Regarding trading: I've built over 80% of my French
casino jeton collection via trading with other
French collectors. At first it was
Nevada/Caribbean/Cruises for France, but when I
started getting into the rare high-end and
high-denomination obsolete plaques is when I really
had to start producing. Running neck-and-neck with
the World's top European collectors to balance
trades and have them do the same with five to ten
plaques at a clip was the biggest challenge I've
ever come across in chip collecting. For me to find
something in France that's not in a Frenchman's
collection is one of the biggest honors and thrills
I can have, especially to send a duplicate piece
off, unannounced.

We've got a wonderful hobby,
whether it's a $1 current chip we collect or
something higher, but when I see the filthy, dirt
bag spit who walk off the street thinking they can
hoodwink us and think they can get away with it....

...you better stop here, Benedict.

Regarding my reference to "employees" -- that was
strictly a slap in the face for those who are part
of such schemes. I highly respect the
professionalism of well-trained dealers....and I let
them know it, too.

JB