Pristine Auction: Why $1 No-Reserve Auctions Are Changing the Hobby

In this episode of _Collector Nation,_ Ryan Alford sits down with Jared Kavlie, Founder and President of Pristine Auction, to break down how a simple idea—starting every item at $1—turned into one of the most disruptive models in the collectibles space.
What started as a side hustle selling personal inventory evolved into a massive consignment-driven platform moving thousands of cards daily. Jared shares how the business scaled from Craigslist posts to a full-fledged auction machine, and why speed, accessibility, and trust have become the core drivers of growth.
The conversation dives deep into live auctions, impulse buying behavior, and how Pristine’s format is reshaping how collectors think about comps, pricing, and liquidity. With live auctions already making up a third of the business in under a year, this episode explores why the future of the hobby is moving faster than ever.
If you care about where the hobby is going—and how money is really being made—this is one you don’t want to miss.
*🔑 Topics Covered*
* How Pristine Auction started from a collector flipping his own inventory
* The $1 starting bid model and why it works
* Live auctions growing to 30% of the business in under a year
* The psychology behind fast auctions vs traditional bidding
* Why some cards outperform comps in live environments
* Consignment model and the $5 per card structure
* How live auctions are changing the collectibles market
* The future of breaking, repacks, and live selling

*🤝 Connect*
* Ryan Alford
👉ryanisright.com (ryanalford.com) 👉instagram.com/ryanalford

* Jared Kavlie
👉instagram.com/pristineauction

* pristineauction.com