What Do We Know About Rick Probstein’s New Selling Platform?

In the shadowy ecosystem of sports collectibles, where fortunes are made and lost on the authenticity of a signature and the condition of a cardboard rectangle, few names command as much controversy as Rick Probstein.

Today, Probstein is making his boldest move yet: launching BYD (pronounced as “Bid”) a live selling platform that promises to revolutionize how collectors buy, sell, and interact with sports memorabilia. It is expected to launch sometime in the next few months.

But in an industry where his name has become synonymous with both massive success and persistent controversy, the question isn’t just whether BYD will work — it’s whether Probstein can rebuild trust in a marketplace he’s both dominated and potentially undermined. We have the full story in our overview of Rick Probstein’s new business.

Now, Probstein is launching BYD, a live selling platform aimed at competing with eBay Live, Whatnot, and Fanatics. It’s a bold move for a dealer who’s been both celebrated and criticized.

Tablet Magazine once described him as someone who understands that memorabilia is “equal parts business and alchemy” — a description that feels increasingly apt. His new venture promises to bring more transparency to a market riddled with counterfeits and questionable transactions.

But given his history, collectors are watching closely. Can the most controversial dealer in the hobby reform the system he’s profited from for decades?

The creation of BYD

Rick Probstein, the eBay powerhouse who has amassed over $850 million in lifetime sales, is set to disrupt the sports collectibles market with his new auction platform, BYD.

“We decided that we were going to build a better mouse trap,” Probstein candidly explained, highlighting his motivation to improve upon existing live commerce features. Unlike current competitors, BYD will offer unprecedented transparency, with Probstein noting, “One of the problems that I saw on eBay Live and also with Whatnot and Fanatics is that people really have no idea what’s coming when they’re watching a live stream.”

The platform aims to revolutionize online collectible sales through themed live shows like “Wemby Wednesdays” and “T206 Tuesdays,” with a commitment to comprehensive item previews.

The platform represents more than just a new marketplace — it’s a sophisticated logistics solution for both buyers and sellers. “You’re never going to see in our platform just hands and a voice,” Probstein emphasized, insisting that “everybody’s going to have to have a studio, everybody’s going to have to have some sort of entertainment presentation.” Leveraging his experience managing a team of 35 employees, Probstein plans to reduce transaction friction by offering centralized shipping and fulfillment.

Though he will continue selling on eBay, he discovered the potential of live commerce almost by accident, revealing, “I tried it, and it was fantastic. I never thought that you could sell decent items in one-minute auctions.”

With plans to onboard major sellers and offer competitive fee structures, BYD could reshape the online collectibles ecosystem, transforming live auctions from mere transactions to engaging entertainment events.

How is BYD different from other live selling platforms

Probstein is clear about what sets BYD apart from competitors like eBay Live, Whatnot, and Fanatics. In an interview, he said, “One of the problems that I saw on eBay Live and also with Whatnot and Fanatics is that people really have no idea what’s coming when they’re watching a live stream,” he explained. To solve this, BYD will offer unprecedented transparency, with items viewable weeks in advance.

The platform’s entertainment and production quality will be another key differentiator. “Everybody’s going to have to have a studio, everybody’s going to have to have some sort of entertainment presentation.” He plans to create themed shows like “Wemby Wednesdays” and “T206 Tuesdays”, transforming live auctions from mere transactions into engaging entertainment events.

Probstein also intends to revolutionize the logistics of selling. The platform will offer centralized shipping and fulfillment, reducing friction for sellers.

As he put it, sellers can “ship everything to BYD for fulfillment”, while buyers will enjoy reduced shipping rates. His vision extends beyond collectibles, with plans to potentially become an “everything site” where users can buy various products, not just sports memorabilia.

Who Is Rick Probstein?

Rick Probstein isn’t just another sports card dealer. He’s a polarizing figure who’s built an empire on the razor’s edge of the collectibles market, with a reputation that’s equal parts admiration and suspicion.

Rick Probstein is more than just eBay’s largest sports card dealer — he’s a meticulous curator of cultural artifacts who has transformed collectible trading from a hobbyist’s pastime into a legitimate investment ecosystem.

A middle-aged Orthodox Jewish father of five from New Jersey, Probstein began his career at 11, reportedly earning $35,000 from card show circuits and developing an uncanny ability to recognize value in seemingly mundane memorabilia.

His headquarters, located in an industrial park near the New York City skyline, functions less like a traditional business and more like a historical preservation vault, where rare items ranging from Tom Brady rookie cards worth half a million dollars to signed Russian documents crowd every available surface.

What sets Probstein apart is his almost clinical approach to collectibles, viewing sports memorabilia not through the lens of fandom, but as a complex market driven by nuanced cultural perceptions. He understands that an athlete’s marketability can fluctuate based on personality, performance, and public perception — noting, for instance, that players like Luka Doncic can see their card values dramatically impacted by how fans perceive their on-court behavior.

With over 40 years in the industry, he’s watched sports cards evolve from simple collectibles to sophisticated investment vehicles, comparing himself to “a pastry chef in the kitchen” who has become so immersed in his craft that the extraordinary has become ordinary.

Not everyone is a fan

Social media is littered with accusations regarding his questionable business practices. One user bluntly stated, “Rick is a slimeball!” while another noted the seemingly paradoxical nature of his business: “It truly is amazing how they remain in business after all the issues they have been called out on over the years.”

The underbelly of Rick Probstein’s massive eBay empire reveals a troubling landscape of potential market manipulation. Despite processing over 100,000 auctions annually, the platform appears riddled with suspicious bidding patterns that raise serious questions about the integrity of its sales.

Multiple forum members documented consistent issues: bid retractions approaching 50%, artificially inflated prices, and what several collectors described as systematic “shilling” — a practice where fake or coordinated bids drive up item values.

The consignment sales create an environment ripe for abuse, where accountability becomes deliberately murky. The semi-transparent eBay bidding system allows sellers like Probstein to operate in a gray zone, where bid retractions can be executed with minimal consequences.

One particularly damning example involved a signed Musial item that was canceled mid-auction, only to reappear later at nearly triple its previous price — a pattern suggestive of calculated market manipulation.

While Probstein maintains he’s simply running an efficient sales operation, the mounting evidence suggests a business model that prioritizes maximum price extraction over genuine market dynamics.

Our previous coverage of Probstein

In September 2021, Rick Probstein held an interview with Bill Mastro which we covered here on Cardlines. It revealed a deeply troubling ethical landscape within the sports card collecting hobby, where past misconduct seems to be not just tolerated, but actively embraced.

Despite Mastro being a convicted felon who served 20 months in federal prison for fraud, Probstein continued to do business with him, even proudly stating, “we’re friends. I judge people based on how they interact with me.”

This cavalier attitude extends to Probstein’s broader business practices, with numerous allegations of lost consignment items, potential sale of trimmed or fake cards, and suspicious bidding activity plaguing his eBay platform Probstein123, which boasts an almost impossibly perfect 99.6% positive feedback rating.

The interview itself became a microcosm of the hobby’s ethical decay, with Probstein seemingly more concerned with personal convenience than systemic integrity.

When Mastro candidly discussed the “temptations” of auction houses, comparing the ethical challenges to a professional athlete facing “supermodels in a hotel,” Probstein didn’t challenge these assertions but instead agreed, remarking, “It’s too much of a temptation.”

This tacit acceptance of potential fraud is particularly alarming given Probstein’s status as eBay’s largest sports card seller, with over $850 million in lifetime sales.

By continuing to work with Mastro and seemingly dismissing widespread concerns about market manipulation, Probstein appears to be perpetuating the very practices that have long undermined the collectibles industry’s credibility.

Problems with customer service

We have mentioned some ethical concerns regarding Probstein. But nothing has ever been conclusively proven. What we do know, is that his customer service reputation is far from ideal.

Indeed, it is characterized by a pattern of neglect, poor communication, and potential unethical practices. The Blowout Cards forum thread reveals complaints from frustrated sellers and consignors who describe systemic issues with his auction house.

Multiple users reported being ghosted after submitting valuable card collections, with items either left unlisted, sold at drastically reduced prices, or simply disappearing.

The most alarming allegations go beyond mere poor communication. Sellers like Keith R. and g k. accused Probstein of outright theft, claiming he kept ungraded cards or damaged consigned items. One user detailed how a vintage unopened box was “demolished” without prior notification, effectively preventing any insurance claims.

His Yelp page is just as troubling. Probstein has 1.4 stars out of 5. One commenter writes, “Do yourself a huge favor, STAY AWAY! Start by reading his reviews on eBay. Rick Probstein is dishonest in every possible. His entire organization is unprofessional. Be it not combining shipping for buyers or purposely listing the same item multiple times and leaving buyers hanging after they think they have won. Or if you consign with him they purposely misspell players names so no-one can find the item, and their photographs look like a child took them with a camera that is not set-up properly. The Rick Probstein Auction organization is lower than lower and dirtier than dirty.”

While Probstein maintains he’s running an efficient sales operation, the mounting evidence suggests a business model that prioritizes profit extraction over seller and buyer trust. The consistent theme across these reviews is a complete breakdown of professional accountability, leaving consignors feeling vulnerable and exploited in what should be a transparent marketplace.

This raises concerns over what happens with customer service for his new platform. If there are problems, can consumers trust him to rectify them? That may be a tall order. We hope Probstein is up to the challenge.

Final word On Rick Probstein’s new business

Rick Probstein’s launch of BYD represents more than just another marketplace — it’s a calculated bet on redemption. After years of controversy, he’s positioning himself as a potential reformer of an industry he’s simultaneously exploited and defined. But can a leopard truly change its spots?

The sports collectibles world watches with a mix of skepticism and cautious intrigue. BYD promises transparency, entertainment, and streamlined logistics. Yet the platform’s credibility will ultimately hinge not on slick marketing, but on fundamental trust. Can Probstein overcome a reputation built on years of questionable practices?

His $850 million lifetime sales prove he understands this market better than almost anyone. But understanding isn’t the same as integrity. BYD isn’t just a new platform — it’s Probstein’s opportunity to rewrite his legacy. The collectors are waiting, calculators and magnifying glasses in hand, ready to scrutinize every transaction.

In the high-stakes world of sports memorabilia, redemption is possible. But it must be earned, not promised.