First of all... I must be clear on one thing...
I will NEVER begrudge a dealer the buck or two they charge for their time, attention or hours and hours of labor.

My issue is NOT with the price of chips (even with shipping) but my observations concerning one of our "Big Boys" of the hobby (a title I just gave him based on his YEARS of experience and as the executor of Las Vegas LE's ) who has the authority to decide what is fair, realistic and reasonable for both business and the good of the hobby.

Ok... for starters... let's do some math...
If you're math-challenged... don't worry. I kept it simple

If a dealer buys a rack of $1 chips and sells them for $3... the $200 "profit" probably won't pay their monthly valet fees, much less create a dent in the cost of their extensive inventories.
Anyone spending 3 minutes at Andy, Pete's or Archie's websites should know that one little Christmas chip ain't going to be "the one" that covers their investments.

I may be IGNORNANT (which is the lack of knowledge), but I ain't STUPID (lack of common sense).

I have no problem paying $3 for a new release that arrives in a timely manner - in uncirculated condition - straight to my door... NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER! THANK YOU to the Dealers for great service!

As far as I am concerned... am I:
IGNORANT? Sure am.
STUBBORN? You bet.
STUPID? Hopefully not very often

HERE is what I have a problem with...
Rene mentioned below 8 people on the "the List" who were supplied chips... he'd be the 9th.
Let's just say 10 (although there may have been 20... I am far too "IGNORANT" to know) to keep things simple since math is not Rene's subject.

And let's just skip the low number of available $25s and $100's since small releases are what they are and not the issue in MY particular debate

That brings us to 1250 x $1.00 chips and 500 x $2.50 & $5.00.
Since Donna was able to get $2.50's and $5.00 at the cage, clearly the "demand" didn't exceed the supply.
For the sake of argument - and using nice round numbers for clarity, let's pretend the 10 people on the "The List" each wanted 40 x $2.50's and 40 x $5's (400 out of the 500) chips ... leaving 100 at the cage for collector, employees and guests of the casino. Wonderful... THAT'S more than fair and reasonable.

Then let's pretend they also each took a rack of $1's. That's 1000 chips (and Rene would have gotten 100 in that "suggested distribution") - which WOULD HAVE left 250 for the public.
The reason I picked these numbers is because I am IGNORANT. I have no clue what the Big Boy deems appropriate over a pitcher of gimlets, but based on a surplus (amt unknown) of $2.50's & $5's... a 40:100 ratio seems to be realistic.

But there were NO $1 chips at the casino...

Now if 500 chips were "enough", and in fact MORE THAN ENOUGH to supply the dealers (who in turn supply "us" worldwide) - but to leave a stack or two for "others", how could 1200+ fall short?

IMO - they didn't.

The way I see things (from an IGNORANT person's point-of-view of course) Rene said on 12/24 that he had 3 racks of $1's (that's 300 chips).
This suggests to ME that he took ALL the available $1's instead of leaving a stack or two for local & individual purchases. And not "MOST" of them... but ALL of them.

Now - since HE IS IN CHARGE of distribution (it is HIS chip program!), one would think that he could have delegated 50 for the cage!! 40?? 25??? SOMETHING to offer to the local market.
Another person living in Vegas might consider the "local market" as "friends", neighbors, co-collectors or prospective customers... but that's just how an IGNORANT person look at things... )

The local LV market does not compete with Internet business on a scale that threatens established dealers. No way.

Donna didn't want a rack... I've been with her on chip runs... She'd be apt to pick up 2-3-or-5. Digging deep from my "limited, insignificant, short time around here" experience pool ... I'd say if the "average" collector has 5 chips... they'll keep one, sell one, give one away... and hopefully TRADE the other 2 for something THEY want...
That's what makes the hobby fun! At least to THIS rookie.

From a business point of view... I guess eliminating competition (by reducing everyone's options "where" and "how" the chip can be acquired...) may be "smart" if you need $200 more than the respect of your colleagues.
But of course, I am the IGNORANT one - so don't listen to me!

But even an immature, ignorant, inexperienced (and yes... occasionally hostile ) newbie like me is thinking:
COMMON SENSE says "good business" doesn't include disappointing the market you are specifically targeting.

THEN add insults, defensiveness and name-calling - in the public forum that addresses that same market... tsk tsk tsk...
... I'll take IGNORANT over the S_word ANY day!