Very good input Pete.

I believe that most who have me repair chips are doing so because they wish to improve the cosmetic condition of their collections. Granted some may have slipped through the cracks. (specifically a pink $2.50 Harrah's brass core)
I've taken steps try and prevent this from happening in the future.

Criteria for chip repair;

1) I'm very selective of who I do work for. I'm much better qualified now than I was a few years ago to know when there are questions of integrity. Now that I look back I can see there were some flags I should have recognized.

2) Even if the arrangements are made in person they must e-mail mail me from their valid ISP (not some cyber cafe) stating their position on chip repair and what work they would like to have done. That way I will have a printable copy with which to defend myself if their chips become involved in controversy. Thank God I had some of that kind of stuff the last time.

3) They must provide the chip/chips/cores to be worked on. That way they can't claim they didn't know about the alteration. Fortunately that condition did exist during the last brass core issue and there were witnesses.

4) If they bring me a chip with the clay in good condition but damaged inlay, I will reproduce a new inlay. If it has good inlays but a dammaged clay portion, I will repair or reproduce the clay portion. I will not do both because that would be a "forgery" besides altering the true number available in the hobby.

I will entertain constructive input (such as yours) on ways to upgrade or improve the criteria before I meet with members of the Board of directors on the 28th.