I can understand why you, personally, might be upset when "50 to 60 chips that have gone in value from hundrerds of dollars to next to nothing" especially when you have them in your collection at original prices. I felt pretty bad when the bottom fell out of the Horseshoe Arodies too.

However, I as a new collector with a limited budget, welcome the opportunity to pick up chips on at 50-60% of book. It means I can have twice as many chips for the same bucks.

Secondly, if there really is a limited quantity of Class 1 & 3 chips, then the value will begin to go back up as soon as the supply gets spread around 1 to a collector. If not, then the chip just isn't worth that much any more. If the value does go back up, then in 10-15 years when I have to start selling off my collection, my grand-kids will get a little extra in their college funds.