Let's talk about buying someone else's customs (1 Viewer)

Im curious as to why you say this? If one values that "Art rights" at $600, we are talking about a $2 fee per chip?
$5 per on a 1000 piece set would be quite a lot more. No one is buying this to own a 300 chip set, I assume anyone buying this would be planning a large add-on which ultimately brings the excess price per chip paid down.
 
......I would consider buying someone else's customs that are general enough in theme for me to be attracted to it.....

That is probably the most important consideration when buying or selling. Also, most custom sets tend to be on the small side (due to cost) so it's hard to present a set configuration that's attractive to a large group of buyers

Great topic BTW
 
While I also agree that one can do whatever they want with their chips, I am not going to worry one way or another on what happens. While most of these sets are awesome in their own way, they have no meaning to me; They aren't from a casino, they aren't my design, they have no reflection on me .. it is just not for me.

That being said, there is 1, and exactly 1 custom set that I would scoop up if I had the chance. The entire project was completed by one person, and I don't think it could ever be replicated. Speaking of which, I need to do a little research on said set and see what happened to it.

Mark
 
$5 per on a 1000 piece set would be quite a lot more. No one is buying this to own a 300 chip set, I assume anyone buying this would be planning a large add-on which ultimately brings the excess price per chip paid down.

I see how you are coming at it now.

For me, the only thing that is being auctioned in this case is the use of the artwork, since we know the exact market price for CPC to recreate the chips. I am not sure if the seller is also relinquishing his rights to the artwork as part of the sale, because otherwise, why not just sell the art usage again to the second highest bidder.
 
I love how people have such different opinions on things, definitely makes things fun!

I am the kind of person that would actually value someone else's customs at lower than what they should be, I would always feel like I took the easy way out if I plopped down money for a ready made set. That's just me though, in my car hobby I'm one of those people who have more like/respect for the guy that builds what he drives, not buys. But then again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with paying to play, just given the choice I would rather be able to build it.

Also, more specifically to the set recently listed, I don't agree with the notion that because it's so small it could carry a premium. I'm a person who likes to think a set starts at 500 or so ("heads up sets" make me cringe) and anything else is similar chips grouped together in racks. :D In all honesty I would pay less for a small set than I would a bigger set, even with the artwork rights. (Actually, artwork rights and add on rights would be a given to me. I would lol at the notion of buying someone else's custom set but them retaining the rights to the artwork.) I know in future hall of fame voting I'm going to take into account how many chips are in any particular set that I might be considering voting for. If I'm on the fence about two sets (there are always going to be tough choices in any voting like this, so many beautiful chips) and one of them is 1k chips and the other is 400 I'm going with the bigger set.

I guess it comes down to the whole "custom is custom" thing for me. While there are more than a couple custom sets I would absolutely love to have and play with, boulevard included (gorgeous chips), I would only have them if I payed chip room pricing for the set. Anything more than that I would start to feel like I took the easy way out, and if I paid a "premium" for whatever I was buying I wouldn't be able to look at them without wondering what I could have had made with that money...
 
Here's how I see the set breaking down, based an average of 7 spares per denomination and CPC prices as of 1-Apr-2016:

$881 chips (335 total)
20 shipping
23 cc/pp fees
576 artwork ($115 per inlay)
------
$1500 ($4.48/chip)

It pretty much boils down to whether the custom J5 artwork is worth $115 per inlay design to the buyer or not. The other costs are pretty much fixed.
 
Here's how I see the set breaking down, based an average of 7 spares per denomination and CPC prices as of 1-Apr-2016:

$881 chips (335 total)
20 shipping
23 cc/pp fees
576 artwork ($115 per inlay)
------
$1500 ($4.48/chip)

It pretty much boils down to whether the custom J5 artwork is worth $115 per inlay design to the buyer or not. The other costs are pretty much fixed.

We still don't know the Reserve Price?

Were those the actual artwork fees? I think the big question is if John charged less than $576, how are you justifying the delta?
 
We still don't know the Reserve Price?

Were those the actual artwork fees? I think the big question is if John charged less than $576, how are you justifying the delta?

Highly doubt those were even close to the artwork fees. Probably half of that or less based upon the time in which the set was created.
 
Highly doubt those were even close to the artwork fees.

I assumed Dave simply calculated the known variables, and the balance must be a combination of the artwork+profit. If there is no profit, then 100% of the remaining approximation is artwork related. I think we all can concur there is likely profit involved. However, I don't think we can judge here. Can you put a price on months of someone's time/energy into a project? I'm sure the seller values this. Whether or not buyers will place value on this is another story...

I think other posts that relate this to car building are more on point (for what most people are thinking)... It's widely known that with custom cars, the builder will rarely (if ever) recoup the money (or time) invested. You're doing it for the love of the hobby. The same could be said for custom motorcycle builds... The bikes/cars are always worth less than what's invested. There are some exceptions (insert Orange County Choppers, etc..). The same is also true with fine art. Unfortunately, poker chips are not yet appreciated like fine art (value wise). I think J5's work was astounding in the Boulavard project, but IMHO (and it's only MY opinion), even if I wanted to pay a slight premium for the artwork, I wouldn't pay a premium for the chips themselves, which can be recreated at retail prices.

Unfortunately, I see some recent for sale ads as a case of a seller assigning a value to item utilizing criteria/factors that might not be considered by potential buyers. This thread is case in point. If there are buyers that are seeing eye-to-eye with the seller, then that's an example of the universe connecting two kindred souls. I hope this happens. I do not really think this will set a precedent on the resale value of CPC chips. I think all will agree the Boulavard set is special and does set itself apart. The seller is just seeing if someone else sees the value in the same light.

Watching with keen interest.
 
I'd put a fair-value price on the ~335 chips plus artwork usage rights at $1100-$1200. Unfortunately, that is less than the opening bid amount, so I won't be participating.
 
I assumed Dave simply calculated the known variables, and the balance must be a combination of the artwork+profit. If there is no profit, then 100% of the remaining approximation is artwork related. I think we all can concur there is likely profit involved. However, I don't think we can judge here. Can you put a price on months of someone's time/energy into a project? I'm sure the seller values this. Whether or not buyers will place value on this is another story...

I think other posts that relate this to car building are more on point (for what most people are thinking)... It's widely known that with custom cars, the builder will rarely (if ever) recoup the money (or time) invested. You're doing it for the love of the hobby. The same could be said for custom motorcycle builds... The bikes/cars are always worth less than what's invested. There are some exceptions (insert Orange County Choppers, etc..). The same is also true with fine art. Unfortunately, poker chips are not yet appreciated like fine art (value wise). I think J5's work was astounding in the Boulavard project, but IMHO (and it's only MY opinion), even if I wanted to pay a slight premium for the artwork, I wouldn't pay a premium for the chips themselves, which can be recreated at retail prices.

Unfortunately, I see some recent for sale ads as a case of a seller assigning a value to item utilizing criteria/factors that might not be considered by potential buyers. This thread is case in point. If there are buyers that are seeing eye-to-eye with the seller, then that's an example of the universe connecting two kindred souls. I hope this happens. I do not really think this will set a precedent on the resale value of CPC chips. I think all will agree the Boulavard set is special and does set itself apart. The seller is just seeing if someone else sees the value in the same light.

Watching with keen interest.


I definitely want to point out that even though I would never pay what is being asked for this one particular set (that we just happen to be talking about, I think the general spirit of the conversation regards all custom chips, not just this one for sale ad. Hate to feel like one person is being singled out when the conversation could apply across the board.), I fault nobody that would want to sell them, for whatever they want to sell them for, or anybody who wanted to buy them, for whatever they wanted to buy them for. As the great Warrior Poet Ice T once said, Don't Hate The Playa Hate The Game. ;)

Also, I like the selling a custom car analogy, at some point in our life we all learn the lesson that you're never going to get out of something more than you put into unless what you have made is truly irreplaceable. Smiles per Mile for the original owner is worth exponentially more than it will be for the next guy that buys it. A few years ago my son wanted to sell his airsoft gun on craigslist and asked me to help him. We were writing the ad up and I asked him what he wanted to price it at, he gave me a price that was more than the original purchase price of the gun so I asked him to explain. He started listing off all the parts he put on it and adding them to the original cost, then threw in a little extra for "profit". I smiled and we put the ad up. Not surprisingly he didn't get much response, when he got frustrated I said lets redo it, but lets knock money off the gun and then take your parts list and reduce it by 75%, then we are getting into realistic realms for the price. He was a little disappointed, but I would much rather him learn that lesson at 13 trying to get money for a new airsoft gun than be the early twenties kid who tries to sell his first car and is "firm" on the price of his $6k worth of stereo equipment, coilovers, and wheels....
 
I definitely want to point out that even though I would never pay what is being asked for this one particular set (that we just happen to be talking about, I think the general spirit of the conversation regards all custom chips, not just this one for sale ad. Hate to feel like one person is being singled out when the conversation could apply across the board.), I fault nobody that would want to sell them, for whatever they want to sell them for, or anybody who wanted to buy them, for whatever they wanted to buy them for. As the great Warrior Poet Ice T once said, Don't Hate The Playa Hate The Game. ;)

Also, I like the selling a custom car analogy, at some point in our life we all learn the lesson that you're never going to get out of something more than you put into unless what you have made is truly irreplaceable. Smiles per Mile for the original owner is worth exponentially more than it will be for the next guy that buys it. A few years ago my son wanted to sell his airsoft gun on craigslist and asked me to help him. We were writing the ad up and I asked him what he wanted to price it at, he gave me a price that was more than the original purchase price of the gun so I asked him to explain. He started listing off all the parts he put on it and adding them to the original cost, then threw in a little extra for "profit". I smiled and we put the ad up. Not surprisingly he didn't get much response, when he got frustrated I said lets redo it, but lets knock money off the gun and then take your parts list and reduce it by 75%, then we are getting into realistic realms for the price. He was a little disappointed, but I would much rather him learn that lesson at 13 trying to get money for a new airsoft gun than be the early twenties kid who tries to sell his first car and is "firm" on the price of his $6k worth of stereo equipment, coilovers, and wheels....

Well done.

Same here. I don't hate on anyone for how they sell their chips, why, price, ect.....If I don't like it, I just don't participate. Now if someone wanted to offer me three to four times what the sunsets were worth I'd have to seriously consider it. "IF" I were to ever sell them I would list them for an "at cost" price. That's just me.
 
I harbor no ill will towards the seller or his asking price (which very well may be at a level he needs to justify selling them). I hope he finds someone who is a 'kindred soul', as Trihonda put it.

Pretty much any custom set placed for sale will undergo similar scrutiny, I would guess. k9dr's Suicide Queens and meatboy's Hungry Frogs set both got a lot of attention. Other sets such as Three Putt Poker, Lucky Lady, Hitching Post, Colony Club, or Club Courage would all get weighed in a similar fashion if made available for sale. 'Tis the nature of the beast.
 
All very interesting conversations.

But the bottom line on the Boulevard thread - no bids on the auction yet.

Interesting way to test the waters... so far; big clouds, little rain.
 
Other sets such as Club Courage would all get weighed in a similar fashion if made available for sale.

This would only happen if Guido put them on craigslist after I explained they were worth a metric shit-ton.

Oh wait, I already sold a set of CC customs. For peanuts. :eek:
 
Forgot that I also bought someone else's customs. I bought Kyle's awesome 4 Kings set over on CT way back when planning to add more $5s, a rack of fracs, and some hundos. Unfortunately I sat on my ass too long before ASM/CPC stopped offering the E&C mold. Then I sold them, but can't remember who bought.

Beautiful set, though, and great design for the mold.

Uoh5K.jpg

UvwJT.jpg

vEmXv.jpg
 
All very interesting conversations.

But the bottom line on the Boulevard thread - no bids on the auction yet.

Interesting way to test the waters... so far; big clouds, little rain.

Agreed.

What I think would be really interesting is if someone like @abby99 decided to auction off use of her Lady Luck design for the one time creation of a CPC set. Would people be willing to pay a premium for use of that specific design, or would bidding cap out at what J5 usually charges, knowing that a new, but very similar design could be created for the same price.

Alternatively, if David Spragg decided to charge a per chip premium for using a Red Denomination on the Rounders artwork, would people be willing to pay, or would they be content with regular price and a different color denom?
 
I haven't a creative bone in my body, so yeah, I'd buy someone's customs.

I have one in mind, I'd go after in a heartbeat.

If one was to add-on to a purchased custom set, a royalty to the artist should be considered. At least I think I would.
 
Oh, and I left out one of my all-time favorite custom sets -- The Kings' Club. Awesome. Would snap-buy if ever put up for sale. Not holding my breath.

Long standing fave of mine too... However, I think Jeff has enough to spare. ;)

If he sold them all at one sitting, it'd get pricey!

I made a push to get these considered for the HOF... Next year I'll be making a push for another set tho.. :)
 
If @AfterTheFact ever sold these beauties (without some crazy mark up) without some crazy mark up I'd definitely be interested. I'd sell the Samurai Palace in a heartbeat, cards, samples, ect.....

The game of Monopoly has so many great memories for me as a kid, and as a father that I couldn't not seriously consider buying them.

image.jpg
 
Just my 2 cents...

I don't see me purchasing someone else's custom chips. I've been in the hobby long enough to collect some great Paulson and BCC sets. But eventually I wanted something more, something that was for me. Hence, the Andy's Palace Hotstamped Tourney set. That set is extremely customized, so there isn't much of a market for it, but I would only let it go if I got some absurd offer. I could sell all my other sets, but would always hold on to that one (none of my other sets are for sale, please do not PM me).
At some point I would like to do an Andy's Palace cash set with CPC. I appreciate the beauty and effort that others have put in to their sets (and have collected sample sets, of some that I liked). But when it comes down to it, I would rather create something that is my own. Nothing against anyone else, just my preference.

As far as the current customs that sparked this thread; they are his chips, he owns half of the artwork, he can do what he wants. If you don't like it, you don't have to participate.
 
I don't think the designers need to revamp their pricing models nor will there be a developing trend for higher-than-purchased CPC chipset sales. I view "the auction" as an experiment that is riding the tails of recent BCC/Paulson sales. If he gets his moniez, good for him. But my take is, even if he got the moniez, it won't be indicative of an emerging pattern.

Regarding Sanels comment about royalties for collector contributions, well, we all do this for love and fun right? With regards to artists, they should charge based on level of effort. The royalties thing is just a cluster fk waiting to happen if it applied to custom chipping. Sales would just get more private.
 
If @AfterTheFact ever sold these beauties (without some crazy mark up) without some crazy mark up I'd definitely be interested. I'd sell the Samurai Palace in a heartbeat, cards, samples, ect.....

The game of Monopoly has so many great memories for me as a kid, and as a father that I couldn't not seriously consider buying them.

View attachment 36273

I guess what I don't understand is why you can't just make your own Monopoly set. It's not like @AfterTheFact owns the intellectual rights to monopoly. Why can't you just make your own? Change the artwork a little to something you like even better?

I guess I am not understanding the finer points of this discussion. If I want to make a 4-putt poker set (which is more in line with my golf game anyway), and change the logo a smidge (which is already obviously based on Dunes), what is the hold up? Can't I do this? How far removed from 3-putt poker does it need to be, really?

I don't think I understand the rules around customs and intellectual property. Would love to be enlightened, which I am sure I am about to be :)
 
I guess what I don't understand is why you can't just make your own Monopoly set. It's not like @AfterTheFact owns the intellectual rights to monopoly. Why can't you just make your own? Change the artwork a little to something you like even better?

I guess I am not understanding the finer points of this discussion. If I want to make a 4-putt poker set (which is more in line with my golf game anyway), and change the logo a smidge (which is already obviously based on Dunes), what is the hold up? Can't I do this? How far removed from 3-putt poker does it need to be, really?

I don't think I understand the rules around customs and intellectual property. Would love to be enlightened, which I am sure I am about to be :)

I absolutely could. It I pretty much just tweaked it a bit to avoid any possible "intellectual property" rules then it would still feel like stealing to me. I could always just ask @AfterTheFact if he minded if I took his idea, tweaked it, and came up with something slightly different. Heck, and some point I might just do that. Thank god I don't have the funds for another custom set anyways, lol.
 
Whooaa..couple of days away from here...looks like I've missed something.
 

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