I have dealt with a couple in California and they have been very receptive. I usually ask for the cage manager and get her name to add to the letter. I am awaiting a package from a SoCal card room right now.

I have also dealt with one in Canada. A bit tougher because of the exchange rate, customs, etc. But it worked out just fine in the end. Got the chips plus a few extra (because of the currency difference).

So my suggestion is that it is a good way to get some interesting chips without having to trek too far from your mailbox. If you can find an NIS service there, maybe that's a better way to go, but in the case of British Columbia - well I didn't know any chippers up that way.