thriving without any value guide. Price guides and healthy hobbies don't always go hand in hand. I believe the price guides for most Caribbean locations are either woefully out of date or never existed (Archie's Puerto Rico guide being the obvious exception) and yet harder to find chips are doing very well. Illegal collecting seems to be doing pretty well even though the Hertel price guide has not been updated for awhile. Price guides are great, especially for newer collectors, but there are other ways to spark interest, like the on-line chip guides. If you specialize, you can learn values in your area, or at least develop relationships with people that know those values.

I understand your point about negative comments made by experts in the hobby, but James' comments were clearly made in connection with his frustration over the earlier thread. And, I believe the comment you quoted was meant to be sarcastic. Well, that's the way I read it.

As always, the hobby is what you make it. Collect what you love, have a good time with the hobby and you will never be disappointed.

Michael Siskin