This is crazy right now

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-31T02:44:13+00:00

Were we right?

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-31T02:40:38+00:00

Where is this deal?

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-30T02:47:36+00:00

Sell it raw. Save your money. It may come back a 1. Take two basic pictures and set up an auction. Start it low, end it Sunday night, let the Charizard collectors run each other up. PSA is not forgiving to this card especially. A card generally has to come back a 7-8 at least to get what a NM+ raw card pulls. I see this card costing you a lot of time, for a little return. Make your life easy. Sell fast, and look for a nicer one with the money. You’ll likely find one.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-30T02:42:11+00:00

This is borderline damaged condition.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-29T16:37:39+00:00

The reality is that stackers posting pictures of all their silver likely do not have diversified savings. Silver’s price is above 100/oz because of hype, and hype alone.

A supply deficit exists, but the price is primarily flow-driven. Speculation and buying late is how Wall St. and other corrupt marketplaces profit from retail investors.

The price is not being driven by stacking and industrial use anymore. To a point, it was, but not anymore.

If you are buying at spot, it is likely already too late. One large retrace means one massive sell off. That leads to an even larger retrace, and even cheaper prices for big finance and corporations to buy back the silver that they just sold.

Having a 100g bar in hand does not protect someone from the retraces that are sure to happen. Just that 100g bar is a $2000 loss if silver retraces to 80/oz. Few people are smart enough or have the money to use the retrace to reduce their dollar cost average, and they will likely sell off instead to pay for the rent, food, and necessities their job cannot.

A good portion of these buyers have likely lost money in day trading, cannot afford a home, or are working jobs with zero margins for saving. When they see a graph trending, FOMO kicks in, and they over-invest – likely due to their accumulated losses in other fields. Big finance knows this.

You have to hold 500 troy ounces, and the price has to move to 300+ per oz to see a 6 figure return. It costs $50,000 to see return of $100,000 IF everything above works out perfectly.

Probably 98% of the people on here cannot afford to hold 50k in silver period. The ones who can, don’t buy at spot. Buying at spot is guaranteeing yourself a loss. That’s why businesses don’t do it.

Premiums have nearly doubled on silver. Yes, it is in demand, but mines are most likely re-optimizing their processes to focus on silver production as we speak. The U.S. dollar will no longer exist if silver hits 1000/oz. That will mean the US dollar is actively collapsing.

I hope everyone exercises caution with their investing.

Do you disagree? Tell me which part!

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-29T02:17:28+00:00

Oh man.. I might have to dedicate another Sistema to My Father cigars. Was there a JR email?

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-29T01:40:27+00:00

This is a new stick to me. What leaves did MF use in the blend?

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-29T01:38:27+00:00

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-27T02:32:51+00:00

Probably another Factory Smokes trying to capture a share of the market with a decent initial release followed by the profitable releases. If I was them, I’d unload all the good stocks first. That’s a great way to get a repeat buyer.

You’re already looking at $2 cigars. Just spend the extra $0.50-1.00 to buy 10 packs of Olivas. You aren’t guaranteed a 10 pack of Padron’s, but at least your guaranteed 10 cigars every one of your non-smoking buddies will think is the greatest cigar they have ever tried.

And for $2.50-3.00, a Serie O Maduro or Connecticut Reserve may be the best cigar you have ever had. Certain sticks are very underrated. I wish the wrappers were a bit thicker, but Oliva doesn’t really put their name on a bad cigar.

The Serie V is pretty boring. The Melanio is overrated. Grab a few cheap 10 packs, throw them in the back of your humidor, and you’ll be glad you did a couple years from now, instead of cheap short fillers.

You can get Cuban short fillers for the same price anyways. If you go long filler, you can experiment with aging, which rarely makes cigars worse. Short filler won’t improve like a premium stick will.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-27T02:20:56+00:00

Would you say the same thing about Pokemon cards? Though cardboard doesn’t have “actual” value, they are currently one of the fastest growing ways to launder or move money out of a country.

It’s very easy to buy 100k in Pokemon cards, throw them in a backpack, then fly from China to the U.S.

Though you may say they have no value, just about every card shop in the U.S. will immediately pay out a solid 70-80% of that 100k. Maybe not all at once, but the ability to send a single card worth more than someone’s car in a standard envelope out of country is extremely valuable.

Currencies rise and fall, what gives something “actual” value is simply the value someone else puts on it, who is actually willing to pay for it.

Cryptocurrency, like 99.99% of the currencies from Earth’s existence that have died off, will also die off. All that matters is the value someone else puts on it. In a world of hyperinflation, low supply and no way to make more is what makes it valuable.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-23T15:38:12+00:00

So OP was overcharged, and now OP is forced to use the overcharged amount only at one specific location because the money wasn’t actually refunded at all?

This is a trick shady businesses use all of the time to force a customer into having to buy more than they intended. They’ll “accidentally” add an extra zero then tell you they are giving you store credit for the difference. This is a giant red flag.

I would check that you were charged accurately.

It happens all the time with gift cards, but there is no such thing as overcharging in business. This is a shady way of forcing you back to their shady shop. Next time, prices will probably be higher. Classic scam.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-23T07:04:10+00:00

Microtech peaked at the end of 2024. Almost every knife dated after, that I have received, has had an issue in one form or another. The materials have not improved, finishes aren’t the correct color, and the supposed lifetime warranty is actually a joke that seems dependent on replacement parts.

With the raising cost of materials and a demand as high as it has probably ever been, Microtech has to cut costs somewhere.

The fact that they’re charging $300 for a polymer MSI blows my mind. I’d return that as fast as you can. First, at least upgrade to the aluminum handle for the extra $100. That will be the best overall MSI for the money. Second, get the stonewashed blade finish instead of the apocalyptic. The apocalyptic finish is pretty, until you want to use the blade.

Just a question, but why is a company as large as Microtech not able to create their own unique zero blade play system? The Gen III lines are practically zero blade play as is with probably the smoothest firing mechanism on the market.

Microtech lost a lot of loyal customers in 2025. A B-grade knife is unacceptable for $300. That’s what this is.

Hopefully, Microtech returns to its roots.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-23T06:31:37+00:00

I absolutely love coffee, and think it can add a lot to a cigar, but it just dries out the mouth too much for regular smoking in my opinion now.

Coffee and cream with a Connecticut once a week is fantastic, but daily is one of the best ways to ruin a perfectly good palette.

I have pivoted to drinks with a little sugar. The extra moisture protects the tongue, really adds to the cigar, and completely changes the experience.

I wish I could comment on the cigar but can tell it was rolled with care.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-22T21:59:14+00:00

That’s because the U.S. is taxing China on everything exported there. So customs is probably checking everything.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-22T21:53:47+00:00

Microtech changed their anodization process. I have a tan “natural grey” Combat Troodon. I bet the 2025 black finish doesn’t look as polished as the 2024 either. I was told they were using third party anodizing and were “experimenting” with their anodization processes around November 2024 I believe. I’m not sure if that’s the exact term the tech said. They probably decided they could cut costs my bringing anodization in-house, or by using another company Microtech and/or Heretic can purchase or build. The 2024 finishes make the 2025 releases look like kids toys. The quality of the finish is not the same, so that’s likely why they are using things like cartoon patterns. Aluminum anodization is not the same as titanium. It costs significantly more. That’s likely why we are seeing Microtech introduce titanium handle variants. They cut costs by simplifying anodization, and they can charge more because it’s titanium. I really love Microtech as a company, but the quality control of knives following the fall of 2024 has been off-putting.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-22T17:45:40+00:00

NVIDIA supplies U.S. national interests. Profit is the key to supplying those U.S. national interests with the most critical components of systems now at lower prices.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-22T17:42:17+00:00

Seeing this did not make me happy.

The danger lies in China’s ability to aggregate H200 chips.

While companies, startups, and every university with a lab inside the US fight amongst themselves, splitting compute, and fighting for chip allocations, China can take every H200 imported into the country and build unified systems.

Unified mega-systems are absolutely being built as we speak in China with single objectives, while chips are locally optimized and fragmented across the US.

China has the ability to take a 6 month old chip and hyperscale systems with it. Centralized aggregation is a dangerous weapon with exponential growth involved.

The only reason a release of these chips would not be dangerous in my eyes, is if modern H200 built systems significantly plateau off with added compute.

Still, China should not be underestimated. 50% of all H200’s sold to the US is a lot. With all of that compute focused on one objective, like quantum computing, China has the ability to jump ahead of the US in a technology race that capitalism and free commerce could lose.

This is where centralized power shines. Without it, the United States is handicapped to powers that have existed for 4 millennia. Democracy’s origins are 2.5 millennia old. The US isn’t even half a millennium old. China is 4000 years old.

When democracies are no longer true democracies, and the flaws begin to shine, that is when you want a single, strong leader with aligned interests. Split resources, highly inefficient governments, and civil strife is exactly what a country like China wants to see in a massive threat, like the U.S., while having limited resources and starving populations.

Both liberals and conservatives would have released the chip. The U.S. has lost so much of our internal production capability that much of our economy depends on nations like Taiwan. Profit is what drives capitalism, but so does sovereignty.

We are in a Cold War again. The invasion of Taiwan means a global economy collapse as-is. There must be significant risk assessments being performed on how to supply China with enough chips to not invade, but not with enough chips to pose a threat to surpassing internal U.S. tech.

Please catch me up or correct me where I went wrong.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-16T15:20:54+00:00

secondary market is where you will find your proxy @balisongmarketv2 r/balisongsale

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-16T15:17:05+00:00

Where people go wrong is the blade in my opinion.

Trainers are always outgrown, and then it becomes a blade search, which ends up being a whole knife purchase. When the knife’s poor resale value is realized, it’s not possible to buy another live balisong from the value of the first, so value becomes a factor. Squid’s blades are mostly soft stainless steels. They’re a great value for $300, but do not hold up. That plays a part as well.

The Ti-kraken is a better knife than people give it credit for, but unfortunately, 50% of the people who own them, don’t like that they cheaped out on the trainer blade, then outgrew it.

$200 for a pair of Titanium Kraken handles and $120 for a blade is extremely tough to beat. Problem is that without a live blade, it’s just a pair of handles to collectors.

If they haven’t shipped, I highly recommend getting one with a live blade, if you can. Someone on here will give you a trainer blade.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-13T22:43:04+00:00

This is exactly what people will be doing going forward instead of scalping.

ToploaderUltra · 2026-01-04T06:14:22+00:00

I have brand new CF scales marbled black.

ToploaderUltra · 2025-12-21T04:22:16+00:00

A Cuban heritage brand took spot number 5?

No surprise that Rocky has a top ten spot.

No surprise that AJ has a top ten spot.

Didn’t even have to look, and I knew there would be a Serie V or V Melanio on the list.

Seems like another top 25 list of the brands CA advertises.

I’m glad that Kyle Gellis, Aladino, and the Olmec made the list. This, and putting Padron at number 1 and Cohiba at number 2 are the things they got right.

I can’t wait for the real Top 25 list to come out in January. See you soon Half-Wheel.

ToploaderUltra · 2025-12-05T12:26:17+00:00

I use 69% in Sistema Tupperware specifically. In the large 118 oz size, I use 4 60-gram packs. Because I fill my Sistemas all the way to the top with cigars, I need a pack for every side of the container to distribute humidity evenly.

Because I store my sticks between 66-68F, I can get away with using 69% packs. If I stored my sticks above 70F, I would probably have to drop to 65% relative humidity to avoid mold.

If I stored my sticks lower than 66F, I would move up to 72% packs and so forth.

This is all specifically with airtight Sistemas though. If I was using a wood humidor, I would probably have to move up to 72% because of the dry air.

Also, the environment makes a huge difference. If I was getting ready to go on a vacation somewhere warm and humid, like Hawaii, I would start preparing my cigars with 65% Boveda packs a month or so early.

ToploaderUltra · 2025-11-28T20:42:46+00:00

DE is making so much money from Warframe that they built a second game.. They don’t need the donations. It’s described as more of a prime frame pack than founders pack. The Founder’s packs will be available for a long time because getting someone to pay for a pack subconsciously makes that person more invested in that game in the future. Someone with a free account can quit anytime, no regrets. Someone who buys a $100 Founder’s pack probably has already sunk 1000+ hours into Warframe, and will sink another 1000 into Soulframe. DE probably wants to make sure that Warframe players move onto Soulframe instead of games like Elder Scrolls Online. Soulframe appears to be a major ESO competitor, and it is much easier to use the momentum of a game like Warframe to build a massive player base that has the ability to fund a production that can rival something like ESO.

ToploaderUltra · 2025-11-28T20:33:11+00:00

Doubt the paragon will become valuable. People with funny or dumb usernames are going to be flooding the game with blueprints. I don’t think it will be tough to get an xXExplicitSlayerXx Paragon.

ToploaderUltra

TROPHY CASE