[Gaming Ore]

Presented here are re-prints of a series of posts being made by CC&GTCC Treasurer, Doug "Cigarman" Smith on TheChipBoard.com as advise to the new collector.

I am simply copying and pasting here, without making any editorial comments, changes or modifications. I am also keeping the thread locked, so that each post can be presented as a series of messages without interuption.

Each post (or numbered Tip) will carry a hot-link to the original post. The purpose is so a reader here can make a reply/comment/question to the author at the source of the series.

Doug can be emailed directly at: treasurer@ccgtcc.com

Doug can also be PM'd here on ChipTalk at: cigarman.

So Doug, Welcome to ChipTalk!

Please enjoy,

Jim (Gaming Ore) Follis

[Gaming Ore]

by Doug "Cigarman" Smith...

As if I didnt have my hands in enough fires at the moment (Treasurer, Personal chip Project, Personal Chip Auction, Collecting BOD comments) I am going to take take on yet another.......

My Mother would say I am glutten for punishment and my grandmother would use a great yiddish word that she used once in a while....... she would call me a shmuck........
However I still have an hour of two that I probably should use for sleeping or eating, but what the heck.
From today forward I would like to offer something new..... The "Newby, Tip of the day"
This will be an attempt to inform, educate, and possiblly even help those new to the hobby with some pitfalls that they might experience. I have about 20 or so in mind already but I am sure I will come up with a lot of others.
If those more experienced collectors would like to see me discuss something, please email me rather than post on the board and I promise I will work it in as soon as I can. So Here Goes.........

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip of the Day #1 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Make a visit to the club website
The CC&GTCC Website at www.ccgtcc.com is an invaluable tool for both members and non members alike. For those who havent been there before you can experience one of the most comprehensive archives of manufacturers records available anywhere. You can use this to ID many chips that were previously listed as unknown.

Also please check out the clubs Fakes, Fantasy and Counterfeit page. It is an invaluable tool for determining what chips are real and which are fakes.
How about the articles like Cleaning your chips, Chipology 101, Robert E's Rim Mold project, Buyers guide to casino collectables, Ask the expert program.

Lets not forget access to the Club Library where hundreds of great referance books can be checked out to members for free !!!!!!!!!
Email and mailing addresses for BOD members and chairpeople.

The Club Message Board.
Links to local clubs.
And Much Much more.

In my opinion, if you havent been to the club site and you collect chips your missing out. Whether your a current member or not, this is a LOT of great information !!!!!!!!!

And best of all, ITS ALL FREE information to use.

Please look for my future tips of the day and remember if you have any tips of your own, please email me and I will make sure to discuss them.

Thanks and 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 #1

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip of the Day #2 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Collect what you like and because you like collecting!


What I mean is all too often I see collectors enter a hobby for reasons other than just collecting. If you start out collecting chips as an investment, you may end up being dissapointed.

In my previous life I was a Sportscard collector and dealer for many years. What I saw happen to that hobby (Especially with the introduction of slabbing) was many enter the hobby as an investment rather than as collectors. When the bottom dropped out on the newer issued cards there were a lot of people who lost money and it soured them on collecting.
If you truly enjoy collecting the things you buy and trade for, you will never be dissappointed.

Now I am not saying Chips are not potential investments, as in the past few years prices we have realized record prices for chips with new records being broken all the time. I remember just a few years back as the entire board watched James sell his $5 Sands Blue Arodie for what seemed like an astronomical amount.

What I am saying is that if you pick up chips that you truly love because you like the way they look or you like the particular mold they are on you cant go wrong.

If you go after what you like, you will always be happier with your purchase and your collection.

Keep watching daily as I will add a new Newby tip every day.
If those more experienced collectors would like to see me discuss something, please email me rather than post on the board and I promise I will work it in as soon as I can.

Thanks and Happy Chipping,

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

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip Of The Day - Tip #2

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip of the Day #3 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Limit your collecting to certian areas.


One of the biggest pitfalls I experienced as a new collector is that I wanted to collect everything. I went after Chips and tokens from anywhere I could get them and traded for ANYTHING that I didnt already have.
I soon came to realize that I will never be able to get EVERYTHING" and I would go broke in the persuit of that goal. Soon after I limited my collection to the 3-4 areas I enjoy the most.

I currently collect Foreign Chips, Sample Chips, Vintage Vegas Chips and "T" Mold chips. as it turns out, I have litterally thousands of chips that dont fit into my collections from my early lack of direction.
Not only is the cost prohibitive in not limiting your field of collecting but another downside is that you may naver feel the accomplishment of Finishing a collection.

If your goal is to collect $1 chips from every Las Vegas casino open today, that is a goal that can be reached.

People collect all types of chips and Tokens. Some collect by Molds, Some by Denomination and some by location. Others get even more specific like chips and tokens with pictures of say fish or birds.

If you try and limit your collecting to one or just a few fields, overall you will find a lot more enjoyment in your collection.

Keep tuned for more tips of the day every day (Until I run out....)
If those more experienced collectors would like to see me discuss something, please email me rather than post on the board and I promise I will work it in as soon as I can.

Thanks and Happy Chipping,

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

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip of the Day - Tip #3

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip of the Day #4 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Never use your credit card at a strip club.


OOps, wrong chat board tip of the day. Sorry Jim Kruse, I spilled the beans on my tip of the day for your Blog.....

The REAL Tip of the day #4

Use the Price guides as a Guide and Referance .

All too often I see Ebay sellers quote the priceguides in order to sell thier chips. They usually quote either the Chip Rack Or the Campiglia & Wells Book and seem to choose the book that prices thier particular chips the highest.

Unfortunately the Price Guides are just that..... GUIDES.

Guides like this tend to be obsolete the minute they are printed and even sooner in some cases.

Dont get me wrong, I applaud the authors of these books and credit them all for the growth of our hobby today. However the information that goes into the book was only valid at the time it was written down.

Chip & Token Collecting is an ever changing enrironment. New finds are made every day and there are litterally tens of thousands of chips and tokens out there that have yet to be discovered in someones basement or attic.

So, just because something is listed in a guide as having a value of $100 and a rareity of R-9 does not mean that is the case today.
While the guidebooks are an incredible resource for information on date ranges, molds, denominations available and yes even a good referance point on prices, use these printed prices carefully.
Keep looking for more Tips of the day and 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 # 4

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip of the Day #5 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Be an Informed Buyer.


In this ever changing world of chip & token values this is harder than it seems. However the more information you are armed with, the better off you will do on your future purchases.

There is nothing worse that buying what you thought was an R-10 chip worth $500 and later finding out that there was a box recently found and they are actually worth closer to $50 now. Believe me it has happened to all of us including the most seasoned collectors.

While this situation can never be completely avoided there are some things you can to to limit your exposure to this problem.
How do you learn what has changed since the guides were written? I don't know every way, but here are a few:

1) Use the tools available to you on . Search descriptions for similar items to see if others have been sold and for what price. Search past histories of that seller to see if maybe he has sold that same chip before and maybe even numerous times before. Chances are if that seller has sold 5-10 of that same chip then it is no longer the rarity that is shows in the guides......

2) Watch for posts on this board. Many times people post questions about recent finds and many of those are discused on threads right here.

3) Ask Questions. Both of the seller as well as right here on the board. There is a multitude of knowledge right here on the board and many times you can be made aware of "finds" before you shell out big bucks on an item. You may also ask the seller how many he has for sale?

4) Try and deal with CC&GTCC members if possible. Those members are regulated by the code of ethics and should be held to those accordingly. It is against the code of ethics to withold information on a find from less knowledgable chippers in the effort to make additional profit. I know some will argue this point with me as there are a lot of members who are in "Business" to make a profit, but far more often than not, you will get better information from a member than you will elsewhwere.

5) Use the Guide Books. As stated before, you them as a guide and not a final price point, but they are a great place to start.
The more informed you are, the less chance you will be taken advantage of on a chip or token and the more pleasurable your collecting experience will be.

Keep ypour eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.

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

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip of the Day - Tip # 5

[Gaming Ore]

Newbie Tip of the Day #6 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Attend the Convention.

I can't stress enough what a joy it is to attend a convention for both new and well seasoned collectors.

I probably collected chips myself for several years before I found out about the club and the yearly convention. The first convention I attended was the last one at the old Aladdin. The very first thought that popped into my mind was WOW !!!!!!!!

Chips, Tokens and casino collectables everywhere, as far as the eye can see. If your looking for something in particular, the convention is the place to find it, or at least the people who know where to find it.
Then there are all the club functions starting with Greg Susongs annual Early Bird get together at the Palms. This function gets bigger and bigger every year and is a great way to meet fellow chippers. How about professionally run club Poker and Blackjack tournaments which are first class.

Then there are the seminars which seem to get better every year and have a variety of fantastic information for collectors at every level.
The Banquet is always a blast and whether you choose a table with other friends or just sit with people you never met, you are sure to have a great time and meet new people.

On a side note, I personally dont usually care for the food, but that's not why I come to the banquet anyway.....

Trade Sessions, Trade Sessions and More Trade Sessions. The trading rooms are always full of others that love to trade chips. This is a great way to get rid of your extras and add new chips to your collection without any cost.

How about the club auction? Great deals to be had the last few years and something you dont want to miss.

However the number one reason I go to the convention every year is the people. I have made literally thousands of chipper friends over the years. Many of them live far away from me and although I speak with them every once in a while by email or on the chip board, the convention is where we meet. I remember back to my first convention where I finally met in person dozens of people I had known for years thru mail trades but never met in person. Its the one time a year where you and your friends can get together for dinner, a drink at the Splashbar, or just to talk chips.

The people is the reason everyone should go. To meet your old friends as well as make new ones. You can meet face to face with some of the most important and influential people in our hobby. Meet the authors of the books you use all the time. The convention is a perfect place to ask questions and get answers as the amount of knowledge on the bourse floor is unimaginable !!!!!

I have just attended my 9th convention is a row and cant imagine EVER missing one. Once you experience this for yourself, you will quickly understand.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.

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

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip of the Day - Tip # 6

[Gaming Ore]

Ok, we have now hit 6 subjets that very few people disagree with and that means....


Time for controversy !!!!!!!!!!!!

Newbie Tip of the Day #7 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Condition, Condition, Condition

A friend of mine told me something nearly 10 years ago that comes to mind. He said the 3 most important factors in the value of a chip was "Condition, Condition, and Condition"

There are a lot of collectors who will disagree with me on this one and I can honestly understand a lot of thier reasons.

Until 7-8 years ago not many of us "Chippers" cared much about the condition of the chips or tokens they collected. It was more important to us the history behind the chip or where it was from. It wasnt until the Campiglia & Wells (C&W) book came out that people could actually see a range of prices based on conditions.

Since then we can clearly see the trend of values based on condition as a HUGE factor in its selling price.

I can draw on the comparison to Baseball cards again since I experienced that one first hand. When I was younger I was thrilled to pick up a Willie Mays rookie card at a bargian price with one corner torn nearly completely off. At that time it was priced about 2/3 book price for a nice one. Only years later when grading came into full swing were the variation in values between the grades magnified. While a Near Mint card might sell for $50, a gem mint 10 card might sell for 10x, 20x, or even 100x that value.

I see the same thing happening to chip and token values. The items in truly mint shape are bringing amazing prices compared to those lesser condition ones.

Now, I am NOT saying collect only new condition chips as I have some real dingers in my own collection. One of my favorite chips is the old Silver Palace chip in the bottom of the scan shown. This chip is worn, drilled and even cracked !!!!, however its STILL one of my favorites.

What I am saying though is I am constantly looking to upgrade my collection with better chips. If I had the choice of a better condition chip at a little more cost, I would choose the better condition one.

Now for the contravercial part...... Many people actually like the wear on a chip. The argument there is that the wear, grime, chips and even cigarette burns give the chips characture. I can see the point as those chips showing wear carry the history of that chip with them. That fact I cant argue.

The point I CAN argue however is that the more valuable of 2 chips will nearly always be the one in better condition.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.

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

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip of the Day - Tip # 7

[Gaming Ore]

I wasn't planning this tip till further down the line, but I thought I should just throw it in now as it related to yesterdays tip on Condition.

Newbie Tip of the Day #8 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Beware of Old Chips in Unused Condition

There is an old saying that I heard many years ago that goes, "Show me a mint condition chip and I will show you a box of them !!!!"

What that means is that usually when there are chips found in pristine condition, that means that they were never on the tables and chances are, there are more in that condition (And maybe a LOT more). More often thank not, when a 20+ year old chip shows up in perfect condition, it came directly out of a box. What this means is that the chip in question may not be as rare as it once was thought to be.

Now this information is not always accurate as there can be several other reasons for a "Mint" condition chip or token to surface. What if it was owned by a Casino Manager and was stuck away in a drawer for many years, or possibly a sample that somehow managed to escape being notched.

I also wanted to mention that this tip does not apply to recent chips as one would expect last years Hooters or Hard Rock chip to be in perfect shape. I am specifically referring to those older chips that should have seen a lot of table play.

All I am trying to say, is be weary of chips you see on Ebay for sale in "New" condition as many times those chips and tokens are about to become a lot less rare than the guide books tell you they should be.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more Tips of the day coming tomorrow.

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

Link to original post: Extra! Newbie Tip of the Day - Tip # 8