I wish I could find the Youtube video of the guy reviewing Key Collector and saying he now had a lot more keys than he thought he had. It was kind of hilarious because he was talking about the nonsense type of books that are showing up on these lists every week. But now he has an awesome collection because an app told him he did. They influence the market in a disingenuous way.
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As mentioned over the months here I watch, listen,and read most of these Youtubers shows for background noise, gauge the market, and to hear what other collectors are talking about. But this statement is exactly what they do… and the “TIME TO SELL” comment is what makes people buy to the book to possibly flip it if they hurry and find it cheap for others its FOMO.
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He probably will reply with something that is an absurd leap in logic like you know, preselling comics at the eBay asking price is kind of the same thing as being a spec site and making a spec list and telling people these are spec worthy books. Man oh man lol
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And I write these things about Key Collector as someone who is a $1.99 a month subscriber. It has its uses. I am not just blindly hating on them.
My issue with some of these “youtubers” and folks with sites or videos is that they are working in conjunction with a goal of creating a false narrative. I don’t mind speculation. I enjoy hearing about new books, opinions on things that may be a cause for a book to become popular. I love the videos that do just that.
However, with some of these folks they are creating their own self fulfilling prophecies. It is absolutely the case with this “pro spec” group and Key collector. It is the same for some others of course.
A book gets highlighted for some reason or another…just about anything. In some cases their rationale is absolutely bullshit but I digress (Like saying some book nobody cares about at this point has few graded examples on the census and that somehow means the book is rare?).
Folks buy the book because of it being highlighted…then the book becomes highlighted on other lists because it magically saw a +300% increase in sales over the last week? Really…no kidding.
Sure, folks can make up their minds as to what they buy…but reviews/and highlights help that process. It’s the same with everything in this world. If you see a movie you never heard of suddenly become the talk of the town, rave reviews (even if those rave reviews were by paid reviewers)…you suddenly become far more apt to watch that film.
Anyway, sorry to ramble…just my .02.
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Yea there is a difference between opinions and an entire app that calls everything on it a Key Comic and provides affiliate links.
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No one said that anyone did. And neither do most “youtubers”.
You stated youtubers goal is to get clicks, my point is that’s what all websites are that run advertising. That’s all.
Many just put spec out there. Some do lists. CHU puts spec out there. CHU runs lists.
The only difference is the intention and bias that you are applying towards people. You know and like Anthony so you feel he is being altruistic. You don’t like “YouTubers” so you assume the worst of them.
Key Coll running Tales from the flip side top 10 with ebay links, is no different then CHU running the Covrprice top 10 with ebay links.
But I’m not sure we are going to see eye to eye though. Cheers!
I tend to simply enroll myself in as much as I can; and make my own decisions from the influx of various avenues of the information.
CHU, KC, FB, Youtube, Insta, CBSI, GoCollect, etc… all… all have their little tidbits that I look for. Maybe it’s one out of 50 things I read/seen. Maybe it’s 35 out of 50. The other stuff I deem inconsequential/dopey, I just ignore.
I guess I’ve gotten old? Or just mature enough to know what is nonsense and what may have substance behind it, and what definitely has substance.
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100% @Bill. Well said.
Read everything. Make your own evaluations and act accordingly.
All have their uses (and flaws). No one makes you do anything.
No reason to rip and take shots at other sites/apps/youtubers.
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It’s a learning process for sure. Most new people to spec are probably just buying everything people say to buy. I mean, i did that at first as well. Now a few years later you just learn more and know some things to look for. It’s still all a big guessing game but you can have educated guesses. Reading solicits and previews helps. Like really reading the catalog every month and seeing what it says. Sometimes everything you need to know is right in there and sometimes it isn’t.
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Yes. Clicks are their goal, and they use the ‘spec push’ to accomplish their goal.
The clicks and subscribers help all future spec pushes, while simultaneously helping monetize their online presence…Two birds, one stone…vicious cycle for the ‘subscriber’.
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Here’s a good synopsis: “Everyone is guilty of something; but No one is guilty of everything” 
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That is a prudent move. I used to do that as well, but I now have a select few trusted sources that I use. I’m quite laid back about my hobby, and learned a while ago that if I miss something, that is okay, and I’ll hopefully catch the next train. I also rely heavily on my own research, which has always proven to be the most profitable for my collection.
I think both methods, ‘full on’ (you) and ‘half baked’ (me), are equally viable.
Having said that, I also believe that if no one clicked on those lousy ‘sources’, then those lousy sources wouldn’t exist. They would be forced to create good, relevant, true content in order to be relevant. 
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Agree 100%. And some site/videos cater more towards the well educated collector and some cater towards the newer collector that needs more assistance. All have their purpose and positives.
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I certainly did that for the first 18-24 months when I first started speculating 5-6 years ago.
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Yeaaa… that would be nice with supporting positive, informed sources and the elimination of those that truly have “some underlying b.s. going on”.
100% agree.
My internal filters would not need to be so honed as they currently are (and dismissive/ negative as they currently are)
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While I do agree with that assessment, to a degree, I feel like the fact that I do ‘know’ Tony (I really don’t, we have never met, and don’t socialize at all outside of comic speculation. I don’t ‘know’ Tony, but he has gained my trust as a fellow hobbyist) is exactly why I trust him and any information he gives. I feel like I know his motives, and that they are good. That, I believe, behooves me.
And I am indifferent towards every ‘youtuber’. I don’t care one way or the other, tbh. Not anymore. My assessments of any given source, I believe, are made solely on the information I have amassed from keeping my ear to the ground in this hobby for half a decade. 
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That’s the 100% correct way to follow those that you trust.
But I disagree that you are indifferent towards “youtubers”. You tend to have a negative bias towards them (in these posts) and paint with a broad brush.
But it’s all good. Cheers!
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I think Reggie Collects is honest. He is a YouTube guy. 
I’ll fight you. Bring it on.
-keyboard warrior.
I kid of course. I don’t want to fight anyone. I’m too old.