What is your opinion (and others) about this angle on it...

It's human nature to want to get a good deal... In your post you indicated this transaction was "VERY good deal" (I assume for you) and that now you "...won't be able to add them for a long time due to the high asking prices.".

I haven't looked up the "values" for these chips in question but it does bring up another ethics question...

At what point does a very good deal become not a "fair" deal? Maybe the seller didn't know what the true value was for those chips... In our COE, it indicates we can't take advantage of a less knowledgable collector. It appears to me you knew they were offered at a substantial lower price than market value. Is it possible Joe didn't know what the true values were for those chips?

In other parts of our COE:
3. To base all of my dealings on the highest plane of justice, fairness and morality.
9. To furnish requested advice to the best of my ability and knowledge, and not to take advantage of superior knowledge on my part to the disadvantage of a less knowledgeable collector.

btw...I'm NOT saying what the seller did was correct.... If I agree to sell you something at a given price, then I would honor that agreement. Even our club's Code of Ethics (COE) line #8 indicates "To fulfill all contracts and agreements which I may make, either oral or written;...". (I know Joe is not a member and thus not bound our COE). I'm just curious if it should have gotten to that point.