Amazing isn't it, I completly agree with your logic.

how can someone ask for one's opinion as to values of silver strikes, presumably because he doesn't know what they are worth, and then argue with the guy that the values are wrong.

The asker should just wait and get a few different opinions and then make his own judgement as to what he feels is most plausible.

This isn't directed at Chuck, but the same thing happens every day in the collectibles and antique business. Someone comes in and says, "What's this worth." the dealer tells them and they say "No it's worth more."

If you know the answer, why are you asking the question?

There was a ongoing letter writing exchange in one of the coin Mags. about someone who came in with a gold plated SBA US coin and insisted it was special and worth much more, because it was in a limited edition presentation case and marked collectible. The dealer told them the truth and got yelled at and called a crook.

This stuff happenes every day in the collectibles market. The people who have something, tend to think it''s worth more than the people who are buying it. And the dealers just want to get it, mark it up a little and turn a small profit.

ps I use Chucks NIS for Las Vegas casino chips and he's top notch. So again, it's not directed at him personally, just the problem of values, book values and real selling prices.