IMO - Slabbing or encasement of collectible items has ALWAYS been motivated by money and greed - in most part by the dealers who were involved in selling the slabbed (encased) collectible items . The profit motive is a strong force sometimes - it can cause an individual to compromise his principles . He will sometimes look the other way when huge profits are to be made at the expense of others . The two other hobbies that I am very familiar with that involve "slabbing" are coin collecting -and- sports cards . In regards to the more expensive U.S. coins , a higher grade by PCGS can increase a rare coin's value by hundreds or even thousands of dollars . Coin dealers will sometimes send the same coin to be graded and slabbed more than one time . WHY ? To obtain a higher grade -and- therefore a HIGHER PRICE for the same coin . Since there are more than one "grader" providing the service, it is all a subjective determination . Is the coin MS-60 or MS-65 . There can be thousands of dollars involved in that decision . Is there any benefit to the buyer ? Not really - there is NO GUARANTEE on the grading and PCGS does not have any monetary
investment in the coin . It only benefits the SELLER of the slabbed coin . He / she only wants to maximize the profit on the sale of the coin . In sports card "grading" - profit and greed are again involved . Every dealer would like to see a grade of "10" on every encased card . That is a "perfect card" to a collector and subsequently commands the highest price . I have known many dealers to re-submit expensive cards such as the Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps rookie card in hopes of a higher grade and more profit for them . What is the solution to slabbing ? Will it invade our chip collecting hobby such as it has the coin market and sports cards . Probably - which is very unfortunate . My first and foremost question is who has the knowledge, experience, honesty to effectively slab chips which would mean assigning a grade / condition to the chip - which in turn will determine the "value" of the chip ? ? ? Is Howard Herz or numerous other "experienced" collectors going to be in charge of grading these slabbed chips ? ? NO would be my answer . So, what you will have is an "inexperienced individual" who probably knows little about the hobby "assigning grades" which determines value to chips . What a sad day for our hobby if it ever catches on . One of the main ways to express our displeasure with the slabbing of chips is by "boycotting" THE DEALERS in these slabbed chips - NOT by boycotting any of the chip shows . Since the "profit and greed motive" is the only reason that DEALERS want the chips slabbed in the first place - then all you have to do is remove the profit motive for them and they will fade into the woodwork . Just don't buy anything from them when they have it offered for sale . If no "respectable chip collector" buys anything that is slabbed - they will go broke - and seek their money & greed in another hobby . These are just some thoughts to consider . I personally abhor the idea of slabbed chips . It is offensive to me as well as to any respectable chip collector . BOYCOTT ANY DEALER THAT SELLS SLABBED CHIPS . They will ruin our hobby .