Price guides are just that - a guide. I have always found that a chip is a very good deal at 1/2 of low TCR. The prices in TCR are like an insurance appraisal, if you want the item NOW this is what it probably will cost. If you can afford to look around you may get a beter price. When I price my chips they are normally at or below low book value. Sometimes this makes it hard for me to trade with people who price all of their chips at or above high book value.

I think one of the problems with this hobby is that there are a lot of boxes of "rare" chips out there, especially those from Nevada. As these chips are released the prices will drop. I guess information is your best guard on value. Knowing that there is literally a truckload of Dunes chips floating around keeps me from paying more than a few bucks for any Dunes chip.

Collect what you like and don't worry about the investment value of your collection.