Hi Jim,
Just like a Lawyer to screw up the conversation <vbg>. You know one transaction between buyer and seller does not establish anything let alone what a chip is worth. These "pure" buyer/seller auction transactions on Ebay are bunk. Some are crooked and some go unsold. You also know we need a much larger representation by collectors to establish a realistic "value".

The Sky Harbor example illustrated by me in previous notes was used to show how individuals who put together price guides often miss the mark, because of a lack of knowledge, taking into consideration rarity and demand for chips while setting price. These well meaning authors use Ebay prices and other auction prices to set value. In my opinion, auctions do not set value. Many purchases set value.

Dick Price and I do not believe in price gouging, fixing or any other "bull" that goes on in our hobby! I paid a very large price for my $100.00 Sky Harbor arodie. It was purchased from a dealer who bought several from the original purchaser I do not like to see individuals who are playing with auctions on Ebay destroy the market for a chip that I have purchased.

40 undrilled pieces are not many. there never will be anymore. We have knowledge. What would you set the price at, Jim? Please don't give me that "buyer - seller" bunk they taught us in college <g>. Not enough transactions, and you know it, to establish market price.

I will tell you how it really goes. The first 10 to 12 buyers pay anywhere fron $600.00 to $800.00 the asking price of the original owner. Guess what? The original owner quits the hobby and sells the remaining pieces in bulk to an individual who doesn't maintain that price. How do you think the first buyers feel? Now this "new" owner puts one of the chips up on Ebay and "kills" it for future sales because it goes for much less to a buyer who may or may not know what I have written on this board. Remember, this second owner got these chips at a bargain. He doesn't care about past purchases. He doesn't care about maintaining established market prices for those first 10 to 12 buyers. He is just having "fun"!!!

So you see Jim there is much more information that you are unaware of. Your comments pertaining to "gouging" really don't apply in this case. No, I don't want the seller to "gouge" buyers. I just want him to maintain the price that the first buyers paid. That's all. Best, Jim