Buying chips in the UK/Europe (1 Viewer)

[PokerHomeGameUK]

I am looking to buy a set (500+) of decent poker chips. I am from the UK and can’t choose between buying from a US business such as Claysmith or paying over the odds for a semi-decent set from a European website. I have a set of Nevada jacks but am looking for a cash set. Currently playing without denominations.

Thanks guys

 

[allforcharity]

What are your stakes? How many people? Total amount of money on the table on your biggest night? Budget?

 

[PokerHomeGameUK]

25/25 25/50 max. 8-9 players usually 100bb standard buy in and just give some big chips for rebuys ( usually a couple on any given night) budget is fairly flexible. I don’t mind if they are cheap as long as they aren’t cr*p but max would be under £300. Obviously if the chip said $ and cent that isn’t an issue. Cheers

Saying that if there was a good more expensive option I would also consider it

 

[allforcharity]

For a 500 chip cash set, I'd go:
100x $0.25
200× $1
200x $5
Bank $1225, should be enough for your needs. You could switch out a barrel of $5 for $25 to give an extra $400 and have a nice capstone.

GBP300 is about USD400, so 0.80 per chip. Not bad, can find lots of interesting stuff here, though might be too lean for casino clay. Check out ceramics and hybrids for best value here, possibly some of the better plastics too. Keep in mind shipping and VAT costs, though.

 

[PokerHomeGameUK]

Thanks for the advice. I was meaning more is there a retailer in Europe/UK where could get a good set of chip for the money rather than pay double the retail price to get it shipped over, if you see what I mean. It’s a long shot! Currently using a super cheap set with the denoms hand written on haha. I have Nevada jacks tournament set which gets used more often. I may go with claysmiths or majestic. Just a sore one when you’re buying a reasonably cheap chips but shipping and tax makes it expensive.

For a 500 chip cash set, I'd go:
100x $0.25
200× $1
200x $5
Bank $1225, should be enough for your needs. You could switch out a barrel of $5 for $25 to give an extra $400 and have a nice capstone.

GBP300 is about USD400, so 0.80 per chip. Not bad, can find lots of interesting stuff here, though might be too lean for casino clay. Check out ceramics and hybrids for best value here, possibly some of the better plastics too. Keep in mind shipping and VAT costs, though.

Thanks for the advice! My main worry is that I would rather pay for £300 pound with £15 delivery for a reasonably high end rather than budget chips from the US

 

[allforcharity]

@Thomacetti was recently talking about using courier services to get packages from NA that could lessen fees compared to regular mail parcel service.

 

[Thomacetti]

@Thomacetti was recently talking about using courier services to get packages from NA that could lessen fees compared to regular mail parcel service.

Yes, for premium sets to/from EU no doubt, DHL all the way (but going to check other couriers too (FedEx, UPS, ...)
No hassle, receiving the set in 3-4 days, no customs issue, decent insurance & total cost is less or same to USPS (ymmv)

Resale value for china clay is bad while buying the right clays will ensure your money back...it's just going to take some time.
Try to find someone in US that is willing to hold your chips untill you have the set complete to avoid multiple intern. shippings.

Try to find some samples in EU before you bite the bullet.
Would be a shame if you spend that much and have buyers regrets after some time.
If in the end you still decide to go for claysmith or Majestics...then buy them in EU

 

[Marius L]

Yes, for premium sets to/from EU no doubt, DHL all the way (but going to check other couriers too (FedEx, UPS, ...)
No hassle, receiving the set in 3-4 days, no customs issue, decent insurance & total cost is less or same to USPS (ymmv)

Is this legit, and could you please elaborate?

 

[Thomacetti]

sure buddie, here is the info

I have a large set (almost 1400 chips) in transfer
Had two options USPS or premium carrier...still looking to see pigs fly but in reality:

If all goes well, my total overhead (shipping DHL incl. customs & import fee) is $446 ($306 for shipping & $140 import charge & fees)
But no hassle (i hope) and very speedy delivery ( 3 !!! DAYS)

If I went with USPS, I would have paid $180 for shipping (one large & one medium FRB)
I would have been stuck in transfer for 3 week & another 3 weeks in hold by customs.
Customs would charge both boxes separate so my stated value ($430) + shipping cost ($103 & $78)
So $430+$103 = $533 for box 1 & $430+$78=$508

Customs charge would be 123 EUR (box 1) &120 EUR (box 2) is or 223EUR/$290 + shipping cost USPS ($181) = grand total of $471
And with some extra charges from Bpost (there are always added fees), I'm much cheaper with DHL

USPS...never again for large sets, even if you don't have to pay import...the peace of mind is worth the extra $120 (esp. for a 2K set)

Chips will be delivered Friday & received/paid my custom charge & fees today, so our customs not even going to see the boxes anymore
My buddie that shipped them did have to show all racks/seperate packages to DHL employee...but had plenty of time to repackage them.
So maybe not possible with sales like Jim's but you can always ask a US member to reship for you...

 

[PokerHomeGameUK]

Yes, for premium sets to/from EU no doubt, DHL all the way (but going to check other couriers too (FedEx, UPS, ...)
No hassle, receiving the set in 3-4 days, no customs issue, decent insurance & total cost is less or same to USPS (ymmv)

Resale value for china clay is bad while buying the right clays will ensure your money back...it's just going to take some time.
Try to find someone in US that is willing to hold your chips untill you have the set complete to avoid multiple intern. shippings.

Try to find some sample in EU before you bite the bullet.
Would be a shame if you spend that much and have buyers regrets after some time.
If in the end you still decide to go for claysmith or Majestics...then buy them in EU

Thanks all! Very helpful! I do have family in the states to hold it

 

[Marius L]

sure buddie, here is the info

I have a large set (almost 1400 chips) in transfer
Had two options USPS or premium carrier...still looking to see pigs fly but in reality:

If all goes well, my total overhead (shipping DHL incl. customs & import fee) is $446 ($306 for shipping & $140 import charge & fees)
But no hassle (i hope) and very speedy delivery ( 3 !!! DAYS)

If I went with USPS, I would have paid $180 for shipping (one large & one medium FRB)
I would have been stuck in transfer for 3 week & another 3 weeks in hold by customs.
Customs would charge both boxes separate so my stated value ($430) + shipping cost ($103 & $78)
So $430+$103 = $533 for box 1 & $430+$78=$508

Customs charge would be 123 EUR (box 1) &120 EUR (box 2) is or 223EUR/$290 + shipping cost USPS ($181) = grand total of $471
And with some extra charges from Bpost (there are always added fees), I'm much cheaper with DHL

USPS...never again for large sets, even if you don't have to pay import...the peace of mind is worth the extra $120 (esp. for a 2K set)

Chips will be delivered Friday & received/paid my custom charge & fees today, so our customs not even going to see the boxes anymore
My buddie that shipped them did have to show all racks/seperate packages to DHL employee...but had plenty of time to repackage them.
So maybe not possible with sales like Jim's but you can always ask a US member to reship for you...

Interesting. Hard being an international chipper, that's for sure. But why is the customs charge different from DHL and USPS? Shouldn't that be the same, assuming the value stated on the shipments is the same?

 

[Thomacetti]

Nope, because value of item is combined with shipping cost to determine the import fees & VAT

And since customs don't accept 2 packages on 1 proof of payment, you are charged twice in case the shipment is more than 1 box (via USPS, with DHL no problem).
I'm also charged an extra fee from Bpost ($30-40 per box) so that adds on too

 

[Marius L]

Nope, because value of item is combined with shipping cost to determine the import fees & VAT

And since customs don't accept 2 packages on 1 proof of payment, you are charged twice in case the shipment is more than 1 box.
I'm also charged an extra fee from Bpost ($30-40 per box) so that adds on too

Right. So you would have to do 2 separate payments for it to work with sending two USPS boxes? Thanks for the explanation.

For high end sets i guess it might be worth the extra cost. Just to be able to get the chips in hand in just a couple of days. Also it seems the Belgian customs office is more thorough and strict than the Norwegian. While in theory (and more often than not) I have to pay similar VAT and import fees as you, but it's usually just a few days extra to clear customs and sometimes I'm lucky and they just ship it directly to me and it doesn't pass through customs at all. (not sure why that is)

 

[Thomacetti]

Right. So you would have to do 2 separate payments for it to work with sending two USPS boxes? Thanks for the explanation.

For high end sets i guess it might be worth the extra cost. Just to be able to get the chips in hand in just a couple of days. Also it seems the Belgian customs office is more thorough and strict than the Norwegian. While in theory (and more often than not) I have to pay similar VAT and import fees as you, but it's usually just a few days extra to clear customs and sometimes I'm lucky and they just ship it directly to me and it doesn't pass through customs at all. (not sure why that is)

Anything bigger then a SFRB will not fly under the radar.
And don't forget, the real value is $2000 my stated value us $400....since I can only assure what is stated, I prefer the fast & clean way vs long & uncertain.

Biggest problem with USPS is that they are only concerned with getting it to Belgium...after that they don't care
We all know customs don't give a fuck
And Bpost just wants to get paid their handling fee...but don't care if & when they will receive it...so noone is really accountable.
When it goes south they just say, contact your seller.

With a courrier, you have an agreement & deadline, they care to make that (espec. when they charge $300)
In the future I gladly pay for the premium in case of expensive shipments.

Ps, with USPS you will alway pay charge on every box...can't combine them (or face a looooooooooooot of delay & paperwork)

 

[Marius L]

Anything bigger then a SFRB will not fly under the radar.
And don't forget, the real value is $2000 my stated value us $400....since I can only assure what is stated, I prefer the fast & clean way vs long & uncertain.

Biggest problem with USPS is that they are only concerned with getting it to Belgium...after that they don't care
We all know customs don't give a fuck
And Bpost just wants to get paid their handling fee...but don't care if & when they will receive it...so noone is really accountable.
When it goes south they just say, contact your seller.

With a courrier, you have an agreement & deadline, they care to make that (espec. when they charge $300)
In the future I gladly pay for the premium in case of expensive shipments.

Ps, with USPS you will alway pay charge on every box...can't combine them (or face a looooooooooooot of delay & paperwork)

Makes a lot of sense!

 

[jr8719]

Plot twist: for about 60p a chip (which includes the cost of shipping from China + a designer's time to create your very own, fully-custom design), you could get yourself some beautiful ceramics:

Feel free to message me if you want more details etc.