Forgive me if I don't understand the logic of your post David.

Let's drop the word "collector" and/or "dealer" for the purpose of this discussion and let me ask you; how are these ebay sellers taking advantage of ANYBODY by listing their common chips as "rare" with opening bids of $5 or $10 and not getting any bidder response from their would-be buyers?

Don't they realize this absurd practice reflects more upon themselves as being unknowledgeable; or showing their lack of personal integrity if they are knowledgeable by offering something to the masses .... who know very well the item they are trying to sell is not "rare"?

I have attempted to compare the chip offerings on ebay to other examples of collectibles that are not over-hyped as the chips obviously are. How do you think our hobby is perceived by the unknowledgeable potential collector who is checking out our hobby and seeing "rare" chips listed at insignificant prices and not even drawing an opening bid?

There's an old saying that it is much better to let people THINK you are stupid, rather than prove it to them.

I submit to you David, that it appears to this bb poster, that we've got quite a few stupid people on ebay who must think they are fooling a lot of folks. Would it not be better if they could simply be honest with themselves and describe their lots for what they are? If it ain't rare... and they know it... why bother trying to make it something it's not? If it's obsolete, or old, or no longer on the tables; that's fine, just say so.

"Obsolete", or "old" does not translate into "rare". How much somebody paid for something at a yard sale or garage sale has nothing to do with the subject at hand in my opinion.