Hi Paul,

Arizona Charlie's show over Superbowl weekend was my 1st chip show. I was overwhelmed, much like you, as to what the dealers had and how it was priced. I spent a good part of the two days just looking and pawing through 3 for $10 trays. I did buy one or two chips that might never reach the value that I paid for them, but I also bought almost everything else at under price guide values, most at very well under value simply because I kept returning to the table and looked at the same chips again. I didn't have to bicker pricing, they did! Show interest in it, they'll respond.

There is a once-monthy collectibles show here in Colorado Springs that has one guy who has casino chips and tokens for sale. He, as I suspect ALL dealers are, is only unflexible on items that are on consignment. Any of his (as he puts it 'Junk') chips are negotiable. ...they aren't junk....I guess he uses that word like I some times use the word "stuff".

As to trading, the worst thing that can happen is someone says "no thanks". It really doesn't matter why they don't want to trade. It also never hurts to ask, as I've made some trades at face that have nothing to do with face or obsolete values of a chip. I've made the trades because the theme of a chip has some tie to someone close to me personally. Don't be timid. Again, the worst thing that can happen is someone will say no. If you know that THEY missed out on a great trade, grin and love it!

Bob