Have The Effects of Inflation caught up to PCF? (1 Viewer)

[ekricket]

I’m seeing a lot of nice chips listed lately for pretty ok prices that are just sitting there.

Where’s the money?

 

[PocketAces]

Noticed the same - probably buyers fatigue, high prices force people to make choices.

Just sharing my own experience: I’d love to buy more and more and more…but I’m at budget. I could always reduce my net cost by selling sets I picked up « cheap » in 2020 and buy more. But I’ve only collected stuff I intended to keep in the first place. So that’s it for me I guess…

 

[Mojo1312]

In terms of inflation, PCF paved the way. I helped a member complete a set by selling him a rack of fracs less than three years ago. Now he is selling the rack for 4x plus what he paid for them.

Seems like a shift has taken place where people only care about extracting whatever profit they can out of the chips they own rather than paying it forward. That is if they want to do business with you at all. (Ass-hat clause)

I am fortunate. I have a seat at a weekly cash game, the stakes of which are perfect for me and I am taking interest in other things outside of poker so that hosting once again, a long term goal of mine, has become less important.

Financially, I am doing fine in spite of inflation, which is way crazier on this forum than in the real world.

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

I’m seeing a lot of nice chips listed lately for pretty ok prices that are just sitting there.

Do you have examples ?
I really feel the contrary in fact. And decided to not participate in this trend by not starting a project that would require buying chips with inflated prices.

Myself I even think that CPC has now become the cheapest way to have a nice and usable set of compression molded chips.

Where’s the money?

From my end, one part of my chipping funds has been sent to CPC recently.
And the other part is ready if an opportunity to complete my The Post set appears one day (unlikely).

 

[LeLe]

I felt the recent few set that is on sales just don’t look as expensive when you compared it to the high inflation of the Grand RHC

Despite that, I still looking for my Clay tourney set still; had no luck so far.

Also, I not being a baller that can spend a ton of money without blinking didn’t help too

 

[Ben8257]

This is funny Kevin... are you in refrence to the $7k set of RHCs that was listed as a joke... and then sold???? The $9.5k set that was listen to troll the $7k sale... still sitting. The $120 dealer buttons that cost us $5 each like 2.5 years ago (only a 600% increase, still scratching my head on that one...), or the IG $5s that cost $1.19 acouple weeks ago that sold for OVER face Value?

Priorities... there is always going to be a portion of this community just like society that have to chase the latest and greatest product. All about the flashing lights and "look at me!" Then 3 months later that product is back up for sale with the title of "near mint, not played by me!"... folks that need approval or likes from a bunch of folks on the internet.

With the ticket I admit, this latest sale even drew me in... I typically am not a huge fan of the super loud "you need sun glasses to look at me chips!" But I felt like this one was a perfect mix, beautiful Bear Claws not only on the Work Horse chip but also those beautiful Blaze $1ks. This single purchase (about $7k) was by far... not even close the most money I have ever dropped at one time on a set of chips. Sure we have many with higher values than that... but those were built in pieces like many middle class members build in this hobby. This on top of the big spenders that had just spent their funds on RPCs... I think their is a undefined period of rebuilding disposable income... on top of the fact that the pandemic is mostly over and people want to get out and enjoy life, especially with summer now upon us.

Quite a few factors in there I believe that summarize what may seem like inflation affecting our chipping market. But only a fool would say that our "non necessity" hobby wouldn't be one of the first things to cut back on as we continue to look Inflation in the face!

 

[HaRDHouSeiNC]

Where’s the money?

Gas and groceries
Stimulus is gone
Not like before everyone had 4K to blow not going out

Gas here doubled and milk / groceries probably 50% plus in two years

And you don’t wana see the milk / juice / cola prices

 

[shorticus]

No more stimulus checks is the answer to your question.

 

[detroitdad]

In my household stimulus checks went to pay the bills and the occasional bottle of bourbon lol

 

[ekricket]

No more stimulus checks is the answer to your question.

So inflation, yeah?

 

[Lil Tuna]

 

[ekricket]

Changed the title ad it might have been confusing. I’m not talking about prices going up on PCF.
I’m talking about people not buying stuff because they have to spend their money elsewhere. There’s less (not none for sure) free money around and what there is is maybe not being used for luxuries.
There is always grail stuff that will move at any price but it just seems like there’s stuff sitting there that’s “great price” and “this won’t last long” and “I can’t believe this is still here” and “price reduction”. But maybe I’m off base here. Time will tell.

 

[Rieguy]

I’m talking about people not buying stuff because they have to spend their money elsewhere.

I don't think this is really it, at least not yet (things will probably get worse economically), but rather a mix of a few things. The whales have what they are after and it isn't the RHCs priced above THCs on the open Classifieds, TCR sale and its absurd after-market prices has people's allotted budgets tied up in the short-term, Paris chips are giving people an avenue for NM THCs at relatively great prices and they haven't had enough time to get bored with them yet, and FOMO is not coming into play with what is listed (which usually causes people to write "dibs" as fast as they can type, if the chips are seemingly desirable enough).

but it just seems like there’s stuff sitting there that’s “great price” and “this won’t last long” and “I can’t believe this is still here” and “price reduction”

Thread fluffing over crappy deals has been around since I first joined. This is especially true on TCR chips and is not really hard to guess why.

Edit - I forgot to add in that custom chips via CPC and card molds are really good options for a lot of people, while being accommodating to a wide range of budgets.

 

[Eriks]

I’m definitely feeling affected by inflation and will not be spending money on chips henceforth.

- Gas prises are ridiculous, right now diesel is at SEK 26 per liter (about $10 per gallon). That was SEK 16 one year ago.
- Feels like groceries are at least 50% more expensive on average than 2-3 months ago. And they say that’s mostly a covid effect; we haven’t fully been hit by the Russia effect yet.
- We’ve been paying a standard amount since October for electricity and water and I just paid the bill covering actual cost (fuck me).
- Got a fixed interest rate on the house mortgage at 1.5% until 30th of September. Expect that to at least double but probably more.

With a little luck my wife may land a new job soon that includes a company car that we may use privately as well. If so we’ll probably sell our car. Maybe then I’ll have some chip money

 

[davin]

Recession

 

[Ben8257]

Man... looking at some auction prices this morning... not sure what else to say other than the obvious answer is YES, I do believe inflation is catching up to our hobby. Every market eventually has a reset button, it seems that my be closing in for the chipping market. Honestly no complaints for me, I have no intentions of selling and hate the idea of "retirement" due to being priced out of the market.but go ahead and reset beautiful... not that I "need" any more dang poker chips, but the concept of a market reset definitely has me a bit more optimistic this morning!

Keep on chipping Amigos! Say NO to super inflated prices, as long as there is a buyer it WILL continue. Happy to see some of the overpriced stuff just sitting again myself!

 

[Lil Tuna]

I’ve worked in the logistics industry for more than 30 years now. Things are SLOW lately. The big company that I currently work for is making internal adjustments and NOT currently hiring outside the company to fill positions. (Hard to imagine when the industry itself is currently short more than 80000 drivers nationwide.) Or was said to have been most recently.

It hasn’t got to the point of lay-offs but the current terminal I work out of has just shifted 4 of their runs to Dallas and asked 4 drivers to transfer there. Fortunately there are 4 drivers that wish to transfer which is actually a very positive thing for myself. ( Moves me up a couple notches and cushions me a little from behind.)

I spoke with my old boss just last night. Even the grocery industry is slow on the logistics side of things. If this is what’s happening in the real world, it should be of NO SURPRISE that reality is sinking in heavily into collecting and hobby worlds.

As a society, we currently live in an UNREALISTIC WORLD where it’s better to have a NICE THOUGHT than to actually think REALISTICALLY.
Until things get back to 2+2=4, it’s going to be much more than just chips not moving in auctions.

AND YOU CAN TAKE THIS TO THE BANK AS WELL! THE ONLY THING FREE IN THIS WORLD IS SHIT!
THE REALITY IS, THIS PERTAINS TO EVERYTHING, EVEN NICE UNREALISTIC THOUGHT.

Starting to look like some flippers and NON REALISTIC buyers are about to be stuck or can only hope for break even at best.
2+2=4 even in chipping. Is it time to swoop in and offer less, maybe so.

 

[Ben8257]

I’ve worked in the logistics industry for more than 30 years now. Things are SLOW lately. The big company that I currently work for is making internal adjustments and NOT currently hiring outside the company to fill positions. (Hard to imagine when the industry itself is currently short more than 80000 drivers nationwide.) Or was said to have been most recently.

It hasn’t got to the point of lay-offs but the current terminal I work out of has just shifted 4 of their runs to Dallas and asked 4 drivers to transfer there. Fortunately there are 4 drivers that wish to transfer which is actually a very positive thing for myself. ( Moves me up a couple notches and cushions me a little from behind.)

I spoke with my old boss just last night. Even the grocery industry is slow on the logistics side of things. If this is what’s happening in the real world, it should be of NO SURPRISE that reality is sinking in heavily into collecting and hobby worlds.

As a society, we currently live in an UNREALISTIC WORLD where it’s better to have a NICE THOUGHT than to actually think REALISTICALLY.
Until things get back to 2+2=4, it’s going to be much more than just chips not moving in auctions.

AND YOU CAN TAKE THIS TO THE BANK AS WELL! THE ONLY THING FREE IN THIS WORLD IS SHIT!
THE REALITY IS, THIS PERTAINS TO EVERYTHING, EVEN NICE UNREALISTIC THOUGHT.

Starting to look like some flippers and NON REALISTIC buyers are about to be stuck or can only hope for break even at best.
2+2=4 even in chipping. Is it time to swoop in and offer less, maybe so.

 

[Lil Tuna]

View attachment 952654
View attachment 952655

Good Ol reality your smelling there. I think we’re all going to be stepping in dog shit real soon.

 

[RocAFella1]

This is funny Kevin... are you in refrence to the $7k set of RHCs that was listed as a joke... and then sold???? The $9.5k set that was listen to troll the $7k sale... still sitting.

You were right Ben. But when someone actually bought the $7k set I figured there’s gotta be more suckers out there.

 

[LeLe]

This is funny Kevin... are you in refrence to the $7k set of RHCs that was listed as a joke... and then sold???? The $9.5k set that was listen to troll the $7k sale... still sitting. The $120 dealer buttons that cost us $5 each like 2.5 years ago (only a 600% increase, still scratching my head on that one...), or the IG $5s that cost $1.19 acouple weeks ago that sold for OVER face Value?

Sometime you just will hit the 1 outer to make a quad that beat the set of Aces

There always one very rich willing buyer once in blue moon

At least it give me the opportunity to show my wife that my multi set of $1/chip are not so bad, they are dirt cheap in poker chip pricing

 

[Mortalpawn]

I think you have two things going on at the same time. People are starting to cut down on "luxury" expenses because their necessities are costing more, particularly those who were living close to their means to start with.

At the same time as inflation grows near double digits, which it probably already is in the real world, we're starting to see it become a "behavior" issue as much as a monetary issue. Once double digit inflation sets in, people with some extra cash begin thinking "I'm going to buy this now because it will cost much more in 6 months". Unfortunately as "buy it now" becomes a behavior it can easily spiral into hyperinflation.

I'm personally in the second camp, especially with items I'll need in the future - pick up a few extra cans of food, oil for the car, tools, etc... while at the same time we have been cutting back a bit on "luxury" items in favor of things we really need. I've also been trying to get repairs done on the house and cars, but there is a real shortage of technicians in our area.

But that's why were seeing "stagflation" - a shortage of many goods and services even with rising prices. People are accelerating certain purchases they delayed during COVID or need for the future while at the same time cutting back on things they don't really need.

Finally there is very high demand for things people think will store long term value. For example houses, collectables, artwork, gold coins (out of stock almost everywhere). Not sure poker chips fall into this category, but for many they are collectable and have been a great investment the last 10 years.