Archie - I have a lot of respect for you because of your standing in the chip community.

I am a member, #6337. You won't find a single person who has dealt with me that would say I am anything less than 100% honest. Abrasive at time, yes. Argumentative, yes. Opinionated, yes.

Maybe I am dead wrong on Mark - I admit it is possible, which is more than anyone else here is willing to admit (that they could be wrong).

The thing that rubbed me the wrong way with him was the way he tried to brush aside the issues I raised as if I would just run along. he acted like the thing was a done deal even though I was unhappy with the chip. Poor business practice.

After I insisted on returning the chip, he asked me not to bid on any further auctions, which smacks of a sore loser.

I ask him to honor the club return policy and he tells me not to bid on his auctions in retaliation.

OK - so he will honor the club ethics what - once to a customer? That makes a mockery of the purpose of the bylaws and ethics.

Lastly, if someone in business decides they don't want to do business with someone it's their perogative. We agree.

However, asking someone not to bid because you know they will hold you to an ethical standard merely serves to avoid being held to that standard.

In effect, a person can boast of their ethical dealings, all the while avoiding those who would make them fufill the promise. That, Mr. Black, renders the question of ethics moot for all intents and purposes.

It gives the buyer a Hobson's choice - Mark's way, or no way. Hardly a breeding ground for ethical behavior I think you'd agree.

Now all I did was state my case and out of the woodwork come a torrent of abuse and attacks as if I'd sold a poor chip as "nice."

Naturally, I give it back to them and the whole thing gets out of hand.

It's a strange thing here that when you gainsay any member, you are villified and ridiculed. What kind of club doesn't like the truth?

Same with the World Trade Center Casino Yarn. One chip seller writes 99.9% fiction about that chip, but when I point that out - I am the target of criticism.

Strange club here Mr. Black - strange indeed!