[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 18


The amazing thing about my post today is I actually wrote it this weekend before all the recent posts about Sniping. [The sniping posts mentioned were made to TheChipBoard.com.]

Don’t Be Discouraged By Snipe Bids On Ebay

Sniping is a way of life in the world of Ebay.

Many people get very upset when they are beat out at the last second on something that they really wanted when they feel they had the high bid for 6 1/2 days and then someone comes along with 3 seconds left and "steals" the bid.

It is my opinion that the only reason that something like that happens is because you just didn’t bid enough. I hear people complain all the time that they would have gladly paid what the Sniper got the item for……..

If that’s the case why did they not bid that amount in the first place.
If you bid on Ebay, be prepared to be outbid as there is almost always someone out there that wants your chip or token more and is willing to shell out whatever it takes to get it.

Bottom line is….. If you place your bid on an item at the highest price you are willing to pay and you win that item, fantastic, you got what you wanted. However if someone comes in and bids more than you, even if just at the last second, there is no reason to feel slighted, they were willing to pay more than you were.

Its plain and simple.

Now with that being said, I usually use a program like Bidnapper to place snipe bids. Sometimes they are placed well in advance of the auction end, sometimes 5-6 days before.

I used to wait till just before the auction myself, but I started to realize that I saw a lot of my friends bidding on items and I actually did not bid on something I would have otherwise bid on because a good friend was currently the high bidder.

The bad thing about that, is while you are doing what is considered the "friendly" thing more often than not that same friend does not end up winning the auction anyway because someone else snipes it. If I place my snipe bid a week in advance, I have no problem outbidding a friend as my bid was actually placed before theirs was, even if it’s a snipe.

So to sum things up here, if your going to let something like sniping get you then maybe Ebay is not for you. My advice, always bid your maximum, but not over your maximum and you will always be happy with the results.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 18

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 19


Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions

Its been said before any times and I for one truly believe it. There is no such thing as a dumb question.

The one thing that this hobby of ours has as an advantage over so many other hobbies is the accessibility to sources of information and the abundance of knowledge available from long time Chippers.

Over the next week or so I will start to highlight the Many, many reference sites, books, and articles that are available to us all.
Today however I wanted to focus more on the people involved in this hobby.

Did you know that the authors of almost all major Guide Books written can easily be emailed? In fact many of them visit the Chip Board as well as the club board.

Have a specific questions about a Puerto Rico Chip, Australian chip, UK Chip, Token, Ashtray, or matchbook? Then this is the place to ask it as the experts in these very fields and many more read and post on this very board.

The availability to an abundance of knowledge that can be obtained by asking questions of our club membership is simply amazing.
Within this hobby we have near complete access to a virtual who's who in the chipping world.
And best of all ……….

Most are more than happy to help with any questions you might have.

We have people here who have been involved with Casinos for a VERY long time and collectors who have been collecting chips and tokens longer than most of us can imagine.


There are regular posters here on the Chip board that have forgotten twice more information about chips that I ever knew.

So I guess today's lesson is that the experts and resources are available for your use, all you have to do is ask.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 19

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 20


Visit Robert Eisenstadt's Website on Mold designs

This is my first in a series of posts related to available online resources.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on a different resource site each day. Each of these sites has invaluable information to make your collecting experience all it can be.

Being a sample collector, I am particularly drawn to Roberts Website. Robert shows one of the most comprehensive lists of mold designs ever compiled and even better, shows pictures of each of them.

http://www.antiquegamblingchips.com/molddesignindex_site.htm

Take some time to brows thru the site and you will be amazed at the variety of molds that were used on chips thru the years and who made and distributed them as well.

Robert even offers samples of many of the molds shown for sale.
There are also lots of other informational and educational material on Roberts site as well which can all be reached thru the connecting links.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 20

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 21


Use the Archives on the Chip Board

This is my second in a series of posts related to available online resources.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on a different resource site each day. Each of these sites has invaluable information to make your collecting experience all it can be.

I was going to wait to discuss this a week or two later, but someone emailed me a reminder just yesterday and I feel that this resource is one of the best available on all topics.

How many regular readers of the Chipboard ( www.thechipboard.com ) regularly use the archives, or for that matter even know that they exist? Greg [Susong] has been archiving every post made on this board for the last 10 years.

You can access this resource by either clicking the Archive link at the top of the main page or going directly to it by the following link:

http://www.thechipboard.com/archives.htm

Want to find the history of discussions on the La Rue chips, It's there. Brass Core Investigations, Illegal Chip ID's, Important Finds, Greg Brison Fiasco…. They are all there.

In fact if your looking for just about anything chip, token or casino related you can probably find a thread or two in the archives. This format lets you search by Topic, Poster of even Date Range.

So next time you want to find something that you remember being discussed here on the board a year or two ago, it can easily be searched with very little effort. Since I use this tool a lot I personally find it to be one of the most useful tools available for such a range of topics.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of the Day - Tip # 21

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 22


Use the Collection Library

This is my third in a series of posts related to available online resources.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on a different resource site each day. Each of these sites has invaluable information to make your collecting experience all it can be.

Although I am lot a user myself of this site, I have heard nothing but good things about it and have many friends who rave about it.

The Collection Library can be found at:

http://www.collectionlibrary.com/

This is a free site for all CC&GTCC Members to use and put together by fellow collector and good guy Brian Watts. Using this site you can display your collection as well as put together Trade Lists as well as Want Lists.
Not only can you show scans of your own Trade and Want lists, but you can also view other members list.

This might be the only site of its kind that is at no cost to club members.
Spend some time looking thru the site and all it has to offer and I am sure you will be convinced what a great resource that this can become especially to those just starting a collection.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 22

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 23


Visit Mike Poole's Chipper Friends and Casino Site

This is my fourth in a series of posts related to available online resources.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on a different resource site each day. Each of these sites has invaluable information to make your collecting experience all it can be.

Ever wonder what the people you have been talking and trading with online look like ? Short of making it to a convention in Vegas, this may me your best opportunity.

http://poolenet.com/Chippers/index.html

Mike [Poole] has done a fantastic job of capturing photographs of fellow chippers over the past several years. These have all be alphabetized for easy reference and capture so many great moments.

Also on Mike's site are pictures of the Club Poker Tournaments, The Stardust Implosion, Las Vegas Boneyard Tour, and lots of pictures of casinos from all over Nevada as part of David Spraggs Archives.

This is by far the largest collection of photos of Chippers available online.
Be sure to take a look as you will be glad you did.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 23

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 24


Visit Ed Hertels site and Illegal Chip Guide.

This is my fifth in a series of posts related to available online resources.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on a different resource site each day. Each of these sites has invaluable information to make your collecting experience all it can be.

Ed Hertel has put together one of the most, if not the most comprehensive guidebooks for Illegal club chips in existence. The 4th issue was completed about 2 years ago and rather than have this book published for sale, Ed did the unthinkable……… He issued it online for FREE.

If you collect Illegal Club chips or simply are looking to Identify a chip you think may be from an Illegal club, this is the place to start. Ed May also be one of the most knowledgeable people I know on Illegal chips as he has been dealing with only this area for many years.

Ed's site can be found at:http://www.chipster.net/ and be sure to click on the link for the 4th edition Price Guide.

This is one of my most frequently used resources and being that Ed is a member of our Greater Houston Chip club, I have had the pleasure of knowing him for many years.

One heck of a good guy, and one heck of a good resource !!!!!!!

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 24

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 25


Visit Mark Englebretson's Nevada Casino Ashtray Project

This is my sixth in a series of posts related to available online resources. Over the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on a different resource site each day. Each of these sites has invaluable information to make your collecting experience all it can be.

Now while Mark might not win any popularity contests on this board [www.thechipboard.com] , his website is beyond reproach.

It is by far the single best resource for those interested in ashtrays, and pictures from all over Nevada.

Even if you have absolutely no interest in Ashtrays at all, the collection of postcards shown with each casino is worth the visit.

Working together with many other collectors and experts, Mark and Lynn have put together an exceptional site and valuable resource.
http://www.nevadacasinoashtrays.org/
On top of that, look for reprints of many of the articles from Pam Goertler and Brian Cashman which will soon be reprinted and available for reference on Mark's site. This site is well worth the visit !!!!!!

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 25

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 26


Visit Mark Cotton's Nevada Casino Front Strike Matchcover Guide
This is my seventh in a series of posts related to available online resources.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on a different resource site each day. Each of these sites has invaluable information to make
your collecting experience all it can be.


Mark Cotton is has developed a fantastic resource for all matchcover collectors that are interested in Nevada Casinos. Within this guide you will find nearly 1,500 photos of matchcovers that cover a complete history on Nevada Casinos. Mark also offers a free download of his guide and will even burn it to a disc for a small fee.

The site it worth a visit even if you have no interest in Match Covers as the information and photos are worth the price of admission…. And would be even if it weren't free…….

Nevada Casino Front-Strike Matchcover Guide

There is even a link to a message board for Match Book covers. Take a look at Marks site and you won't be disappointed.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 26

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 27


Visit Mark Cotton's Cottonchipper.com Site

This is number eight in a series of posts related to available online resources.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be focusing on a different resource site each day. Each of these sites has invaluable information to make your collecting experience all it can be.

Piggybacking on yesterdays tip where I focused on Mark's Match Cover Site, I wanted to point everyone to other great resources that Mark is responsible for.

At marks great site: http://www.cottonchipper.com/ You will find a large variety of useful information including:

1) Marks Article on the Bell Cigar Store - Omaha Nebraska
2) The Chip Auction connection - this lists the names and EBay & Jackpot Auction ID's of many Club members.
3) Cottonchippers Chip Blog - Lots of stories and great information on chipping.
4) The Chip a Day Calendar Project - A great idea
5) Las Vegas Casinos Street Address Reference - Lists the street address of all Las Vegas casinos past & present
6) Lots of great links to other chippers sites and trade lists.

Something for everyone can be found on Mark's site and I promise you that once you have been there, you will be back !!!!

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.
Happy chipping to all,

Doug "Cigarman" Smith
Proud member of the CC&GTCC LM-3209-147

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip # 27