I fully support our Club's efforts to educate newbies to the hobby. This is probably the main reason why I became a member. As I grew in the hobby, I realized that I needed to educate myself.
There are so many potential pitfalls in collecting via eBay. I decided that I would do all I could to protect myself on the "buying" end, and I am grateful to the CCGTCC and this board for the education I have been provided with.

That being said, the club, and good intentioned people, can only do so much. I could easily compose an eBay ad for a fake chip that we all would agree was misleading and unethical. Unfortunately, folks, alot of our world today is misleading and unethical, but thems is the breaks.
Ultimately, it is incumbent on the buyer to know exactly what it is he/she is bidding on.

I think, as a group, we should continue to shine a bright light on these "grey" areas. We should do our best to make sure inquiring minds get all of the best information they can about chip collecting. Don't do business with the scoundrels.

At the end of the day, though, I won't allow myself to get too worked up about it, because it is a battle we will never win. If it isin't illegal, people will do it. If it is unethical, people will do it. If it may even be slightly illegal, people will do it. Heck, alot of the history of the hobby is built around that premise, from chip, ahem, "harvesters" to illegal club collectors. Of course, I fully expect every single member of the Club to be way above this crap, and, thankfully, as a group, we are. I also think if the board feels that what Roland is doing is out of bounds ethically for a club member, then, by golly, do something about it. The general public has to take this crap, but we don't.

And as far as the newbies go, I think someone who would leave the hobby because they got burnt once or twice was probably destined not to be in it all that long.

Again, my sincere thanks to all who are trying to fight the good fight. I guess I have just come to accept the fact that there are alot of jerks out there, and there isin't much you really can do about it unless you educate yourself.