Kelly:

I think the basic problem most have with "slabbing" isn't the slabbing itself, but the manner in which third party grading of chips becomes a de facto standard needed to determine the worth of a chip. In the case of coins, items aren't seen as "truly valuable" unless they carry an official grading and have been slabbed.

Since most collectors are in it for the fun of assembling their collections and (as in my case) the stories that go along with the obtaining of the individual pieces in the collection, grading and slabbing add nothing to the real value of the items (which is all about fun anyhow – it has nothing to do with $$$). As such, it just ends up being a money drain serving the purposes of the slabbing companies and not the collectors.

I think that’s the basic problem people have with slabbing. I hope this helps!

- Pat