Frank,
This really isn't a stupid question. I have been thinking for some time now of trying to get a list started on this board of places and ways to find chips. Here are some for starters. I hope other will add to this list.
1. Write friends and relatives across the country and ask them to help you find chips.
2. Flea market, estates sales, garage sales.
3. Guns shows.
4 Antique stores every where (go back, and go back again) don't ask if they have chips. Even when they do most of the time they don't know it.
5.Advertise in another city besides where you live.
6. Pass out cards to everyone, Saying "I buy casino chips" etc.
7. Know anyone going on a cruise. Ask them to bring back some chips. Some times the casino manager on the ships has chips in the safe that were taken in from old cruise lines.
8. Auctions for Western things.
9. Any retirement communites nearby. Old people often have 1 or 2 somewhere in the house.
10.Come to the convention. Many good deals found there. It takes some digging.
11. Coin stores
12 Pawn shops usually have silver strikes.
I'll stop here anyone else want to add to the list.