Well Ron, let me put it this way. I'll go through just a few details....but it's late, and I'm tired, so I'll just make a few points.
I don't think it's proper for any person to write an auction that is misleading. Period! That goes for both club members and non members. To be perfectly honest, I find it much worse for a club member to do misleading auctions.
I don't approve of false advertising of chips claiming they are rare, scarce, etc, when they aren't. I do not approve of those people who practice quoting book values where they list the high book value for worn chips from whichever book shows the highest price. Those people that use the TCR for one auction and the Official Price guide for another...going back and forth.
I don't approve of people not combining shipping charges for numerous auction wins.
Now as far as fantasy chips are concerned. There are really two different types. There are those people that are selling GGS chips with a casino name and there are the chips that have no casino name. It's the ones that have the casino names on them that pose the biggest risk of having people unknowingly buy them thinking they are real chips from real casinos.
There have been statements on the chipboard by some that think I'm over reacting to some of these auction. Some of these people who haven't been on the chipboard very long are unaware of my long standing practice of emailing sellers on ebay on these types of auctions. I'm not hostile in my emails towards these people. I try to be diplomatic and point out to them that their auctions are misleading, and I'm sure they wouldn't want people to think the chip is something it's not. Sometimes I get an answer, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I get a reply that is pleasant, sometimes I get one that calls me a few names and tells me to mind my own F'n business.
The auction I pointed out wasn't one I singled out while ignoring the rest. It was just one I happened to post about. I address these auctions all the time. I know many other chipper also address these auctions sometimes making posts, most of the time they don't.
Those that have been on the chipboard a while know first hand this has always been a pet peeve of mine. Why?? Because when I was a newbie, I got suckered myself. I got suckered on fantasy chips as well as thinking because the seller claimed it was a rare and scarce chip that it actually was. I got suckered with sellers listing book values, only to find out afterwards that the book value was from a price guide that was long antiquated.
One person argued the point that Casino chip can be construed as a generic term. Personally, I disagree with that. Casino implies casino. I decided to let the issue drop because I felt it was beating a dead horse. I think the chances are a lot better the the general public uneducated in the affairs of chips are more likely to think of the term "fantasy chip" synonymous with the term "dream chip" Chips that are so sweet, it's like a dream come true to find one. Never underestimate how gullible people can be.
I also happen to feel that as club members, we should all watch out for the chipping world. We are the ones with the knowledge. We are the ones with the experience. We are the ones that can make a difference. Sure, we can all just look at the auctions and say it's not our problem. It's easier that way.
Paris Hilton chips don't bother me one single bit. I consider them a novelty. There is no denomination...there is no casino name. The others surely do. Nothing would please me more then to see GGS and everyone else stop producing fantasy chips with casino names and denominations. I just feel it bad for our hobby. Look at all of the issues we have with Boreland Commemoratives. Common sense would have people knowing they weren't real because they have the opening year as well as the closing year right? And these are a completely different animal because they are collectible.
I know fantasy chips aren't going away. I know they'll be sold on ebay and elsewhere. The bottom line is I want to see the auctions clearly state they are not from the casino and have never been used in the casino. I want them to clearly state they are manufactured by the Gambler's General Store. I want them to clearly state the chips are novelty chips.
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