all of us.
Here are a couple links showing a small number of the stolen items, but there was a lot more. Please keep an eye out for anything strange. You'll know it when you see it.
And if you do see something, please say something. Thank you all.
https://t.co/VdAEifKd3i
https://t.co/mEujWY0DVv
I want to give a huge shoutout to PapaJay’s Card Shop.
A few weeks ago, I submitted a Cooper Flagg Topps Chrome Refractor through the shop for PSA grading. Like anyone sending in a big card, I was hoping for a Gem Mint 10. When the card came back as a PSA 9, I wasn’t thrilled, but I wasn’t upset either. That’s part of the hobby.
What did concern me was what appeared to be ink smudges on the back of the card inside the slab and underneath the card. Both PapaJay’s and I inspect cards before submission, and I know I never would have sent this card in if I had seen those marks beforehand.
Instead of brushing me off, the team at PapaJay’s took my concerns seriously. They filed a claim with PSA and spent weeks trying to get answers. PSA ultimately claimed the card arrived that way, which honestly left more questions than answers.
What happened next is why this shop has earned my business for life.
Even though they didn’t have to, PapaJay’s stepped up and took responsibility. They offered me a Cooper Flagg Refractor PSA 10 to make things right. I was completely floored.
In a hobby where card shops sometimes get criticized for only caring about profits, PapaJay’s showed what truly matters: integrity, customer service, and relationships.
I bring my son into the shop regularly, and he absolutely loves it there. The staff always treats him well, takes time to talk with him, and makes him feel welcome. That’s the kind of experience that keeps this hobby growing.
The hobby isn’t dying—it’s thriving. And it’s because of shops like PapaJay’s that genuinely care about their customers and the community they’re building.
Thank you to everyone at PapaJay’s. You’ve earned a customer for life.