I realize I am a poor example for dealers to go by, but at the last Casinorama show, I just purchased a set of 20 of the numbered California Collection Association chips for $100.00 (face value) which was $6.00 less than the individual purchased them for (6% sales tax was added to these sets.)

About 6 months ago, the Set of numbered 22 Horseshoe Hall of Fame $5.00 chips cost me $132.00 ($6.00 each)

The Royal Flush set of 20 from the Trump Castle in Atlantic City was purchased again for $6.00 each.

Of course, not all my sets were purchased at bargain prices. At times I paid as much as $7.00 each for a set of outdated chips, and once when my guard was down, again at Casinorama, I paid $10.00 each for a set 5 of obsolete chips.

Need I go on. Advice for collectors. Stay away from eBay and stick to the shows. You'd be surprised how many $5.00 chips can be purchased for $1.00 above face, or for that matter, I've purchased numerous LE's which were no longer available at the cages for face. The bargains are there. One must just not be impatient and stick to your guns.

I realize this is not answering the question posed, but I though this would be as good a place as anywhere to express my feeling regarding the price of chips in general.