The last few years have seen a ton of chips sold off, which has had the obvious effect of lowering prices on those chips. Many people have left the hobby due to lack of discretionary funds as a result of the economy. This resulted in a group of collectors selling off their collections in panic, selling their chips at lower and lower prices. Now, people expect to get all common and uncommon chips at those firesale prices. It has been mentioned many times on this board that the typical member of the hobby is somewhat older. Having an older set of hobbyists has also had its effects on chip values as a number of longtime members have passed on, or have been too sick to actively collect. A number of those collections have been sold off, some of them quite large and, once again, supply increases while demand reduces. Of course, common and uncommon chips are being sold in significantly increased amounts whereas better chips are generally not significantly more available than they used to be.

I am hopeful that an increased economy will help the hobby. I really don't know. I love the hobby and love my collection, I have no intention to selling it off, but it does make me nervous to think about it.

Just my thoughts.

Michael Siskin