Pretend you only have one or two and sell them for top dollar every couple years.
And this seems like an opportune time for me to repost my apocryphal “Scene from the Chip Convention”:
Scene: Annual CGGTCCCGTC chip convention, at an “off-strip” casino.
Me: I’m interested in this (non-mint, dirty) New China Club $5. Can you do anything on price?
Old Fotzer: what price is it marked?
Me: $60.
OF: Let me see what the Chip Rack price is...
Me: *winces*
OF (After paging thru ChipRack for five minutes): It says here that in mint condition, this is a [meaningless code] rarity chip, worth $45-50.
Me: This chip is not mint.
OF: It almost stands on edge.
Me:
OF: But I’m offering convention pricing, discounting 20% off market price, so $40.
Me: *facepalm* You’re discounting off the top of the range listed in a book printed a year or so ago that isn’t based on any observable, quantifiable metrics but is basically subjective make-believe pricing that is the opinion of the guide’s author?
OF:
Me:
OF: Yes. This guide cost me $100.
Me:
OF: Make me an offer.
Me: Do you have more than one?
OF: No—that’s an incredibly rare chip, only a few dozen exist.
Me [who owns racks of them]: According to whom?
OF and me, in unison: The Chip Rack guide.
Me: *blinks*
Me: All due respect, and I don’t want to insult you, but I can offer you a price that is based on what this chip actually sells for in the real market, like
eBay or at Spinettis. Examples in better condition have sold for $5-12 recently. I’m not sure I can offer more than that, given those are actual market prices. I can offer $10.
OF: No.
Me: What is your best price?
OF: $38.
Me:
OF: But you don’t have to pay shipping.
Me:
Me: Have a good convention....
[Next booth, rinse and repeat.]
Later in the day...
OF [scowling and pointing at me to his wife; muttering]: That guy lowballs. Offered me $10 for this NCC $5.
OF’s Wife: But you have dozens of them, and you paid $25 for the whole lot! The house is FULL of boxes of chips! We don’t even have room for the grandkids!
OF: Hey buddy...I could do $35.
[/Scene]
