Well thats good I made this thread. I was about to buy the Banks China Clay or the Majestics from pokershop.de. I also realized how overpriced they are. I did not even notice the rounded edges. But thanks!
Get samples and see what you like!
Don't just take the prevailing opinion for the definite truth. It changes every few years, to a certain extent.
Get samples and see what *you* really like.
I'm in the minority who really likes China clay chips. And you'll encounter others if you look around.
What they have going for them are the correct weight and general feel comparable to clay. The downsides are quality control, namely variation in color and stack height between different batches over time. But you decide how much each of those things matters to you. And it's a good investment to spend the money getting samples of different types of chips. Apache Poker is a great business who will help you out there.
A few things to say for the record:
- Oiling really helps china clays. Don't let "dull colors" be a reason not to buy them. Oiling fixes most of that.
- True and real are relative terms when it comes to poker chip material. It's true they are "not real clay" and they are "mostly plastic," but they are plastic with specific additives chosen to make them feel like clay, and they do a pretty good job of giving them that clay feel, compared to most plastic or ceramics. So really it's a matter of taste.
- "Overpriced" is again relative. People buy lots of China clays for many years, so there is clearly some value proposition. It's just a question of how much of what you like can you get for the resources you have available. But you need to figure out what you like first. For people who value "general feel," 10g weight, moderate price, and having great quantities of chips, China clays can make a lot of sense.
