Chris Wells has been in the stamp and coin business since 1971. He credits his nephew Daniel Wells with the idea of giving sports trading cards a go.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
In New Plymouth, if you’re not collecting stamps or coins, what are you doing with your life? Well, probably something more exciting, but fear not! Philatelic Distributors is diving head-first into the glittering world of American sports trading cards. Just when you thought trading stamps couldn’t get any more thrilling!
Founded in 1968 (which is basically the dinosaur age for trading goods), Philatelic Distributors has taken a creative leap from stamps to cards. Chris Wells, who somehow found the time to work for the company while still in high school back in 1971, has helmed the operation since the ’80s. Apparently, he didn’t realize he could’ve just joined a boy band instead.
Now, you might be thinking that adding trading cards to the mix is as sensible as putting a toilet seat on a Ferris wheel. But Chris claims that the youthful crowd of card aficionados has brought a vibrant energy to the old-timey stamp game. “It supplements our stamp collecting business,” he says, while ensuring he doesn’t call his stamp-collecting mates “crusty old relics.”
Thanks to his nephew, Daniel Wells, the idea of selling sports cards is now a reality. “Daniel suggested we expand. So I thought, why not dive into the world of overpriced cardboard?” Chris chuckles. And now, Card Crazy is attracting collectors faster than a free pizza at a frat party, with a showroom overflowing with shiny cardboard treasures.
Located in a former jeweler’s shop on Devon Street (because who wouldn’t want to trade between glittering diamonds and sweaty cards?), Card Crazy not only looks good but also gives the vibe of being a social hub for up-and-coming collectors. Daniel says the shop is essentially a “very expensive advert,” or as I like to call it, a “prices might give you a heart attack” display for potential buyers.
As if things couldn’t get more interesting, Card Crazy has partnered with Italian trading card titan Panini. They control the card distribution like a parent controlling dessert at a birthday party—creating unparalleled scarcity. Prices for these cards range from “my wallet is sobbing” at $60 to a jaw-dropping $20,000 for a box of 10 cards, because why not feel that sweet, sweet exclusivity?
And yes, you heard that right. A LeBron James card recently sold for $9.4 million because, apparently, finding an ultra-rare card makes people lose their collective minds. Even a Taranaki customer recently scored a one-of-a-kind card that could fetch up to $7,000. At this rate, I’m expecting cards to become the next Bitcoin.
With Michael Jordan’s and Kobe Bryant’s memorabilia flying off the shelves like hotcakes, it seems that the ridiculous price tags don’t deter true fans. As one customer smugly reaffirms, “I once snatched a Kobe jersey for $500, and I’m saving it for a rainy day—or a day when I want to brag about my good taste.” Well, it’s always nice to have that piece of fabric sitting in your closet to remind you of better financial choices.
In a world where a piece of cardboard can sell for $22 million, it really makes you reconsider your choice of career. So, if anyone tells you that collecting stamps or trading cards is a childish hobby, kindly remind them it might just be a lucrative retirement plan. Full of surprises, sadness, and humor, the world of sports trading cards is undoubtedly entertaining.
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