Hey Greg W.?
I am a longtime coin collector who is relatively new to collecting chips.

When I think about it - in "reality" there is no such thing as a true "mint chip". If a chip hasn't been handled (BY HAND) by at least a half dozen entities... then it probably has never hit a casino... which would make it a "fantasy" or "gift shop" item item anyway.

IN COINS.. yes -- the slightest deviation in standard or grading can devalue a coin by thousands of dollars. Incidentally -- I wish to comment that I own NO SLABBED coins either.

When I wish to buy something "rare" or "expensive", I have found ONE METHOD AND ONE METHOD ONLY to be effective in preventing me from getting "burned" so to say: I ONLY buy from reputable dealers or sources and will ask for a referral PRIOR to going out spending $1000's of dollars ON ANYTHING. In chips, I suspect the only qualified people to "grade" chips are the people I buy from anyway.

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION.
Jill Bitner
Arizona