Firstly, as I rightly assumed, you have not read all the background or you may have understood why some of the comments seem 'all-encompassing'

The slabbing companies may or may not be involved in chips other than the 'slabbing process' itself.

Chips could be submitted by anyone, including dealers.

Chips could be 'graded' by anyone (we dont know) - they may have no knowledge of chips. They may be chip dealers, or friends of the dealers who submitted the chips - or worst of all - the same people grading their own material.

"I had promised myself that I was going to try and avoid controversy for a while"

I wish you had made that promise to us also. It has already been pointed out that you have alienated an ever growing number of people on this board. I have email evidence of this also from those that do not join the discussion. Do you notice how many people dont respond to you any more. The reason I am continuing to post is that you have, yet again, deliberately confronted me by your attitude after appearing 'unannounced' in a civil discussion. You obviously have a problem with my posts in particular - so far you have shown your hand as 'an accountant', 'a lawyer', 'a tax advisor', 'a politician', a real estate agent', 'a travel agent' and now an expert on 'grading services'.

If you thought about what you posted before you posted it maybe we could all get along a bit better. Not my opinion...fact.