I am an author of a widely accepted and respected annual catalog (Atlantic City) for the past ten years .... and I would like to offer you a different perspective about "book prices" in general.

First let me say that Ebay (or JackPot) is not the final authority on values for SOME of the following reaons;

1. Not every chip, token, or silver strike collector is on-line... and these catalogs are not published soley for on-line collectors.

2. Not every on-line collector who happens to own a computer frequents the auction sites.

3. With few exceptions, ebay and other on-line auction sites have become dumping grounds for those who have excess "stuff" they want to dispose of ... sometimes at whatever price it will bring.

4. Of those on-line collectors who do frequent ebay and/or Jackpot, are sometimes not able to get bids in by the expiration deadline. They may have other activities or family/business obligations which may prevent them from participating in these bidding activities. Many collectors may be very busy professionals with limited free time who simply do not have the luxury to "waste" time searching through on-line auction listings and waiting for a particular item to come up for bid.

5. Many collectors who publish retail price lists ... DO GET regular sales at their published prices.... which goes into the mix of a cataloguer's estimated price guides.

6. Sometimes even quality agressive bidders (like goldplated Skip) may miss a particular listing on ebay due to illnesses, vacations, or prior commitments when an item comes up for bid!

7. You west-coasters .... keep in mind when you list your item at 10 or 11 p.m. out there, it is 1 or 2 a.m. here on the east coast.... too late for some of us to be there at the end of your auction to put in our snipe bids. Also, many bidders are away for the weekends and are out of touch with the real world for a few days that may contribute to a lack of higher bids being submitted.

8. Estimated prices in my A.C. Guide (as an example) are exactly that ... estimates.... they are not offers to buy and/or sell ... but GUIDES to use as a reference before making an informed decision to buy or sell. The price of purchasing a recognized catalog very often will save a buyer or seller the price of the book many times over.

9. Lastly, there is always somebody who will undercut the competition's prices ... if one wants to take the time and effort to do the research.

Many collectors who find something they have been seeking for over a period of time will simply write out the check when something is found they need or want badly enough. The fact that it sells for less on ebay a month later does not diminish the legitimacy of a suggested estimate that has been published in a reference book that was written possibly a year ago.

All of the above observations are my personal opinions, posted under my full name, and are not offered in an effort to get into a debate with anyone. You of course are free to post your own opinions to the contrary.