Michael,

I guess my point is that sellers never know the true rarity and it is likely a given chip's rarity and values are off anywhere from just a bit to a lot and this could be for a variety of reasons. Only if we have overwhelming cause to dispute the guide number as waay off or the possible financial swing to individuals involved in the deal is big (like in these Joker Club chips) would I think we need to avoid or disclaim when we list.

Since the guide is bound to be off some, if we avoid referring to it in cases where we may doubt its accuracy (again my point is that is is always off to some degree), then the guide becomes useless.

If the book says R-8 and it really is R-6, how are we supposed to know? What if the book said R-5, but it was really R-3 and then several boxes come out? Now it is really R-2, but everyone thinks it is R-3. If the selling point drops by 50% due to the economy, can I not refer to the book value?

Sometimes as a buyer, I will show a seller some ebay comps so that they don't get stuck on a bad guide figure, but then I sometimes get slammed as trying to lowball for a chip "that is clearly worth more than that -- just look at the guides".

I don't sell much on ebay. But when I do, I will save the looker the trouble of looking it up (if they even have a guide) by saying "the US Price Guide has this chip as an R-6 rarity and books at $60 in slightly used condition" I never say it is one of 50 known or it is worth $60.

Tough issue to call cleanly. And they wonder why I drink!