Got lucky with this auction for Vintage KEMs

[upNdown]

These usually go for $30-$50 -- when I saw an auction for them ended on Easter for $19.50, I kicked myself for missing it, but I figured it was just an outlier since it was Easter. Last week a box sold for $27, which still isn't bad. Then yesterday I tossed out a bid with an hour to go and forgot about it. I was shocked to see I won them for $19.49. You can't even buy new KEMS for that price.
Now I have to figure out how to store them after I open them, so they don't warp.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Binion-039-s-Horseshoe-Casino-WSOP-KEM-Cards-/222917943613?hash=item33e6f1e13d:g:eEUAAOSwno1Zo0Bw&nma=true&si=gsLLoxV1YDVCz91tKAKnIQ5pVU0%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[HanShot1st]

Congrats on that nice score!

 

[FDLmold]

I think there is some bidding fatigue on these. One gets sold and another identical one pops up. I would love a setup of these for $20.

 

[Ghoti]

I think there is some bidding fatigue on these. One gets sold and another identical one pops up. I would love a setup of these for $20.

Me too. Nice score.

 

[Jz44]

Nice! I haven't seen these, now I'll need to watch out for them.

 

[upNdown]

Nice! I haven't seen these, now I'll need to watch out for them.

Same guy auctions a setup every week, and one each of just about every tournament chip used in the WSOP while it was at Binions.

 

[Jeff]

What did he pay for them?

 

[upNdown]

What did he pay for them?

Somebody somewhere said that he was part of the Binions family and he just sort of inherited everything. This might be rumor, hearsay, speculation or all three.

 

[Jz44]

Same guy auctions a setup every week, and one each of just about every tournament chip used in the WSOP while it was at Binions.

Cool. Looks like there isn't one up now, I'll check back in a couple days.

 

[Shaggy]

Somebody somewhere said that he was part of the Binions family and he just sort of inherited everything. This might be rumor, hearsay, speculation or all three.

I don't doubt this statement. He routinely sells $100, $500, $1000, and $5000 chips from Binions. Always has one each posted.

 

[upNdown]

These things are perfect and beautiful and amazing. And the box was packed inside cardboard inside a padded envelope.

 

[Jz44]

I got this week's. I was outbid at the last second last week. I showed my wife and she said "That's so cool! You're not going to use them are you?"

So I obviously toto that as an excuse to bid on q a 2nd. One to put in play, and one to sit on.

 

[upNdown]

I got this week's. I was outbid at the last second last week. I showed my wife and she said "That's so cool! You're not going to use them are you?"

So I obviously toto that as an excuse to bid on q a 2nd. One to put in play, and one to sit on.

Good for you. They’re very cool. I think the best deal on new KEMs is something like $24 shipped on anazon. If you can get these brand new pre-UPC kems for a few dollars more, it seems like a no brainer.

 

[Jz44]

I see some '08 and '09 WSOP KEM's on eBay and some Horseshoe Continue ones on Amazon that are a little cheaper. I like that these are from the Binions days though.

 

[upNdown]

I see some '08 and '09 WSOP KEM's on eBay and some Horseshoe Continue ones on Amazon that are a little cheaper. I like that these are from the Binions days though.

The horseshoes on amazon aren't KEMS

 

[Jz44]

Not just casino-quality, these KEM playing cards are THE cards of Cincinnati's Horseshoe Casino

Really? How are they getting away with that? They're calling them authentic KEM's and saying they came out of the casino.

 

[upNdown]

That seller is wrong or lying or both.
Read the reviews

 

[Jz44]

Mine arrived today and they have a definite warp to them. I haven't taken them out of the wrapper yet, but they're kind of wayvy. I'm not sure how well it will show up in pictures, but is this something that can be fixed?

 

[mike32]

No fixing it imo. Kem cards are either warped, or they will be. I love the print and feel but they just don’t stay flat. I know there are a few exceptions, there have been many threads about this over the years.

 

[v1pe]

No card quite matches that KEM peek "snap". It's too bad they are so prone to warp.

 

[Jz44]

I'm seeing some elaborate ways to try heating them with an iron or in an oven, but I don't want to risk ruining these and they don't seem too terrible.

I'm going to go try just setting them on a flat surface under something flat and heavy for a few weeks. If it works it works, if not oh well.

 

[upNdown]

Mine arrived today and they have a definite warp to them. I haven't taken them out of the wrapper yet, but they're kind of wayvy. I'm not sure how well it will show up in pictures, but is this something that can be fixed?

View attachment 171596 View attachment 171597 View attachment 171598

That stinks. Mine didn't have that warp, so I figured they'd all be good. No idea why sealed cards would be warped.
For what it's worth, your warp looks pretty minor. Can you feel it when you manipulate the deck? Do you get that 'pop' when you riffle? If not, I'd be okay with them, I think.

 

[v1pe]

That stinks. Mine didn't have that warp, so I figured they'd all be good. No idea why sealed cards would be warped.
For what it's worth, your warp looks pretty minor. Can you feel it when you manipulate the deck? Do you get that 'pop' when you riffle? If not, I'd be okay with them, I think.

In my experience the cards like to warp in such a way that they are curled up when face down, which actually kind of aids in picking them up off the table and shuffling (I shuffle dealer style without picking up the cards from the table).

Wonder if it has to do something with more print/color on the one side.

Anyway, if they are gonna warp at least they generally go that direction in my experience. Of course I'd rather they be flat.

 

[Jz44]

That stinks. Mine didn't have that warp, so I figured they'd all be good. No idea why sealed cards would be warped.
For what it's worth, your warp looks pretty minor. Can you feel it when you manipulate the deck? Do you get that 'pop' when you riffle? If not, I'd be okay with them, I think.

I haven't taken them out of the wrappers yet. I agree they don't look too bad, and are probably playable. I'm not having a game until memorial day, and I bid on a 2nd deck, so last I put these ones on a shelf under 20 or 25 DVD's. I'm going to try to find something a little heavier tonight, but even if that doesn't do anything to change the wave in them I think they'll be fine. Hopefully I win a 2nd deck that are at least this flat and, then I can put one set away and not worry about it.

 

[Old State]

These usually go for $30-$50 -- when I saw an auction for them ended on Easter for $19.50, I kicked myself for missing it, but I figured it was just an outlier since it was Easter. Last week a box sold for $27, which still isn't bad. Then yesterday I tossed out a bid with an hour to go and forgot about it. I was shocked to see I won them for $19.49. You can't even buy new KEMS for that price.
Now I have to figure out how to store them after I open them, so they don't warp.
View attachment 167636

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Binion-039-s-Horseshoe-Casino-WSOP-KEM-Cards-/222917943613?hash=item33e6f1e13d:g:eEUAAOSwno1Zo0Bw&nma=true&si=gsLLoxV1YDVCz91tKAKnIQ5pVU0%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Nice haul.

Store them upside down with a cut card and dealer button on top. I’m going on 2 years with my last Kem purchases and they are still dead flat.

I like the plastic case because it can close with pressure on the cards.