Clean before selling? (1 Viewer)

idoru99

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I have a set of chips that I will be selling and I am looking for some advice. Would you clean your set before selling or leave that to the new owner? The set in question is in very good condition, but it has been used about once every 6 weeks over an approximate 8 years period so they are not pristine. I am just trying to weigh the financial benefit of keeping them as original as possible versus making the chips look as good as possible. I am a more experienced coin collector than I am a chip collector, and cleaning coins is generally a big no-no.

Thanks in advance for your insight!
 
I gonna admit, sometime when I see those dirty chip selling as a Set at Classifieds, I am often turn off and just skip on considering any sale.

If they are full of hooker juice / gunt and too much of a hassle to clean, I will personally clean a few to show how clean they are after washing it will help with the sales too
 
Cleaning after buying?

Cleaning off the PAINT!!!

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I’d say chips should be mailed in the condition they were represented to the buyer at the time of sale.

If the pictures used in the sale didn’t really show how dirty the chips are, a conscientious seller then should probably ask if the buyer wants them cleaned.

(Problem: If they are cleaned improperly, that might change the condition.)
 
(Problem: If they are cleaned improperly, that might change the condition.)
Right. You can screw chips up by cleaning them.
What’s more likely is that you wouldn’t screw then up, but the colors would fade a bit (totally normal and almost impossible to avoid.). So then you have less attractive chips. So then you want to oil them to make those colors pop! But a lot of buyers (me me me) hate oiled chips, especially if they’re over oiled.
Long story short, I vote sell them as is. If you’re selling them here, I don’t think normal use dirt will affect their value - people here know what chips are worth.
 
Just saw your avatar, good book by a good author. I like the Bigend series the most though, Milgram rocks.
 
Just saw your avatar, good book by a good author. I like the Bigend series the most though, Milgram rocks.

Disagree. Love all the early novels. Have not liked his recent books nearly as much.

With the Blue Ant stuff, I thought Gibson started to get a little too into his own schtick (consciously trying to predict specific trends, rather than backing into it as with Neceomancer). In Spook Country I particular I thought he got way too far up his own ass.

Kind of like what happened with Pynchon.
 
Disagree. Love all the early novels. Have not liked his recent books nearly as much.

With the Blue Ant stuff, I thought Gibson started to get a little too into his own schtick (consciously trying to predict specific trends, rather than backing into it as with Neceomancer). In Spook Country I particular I thought he got way too far up his own ass.

Kind of like what happened with Pynchon.
Different tastes but good authors appeal to a variety of people.
 
Disagree. Love all the early novels. Have not liked his recent books nearly as much.

With the Blue Ant stuff, I thought Gibson started to get a little too into his own schtick (consciously trying to predict specific trends, rather than backing into it as with Neceomancer). In Spook Country I particular I thought he got way too far up his own ass.

Kind of like what happened with Pynchon.
The newest stub stuff I agree, not as good. Good spots here and there but overall not great.
 
Right. You can screw chips up by cleaning them.
What’s more likely is that you wouldn’t screw then up, but the colors would fade a bit (totally normal and almost impossible to avoid.). So then you have less attractive chips. So then you want to oil them to make those colors pop! But a lot of buyers (me me me) hate oiled chips, especially if they’re over oiled.
Long story short, I vote sell them as is. If you’re selling them here, I don’t think normal use dirt will affect their value - people here know what chips are worth.
IMO, if you're selling something regardless of what it is you should present it in the best possible condition you can. Casino used chips that are all caked with gunk are a huge turnoff... running them through an ultrasonic cleaner (assuming they're Paulsons) would be advisable so they look better in pictures.

However, if they're just dirty from occasional personal use, then cleaning them probably won't change how they look in pictures. In that case, I'd probably offer to clean them for a small fee or sell them as is.
 
For high value chips I think hand cleaning before is better. Especially if sold in small quantities. depends how you value your time but if you’re concerned about getting top dollar, your time is probably worth less than most buyers.

For low value chips that will be put through an ultrasonic I think uncleaned by default. A lot of buyers won’t value the cleaning, at least not to justify the hassle and to others it’ll be a negative.
 
Either way the sale should be "as is" condition either cleaned already or sold "dirty" as pictured. With the clean or dirty "as is" pictures listed for others to view.

Some cleaning methods bleaches chips....a rack of HSI 1s I recieved that someone else cleaned in an ultrasonic have slightly lighter edge spots than the rest of the set. It would be disappointing to buy a set pending cleaning and then the "cleaning" result in discoloration/damage to what you just bought.
 
I wouldn't bother. You aren't going to recoup the costs. Cleaning chips is a labor of love, it takes a long time even with an ultrasonic and chips these days are worth what they're worth. Not worth my time if I am not holding onto them.

On the flip side, I kinda enjoy cleaning my new (to me) chips.

I wouldn't do it.
 
and chips these days are worth what they're worth.
That’s what I think. I suppose if you’re listing them on eBay and hoping to suck in some drunk guy with deep pockets who sees something shiny, sure, wash them and oil them and put them in a light box for pictures. But on pcf, people know what chips are worth
 
Just saw your avatar, good book by a good author. I like the Bigend series the most though, Milgram rocks.
In 1999 when I first started playing online poker, I was travelling a lot to Japan for work, so the title of my favorite Gibson book seemed to fit. There were certainly aspects of his description of a future Japan that rang true to this wide-eyed traveler. I have not read the Bigend series, so I will check that out. Thanks!
 
I've cleaned about 90% of the chips I ever sold. Never charged extra for it. Wanted just to provide a product in the best possible condition. There were exceptions, but few.

Oiling is on buyer, though.
 

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