Fake Paulson Casino de Isthmus Ceramic Chips & where to buy chips in Belgium / Europe ? (1 Viewer)

Ezra

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Hello,
This is my very first thread! So I'm in the market to buy a new set for my home cash games (I live in Brussels, Belgium). Right now I'm using Nexgen chips but I'm not happy anymore with the denominations/break down and the look of the chips. I really like the Majestic set from Apache Poker, and appreciate the fact that there is a 5cents denomination. My problem is the huge cost for shipping: it's almost as expensive as the set itself! (not mentioning the additional taxes at the EU borders). I have already spent hours on the internet to look for a good poker chips website inside Europe but I just can't find what I want. Eventually I started to contact vendors on Alibaba. The results are interesting and they sent me a picture of those ceramic chips that copy the famous "Casino de Isthmus" design. They can adapt the design to any denomination and use the € logo! Check the picture below! So, what do you think? Should I give it a try? Anyone has bought chips via Alibaba? Do you recommend a good website inside the EU? If anyone from Belgium reads me, could he give me advice?
Best,
Ezra

IMG_8053.jpg
 
Hey Ezra,

I wouldn't buy chips from Alibaba for a few reasons. Firstly, they are copying someone else chips without permission. Secondly, the quality will without a doubt be very poor. The chips you get will be the same in quality to every other entry level plastic injected chip. And they could be worse...

You could contact @Thomacetti who is a chipper in Belgium and maybe he can direct you to an affordable set that suits your needs.
 
Hey, thanks for the quick response!
Regarding the quality, I wouldn't disqualify them automatically (the chips look ok on the picture) but it's true that what I order may not correspond to what I will receive :-/
Regarding copying/stealing a design, I reckon the manufacturer GPI has stopped producing them for a long time? Yet I agree with you it's not super cool to do it...
I will contact @Thomacetti for sure! Thanks for the tip.
BTW, do you know any other brand/set than Majestic that produce 5cents chips? We play casual micro stakes and I've noticed people prefer chips with denomination than blank chips.
 
It's rare but there are some people on here from Europe and sets from there do come up in the classifieds every now and then if you are able to wait it out for a bit.
 
Hi welcome Sir, this fake Paulson is cheap china clay and your smell is quite unpleasant but if you can buy this chips in Spanish site, lot of underground poker clubs use this chips with custom label https://www.tiendadelpoker.com/comprar/fichas-paulson-replica/
best option IMO is check the ads and buy from other PCFer some used casino Paulson or ceramic set.
Good luck in your hunt.
 
Hi
Depends on price. Design is personal taste, using someone else idea, also in this regards opinions vary... IF u go ceramics, invest the extra $ for aligned edges. You will regret, if u want to save money there
 
Welcome @Ezra

Fellow Belgian here (and working in BxL)

First things first, get samples before you buy a set.
It's maybe a small extra overhead but buying the wrong chips is more costly.

Stay away from cheap china copies...(and these are outside EU also).
So first get samples (I'll see what I can send you for free) and then start building your roll/budget.
Buy the chips you really want, forget about the shipping cost and enjoy that set to the fullest.

Then rinse & repeat :)

Feel free to contact me if you have some specific questions, I'll also try to help with shipping.
 
Gracias for the link @orsonberger ! It's looks like a good option.

@Thomacetti : Nice to meet you fellow Belgian! And thank you so much for your advice. I'm thinking to buy:

- 5cents*200
- 25cents*200
- 1€*200
- 5€*100

We play microstake cashgames with blinds 0.05/0.10 or 0.25/0.25, hence the denominations. I will also look on the forum if someone from Europe sell a cheap set.

Regarding the design, what I absolutely fancy are the hot stamped Avalon club. But they are wayyyyy beyond my budget unfortunately :-(

avalon-poker-chip-set.jpg
 
In my experience, trying to save money with inferior products only leads to disappoitnement. I started that way and lost money by quickly selling on at a loss average chips. I'd put out a wanted add for used majestics- shipping from the States via a private sale should only be $70 ish bucks with a flat rate box via USPS. You may even find a set gathering dust already in Europe! Good luck on the hunt!
 
Hello,

Welcome !

Personally I would not buy chips with counterfeit design.

If you like ceramics, SunFly has a factory in Germany and they sell chips (with custom design) from Germany.

If you like China Clay, @Odranoel77 is currently selling blank Dunes with new labels that I designed for him (still to apply). I can adapt to the denoms that you need if required.

Also Poker-Production sells some nice chips but they miss some dénominations for some series.

If you know someone going in the US, just ask him if he can pick your order.

You can also have a look on French forum ClubPoker where there are also classifieds with nice sets.

Finally best advice is as already said "get samples".

Kid.
 
Quick update:
  • I'm skipping Alibaba. Nobody seems to have really tried before or to recommend it so better be safe than sorry...
  • I keep browsing websites inside Europe but it's really not conclusive: no shipping in Belgium, or only low quality and generic chips (dice and similar), or missing denominations... I guess there's a niche market to be filled here ;-) Thanks anyway for the links!
  • I'll definitively have a look at SunFly, but I feel like my I'm left with American websites (Apache and CPC, the latest being abusive IMO with their prices) or with waiting for a used set that matches my needs...
Thanks anyway guys for your help! I will maybe wait to have the "privilege" to post a thread in the "wanted" section (I don't really understand why I'm not able to do it right now but I'm new to all that forum rules).

Ezra
 
You need a certain number of posts I think.
Have you already presented yourself in the New Members forum ?
 
Hey... Thank you for taking the time to comment... I guess.

Sorry if I came across as a snob.
The original CDI chips from Paulson and BCC are very nice chips. I just don't like to see low-quality, unlicensed fakes of a well-branded and admired property being thrown around willy-nilly. But, I can't tell anyone how to spend their money.
 
I’ll second the Sunfly idea. I really love mine and they aren’t crazy expensive.
 
I’ll second the Sunfly idea. I really love mine and they aren’t crazy expensive.
Which ones do you have? The Ravenor Classic chips are very nice indeed! You bought them via apollonchips.com?
 
This is the official SunFly reseller website (chips are probably sold directly from China) : http://www.apollonchips.com/chipserieslist/apollon-classic.html
This is delivered by UPS so for sure VAT and import will apply

On SunFly manufacturing center Europe site you can see some European resellers:
http://www.sun-fly-casinochips.de/

If you like hotstams, the Polyspectra can have a hotstamp for 15c per chip : http://www.gamblerstore.de/index.php/cat/c2053_SF-Polyspectra-Chips.html

They have also some stock series that could fit your breakdown like the Vignobles (just use the non denomination chip as 5c) : http://www.gamblerstore.de/index.php/cat/c2156_10-5g-Ceramic-Vignoble-Pokerchip.html

So I think you have some options in Europe with SunFly (hotstamp, full ceramics, hybrid, stock design or customs) but again, get samples before you decide.
 
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This is the official SunFly reseller website (chips are probably sold directly from China) : http://www.apollonchips.com/chipserieslist/apollon-classic.html
This is delivered by UPS so for sure VAT and import will apply

On SunFly manufacturing center Europe site you can see some European resellers:
http://www.sun-fly-casinochips.de/

If you like hotstams, the Polyspectra can have a hotstamp for 15c per chip : http://www.gamblerstore.de/index.php/cat/c2053_SF-Polyspectra-Chips.html

They have also some stock series that could fit your breakdown like the Vignobles (just use the non denomination chip as 5c) : http://www.gamblerstore.de/index.php/cat/c2156_10-5g-Ceramic-Vignoble-Pokerchip.html

So I think you have some options in Europe with SunFly (hotstamp, full ceramics, hybrid, stock design or customs) but again, get samples before you decide.
WAW thank you so much sir!
 
Furiously refreshing this thread, as I'm getting some samples delivered from Apache next week. After which I'll try to decide if the extra 20% tariff is worth it for some overseas Majestics..
 
Please pm me your addy, then I'll ship these samples for free...

@Thomacetti, do you ship samples elsewhere into Europe? Just kicking off my collecting hobby here in Ireland and running into the same struggles that a lot of European folks deal with - an almost complete lack of decent quality chips.

Willing to pay, obviously.
 
FIRST: Huge thanks to @Thomacetti for sending me the samples! It is indeed very helpful to make up my mind.
So, In order of preference (as shown in the picture):
  1. Comparing to other chips, the Paulsons are in their own league and I now better understand their price and desirability. Very soft to handle. Sweet sound. One thing worries me though, they seem a bit too fragile/precious for my home games...
  2. I'm positively surprised but the Pharaoh's! Overall great chips for the value IMO. Same for the ceramics. They feel amazing, sound fantastic and look super durable. I'm not a fan of the "Beer league" design, but ceramics are now definitely an option for my next set.
  3. I would put the Dunes and Desert Palms in the same category as my Nexgen (the so-called china clay?). Very similar in the look and feel. Definitively more plastic. And I'm really not a fan of the private card-room chips, mainly because of the "ancient Greek style" mold.
So my conclusion is to wait and save more money to buy Paulsons or (custom) ceramics :)

Again, thanks to @Thomacetti for sending me the samples!

PS: Don't hesitate to comment on the durability of the Pauslons...
PS: I didn't know casino plaques were so fun to handle ;-)

20181116_154330.jpg
 
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Hi Esra

You are welcome and all the chips/plaques are yours to keep.
About the Paulsons..these were 'rejects' from a big batch of solid hot pink chips that I will be milling soon.
These are not representive for normal wear (if any in casual home games)...Please shuffle these plenty and these will become butter with nice edges.

Have a great weekend @all :)
 
@Thomacetti, do you ship samples elsewhere into Europe? Just kicking off my collecting hobby here in Ireland and running into the same struggles that a lot of European folks deal with - an almost complete lack of decent quality chips.

Willing to pay, obviously.

Hi Tyron

Welcome at the forum...i'll check my samples case and see what I can whip up for you.
Looking for something specific ?

I'll let you know Sunday, enjoy the weekend :)
 
@Ezra , you're right, the Dunes "Commemorative" are more or less from the same material of the NexGen / ProGen / ...
 

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