While PAX transformed Melbourne into a three-day playground for gamers last weekend, one corner of the event was buzzing with a different kind of excitement — one that spoke directly to collectors.
Collecting taps into a universal passion, from the thrill of trading Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering cards in the schoolyard to hunting down vintage Nintendo consoles online. It’s the joy of the chase, the pride in completing a set, and the connections formed along the way.
eBay has long been at the heart of the collector community, making it easier than ever to discover, trade, and treasure the items that matter most. So when they announced themselves at PAX with the Collectors Club activation, it was to the delight of many gamers who either wanted to try their hand at collecting or were veterans with one thing or another.
Collecting has grown into a thriving fandom of its own, and at PAX, where cosplay, tabletop battles and gaming collide, collectors naturally brought their own spark to the excitement.
The thrill of collecting was on full display — and the eBay Collectors Club became a hub for this energy by connecting like-minded collectors to discover, trade and treasure the items they love.
From the start of the PAX weekend right through to the closing siren on Sunday, the eBay Collectors Club was packed and full of people keen to take on interactive challenges to collect stamps for their eBay passport and redeem prizes from the eBay merch stand.
There was an easter egg hunt, a live eBay auction wall — and even games to play at the Collectors Club Arcade. You can learn more about the eBay Collectors Club passport and ways collectors could get involved here.
To understand the depth and complexity of the collector fandom, we spoke to some of the attendees who brought their passion to PAX and shared how eBay helps them connect, collect and celebrate their favourite things.
Mitchell (@TheAverageRook) described how pins became a physical way to mark his fandom experiences: “I developed an obsession to decorate a jacket with pins… I wanted something sparkly to take to one day of a con or event, and leave said event with another physical record of my attendance. Not only does it save storage, but it cements memories of location and action that some photos just can’t do.”
For Logan (@LHP64D), collecting spans multiple formats, from Magic: The Gathering and Warhammer 40k to in-game skins. “Collecting CAN be done in isolation, but it’s better done as part of a group. Sharing a mutual enjoyment with others enriches everyone’s experience and lends sentimental attachment to those pieces you collect from others too. It builds a story.”
Katie (@Kageric) also highlighted the community aspect. “I love to collect MTG cards as well as things from Fallout and The Elder Scrolls! Many of the items I own have a story… Talking about my collection in real life or sharing it on socials can spark conversations about that fandom with other people in the community. I really do love how collecting can bring people together.”
By connecting collectors to the things and people they care about, eBay shows how collecting can be a vibrant, communal experience — a fandom where discovery, connection and shared passion take centre stage.
