Shopping for a New Set: Advice and Testimonials Wanted! (1 Viewer)

[snubelttucs]

As many others who have discovered this forum, I am looking for my first real set of chips to upgrade from the current mixture of Bicycle and dice chips my group uses. I want to try and mention as many options as possible to consolidate for anyone with the same question in the future!

We try to play on average once a month. There are a few beginners in the group who mostly just enjoy getting together to hang out, gamble, and drink.

We usually run 6-8 at the table on any given night, but could easily reach 10 with 4-5 people buying in multiple times. I’m looking for a set of 600 chips for a $100 stakes .25/.50 cash game with a budget of about $500.

It seems pretty much any premium manufacturer that isn’t direct to consumer/would need to be purchased from a third party (i.e. the classifieds) is way out of budget (and frankly unnecessary for my group’s skill level and (in)frequency of play):

• Paulson
• TRK
• BCC

Then of course there is CPC, which is again out of budget and not necessary for my group. But I am sure in some years down the line I will revisit the idea of getting a fully custom set of CPCs. But now is not the time.

From what I’ve gathered from reading through the forum and researching basically any chip company I have seen mentioned here, the next couple of steps down in quality from CPC are:

• BRPro Poker- samples purchased and in consideration (Tiki’s and DDLM)
• Tina’s- will likely purchase a sample set soon for consideration in the upcoming GB
• Apache- samples purchased and in consideration (Pharaohs and Majestics; also got samples of the Empire, Taj, and Mirage sets- not interested); didn’t consider Royals due to being an oversized chip
• Sun-fly- doesn’t seem I can purchase samples, but could be wrong

Manufacturers like B&G, BJ, Abbiati, Matsui, and ChipCo seem inaccessible and/or out of my budget, so I have not considered them.

Budget friendly options like Slow Play and offerings from The Poker Store I also did not consider, as my budget should allow for a higher quality set.

I am asking for any additional advice and insight that the forum can provide.

Any other manufacturers that I didn’t mention that should be considered? Any testimonials for or against anything above? What sets have you owned that you’ve absolutely loved or what would you never buy again?

Of course, all considering a budget of $500.

Any and all help is appreciated!



TLDR; shopping for a 600 chip set within a budget of $500, currently considering Tiki’s, DDLM, Pharaohs, Majestics, Tina’s. Looking for any further insight, suggestions, testimonials other than what I’ve provided above

 

[TheJestyr]

Short answer:

get samples.


Longer answer:

get lots of samples.


haha...I don't mean to be a smart ass, but honestly chipping is kinda a personal thing. I know there's chips out there I love that others don't like, and vice versa. So if you have patience, I'd say spend a couple months getting samples, see which ones you like, and go from there. I love some ceramics but hate others. I love the hybrids from Justin but don't like the more slippery plastic molds. But I know other guys who really like them. And lastly, I don't really like TRK's but I know I'm in the minority there.

The only real advice I'll give is:


No one other than you is gonna care. Sure they might notice the chips are a little nicer than they were before, but at the end of the day, no one is really going to care about color, progression, weight, etc. as much as you (unless of course they're a fellow PCFer)

So get what you enjoy! Good luck and enjoy the journey down the rabbit hole!!

 

[snubelttucs]

Short answer:

get samples.


Longer answer:

get lots of samples.


haha...I don't mean to be a smart ass, but honestly chipping is kinda a personal thing. I know there's chips out there I love that others don't like, and vice versa. So if you have patience, I'd say spend a couple months getting samples, see which ones you like, and go from there. I love some ceramics but hate others. I love the hybrids from Justin but don't like the more slippery plastic molds. But I know other guys who really like them. And lastly, I don't really like TRK's but I know I'm in the minority there.

The only real advice I'll give is:


No one other than you is gonna care. Sure they might notice the chips are a little nicer than they were before, but at the end of the day, no one is really going to care about color, progression, weight, etc. as much as you (unless of course they're a fellow PCFer)

So get what you enjoy! Good luck and enjoy the journey down the rabbit hole!!

That is the one thing I’ve seen most people agree on — getting samples.

I was shocked at how scarce the information on poker chips is on the internet, outside of PCF of course.

Hard to not want to jump right in and buy up the first set I like the design of, but with such a large investment it’s definitely something that, in my opinion, should be thoughtfully researched. I will certainly be doing my due diligence.

And that’s a great point on not worrying too much about what the other players will think about the set. One less thing to be stressed about during this search!

 

[TheJestyr]

Yeah, outside of PCF and maybe a couple other sites, no one really cares to talk poker chips haha. But the cool part is there's a wealth of knowledge on here, and most of the chippers here are generous with their time and resources.

I hear you about wanting to jump right in. I think we all did the same thing. But there's definitely a lot of regret that way. I got started by buying a bunch of Paulsons on eBay before ever discovering this place. I paid WAAAAYYYY too much and ultimately didn't get what I wanted. But it was a great learning experience and I got to test out a bunch of different chips before realizing what was important to me and my players.

Have fun, enjoy the camaraderie on here, get samples, try things out, and let me/us know if there's anything we can help with!

 

[owlbee]

To help narrow down your choices, do you prefer the beautiful, but busy design of the Tikis and DDLM or do you prefer the classic look of the Majestics and Pharoahs?

 

[snubelttucs]

To help narrow down your choices, do you prefer the beautiful, but busy design of the Tikis and DDLM or do you prefer the classic look of the Majestics and Pharoahs?

It’s funny you ask because it’s the one question I’ve been battling myself over for the past week. I like the classy casino designs of the Apache chips, but also the fun and vibrant look of the other two. I don’t prefer the sound or feel of one over the other right now, but will continue handling them to see if that changes. I have a few Paulsons taken from casinos over the years so am constantly comparing to the samples I have.

The one differentiating factor at the moment is I have read multiple reports of CC breaking/chipping/crumbling and overall just being more brittle than ceramics, so that has me leaning towards one of the Tikis or DDLM. However some of those posts are quite old and maybe the quality has improved over the years. That I’m not sure of.

 

[LotsOfChips]

didn’t consider Royals due to being an oversized chip

This is a mistake IMO. They fit your budget well, are instantly available, and the colors really pop, especially after a light oiling.

The 43mm chips are easy to handle, and stack very well. After playing with them a few times, you won't notice the larger diameter.

Of all the China Clay options, these are my favorites.

But yes, get samples

 

[LotsOfChips]

The one differentiating factor at the moment is I have read multiple reports of CC breaking/chipping/crumbling and overall just being more brittle than ceramics, so that has me leaning towards one of the Tikis or DDLM. However some of those posts are quite old and maybe the quality has improved over the years. That I’m not sure of.

That really isn't an issue anymore. It did occur on some very early China Clays, but the last several generations haven't been an issue.

If anything might be of concern, it would be the smell. Some people find it very much of an issue, others not so much, or not at all.

 

[BKisback]

Get a custom set. BRPro? You see the appeal of CPC but aren't ready to spend that, so go for a custom alternative that's much more wallet friendly. Having your name, favorite team, city, or other personalized details just feels so cool. My very first nice set--of Nevada Jacks custom ceramics--weren't the greatest chips ever, but boy was it sweet having my name and city on them.

 

[snubelttucs]

This is a mistake IMO. They fit your budget well, are instantly available, and the colors really pop, especially after a light oiling.

The 43mm chips are easy to handle, and stack very well. After playing with them a few times, you won't notice the larger diameter.

Of all the China Clay options, these are my favorites.

But yes, get samples

Thanks for the suggestion. The size being an issue was my first thought. But not including them in my initial order of samples was something I was regretting, especially since the set is only like 8 bucks. I may as well have just added them. I have since seen a lot of people naming Royals as their favorite rather than Majestics, while the latter still seems to be the most popular. I plan to check them out now.

Is there anything in particular that makes them your favorite? Or just overall you prefer them?

 

[caballo993]

If you got the Mirage from Apache then you already have Tina samples. Although it would be good to try out the Greek and Sun molds.

Also plan to buy 650-700 chips if you want a 600 pc set, since you'll have to buy in quantities of 25. Besides its never a bad idea to have a few extra lying around. You never know if the quality will be the same if you have to buy more later after you lose/break a few or move up in stakes. That goes for china clay and ceramic.

 

[LotsOfChips]

Is there anything in particular that makes them your favorite? Or just overall you prefer them?

The colors! I have a tournament set, and the 100,000 chip is absolutely fire!

The $1 is a bit less impressive, so if you're going strictly for a cash set, maybe you won't be as impressed.

 

[tabletalker7]

If you like your samples from BR Pro, then go with those. I did.

IMG_20200228_115314.jpg

• tabletalker7
• Apr 30, 2020

quick breakdown

IMG_20200228_115231.jpg

• tabletalker7
• Apr 30, 2020

Micro Stakes

I don't regret it

 

[doughboy63]

I don’t know about the Royals, but for sure the Majestics and most China Clay chips have a smell. It is described different ways by different people. Some don’t mind it, others sell them because of it. You said you got samples, not sure if it would be obvious in small quantities or not. Maybe put them in a ziplock bag or Tupperware for a couple days and open it up and take a whiff. I kept mine in a cabinet and when I opened the door the smell punched me in the nose. Search the forum for China Clay and smell. Just a heads up, not telling you to not buy them. I enjoyed my Majestics for a long time.

 

[snubelttucs]

If you got the Mirage from Apache then you already have Tina samples. Although it would be good to try out the Greek and Sun molds.

I didn’t know this. Thanks. I’ll be getting one of the mixed sample sets to check out the Greek and Sun molds too.

 

[snubelttucs]

The colors! I have a tournament set, and the 100,000 chip is absolutely fire!

That 100k is a pretty looking chip! The .25 is also nice which I’d be getting, so at least there’s that pop of color.

Have you been happy playing with your set of Royals? Anything that stands out good or bad?

 

[snubelttucs]

If you like your samples from BR Pro, then go with those. I did.

That’s a clean looking set! They’re certainly one of the most popular brands I’ve read about, and I’m liking the samples I grabbed more and more each day.

How has your experience been with them? Any desire to replace them at some point, or do you see them being your main set for a while?

 

[jcf1713]

also got samples of the Empire, Taj, and Mirage sets- not interested)

Any particular reason you didn't like these?

 

[LotsOfChips]

Have you been happy playing with your set of Royals? Anything that stands out good or bad?

I'm quite happy with them. They're affordable.look nice, and handle well.

They look very dusty and dull when they arrive, but a light oiling makes them pop.

There was a noticeable smell initially, but oiling seems to get rid of most of that, as does storing them in the open air (storing in an enclosed space keeps the smell concentrated in that enclosure).

 

[tabletalker7]

That’s a clean looking set! They’re certainly one of the most popular brands I’ve read about, and I’m liking the samples I grabbed more and more each day.

How has your experience been with them? Any desire to replace them at some point, or do you see them being your main set for a while?

I have had them for several years, and I have no desire to change to something else. I like them, my players like them, and if it ain't broke I ain't fixing it. I even added on to this set after 5 years of home game use, and nobody can tell the newer chips from the older chips.

 

[snubelttucs]

Any particular reason you didn't like these?

For the Empire and Taj sets, I don’t like the feel or the sound of them. They feel kind of cheap and plastic-y to me. The sound is a higher pitch that I do not like.

As for the Mirage set, they feel and sound better than the other two. But, the colors of the $.25, $1, and $25 are too similar for me. I want more differentiation across the chips I’ll be using.

 

[jcf1713]

For the Empire and Taj sets, I don’t like the feel or the sound of them. They feel kind of cheap and plastic-y to me. The sound is a higher pitch that I do not like.

As for the Mirage set, they feel and sound better than the other two. But, the colors of the $.25, $1, and $25 are too similar for me. I want more differentiation across the chips I’ll be using.

Got it! Thanks for the heads up. I just ordered some Olympus samples. This thread is making me want to check out more samples but then it comes out of my chip fund… oh well, guess it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

[snubelttucs]

but then it comes out of my chip fund… oh well, guess it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I’m considering the samples an R&E expense to help live with it

I’m completely new to this so have no idea what I like and dislike right now. As you said, better safe than sorry!

 

[nynit]

What did you end up deciding? I'm in a similar place and narrowed it down to Majestics, Tinas, and Olympus. Majestics are out of stock until May and Tinas would take at least as long, so I ordered a sample of Olympus. I liked them a lot and they're priced reasonably enough that I just got a set to play them now. If I upgrade from here it'll probably be for customs or marketplace finds, so that's at least several months with the Olympus.

 

[snubelttucs]

What did you end up deciding?

Still haven’t yet. Right now I’m considering doing a custom one, so trying to work through a possible design and then will decide between Tina’s or a BRPro set, whichever a design works best on. CPC is still out of my price range, and who knows when they’ll even be up and running again.

With that being said, if I was to choose something off the shelf it would be between something from BRPro or the Olympus set. I like the BRPro ones the most out of this middle tier, but the Olympus are much cheaper than BRP, and a little cheaper than the CC from Apache which feel pretty much the same imo.

 

[Timmah]

My journey was:

Dice Chips - Gave away
BR Nevada Jacks - sold
Custom Tina cash and tourney - both sold
Paulson Cash set
CPC 44mm Tournament set
BR Custom Limit set

I spent about $4000 on chips I later sold for about half that. To do all over again, I would have held off on the first round of chips and saved up for the ones I really wanted.

 

[snubelttucs]

I spend about $4000 on chips I later sold for about half that. To do all over again, I would have held off on the first round of chips and saved up for the ones I really wanted.

I think that’s the point I’m at now in my process. I know my goal is some kind of custom set, if not multiple. But I just can’t justify premium chips at this point with the group I play with. But what I do know is I want to axe the dice chips. Which is why I’m leaning most towards a custom BRPro set. It seems the top of the last tier before you get to CPC and Paulsons (albeit, a sizable gap).

BR Custom Limit set

Are you happy with yours?

 

[Timmah]

I am very happy with my BR limit set. They have a texture to them so they’re not slippery. They are great at their work and their quality is excellent. Plus they’re here in the US. I ordered 1100 chips and had them in my home in less than 2 weeks.

Zoomed in pic showing the texture.

 

[snubelttucs]

I ordered 1100 chips and had them in my home is less than 2 weeks.

I’m not sure what I expected but that seems like a shockingly low turn around time for an order like that. And the chips look awesome! That’s great to know.

 

[jcf1713]

Just an update on my journey too.. Who knew how many hours I would (and will prob continue to) spend on poker chips?? I ended up with a few different samples. A short overview of my personal thoughts and thought process:

Tiki Kings: They're nice, have a very bright sound. Wasn't a huge fan with no-mold design, I'm more partial to a classic looking chip.

Tina Hybrid Tangiers Mold: I was super close to ordering these in the March group buy. But I just wasn't in love. After handling the china clays, these felt a little more plasticky and cheap (I know it doesn't really make sense, these are mostly considered better than china clays, just my humble newbie opinion).

Majestics: A nice sound, a nice feel. The inlay didn't really speak to me, so wasn't worth the extra premium over the Olympus.

Olympus: These had some drawbacks (I'm picky about inlays and edge spots), but for the price and feel and sound, they were my winner. I really loved the sound and texture. Just ordered 500 today.

I feel your pain about the having to choose a stepping stone before Paulson/CPC. It's tricky to choose, wish the process was a little easier with a clear cut winner. One of the reasons why I chose Olympus was the price factor. The money I saved will hopefully eventually be used toward some real clays one sweet day. I may also end up doing a custom Tina chip before then, since then I can have the exact inlay and colors I want. For now, I've got a major upgrade from my current dice chips for a good price that I'll be happy with.

I was tempted to get the ASM hot stamps that are/were for sale in the marketplace, but I didn't have a sample of them to go off of. And the fact that they were mostly non-denominated also was a factor.

Best of luck to you!! Keep us updated on what you end up doing.

@nynit cheers my fellow Olympian