I agree that if it is a pricey chip and it's clear that the R rating is no longer valid due to sudden large shifts in availability, leading with that R-rating is intentionally misleading -- not good, especially from CCGTCC members.

But, I would resist putting a blanket responsibility on sellers for the accuracy of the rarity rating. Say I have an R-7 rated chip with documented ebay sales of around $100. Then some sales happen more frequently and the going price drifts down under $70. I want to sell the chip. I do not know of a find but there might have been one. Is the chip R-7 for my chip description?

I can't see questioning the R-Rating every time I think about selling. I also know of some cases when the US Price Guide AVG/SU/NEW values for a given chip are way off -- suggesting the R-rating is off as well. Do I avoid referencing the rating then? What about the TCR value being way off? Even though it only indirectly incorporates rarity, if I advertize a 'L' value even though I know the going price is less than half that, is that wrong? Is it the rarity or the market?

For me, chip collecting is best when buyer and seller have each others' larger interest at heart, and a fair price is the goal. I have been burnt by several sellers who I suspect sold to me knowing of an upcoming surge of availability and the price cratered. As you can guess, I avoid doing business with them. I am also careful to stay as informed as I can be -- guides are static but values and information change all the time.

Just thoughts...