I find that most catalog estimates are what one might reasonably expect to pay from a chip dealer at RETAIL in excellent condition... not from someone who may be dumping items on ebay at whatever price he/she can get for them. Dealers need to make a profit to stay in business and have an expense overhead to cover. Not so with collectors or accumulators.

If one is looking for a specific chip, it may be a long time before one appears for sale on ebay so one may have to pay more than they usually do at discounted catalog values. On the other hand, truly rare chips will often bring in excess of estimated values. Having said that; how many people pay window sticker price on a used car they are considering purchasing? It's a beginning bargaining point that one can always walk away from.