Divest their collections? I haven't heard that one before. Considering all that Archie explained above, ANA was part of the force, making the change, and in fact rules over the coin collecting industry. Sports cards had no orginization or national club. But it appears that the major source for values and information is a grader...

"As the leading online destination for sports collectible enthusiasts,

Beckett.com has a responsibility to collectors to play it straight and,

candidly, this pushes the boundaries way past my comfort zone.

Since Beckett also is the premier publisher of sports collectibles

magazines, it simply should not be in the business of fixing prices and

grading cards."

The fact that we have a club, and are self ruling, should actually protect us from the outside interests who look at chip collecting, grading and slabbing soley as a source of revenue.

Whether investors and companies come into the "business" and people think they are investing when they buy slabbed chips. We will always have the hobbiest aspects. Those who are hobbiests and collectors will not buy slabbed chips. We aren't investing, we are collectors!

(with all the profit I have made on chips, I could have had a new car instead... lol) Anyone want to buy me out for face value so I can afford a new camper? So much for personal proof that this is not an investment or for profit hobby. It's fun, it's history, it's educational, you can actually play a friendly game with your collection, and not fear devaluation. (try that with a slabbed chip?)