Hello guys --- don't know the answer to the question posed here by Bob regarding Rene@Vegaschips (though I have seen many ads by this seller on eBay).

Would, however, like to offer the following additional information on the same subject. I agree with those who have previously expressed the opinion that it is appropriate for knowledgeable collectors to warn neophytes in danger of being ripped off. I have on several occasions emailed sellers (and buyers) about these fantasy chips when offered as if real or otherwise at inflated prices (also re swastika inlaids being offered as "rare WW-II Nazi items").

In the past few days, I have had two such exchanges (one of which I am still waiting on additional information and will advise further here when I get it). As for the other, I have reached the point of filing a formal complaint with eBay regarding the auction lot. I am reproducing here the message I sent to eBay support, which includes copies of previous emails, with email addresses of the seller and the two highest bidders.

If I do not get satisfactory response from eBay, I will do what appears to be the only other thing I can, which is to post negative feedback for this seller.

BTW, for those of you who don't know me, I am recently returned to active chipping after several years of inactivity due to family health problems. I was one of the original section leaders of the casino chip section (13) of the Collectibles Forum on CompuServe. I am a member of CC&GTCC (formerly #1973 and now #3606). I look forward to increasing my chip collecting activity again and was happy to find this bulletin board (way to go, Greg!). ----- jim o\-S

Message to eBay support follows:

Subject: Possible Fraud in eBay auction lot
Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 13:40:08 -0700
From: runtam <runtam@pacbell.net>
Organization: runtam
To: support@ebay.com
CC: Ebooks98@aol.com

Dear eBay -- I am writing to advise of possible fraud in the sale of
eBay auction lot #16031449, in which the seller (Bookdealer--Ebooks98@aol.com) describes the item as "Only a few 100 were ever made and are Scarce". In fact, the chip involved has been produced in large quantities and is readily available for as little as 60 cents each. I have exchanged the following email correspondence with the seller (and two of the potential buyers) as follows:

-----ooooo-----

> Subject: James Bond chip (ebay auction)
> Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 17:29:32 -0700
> From: runtam <runtam@pacbell.net>
> Organization: runtam
> To: codeone@technologist.com
> CC: ebaooks98@aol.com
> Hello codeone (and bookdealer) -- you should be aware that the James
> Bond chip offered in ebay lot 16031449 is NOT scarce and has been made
> by the thousands. The entire set of six ($1, 5, 25, 100, 500 and 1000)
> can be purchased from many chip dealers for $10 or less. In bulk --
> MINIMUM ORDER OF 100 CHIPS -- they can be purchased for 60 cents each
> (go to www.casinocom.com/fantasymain.html for ordering information).
> ----- Jim Reilly o\-S
>
-----ooooo-----
>
> Subject: James Bond Chip (ebay lot 16031449)
> Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 02:55:46 -0700
> From: runtam <runtam@pacbell.net>
> Organization: runtam
> To: hollywood.hardware@t-online.de
> CC: ebooks98@aol.com
> Hello hollywood.hardware (and bookdealer again) -- you should be
> aware that the James Bond chip offered in ebay lot 16031449 is NOT
> scarce and has been made by the thousands. The entire
> set of six ($1, 5, 25, 100, 500 and 1000) can be purchased from many
> chip dealers for $10 or less. In bulk -- MINIMUM ORDER OF 100 CHIPS --
> they can be purchased for 60 cents each (go to
> www.casinocom.com/fantasymain.html for ordering information).
> Bookdealer -- under the circumstances, and given the current high bid,
> you should offer to void this lot and relieve the bidders of their
> obligation to honor these bids. ----- Jim Reilly o\-S
>
-----ooooo-----
>
> Subject: Re: James Bond Chip (ebay lot 16031449)
> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 1998 21:50:02 EDT
> From: Ebooks98@aol.com
> To: runtam@pacbell.net
> > Hello,
> I'll Tell you what, you have just pulled an Illeagal act on eBay, and I am
> Turning you in, You will be removed from ebay, you are not allowed to tamper
> with bids, and if you have cost me a sale, you will also be hearing from my
> lawyer., I bought this chip from a dealer in California who deals in actual
> movie props, I have only the one chip to sale., I Paid $20.00 for that chip 2
> years ago.......Why don't you mind your own business.
> Bookdealer
>
-----ooooo-----
>
> Subject: Re: James Bond Chip (ebay lot 16031449)
> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 13:00:22 -0700
> From: runtam <runtam@pacbell.net>
> Organization: runtam
> To: Ebooks98@aol.com
> Dear Bookdealer (care to share your real name & address here?)
> I'll tell you what: false or fraudulent advertising is a criminal
> offense (illegal under the laws of the State of California, which apply
> to eBay auctions). Therefore, if you falsely advertised this item with
> knowledge of the falsity of your description, you committed a criminal
> offense.
> Furthermore, I have carefully reviewed the eBay rules and find nothing
> which prohibits anyone from advising potential buyers that they are
> being ripped off by false advertising. If I have cost you a "sale",
> good. Also, feel free to "turn me in" -- I am confident that I can
> justify my actions with eBay or anyone else who cares to call them into
> question.
> I intend to lodge a complaint with eBay about your false lot description
> and we'll see what they have to say about it.
> I AM a lawyer (with more than 20 years experience in criminal law in
> California, 10 as a prosecutor and more than 10 as a defense/appellate
> lawyer), so feel free to have your lawyer contact me at:
> JAMES T. REILLY, Attorney at Law
> California State Bar No. 67254
> P. O. Box 1338
> Mill Valley CA 94942-1338
> The fact that you may have paid $20 for this chip two years ago does not
> justify selling it now to some other uninformed buyer at a ridiculus
> price (as mentioned in my previous message, these chips are available in
> quantity for as little as 60 cents each; they are also available from
> reputable chip dealers for $1.00 to $1.50 each in smaller quantities).
> What is the name, address & telephone number of the dealer from whom you
> bought this chip?
> I consider it the business of any knowledgeable chip collector to
> intervene whenever possible to prevent less knowledgeable collectors
> from being taken advantage of. If you don't like that, too bad.