Common chips will always suffer, when the interest in something levels off. High end items will hold and continue to increase as collectors become more specialized, and collections fill. (I don't think chip collecting has leveled off yet?)

Price cutting is a result of competition, which can also lower perceived values. How many people will pay $3 for a common house chip, if someone else is selling the same chip for $2?

If you take 10 common chips and look at the actual sales prices and then 10 harder to find chips, I believe you will find the higher level chips have increased.

Personally I stopped collecting many areas and regions. Others may be "dumping" chips, in order to concentrate on favorites. I spent more on chips from Elko this last week than I have probably spent total for chips in the last few months.

Buyers market, count me in! lol