Beginners Guide to Buying Chips (1 Viewer)

[shorticus]

Have you ever had an experience that you wanted to share? Whether it be a regretful decision, or one that saved you some cash. How about you share that experience with the new chippers?

In this thread I am calling on everyone who has had experience with buying chips to share some cost saving do’s and do not’s with the new guys. We can share everything with them from calling “dibs” to overpaying in the classifieds when there are vendor sales available. Any bit of advice you would think is useful for the beginning chipper is acceptable here.

My goal here is to create a thread where new chippers can come so they can get a sense of how to get into the hobby in the most efficient way possible. I know the title says “buying”, but if there’s anything you deem necessary for a new chipper, share it. Pass along the positivity and let’s all enjoy this chipping experience together.

Hopefully, in a few months, we can point new chippers here so they can just read through and get some information that may be helpful as they go along their chipping journey.

Thanks Everyone!

 

[Hornet]

Get samples lol

 

[RichMahogany]

Use the search function

 

[TheBigTater]

Biggest point, Slow Down. Honestly most people jump in all gung-ho and waste a lot of money buying stuff without any research or knowledge. You should take at least 2-3 months and do nothing but read through as much of the forum as possible, take in all the knowledge you can before you even think about making any type of purchases.

 

[upNdown]

If you're unsure about a price, PM somebody who's been around for a while. Most of us are happy to help share our opinions and experiences.

 

[shorticus]

Biggest point, Slow Down. Honestly most people jump in all gung-ho and waste a lot of money buying stuff without any research or knowledge. You should take at least 2-3 months and do nothing but read through as much of the forum as possible, take in all the knowledge you can before you even think about making any type of purchases.

100% factual. You’d be surprised at how much information you can gain on chipping in just a couple of months, and it’s going to save you a ton reselling the stuff you only thought you wanted.

 

[Pinkdan]

Before buying to see if you like the way chips look together. Reach out and ask if someone can snap a pic of the chips you’re looking for together. This has saved me $ more than once

 

[johnjohn]

follow the Mockup and design section.

 

[Colquhoun]

Simply slowing down may not be enough. Sure, it will help the new member from overpaying for an inferior chipset...

However, if you’re a real chipper (and you may not know it yet) acquiring the chips is a large part of the fun. While you might feel early on that “this is the last and only chipset and I’m satisfied”...that quickly fades, and you’re on to the next big acquisition.
Don’t fight it, enjoy the ride.

 

[MrWitti]

Accept that taste is „growing“ over time.
Maybe like wine drinking. The wine that tasted best when you started enjoying wine is maybe not the one you appreciate after years...
Same for chips, when I started I was all over ceramics, I couldn’t understand that long term chippers valued clay over ceramics. Today I wish I would have spent more money for paulsons, bcc, asm then nevada skulls and desert sands.
My advice goes into „slow down“ - don’t rush into one direction, your taste may change over time

second advice: buy enough when you like something and you know already how your final set should look like. often it’s difficult or impossible to add at a later stage

 

[Highli99]

Move fast and make mistakes! That’s the best way to learn. It’s only money!

 

[allforcharity]

Not only "get samples", but take the time to compare them. There are different clays. There are different ceramics. There are certainly different higher end plastics and lower end plastics. They each have their quirks and their costs. You might be surprised.

 

[FordPickup92]

Do your research! Know what chips are selling for, and if you don't know reach out to someone who may be able to help! All too many times I see new members get sucked into new chips and have someone price gouge them because they don't know any better!

 

[seyff45]

I would say ask a ton of questions and listen to the masters here and seek advice on how the build your set(s) depending upon what you typically play.

Tourneys or cash? What are the stakes, etc.?

There's a ton of tribal knowledge on the site and I've found that folks are typically VERY happy to share information based upon what they've learned. That will be the best way to make sure you get your sets right and that you're not overpaying for sets (or not getting good playable sets)

 

[ArielVer18]

Get samples lol

I would go even further and get samples in quantity of 20-40 to see how well they stack. A small shuffle stack of 4-10 is enough to get a feel. However, 20-40 will show the height difference and expose any slippery/slick characteristics.

 

[Statesvegas]

Before taking some action, always remember:

If you act like an ass, don't be surprised in the future when you get treated in like fashion.

 

[DZPoker]

My Advise: Don't even visit the Classifieds section for several weeks or even months. The speed that some chips move there, the volume of "I love these" posts, the crazy spread of prices, etc. etc. etc. is far best approached after you've gotten at least somewhat comfortable with the hobby. So many sections of the site with so much good content......start there!

 

[grantc54]

Before buying to see if you like the way chips look together. Reach out and ask if someone can snap a pic of the chips you’re looking for together. This has saved me $ more than once

In addition to this, when doing relabels via inlay removal, only prep the minimum amount you need to play and host a game with them to decide how well they fit before murdering all the chips. I've had a few chips end up causing dirty stacks requiring me to start whole new sets in order to find a place for the dirty stack murdered chips (I mean, what other option is there?).

 

[ekricket]

When assembling a set, be aware:


There are 3-4 major manufacturers of clay type chips that people prefer.
Each manufacturer has several different molds (the design around the face of the chip) in their catalogue. The mold is not the same as the inlay or hot stamp.
Each manufacturer has a different palette of colors for base colors and edge spots
Typically a Playable Set is composed of the same mold from the same manufacturer (no rule, and sometimes sets are mixed mold on purpose)
House molds exist, the name of the casino is the design around the face.

sometimes you see a chip or chips and think the colors are neat, but make sure you look at molds and chip material before you start plotting. They may look pretty, but the mold differences or material differences may turn you off when you get everything together. Just be aware

 

[MatB]

Tip #1:

When looking at the classifieds. BUY BUY BUY. Overpay, underpay. JUST KEEP BUYING.

Samples are great but you won't really know until you have a full rack splayed out on a table in all their glory.

Then if you don't like them or don't think it will work. Put them back into circulation in the classifieds. Maybe you'll take a loss.


Tip #2:

Do a search and see what chips have sold for recently. Expect to pay more than the previous sale, but sometimes you'll pay less.


Tip #3:

Building a set. before jumping straight into the classifieds and starting with tip #1 Have a rough idea of what you want in a set.
Look at the Cash/ tourney set breakdowns.
Once you have an idea. GO straight to tip #1 and don't stop, NEVER STOP.

 

[shorticus]

Tip #1:

When looking at the classifieds. BUY BUY BUY. Overpay, underpay. JUST KEEP BUYING.

Samples are great but you won't really know until you have a full rack splayed out on a table in all their glory.

Then if you don't like them or don't think it will work. Put them back into circulation in the classifieds. Maybe you'll take a loss.


Tip #2:

Do a search and see what chips have sold for recently. Expect to pay more than the previous sale, but sometimes you'll pay less.


Tip #3:

Building a set. before jumping straight into the classifieds and starting with tip #1 Have a rough idea of what you want in a set.
Look at the Cash/ tourney set breakdowns.
Once you have an idea. GO straight to tip #1 and don't stop, NEVER STOP.

Okay, maybe this thread was a bad idea

 

[MatB]

No its a good idea

Everyone has their own way of doing things. A few suggestions from varying degrees of chip degeneracy can't hurt

 

[Darson]

Tip #1:

When looking at the classifieds. BUY BUY BUY. Overpay, underpay. JUST KEEP BUYING.

Samples are great but you won't really know until you have a full rack splayed out on a table in all their glory.

Then if you don't like them or don't think it will work. Put them back into circulation in the classifieds. Maybe you'll take a loss.


Tip #2:

Do a search and see what chips have sold for recently. Expect to pay more than the previous sale, but sometimes you'll pay less.


Tip #3:

Building a set. before jumping straight into the classifieds and starting with tip #1 Have a rough idea of what you want in a set.
Look at the Cash/ tourney set breakdowns.
Once you have an idea. GO straight to tip #1 and don't stop, NEVER STOP.

This makes a lot of sense if you are referring to Paulsons or TRKs. You're never really gonna lose money or if you do it'll be negligible. You can spend $200 on some plastic sluggers and you'd be lucky if you sell them for $50. You can spend $200 on Paulsons and you'd likely sell them for the same or at worst a little loss (or even a little profit). The market for these clay discs seems to just be increasing so there really is no reason not to buy...

 

[MatB]

This makes a lot of sense if you are referring to Paulsons or TRKs. You're never really gonna lose money or if you do it'll be negligible. You can spend $200 on some plastic sluggers and you'd be lucky if you sell them for $50. You can spend $200 on Paulsons and you'd likely sell them for the same or at worst a little loss (or even a little profit). The market for these clay discs seems to just be increasing so there really is no reason not to buy...

Well I guess that's the thing too, to be willing to overpay knowing you have a good chance of not recouping that if you sell.

 

[tabletalker7]

Ok ...... Any new people reading this thread, heed this warning.

GET A HOT DOG ROLLER FIRST

Look, everyone here is going to tell you to get samples, and tell you of all the different kinds of chips. They are right. The only problem with all of the samples you need to get your hands on is that it takes time to get them, and that frame can easily be doubled right now with how shipping is delayed globally. In all that time spent waiting on samples YOU WILL GET HUNGRY! Get the hot dog roller first. Having good food will help with the waiting game.

 

[BonScot]

 

[shorticus]

No its a good idea

Everyone has their own way of doing things. A few suggestions from varying degrees of chip degeneracy can't hurt

Absolutely!

 

[msuroo]

Tip #1:

When looking at the classifieds. BUY BUY BUY. Overpay, underpay. JUST KEEP BUYING.

Samples are great but you won't really know until you have a full rack splayed out on a table in all their glory.

Then if you don't like them or don't think it will work. Put them back into circulation in the classifieds. Maybe you'll take a loss.


Tip #2:

Do a search and see what chips have sold for recently. Expect to pay more than the previous sale, but sometimes you'll pay less.


Tip #3:

Building a set. before jumping straight into the classifieds and starting with tip #1 Have a rough idea of what you want in a set.
Look at the Cash/ tourney set breakdowns.
Once you have an idea. GO straight to tip #1 and don't stop, NEVER STOP.

 

[Geremie]

Send a PM to Tommy to figure out how to delete your username/account

 

[Colquhoun]

Send a PM to Tommy to figure out how to delete your username/account

Then have him ban your IP to remove all doubt.