... to quote prices from it can reasonably be assumed to know enough about the hobby to be aware of how to obtain basic information about chips.

In legal proceedings, circumstantial evidence is used all the time to arrive at determinations of liability, damages and even guilt/innocence in criminal cases. The circumstantial evidence here is more than enough to arrive at the conclusion (without having asked him first) that the sellers of these chips knew of the recent finds.

eBay may be a "caveat emptor environment", but that doesn't mean we in the chip collecting community can't exchange information by which we can protect ourselves in that "environment".

>> Every other auction discussion board has rules preventing open discussion of
>> a particular auciton without inviting the party being discussed to
>> participate. This board has no such rule. And it scares me.

This is NOT an "auction discussion board". It's a free form bulletin board for collectors of casino chips to share information about our hobby. No honest, ethical seller has any reason to fear what is said here. ----- jim o\-S