Tom, I'm relatively new to this hobby (as one can see by my high membership number.) but I have rarely seen any chip being sold for what the authors (other than possibly TCR) have them priced for in their books.

True, I only collect inexpensive chips but I have seen many many chips being sold at the convention and of course, on ebay) for way less than the guides indicate they are worth.

To answer your question directly as far as how I would price them, I can't give you an answer as I don't know either. I guess the true market
value is what someone is willing to pay for it and that would mean taking the selling price offered on ebay or similar site.

I do, however, always keep in mind that the prices established in the guide books are solely the opinion of the authors and believe most are inflated.

I know I have NEVER paid a price for ANY chip that was anywhere near what is quoted the the books and for that matter, was NEVER able to sell ANY chips for those prices either.

Maybe that's just been my experience and no one else's.

With all that said, I love the guide books but do not pay any attention to the prices quoted (except possibly the TCR.) The guide books give me identification references as does the Chip Board. I know it involves a lot of time to publish these guides and hope you and all the others much success with them, but I for one, still feel that one ones which list values are mainly to benefit the authors and have little actual reality.

And no, I can't do better. And I don't believe the chip guide books work any different than any other price guide books for any other hobby (save possibly the coin hobby which I know nothing about either.)