Paul, NEVER pay retail & always ask for a discount! When I travel I always haggle over prices & the worst thing that has ever happened is that the dealer says no deal. I always trade current chips from Florida for face for others that I may need & know are current, no matter where they come from. I traded the original Club Royale chips on Prodigy for face value & never had a regret. I never knew the boat was going to sink!!! The folks I traded with got a great deal & so did I. There is a guy at many of the shows that wears a casino security shirt. Stay far away from him! He'll eat you alive! Mel if you read this I am only kidding :-)> I have made great trades & buys from veteran collectors with large inventories of chips. Remember that most, if not all, are traders & dealers. My first trade was with Bruce Landau. I "found" a few Playboy AC $2.50's which he wanted & he talked me through the trade & educated me as well. I now specialize in Caribbean & cruise ship chips & have established a relationship with traders & dealers who have pieces to sell. We haggle & argue, but each of us feels that we have been treated fairly. Enjoy the hobby & remember chips are only clay, plastic & composition. Anybody want to sell me back those Club Royale chips at face???????