Ed:
Your comments are well taken. While I DO NOT mean to attack all DEALERS, as there are many out there that are extremely fair,I am speaking from the experience of seeing a great hobby destroyed by greed! As to "Chip Rack" I don't mean to trash this publication either. I am sure many hours of diligent work went into producing this excellent source. However, many times the values in such a publication are overinflated by those providing information to the author!
I probably sound like a bitter chipper! I am not. Most of the people I have had the pleasure of meeting through the hobby are super! I just feel that the collectors as a group can help reduce the negatives in the hobby and keep it valuable.
Many times people new to the hobby a very vulnerable to the unscrupulous in the hobby. It is my firm belief that those who have been around for a time in a hobby can and should help protect, as much as possible, those that are new. After all, these new people provide the base for the hobby and those that make chips a business.
I to have had some fantastic success with dealers. I did not want to make it appear that ALL dealers are looking to gouge the consumer
I am happy that there are collectors out there like you who are concerned
Chuck