I collect both chips and currency. I think chips need to be in bubble mailers and currency needs to be in stiff cardboard mailers, but I REGULARLY see the reverse (ugh!). A bubble mailer is not a 'cure-all' for mailing; I have had damage with both types. USUALLY, (in my experiences) it is a loss from a torn package rather than a broken chip, but it happens. I have a large number of mailings per day and we all like to cuss the post office when they screw up BUT you have to admit it is pretty rare. I can count the number of problems I have had but for each problem I have had literally thousands of trouble free mailings. So the Post Office is really doing a stellar job IMO. Cheap chips or expensive chips have one thing in common... you want them all to get there in one piece undamaged. Even if you can take or absorb the risk on a cheap/replaceable chip, it's still a headache and like Archie pointed out wipes out the pennies saved if the package is damaged. Hand stamping is one thing, but I have seen several packages with tire tread markings from being run over! Spending a few cents may add up over time, true. But collecting chips is a luxury and a few extra cents to protect what you like is merely a 'cost-of-collecting' in my mind. Personally I feel, if I have to pinch a penny to afford to collect a chip then I need to find a cheaper hobbie. (I already tell my wife people send me chips and currency for FREE because they like me... hehehehe)