As most of you know, I am a newbie, deal exclusively in inexpensive chips and acquire my chips either through trade or via shows, such as the convention, Arizona Charlies, and Jim Mundings Casinorama and his upcome show at Crystal Park. I have in the past acquired a few (very few may I add) chips from ebay as I can usually get what I want at lesser prices by direct negotiations with fellow BB participants. I have never bought a chip from a live auction and have no intent on doing so in the future.

What all this is leading up to is that I have been quite satisfied with acquiring my 5,000 (+ or -) chips in my collection using the discriptions of the conditions of chips that have been used by most of you (old timers) since you started trading some 10 or so years ago. I have never had a chip misdescribed to me in the past using the three or four different catagories now being used by most of us. Conditions, at best, are subjective and I don't see why it should be complicated.

Although I was always assured by everyone, that I could return any chip if not satisfied for any reason, I found it necessary only once, and that was when I first began trading and realized afterwards that I traded for a duplicate. I didn't realize that if I kept the chips I could just trade it away to someone else. (Sorry Ray)

A grading system as is proposed by Steve's new book may be necessary for the Multi-thousand dollar chip that some of you deal in, but for guy's in my catagory, I don't need it, want it, or will I buy it.

I perused the book quickly at the show, and found it to be very graphically inticing, but found it too difficult for me to comprehend. My wish is that if it becomes an accepted practice to grade ships according the what is presented the the "official Guide" book, that it be limited to very expensive chips and allow us poor folks to enjoy our hobby without having to master another way to describe chips.