>>>However, I do feel when it comes to slabbing high-end chips, something with a value of say $1000 or more (so that narrows the field down pretty quickly), to ME it clearly does make sense.>>>

In what manner does it make sense? You didn't explain why.

We do agree that ICG is hiding their graders. And I personally don't care for the too numerous to mention grades they are using.

If someone wants a chip/token in a hermetically sealed coffin, I don't care. 250 online collectors, and I wouldn't even consider purchasing it. That makes it 250 less potential buyers. Now as the anti-slabbing movement takes hold, it will probably be most likely, that only investors/dealers will be willing to purchase the slabbed chips/tokens.

What makes that chip a high-end chip? It's definitely not the VALUE? It's more of a supply and demand situation, with condition much less of a concern. Again, that chip can suddenly loose a lot that value if a new find is made, but it may hold more of that value if the new find is of lesser condition. Some true collectors may prefer the lower end condition to one that is pristine and slabbed if the price is right, and some collectors might not be willing to pay additional cost due to the chip/token being slabbed.

I for one like being able to display my HIGH END silver strikes in frames (thank you Tiny Treasures) for people to see who aren't collectors who come to my home, always a conversation piece.

Now if these were slabbed, I'd hate to have to bother with the bulk of the slabs themselves and the containers I'll need to put them into to store them.

I like having my collection (I am a collector not an investor) readily available no matter what the value of the item so that others may touch and feel them. Kind of gives you the sense of what it is like to have played with them. Inside that coffin I've lost all sense of that reality.

These slabbed things are somewhat similar to just encasing the chip in a solid plastic mold. Of course the chip although slabbed it can be removed (exhumed) from the slab.

Now let me give you, as an author of a copyrighted work, my personal reason for not liking slabbing as it relates to may major collecting interest.

I'll start with a question. Would you like to see the "Chip Rack Numbering System" included on all of the chips you have slabbed?

Would you prefer that the slabbing company get permission to use those numbers from the authors who've created those works?

Now note that the slabbing company didn't even ask for permission from "THE CHIP RACK" authors to use that guides numbering system on the slabs.

I as the author of the "Nevada Silver Premium Gaming Tokens Price Guide", do not want my numbering system used on any slabbing company's slabbed "Silver Strikes".

I feel that if the company is using my creative works, could be implying that I've endorsed such works and that I have somehow authenticated that slabbed "Silver Strike" is indeed the token as catalogued from my guide.

Quoting Mark Erickson's past post…
5. No consumer protection can be expected from slabbing companies. Their certification only covers their opinion of a particular chip on a particular instance of inspection.

And quoting ICG directly from their website….

8. The grading of coins is an exercise of professional judgment and opinion, which can be subjective and may change from time to time. As a result, ICG shall assume no liability of any kind whatsoever and makes no warranties or representations to Customer for any grade assigned by ICG to any coins.

10. Except as expressly set forth herein, ICG disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, regarding ICG's grading service and all activities of ICG related thereto.

Notice that both of these paragraphs tend to release them from problems that the consumer incurs when and if they (ICG) make a mistake in the use of a catalogue numbering system that is not theirs. They are in the GRADING business not the cataloguing business.

So what if the slabbing company is GRADING the token that's what they do... However, with so many different varieties of some tokens available, they cannot guarantee that the catalogue number is accurate. I also believe this to be true of many chips.

Let's talk High end Silver Strikes. You have a MS-70 slabbed Caesar's no date token I have an unslabbed one just as beautiful unslabbed. You ask $1,230 ($30 for the slabbing fees including postage) and I ask 1,200 which one do you think would sell first? Especially in a hobby where the tokens are already encased in a plastic holder?

Getting back to supply and demand situation this hobby does not have ANYWHERE near the numbers of collectors that are found in the hobbies that the slabbing companies have already invaded. And as for the HIGH-END collectors available, that makes the number of collectors an even smaller arena. And I wonder just how many of the HIGH-END collectors are willing to purchase "slabbed" items? If we are slabbing to protect our high-end items there are much easier ways, than to pay someone else to do it for you, and in ways that don't permanently entomb the item.

The only reason for the slabbing companies to enter into our realm is to make money off the people, who they can, convenience that slabbing is the best form of protection, GRADING and CATALOGUING aside.