elemeno
3 of a Kind
My outside view of the current state of chipping
Fewer new members dive into the deep end (think $3, $4+ a chip) because of how far the low end has come. You can get pretty decent chips, way better than dice chips, with denominations, at ten to fifty cents, and this includes customization. Fewer people are willing to pay for $3 for “well loved” old, icky clay chips when they can get new for far less. Also, if younger folk as a cohort aren’t buying as much alcohol, they’re definitely not buying expensive poker chips.
More of the old guard found chipping retirement and/or are pairing down their collections. They had the means and propensity, but barring a few outliers that are fine with adding to 20k+ chip collections, most top out around 5-10k. The people who stay on PCF usually a) like to admire new chips without buying them, b) like the meetups and camaraderie here, and/or c) like to stir the pot and read the drama.
In short, higher prices, lower demand. Shifting tastes and spending habits of younger generations. Most long-time members accumulated enough.
That said, a NAGB will always lure some of the old guard back for more. In fact, the NAGB (picture) threads are an interesting microcosm of the current state of chipping. Mostly old guards posting their pictures and commending one another, a sprinkle of new blood, and drama.
Fewer new members dive into the deep end (think $3, $4+ a chip) because of how far the low end has come. You can get pretty decent chips, way better than dice chips, with denominations, at ten to fifty cents, and this includes customization. Fewer people are willing to pay for $3 for “well loved” old, icky clay chips when they can get new for far less. Also, if younger folk as a cohort aren’t buying as much alcohol, they’re definitely not buying expensive poker chips.
More of the old guard found chipping retirement and/or are pairing down their collections. They had the means and propensity, but barring a few outliers that are fine with adding to 20k+ chip collections, most top out around 5-10k. The people who stay on PCF usually a) like to admire new chips without buying them, b) like the meetups and camaraderie here, and/or c) like to stir the pot and read the drama.
In short, higher prices, lower demand. Shifting tastes and spending habits of younger generations. Most long-time members accumulated enough.
That said, a NAGB will always lure some of the old guard back for more. In fact, the NAGB (picture) threads are an interesting microcosm of the current state of chipping. Mostly old guards posting their pictures and commending one another, a sprinkle of new blood, and drama.
