Buyer’s market -- I'm no longer thinking so (prices never higher!) (1 Viewer)

[liftapint]

Kinda seems like a buyer’s market right now. Of course, highly sought after chips are still in demand, but some really great sets and racks of chips are just sitting in classifieds.

Watching with interest, saving my pennies, ready to pounce

edit: While some chips are taking longer to sell, chip prices seem to be pretty high right now too

 

[FDLmold]

Yes it is.

 

[CraigT78]

Agreed! I had no problem off loading my last set - the buyers got great pricing to boot!

 

[FDLmold]

There are a couple sets, from which I would like one or two racks, that are priced above market in a couple classifieds that I'm eyeballing. Waiting for the owners to drop their pricing to the going rate so I can get me those chippies.

 

[MaxB]

Everyone is after Paulson boat chips or nm/mint casino chips now ..... the second class sets are not as popular as they used to be (for example, Aztar Indiana)

 

[FDLmold]

Not everybody wants boat chips! I'd happily play with somebody else's though.

 

[MaxB]

Not everybody wants boat chips! I'd happily play with somebody else's though.

You fit into the second part ("or nm/mint casino chips") (y) :thumbsup:

 

[FDLmold]

You fit into the second part ("or nm/mint casino chips") (y) :thumbsup:

Guilty, though just for Excalibur $1 chips. If somebody offered me a nice used and sweaty set of Oceanside Card Club or Soaring Eagle chips, I'd have trouble turning them down.

 

[Lemonzest]

There are just so many options so supply/demand has evened out a bit. Selling Cincy or Aztars with oversize labels isnt going to be easy.

 

[200 Motels]

There are really affordable new Paulsons (Gemaco Promo chips) and some really great aligned ceramics (Chipco Hybrid) under $1 per chip which are excellent options for first time buyers who want some of the best quality chips. This could drive down prices of other sets as used Paulson or ceramic sets could be in less demand.

Then there are the boat chips which sell for stupid high prices ($3-$20 /per chip) but people will pay it for, what seems to be, the actual holy grail set. This could also be driving down prices of used Paulson sets as the chippers with deeper pockets who have bought boat chips, might never buy a set of used Paulson again. These same chippers can now liquidate some of their used sets at a better price since they have the set of all sets now. Contrary to the idea that this is driving set prices down, it could be inflating the price of other hard to find chips as seeing people paying $3-$20 per chip is more commonplace. The pain threshold is lower for some people and they might be more willing to pay premium prices for rarer chips.

It's an interesting balance.

I think the availability of Paulson Gemaco and Sunfly hybrid chips have a bigger direct impact on chip prices but the boat chips have a moderate indirect impact.

I wonder if Paulson Gemaco availability has impacted Classic Poker Chips business much or at all.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I have picked up several sets in the past few months at very reasonable prices. But none of them are highly sought after sets.

But even some of the high priced sets could be feeling the effect. Heavyball was unable to sell his Aztar/PCA chips for what I assume he paid for them and the auction went without a bid for the Aztar $1’s.

Now I don’t expect any of those chips to sell for $2/chip anytime soon, but it seems nobody feels they are worth $4 each.

@200 Motels I doubt CPC would see too much decline. People that want customs want customs and the price doesn’t change that too much.

 

[pltrgyst]

I dunno -- $113+ for ten le Paulson noir hundos on eBay today!

 

[BGinGA]

There are really affordable new Paulsons (Gemaco Promo chips) and some really great aligned ceramics (Chipco Hybrid) under $1 per chip which are excellent options for first time buyers who want some of the best quality chips. This could drive down prices of other sets as used Paulson or ceramic sets could be in less demand.

Then there are the boat chips which sell for stupid high prices ($3-$20 /per chip) but people will pay it for, what seems to be, the actual holy grail set. This could also be driving down prices of used Paulson sets as the chippers with deeper pockets who have bought boat chips, might never buy a set of used Paulson again. These same chippers can now liquidate some of their used sets at a better price since they have the set of all sets now. Contrary to the idea that this is driving set prices down, it could be inflating the price of other hard to find chips as seeing people paying $3-$20 per chip is more commonplace. The pain threshold is lower for some people and they might be more willing to pay premium prices for rarer chips.

It's an interesting balance.

I think the availability of Paulson Gemaco and Sunfly hybrid chips have a bigger direct impact on chip prices but the boat chips have a moderate indirect impact.

I wonder if Paulson Gemaco availability has impacted Classic Poker Chips business much or at all.

^^ Pretty accurate assessment, imo. I also think the current 43mm Star chip prices are more a reflection of the price craziness that surrounded the 43mm chips from both Horseshoe Casino sets awhile back.

I shudder to think what AS oversize cash chips would be selling for now if they had been the first 43mm chip to hit the market in bulk -- probably similar to the $20+ prices of the Horseshoes. To many, $7-$8 per chip seems like a bargain in comparison.

The availability of good quality brand new chips for under $1 (Sun-Fly hybrids, Gemaco clays) has definitely softened the resale market for starter sets of used Paulsons and casino ceramics.

 

[upNdown]

There are really affordable new Paulsons (Gemaco Promo chips) and some really great aligned ceramics (Chipco Hybrid) under $1 per chip which are excellent options for first time buyers who want some of the best quality chips. This could drive down prices of other sets as used Paulson or ceramic sets could be in less demand.

Then there are the boat chips which sell for stupid high prices ($3-$20 /per chip) but people will pay it for, what seems to be, the actual holy grail set. This could also be driving down prices of used Paulson sets as the chippers with deeper pockets who have bought boat chips, might never buy a set of used Paulson again. These same chippers can now liquidate some of their used sets at a better price since they have the set of all sets now. Contrary to the idea that this is driving set prices down, it could be inflating the price of other hard to find chips as seeing people paying $3-$20 per chip is more commonplace. The pain threshold is lower for some people and they might be more willing to pay premium prices for rarer chips.

It's an interesting balance.

I think the availability of Paulson Gemaco and Sunfly hybrid chips have a bigger direct impact on chip prices but the boat chips have a moderate indirect impact.

I wonder if Paulson Gemaco availability has impacted Classic Poker Chips business much or at all.

I agree with all of this, except the grail part. Their hype outweighs their appeal for many of us, and maybe even for some of the buyers.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I dunno -- $113+ for ten le Paulson noir hundos on ebay today!

I have said for a long time people will spend up to a few hundred dollars pretty easily, even at a premium. It’s when the price gets above $300 it seems that the buyers become far less and things take longer to sell.

 

[Lemonzest]

I think there are 3 distinct segments:
-customs
-grail sets
- entry level casino quality (elites and used casino chips)

While people will of course own various sets I think these markets are largely separate.

I dunno if its just me but I feel demand and interest is shifting toward grail sets. There seems to be less interest in Cleveland or Aztars because people want the boat set or Tropicana, Claim Stake set etc.

 

[Lemonzest]

I agree with all of this, except the grail part. Their hype outweighs their appeal for many of us, and maybe even for some of the buyers.

People like yourself may already have established tastes/preference. However as with any culture I think the hype machine effects many people. I am not claiming to be above hype. Personally boat chips arent my bag. I am swayed by the hype around LV sets.

 

[FDLmold]

Hype machine definitely exists in all hobbies. Boardgaming has several hype machines centered on designers, game types, and even some reviewers.

 

[BGinGA]

But even some of the high priced sets could be feeling the effect. Heavyball was unable to sell his Aztar/PCA chips for what I assume he paid for them and the auction went without a bid for the Aztar $1’s.

Now I don’t expect any of those chips to sell for $2/chip anytime soon, but it seems nobody feels they are worth $4 each.

No surprise to me -- it's pretty unrealistic to think that used Aztar $1s and PCA $5s are going to sell for $4/chip. Unless it's a noob or somebody really desperate, it's not likely to happen.

 

[Psypher1000]

Boardgaming has several hype machines centered on designers, game types, and even some reviewers.

Truth. And then there's CMON, which seems to have achieved its own critical mass.

 

[BGinGA]

I agree with all of this, except the grail part. Their hype outweighs their appeal for many of us, and maybe even for some of the buyers.

People like yourself may already have established tastes/preference. However as with any culture I think the hype machine effects many people. I am not claiming to be above hype. Personally boat chips arent my bag. I am swayed by the hype around LV sets.

Can somebody point me to all of this 'hype'? Or are we simply referring to the posted opinions of users regarding various chip sets?

 

[justsomedude]

I agree with all of this, except the grail part. Their hype outweighs their appeal for many of us, and maybe even for some of the buyers.

I didn't read @200 Motels post as a generalization of all boat chips being holy grail sets, I think he's simply stating that, for those buyers with deep pockets who want a truly mint/semi-custom/uncirculated Paulson THC set (with some chipping lore to boot), it is their holy grail set. They can check it off their want list, and sell their other used sets accordingly.

 

[upNdown]

When I said hype, I meant the fact they were custom paulsons - something that so many people wnated to do for so long, and assumed was impossible. It's like the line from the Smokey and the Bandit song - we're gonna do what they say can't be done. But it was done, so I think for a lot of people, the way the chips were made is so significant and noteworthy that the chips were instantly legendary.

 

[gopherblue]

I’m fine with the fixation on Paulson, used or new, casino or otherwise. More TRKs for me....

 

[pltrgyst]

When I said hype, I meant the fact they were custom paulsons - something that so many people wnated to do for so long, and assumed was impossible. It's like the line from the Smokey and the Bandit song - we're gonna do what they say can't be done. But it was done, so I think for a lot of people, the way the chips were made is so significant and noteworthy that the chips were instantly legendary.

You might want to look up the word "hype."

 

[upNdown]

You might want to look up the word "hype."

I might not.

 

[CraigT78]

You might want to look up the word "hype."

I might not.

hype

Informal.

verb (used with object), hyped, hyp·ing.

1. to stimulate, excite, or agitate (usually followed by up):She was hyped up at the thought of owning her own car.
2. to create interest in by flamboyant or dramatic methods; promote or publicize showily:a promoter who knows how to hype a prizefight.
3. to intensify (advertising, promotion, or publicity) by ingenious or questionable claims, methods, etc.(usually followed by up).

Ingenious or questionable claims, methods - I don't know - seems like the proper use of the word to me The boat show was pretty gosh darn ingenious and once the full facts come out - will probably have a healthy dose of questionable claims!!

 

[Lucks7Shadow]

what are "boat" chips that keeps getting mentioned?

 

[CraigT78]

what are "boat" chips that keeps getting mentioned?

 

[Lucks7Shadow]

hahaha. Guess don't need to mention I'm new here.