Bob,

The secondary market is very important to the hobby. Think about it. If the dealers have to pay double face, the secondary market would fade into oblivion.
The Lodge by itself can not cause this, but it is starting a nasty trend.

The days of a dealer cornering the market of an LE - LTD to 1,000 is over. They have way too much tied up in a slow moving inventory. I believe I know the dealers better than most. There is no dealer I know of that even takes a rack of new issues. There used to be. The 2 largest dealers in LE's I know of, limit their inventory to 60 of each issue and even lower on some issues. They have a pretty good idea what will move and what will not. Sets, forget about it. Their money is tied up for a long time.

LE's LTD to 500, maybe some would try.
The casinos are getting better about doling them out. LE's are moving slower. In most cases with a little help from a cashier, you can get most LE's at a cage
for a long time after issuance.

The cornering of the market issue, has been dead for over a year. The dealer that was doing a lot of it, is now inactive due to no sales.

I think AC has more problems with LE's than LV does.

No secondary market = No chip shows + new chippers can not catch up + East coasters can not catch up with issues + A whole lot of advertising for the hobby is gone + ETC + ETC + ETC + ETC + The hobby will get smaller and smaller and smaller.

New chippers must be able to catch up on issues that are in their collecting area or they do not have a collection.

I am willing to bet you I can get 95% of all LV LE's for $10 or less. That is a bargain for a new chipper. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

I will also bet you that there are very few dealers if any, that make a living selling LE's. There is a big difference between making a living and making some money.

I have never paid over face for an LE, but it is a must that other people have the choice.

I guess I ran that post a little long.