I was at the Gold Coast show as well (and enjoyed it )
I'm open to either way the seller wants to do it -- priced or unpriced, though priced chips make it easier as a starting point.

I'm strictly a buyer at shows. Even if the chip is priced, I may ask for, or offer, a lower amount, especially if I'm bundling several chips in my offer. I'm friendly in my ask (I think!), asking "what's your best price for this one, or for this group?" etc. Or I may make an offer, perhaps my final/best price, or I may be open to some negotiating both ways, as the guys do it on "Pawn Stars".

One tip that seems to work for me -- if the chips are priced, I usually have a feel for some benchmark chips and what a fair price should be. If my "fair price" is $20 on a chip, and it's marked higher (say $30 or $40, etc.) I anticipate that other price marks may be inflated too. Sometimes, I pay full price, especially on chips marked $5 and under, or on chips from the "bargain box".

In the end, I'm looking for a fair deal for both parties, and for both feeling OK, personally, at the end of the transaction ... even if I wind up passing on a chip(s) for price reason or something else (ex: condition too).

Buyers need sellers, and vice versa. And with the chip hobby (in contrast to negotiating with a used-car salesman), we're both club members and have a common affinity to casino memorabilia as something to enjoy and collect.

Long term friendships that I've developed with other members & sellers, whether dealers or individual 1:1 transactions, are something that I treasure. I've known some for over 30 years, since the club began (and even pre-club in some cases).

Yes, I have my preferred dealers (due to the types of chips they have for sale; ease of negotiating; and even certain personalities). And I seldom do business with other dealers, due to the reverse of above. At the end of the day, I want to walk out of the showroom floor having enjoyed my time at the show.

Enough about me!! If you see me at the next show, please introduce yourself. I'm alway interested in talking chips with a fellow collector.