Alibaba Review (Truling) (1 Viewer)

[Stackdclub]

Most will be covered in the video but basically I ordered several thousand chips from a vendor on Albaba, I did all of the design work for the chip myself and it’s been several months back and fourth to organise the tables and cards etc. early this week I recieved the sea shipment

Communication was generally good.
Shipping took way too long
There was obvious water damage to the outside of the larger boxes, which I suspect happened at some point during shipping because there was some mould on the box.

The contents of the boxes were fairly well protected, nothing wet on the inside that I could find, no noticeable damage to the table tops.

2/50 chip trays were busted, no chips damaged or missing.

The chips themselves. They feel great, the features are sick, the mould was their generic mould but I’ve added things to the design

The sticker being wrong, the manufacturer has offered to reprint and send me the replacemt stickers, but I would have to manually replace roughly 5000 labels. The other option is send them back, accept the liability of getting them imported into China customs. Paying freight both ways. Also have the option of escalating it with alibaba.

I will reject the 5000 outright based on the stacked height.

Not sure if I reject the 25, 100 and 500 as well.

 

[mipevi]

Thanks for the detailed review! While the center thickness issue is most prominent on the 5k’s, would you say it affects all the RFID chips to some extent? At least the pictured stack of 500’s seems a bit taller than the non-RFID chips as well.

Sorry about the label artwork issue, that’s the kind of mistake on their part which simply should never happen, I feel frustrated about it and I didn’t even get any chips! If you send the chips back they’ll probably get someone to remove the labels and put new ones on (cheap labour), I doubt they would redo the whole chips.

When choosing chip colors, did they send you color samples to pick from (if so, can we see them?), or how did that work?

And how are the roulettes, same material as the other chips? Weight?

 

[Stackdclub]

Thanks for the detailed review! While the center thickness issue is most prominent on the 5k’s, would you say it affects all the RFID chips to some extent? At least the pictured stack of 500’s seems a bit taller than the non-RFID chips as well.

Sorry about the label artwork issue, that’s the kind of mistake on their part which simply should never happen, I feel frustrated about it and I didn’t even get any chips! If you send the chips back they’ll probably get someone to remove the labels and put new ones on (cheap labour), I doubt they would redo the whole chips.

When choosing chip colors, did they send you color samples to pick from (if so, can we see them?), or how did that work?

And how are the roulettes, same material as the other chips? Weight?

The order was done in two parts, the first order was the $5 $25 $100 and RFID $500 $5000

The second order was the 50c $1 $2.5 and RFID $1000

The second order was perfect, labels and chips spot on.

The issue is the quality on the first half of the order. Very frustrating that the small detail is the only issue I have with majority of the chips. The details are what makes or breaks them in my opinion.

Yes they confirmed that they will relabel and then relabel them if I send back: but the risk of them being confiscated at Chinese customs is high and all on me somehow.

The colour charts were sent through as being infinitely customisable at the start. But after they used the wrong blue they said that the colours were as per another image. (Excuse for them messing it up)

I can recommend using them for a project in the future BUT I would be super specific about everything. I’ll let you know how I go with the rejected $5000 chips (the 500 is also similar, but I can deal with the height on that one because they fit the racks.)

The Roulettes are good. They’re harder plastic and the stickers are larger

All the orders were sent at the same time but were ordered a month apart.

I’ll post more pictures when I’ve set the table up properly. Funny story, the curved wheel chip case was designed by an idiot and completely useless. The lid locks, but it leaves the rest of the case bolted to the table. I had to get the crayons out to explain to them how it should have been designed

 

[mipevi]

While the artwork issue bugs the hell out of us, TBH most players would prolly never notice.

 

[mipevi]

In case you end up removing the labels yourself and assuming they don’t just easily peel off, it’s best to scoop them up from the middle to avoid accidentally cutting the inner ring. I worked on this Bud Jones chip using carpet and hobby knives and a spudger.

 

[davislane]

Thanks for the detailed review. Sorry to hear your order didn't go to plan. Unfortunately, it's not surprising with Alibaba vendors. Have you lodged a complaint with Alibaba? With regard to the label issues, Is getting the correct labels sent to you an option and doing the relabel yourself? I know its not ideal but you could also ask for a refund for your time to do it to mitigate the risk of sending your chips back.

Personally, Id be sending it all back and making a claim through Alibaba and or your credit card provider if you paid with a credit card.

PSA to everyone working with Alibaba vendors. Quadruple-check everything. Pay the extra and get manufactured samples.

 

[Stackdclub]

Thanks for the detailed review. Sorry to hear your order didn't go to plan. Unfortunately, it's not surprising with Alibaba vendors. Have you lodged a complaint with Alibaba? With regard to the label issues, Is getting the correct labels sent to you an option and doing the relabel yourself? I know its not ideal but you could also ask for a refund for your time to do it to mitigate the risk of sending your chips back.

Personally, Id be sending it all back and making a claim through Alibaba and or your credit card provider if you paid with a credit card.

PSA to everyone working with Alibaba vendors. Quadruple-check everything. Pay the extra and get manufactured samples.

I have just put though a refund application, will let you know how that goes.

They did say they could send me the stickers but I don’t have the time to re label 3000 stickers. I can imagine it would take me about 20 hrs. A lot of work that I don’t want to do.

I can’t accept the risk of Chinese customs confiscating the whole order on the way back to them. For me, I can deal with colours bing slightly off, but typos and chip stacks being wrong height is not my problem. And for an expensive product they need to be correct

 

[davislane]

Its a ridiculous premise that the risk for returning a faulty product is somehow your responsibility.

I really hope you get a refund for all the faulty product. My hunch is if you do they will magically take the risk on themselves.

Do you mind sharing you costings to get the set made?

 

[Stackdclub]

Sure, cost was around US$10k total spend with them. This includes shipping and about US$4k just in tables. And close to $2k in shipping.

I have recieced a few other small orders and accessories and plaques included in that total. Pretty much enough to run a small professional card and gaming hall from scratch.

Additionally I bought a roulette wheel John Huxley spec via marketplace. All in to date about $20k AUD

I

 

[Stackdclub]

They responded to the refund request fast. Sounding like we can work something out. But it seems weighted towards buying other goods as well (which I discussed with them previously)

 

[LeLe]

They look like Lange Alibaba?

How much does it cost for the custom order of the chip ? Average chip price

It suck about the different barrel height, that is totally not acceptable for me

 

[Stackdclub]

They look like Lange Alibaba?

How much does it cost for the custom order of the chip ? Average chip price

It suck about the different barrel height, that is totally not acceptable for me

0.8c per chip for the standard
1.49ers chip for the RFID
Plus $250 for the custom stickers

 

[davislane]

They responded to the refund request fast. Sounding like we can work something out. But it seems weighted towards buying other goods as well (which I discussed with them previously)

Was always going to be the case when you raise. Hope you get the outcome you are wanting.

 

[BGinGA]

Just don't ship the chips back -- it's almost guaranteed that Chinese customs will confiscate them, as they are illegal contraband.

That's also why their manufactured chips are transported via shipping container, vs using China Post or a commercial mailing service.

Legal to make, but not own. Stupid law.

 

[coolguy101]

Its a ridiculous premise that the risk for returning a faulty product is somehow your responsibility.

I really hope you get a refund for all the faulty product. My hunch is if you do they will magically take the risk on themselves.

Do you mind sharing you costings to get the set made?

It’s not unusual that some items can’t be returned to China that can be exported to you. It’s this weird thing that if something is illegal to do or possess in China, they can manufacture and export the item, but can’t import it back. It’s a risk buying direct from China because of that, and it all depends on what you are buying. Alibaba may make a buyer return an item to get a refund. It happened to me once; I had to disassemble an item and ship it in two separate shipments to avoid customs detection. Plus I had to pay return shipping. If I didn’t ship it back, alibaba wouldn’t refund me.

 

[Colquhoun]

Nice review.
I must be missing something everyone else sees…in the video you hold up a 25 and a 100 and mention it says 5.
I’m just mot seeing that.

 

[mipevi]

@Colquhoun there is tiny text on the decal that’s supposed to match the denom.

 

[Colquhoun]

@Colquhoun there is tiny text on the decal that’s supposed to match the denom.

View attachment 1011780

Aw damn…never saw it.

 

[Stackdclub]

Resolution to order via Alibaba

A lot of back an fort after escellating the issue.

Result was that they wanted the chips sent back so they could correct. But I would have to bear the risk and cost on sending.

Second round of negotiation was that I would send back the 500 and 5000 to be remade and they send me the stickers for the rest.

My counter was that it would cost me $67USD to send back the chips. Instead I told them I would pay them $67usd to not have to send them back and I’ll keep the defective ones here.
Also they had to remake the 500x 100’s for free and send them to me. Along with the correct 5000 and 500 chips for free. As well as the correct stickers for the remaining 25’s.

I will replace the 25 stickers when I get around to it.

Fairly happy with the resolution. I end up with 700 chips for the cost of postage

 

[davislane]

Resolution to order via Alibaba

A lot of back an fort after escellating the issue.

Result was that they wanted the chips sent back so they could correct. But I would have to bear the risk and cost on sending.

Second round of negotiation was that I would send back the 500 and 5000 to be remade and they send me the stickers for the rest.

My counter was that it would cost me $67USD to send back the chips. Instead I told them I would pay them $67usd to not have to send them back and I’ll keep the defective ones here.
Also they had to remake the 500x 100’s for free and send them to me. Along with the correct 5000 and 500 chips for free. As well as the correct stickers for the remaining 25’s.

I will replace the 25 stickers when I get around to it.

Fairly happy with the resolution. I end up with 700 chips for the cost of postage

Glad to hear you got a favourable outcome. Crazy to think they still expected you to accept the risk of confiscation.

 

[Stackdclub]

Because I bought the rejected chips for the price of return shipping I thought I would try to reduce the overall stack height with a blunt #2 file and 2000 grit sandpaper.

It was successful, The reduction was 2.2mm over 20 chips.
Most of the material came off the inner ring, some off the numbers.

The sticker is recessed so it was not touched on most chips. (2 scuffed out of 40 faces)

Takes about 1min/chip

It works, Do not recommend unless you have a particularly interesting podcast and you want to zone out for a few hours

Upside is that they stack SUPER flat now

 

[Stackdclub]

Weights of the chips.

The RFID chips are really light at 7g

I think the labels are designed to be security non removable. They seperate from the hard plastic pretty easily but wouldn’t be able to be put back on easily

Also an Iphone 13 can read the NFC tag inside the chip, but I can’t find an application to write on it yet. The tag type is ISO15693

The manufacturer sells hand held reader and a seperate writer for USD$1200 too expensive, so I figured I’d be able to get a cheaper one elsewhere. This is assuming that aren’t already locked out.

 

[vohano1973]

Curious how these chips stack. How slippery are they compared to Tina's?