As a new collector of casino chips, I enjoy reading all of the discussions about "slabbing" on this board.

While trading chips among members who know each other is safe and "common sense" can be used, it's not always possible on the internet. Especially when the collector is new to the hobby as I am. Can you imagine the bad taste left in someone's mouth for chip collecting when they get ripped off on a repaired chip they bought on ebay that is only worth a fraction of what they paid for it?

I understand that the vast majority of CC>CC members are completely against slabbing, and that's fine. Until now, this hobby has been a close-knit association of well-informed traditionalists that understand chips. Times are changing.

I don't agree that the CC>CC should sponsor a grading/slabbing service, as it would be a conflict of interest of the goals for the club. It's similar to a price guide that is published by someone who owns the same items he makes the prices for. The market should dictate prices. Doctors don't prescribe prescriptions for the same reason.

Instead, a few leaders will emerge in this hobby and independently create a grading service that accurately depicts the condition of the chips submitted to them. A second grading service will compete with the first for business. To ensure checks and balances, chips that were graded from one company will be removed from their cases and submitted to the other to find the range of acceptable grading discrepencies. This will be done by an independent third party with anonymity.

Here's my take. As the internet has changed this hobby, graded chips are going to be a reality. There will be HUGE resistance and resentment from many of you, but it will be embraced by the growing number of newcomers to this awesome hobby.

If you don't want an encased chip, don't buy it, or simply crack open the case and free the chip from the acrylic prison.

As for me, I value the expertise of you chip experts who will step forward and lead this fast-growing hobby where it inevitably is going.

Who is it going to be?

Glen Hildebrandt
R-6406