Beginner question about the sets on Amazon v other sellers (2 Viewers)

icypanda44

icypanda44

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My second post after my earlier intro post and this one is about buying a “first” set of poker chips (no surprise).

I’ve played so far with the low end stuff (antique Bakolite chips, cheap plastic Bicycle style chips and some Dice chips purchased from HomeGoods, Walmart or Home Depot – yes Home Depot sells poker chips). Now I am looking for a “better” set – Still low end from what I see on PCF with peoples Paulsons and Ceramics but we all have to start somewhere. :)

I have a separate post on chip denominations, I know I probably need to make that decision first.

I am leaning towards an Amazon purchase because I am sitting on some Amazon gift cards (free money, right?). I know that “Clay Composite” means injection molded ABS and that I will likely have burrs from the molding process on the chip edges and they may not be 100% flat etc (I’ve watched a lot of Hobbyphlic’s Youtube videos).

I also believe that a number of the chips on Amazon may be from their "in-house" brands – they create different brand identities to fool you the customer into thinking that you are shopping amongst different brands, but you are not. It is my understanding that the following are likely all Amazon brands ; DaVinci, BryBelly, MRC, Versa, Han’s Delta, FakeAces, HeiTok – I may have misunderstood this, but even if they are different companies selling, I am pretty sure they are the same chips from the same factory.

However it is my understanding that Slowplay and Claysmith are their own chips just selling via the Amazon marketplace (might still be chips made in the same factories IDK)

As I shop I am also looking a total cost including shipping. Some sets on Amazon appear cheaper but shipping is extra, some come with free shipping, so look at total cost per chip including S&H. I am also assuming that the aluminum cases on these Amazon sets are likely not very good quality and pseudo disposable, same for the playing cards.

But I do have some questions :

Q1. Are the clay composite chips on Amazon the same as the equivalent style chips on specialty poker sites? For example are these four all the same Chinese manufactured chips (maybe even from the same factory?

https://www.texaspokersupply.com/store/knights-poker-chips/

https://www.amazon.com/Claysmith-Ga.../B01IE04HRY/ref=sr_1_4?crid=JLG1T6OMW1P6&th=1

https://thepokerstore.com/collections/poker-knights-chips

https://pokerchipmania.com/poker-knights/

( I use PokerKnights as an example – similar question applies to MonteCarlo’s, Showdowns, Mints etc )

Q2. Assuming they are - and acknowledging that I might get color variations between chips bought at different times from different sellers is there any reason I couldn’t buy a set from one location and then augment it with chips from another? Eg: buy a set off of Amazon where the minimum chip value was $1 and then buy stacks of 25c and 50c chips elsewhere?



Appreciate feedback on the above two questions.


In terms of chip style I think I am looking at chips with denominations marked on the faces. I am not sure I like the more modern face styles like the Eclipse or Showdown chips. I do like the ones that have what I all the ‘paint splashes’ on the edges of the chips – the aforesaid ClaySmith Mint, Showdown, Poker Nights, maybe Monte Carlo’s etc.



thanks again

(Q3) Last question – as PCF members eventually trade up to a better set from Apache or BR Pro Poker (or wherever) what do you do with that first set of chips you bought? Do you keep them, sell them here on PCF or sell them locally? Just curious
 
The chips you are talking about don’t sell well here. eBay is better.

Brybelly is a type of drop shipper, they sell Claysmith and other brands. You can set up a store with their inventory and they will ship for you.

Save your money and buy a bit better. That’s my advice. Of all those I’d go Claysmith or Milano if I had to, but that’s my experience. Basically it’s a couple hundred you’ll never recoup if that’s important to you.

Buy a chiproom set from the upcoming Black Friday sale. One of the solids, they are relative to other things here cheap but there is resell potential.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/black-friday-sale-2023.112260/
 
Welcome, and, here's a good post to start with.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/new-members-start-here.85303/
Apologies if you've read it already.

I agree with the above post that your probably better served buying something a bit better. There are options that are comparable in cost that you will probably be happier with.

The "paint splashes" on the edge of many chips actually are not paint, rather, on "clay chips," like Paulson, CPC, etc, they are actually clay pieces that are inserted by hand as part of the chip making process. The chip is pressed, then a section is punched out, different color clay added, repressed, and so on.

Ceramics are dye sublimation, or, printed on the chip.

The best thing you can do, and you'll hear this over and over here, get samples. I'll say it again, GET SAMPLES. There are always samples for sale here in the classifieds, as well as from most vendors. Get samples and get them in your hands. Shuffle them, compare them to other chips... then make a decision. Very few, if any, knew what we wanted and needed, and got that first set right. We've all made mistakes in chips we've purchased, therefore, there is a ton of knowledge and experience here. A wise person would tap the brakes and gather as much info as possible, along with a few samples. I know I have many different types of chips that I could offer as samples, and, there are others that probably have a lot more than me.
 
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Why do you feel the need to improve quality incrementally? If it’s a budget issue, understand, but there are other options as well.

I went from plastic super diamonds to a custom CPC set. I’m just bummed I didn’t do it sooner.
 
Another piece of general advice - if you buy it here (from someone on PCF) you most likely can sell it here in the future.

If you buy off site, unless you know what you are doing, you might have a hard time selling it here.
 
icypanda44 said:
(Q3) Last question – as PCF members eventually trade up to a better set from Apache or BR Pro Poker (or wherever) what do you do with that first set of chips you bought? Do you keep them, sell them here on PCF or sell them locally? Just curious
Click to expand...
It may not be within your budget, but my first set was CPC Rounders. 1.) because of the quality 2.) because of the resale value

I looked at the cost of cheaper sets found on Amazon, etc. and realized that they have very little resale value, some almost zero. CPC Rounders generally has a good resale value because so many PCF members have sets. When time came to sell my CPC Rounders set, I was able to get around 90% of what I paid.
 
bernielomax said:
It may not be within your budget, but my first set was CPC Rounders. 1.) because of the quality 2.) because of the resale value

I looked at the cost of cheaper sets found on Amazon, etc. and realized that they have very little resale value, some almost zero. CPC Rounders generally has a good resale value because so many PCF members have sets. When time came to sell my CPC Rounders set, I was able to get around 90% of what I paid.
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It’s hard to sell something used when they can buy the same thing new for basically the same price.
 
From my experience with the Poker Knights chips, they are horrible. Drab, dark colors, and rough edges. They don't look or feel good in person.

I'm not a chip snob. There are some decent inexpensive sets available. My favorites are the Monaco Casino set from Discount Poker Shop (the Outlaws and Lucky Horseshoe seem to be well-liked, too). I think the Casino Royale smooth from The Poker Store are decent, too. Most of these inexpensive plastics, will be somewhat slippery, but no worse than most high-end plastics, and will add a more upgraded feel to your game.

We're a bunch of chip snobs here, but your guys will be impressed with chips that have the values right on the chip.
 
Beakertwang said:
From my experience with the Poker Knights chips, they are horrible. Drab, dark colors, and rough edges.
Click to expand...
I agree. If you go Claysmith the desert heat or rock and roll (stick and triangle or 12 spot) are much brighter colors. They are all going to have flashing on the edges though, so be prepared for some cleaning and polishing if you go that route.
 
Everything said above is all true.

You ask, "What do you do with the older, cheap chips when you upgrade?"
NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! :LOL: :laugh:

Ok. That is not entirely true.
Most people give them away to people just learning how to play poker and have zero money to buy new chips.
Or people donate them to a retirement home for them to use.
If you have young kids or grandkids, you can use them as an aid in teaching them math concepts.

I use them with Monopoly, Sequence, and Tripoley.
I kept all mine and sent some off with my son when he went to college last year.
For NLHE, I still use a small, low-value cash set depending on who I am playing with. When I am teaching coworkers how to play or getting drunk with old high school mates who will splash the pot like there is no tomorrow, I pull the old cheap chips out. New players tend to be more rough on the goods than experienced players who know how to bet, etc. I don't care if these get damaged. But if you throw my Paulsons around, I'm throwing you around!

Not to complicate things for you, but did you realize there is a whole world of different cards you can buy and use in your game??? Bicycle isn't the only brand of cards my friend......

Good luck and let us know where you land.
 
KHarp1 said:
Welcome, and, here's a good post to start with.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/new-members-start-here.85303/
Apologies if you've read it already.

I agree with the above post that your probably better served buying something a bit better. There are options that are comparable in cost that you will probably be happier with.

The "paint splashes" on the edge of many chips actually are not paint, rather, on "clay chips," like Paulson, CPC, etc, they are actually clay pieces that are inserted by hand as part of the chip making process. The chip is pressed, then a section is punched out, different color clay added, repressed, and so on.

Ceramics are dye sublimation, or, printed on the chip.

The best thing you can do, and you'll hear this over and over here, get samples. I'll say it again, GET SAMPLES. There are always samples for and here in the classifieds, as well as from most vendors. Get samples and get them in your hands. Shuffle them, compare them to other chips... then make a decision. Very few, if any, knew what we wanted and needed, and got that first set right. We've all made mistakes in chips we've purchased, therefore, there is a ton of knowledge and experience here. A wise person would tap the brakes and gather as much info as possible, along with a few samples. I know I have many different types of chips that I could offer as samples, and, there are others that probably have a lot more than me.
Click to expand...
Thanks - I used the phrase "paint splashes" to describe what they look like. I am aware of how they are actually created on real clays in the compression process (I think it was a post here on PCF that educated me on this). I didn't know how to refer to them when its a visual effect only on a thermomolded chip. Y'all knew what I meant though right ?

I hear you on the samples - I do - and if I were looking to buy a decent set ($250 and up) I would do that, But something kind of sticks in my craw about paying that % of the planned cost of my chips on samples. Let's say my budget was $150 and I spent $15 on samples and shipping, and I bought a couple of different sample sets, now my budget is down to closer to $120. Maybe I have champagne tastes and a PBR budget?

Also maybe - and I am thinking out loud - fewer chips / same budget probably means better quality chips. I could get 300 (or 300+) chips instead of 500. If there are routinely only 6 of us siting down then 300 is sufficient

Tapping the brakes and emptying the Amazon shopping cart, for now
 
warma said:
Why do you feel the need to improve quality incrementally?
Click to expand...

It just feels to me that you don't go from none to "the best" in one step. You go incrementally, learn along the way, adjust, adapt.

That's the way I have been with antique cars, sporting equipment, power tools, model trains. Yes - it's an eclectic range of interests.

As I said to KHarp1, "tapping the brakes" I thought I was ready to buy, not sure now :) Maybe I need to throw some more money in the chip buying pot
 
It sounds like you are on a tight budget but want the most for your dollar. I think the best way to go about this would be to figure out how many chips you would need. Then, calculate the cost per chip you are willing to spend. For example, if you need 600 chips and have $500 to spend, then you are looking at 83c/chip. Once you have that, start buying samples of chips in that price range. Lastly, buy a full set of the chip samples you liked the best. Good luck!
 
icypanda44 said:
It just feels to me that you don't go from none to "the best" in one step. You go incrementally, learn along the way, adjust, adapt.

That's the way I have been with antique cars, sporting equipment, power tools, model trains. Yes - it's an eclectic range of interests.

As I said to KHarp1, "tapping the brakes" I thought I was ready to buy, not sure now :) Maybe I need to throw some more money in the chip buying pot
Click to expand...
Eh. The biggest danger in buying customs is going with a design you dislike later, so I encourage deliberate and slow pacing to ensure your tastes are mature.

Some options, viability based on your budget, somewhat grouped, but not in any order:
  • Custom ceramics (Chinese Alibaba to BRPro/CPC/SunFly)
  • Custom labels added to existing poker chips with their inlays removed (aka milled/murdered) (huge variation here based on level of use and type)
  • Custom high end plastics (Matsui, Abbiati)
  • Custom high end clay (CPC)
  • Stock CPC/Key West Casino sets
  • Vintage sets
  • Discounted used custom CPCs
  • ChipRoom used casino sets (when they come about)
  • Other casino sets sold by individuals
 
If you are new to chipping, figuring out how to design your own chips can become frustrating for some and push you away from this forever-wallet-sucking hobby. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!! :wtf:

And as @warma warns you about, you might wish you would have done a different mold design with your custom chips or maybe do a hot stamp on the frac. There are so many options available when designing your own chips, not to mention the artistry of it all coming together on a round little 39mm disc. It has taken me 2 years to finally get to the point where I think I know what I want to do on my custom set AND how many to buy. It just takes time and I am still seeing chip designs from others that blow me away.

I think the biggest takeaway from everyone's comments here are, if you buy cheap chips (not that there's anything wrong with that) just realize that you will be stuck with them and won't be able to recoup any of the money you invested in them. If you pick up better quality chips here first, you will more than likely be able to upgrade by selling or swapping the first ones for even better ones.
OR....
Keep the first set and buy the second set.... kind of the PCF way....
 
In case you were considering buying those new "Pirate Chips" sets advertised recently all over Facebook: DON'T! The metal chips are wafer-thin and feel nothing like a proper chip. Garbage. Expensive mistake.
 
MGMDGEN said:
In case you were considering buying those new "Pirate Chips" sets advertised recently all over Facebook: DON'T! The metal chips are wafer-thin and feel nothing like a proper chip. Garbage. Expensive mistake.
Click to expand...

Don't do facebook so I didn't see them anyways, but thanks.

I DID bid on a set of chips on eBay the other night, didn't win so I don't know if it was a good thing or not, was probably rash. Anyway, this was the set : https://www.ebay.com/itm/176029105486
(pic attached)
 

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icypanda44 said:
Don't do facebook so I didn't see them anyways, but thanks.

I DID bid on a set of chips on eBay the other night, didn't win so I don't know if it was a good thing or not, was probably rash. Anyway, this was the set : https://www.ebay.com/itm/176029105486
(pic attached)
Click to expand...
The chips on the outside in the plastic racks look like NexGen Lucky Bee chips. Decent, fairly inexpensive plastic chips. The ones on the inside in shrink-wrap appear to be a version of china clays, likely "spirit mold". That particular variety feel the most like actual clay chips, but are known to be fragile and crumbly. Both of those are no longer manufactured, as far as I know.
 
Beakertwang said:
The chips on the outside in the plastic racks look like NexGen Lucky Bee chips. Decent, fairly inexpensive plastic chips. The ones on the inside in shrink-wrap appear to be a version of china clays, likely "spirit mold". That particular variety feel the most like actual clay chips, but are known to be fragile and crumbly. Both of those are no longer manufactured, as far as I know.
Click to expand...

So the $110 plus shipping for est. 700 chips was no bargain?

I did note no shots of the chip faces or mentions of chip denoms - and yes I know they could be re-stickered, but from what I understand you probably wouldn't do that on these chips.
 
icypanda44 said:
So the $110 plus shipping for est. 700 chips was no bargain?

I did note no shots of the chip faces or mentions of chip denoms - and yes I know they could be re-stickered, but from what I understand you probably wouldn't do that on these chips.
Click to expand...
15¢/chip on average is about right for those, maybe a tad high. But that's kind of a weird, unusable breakdown. Honestly, if I could find an actual playable set of those Lucky Bees for that price, I might scoop them up. You didn't miss out on much, in this case.

They would be excellent candidates for stickers. I wouldn't be surprised if they were all blanks.
 
So, let's start by asking what games are you playing? What stakes? Is this a limit game, or, no limit? How many people usual pay in this game? How many times do they rebuy?

8 players, $100 initial buy-in, playing .25/.50 could get by with something along the line of:

100-.25
150-$1
150-$5
20-$25

That's kind of a bare minimum and does not allow for much add ons/rebuys, or, expansion of stakes. There are several 700 piece sets that come up for sale in the classifieds that will allow for both, and, though will maybe cost more than you had originally budgeted, can be bought for not much more than some of the cheaper chips you've mentioned.

Ceramics may be the way to go for you, initially, allowing you to get a little better chip than a "cheapo" and still have a quality set. The "Tina" chips from Broken Arrow that were mentioned above, offer a lot for the money. Going that route allows you to add on later. They are Chinese ceramics, and, you'll see them often in the classifieds. Just enter Tina in the search bar, you'll see.
 
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