How many spares should I get? (1 Viewer)

[Darson]

When you're doing a custom set or getting in on a low volume group buy and you know it's gonna be near impossible to get replacement chips, how many spares of each denom do you recommend getting? I have a ASM/CPC set where I'm two chips short of a rack on one of the denoms and it's tilting as hell - so much so that I haven't put the set in play yet!

 

[Schmendr1ck]

I'm the same way - partially full barrels tilt me to no end.

I'd say for workhorse chips where you have multiple racks in the set, get an extra 10-20. For high-value chips you may not need as many extras, maybe one extra per barrel.

And if they're your customs, don't forget about sample sets!

 

[TheBigTater]

I always overcompensate and add a minimum 10% overage of each denom (10 extra per rack of 100) when ordering, but ymmv. Might seem like a lot but it also give you some extra sample set if needed.

 

[krafticus]

at least 10, maybe 20. I think there is a whole thread on this topic...

mark

 

[allforcharity]

5-10% is not a bad calculation. I use 20 extra for a roulette set of 200 per colour.

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

5-10% for me.

 

[churlbut18]

4 per denom x 5 denoms in set = 20 spares
5 per denom x 4 denoms in set = 20 spares

But now do I need spares for my spare barrels in case I actually need to use a spare?

The struggle is real...

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

But now do I need spares for my spare barrels in case I actually need to use a spare?

The struggle is real...

That’s why it’s better to have odd number of spares maybe haha.

 

[gopherblue]

Minimum of 5-10 for denominations that are limited to a rack or two. For workhorse chips, a barrel.

 

[BGinGA]

Generally 5% if possible, but often fudged a bit so that the spares total an even barrel (6 denoms might be 4 x 3 chips + 2 x 4 chips, etc.)

 

[inca911]

The optimal number is 21: a spare barrel + a spare for the spare barrel.

 

[Rhodeman77]

With my workhorse chips I went with 20 extras. The rest I went with 5 to 10.

 

[yone]

I did 10 per each denom for my first custom. On the one I just got, I did a barrel each - 5 denoms, one whole rack of extras.
But now I feel like if I have an uneven amount of extras, that would tilt me too. So now extra for my extras?

 

[churlbut18]

For those that are getting 10-20+ spares per denom, do you ever find that you actually need that many at the end of the day. Chips go missing or are breaking that much?

 

[TheBigTater]

I'd rather have too many extras than not enough, especially for customs or rarer chips that would be harder to replace. A couple of sets i have (1) or no spares for some denominations and it is a bit worrisome, so far I've been lucky. Chips do go AWOL sometimes even with the best of intentions.

 

[72o]

For those that are getting 10-20+ spares per denom, do you ever find that you actually need that many at the end of the day. Chips go missing or are breaking that much?

Need right now? No. But I hope to have many years of pokah in front of me so I wanted to make sure 20+ years from now that I would still be OK quantity-wise.

 

[Geremie]

I have no spares for three of my sets...only have been burnt once but luckily found a spare chip!

 

[Irish]

I did 10 extra for each denomination for my customs, but I had a tourney set so the max I got for any denom was 2 racks. If I had a cash set with 4+ racks it'd be at least a barrel of extras.

Same goes for most of my non-custom sets, when I could order them, I typically get 5-10 extras. For sets attained second hand (casino Paulsons/BCCs), I have a couple of spares here and there where I could pick them up.

I've been very fortunate in that I haven't lost a chip to date.

 

[Quicksilver-75]

I'd say an extra 10 to a barrel.

 

[PlaidDragon]

How many spares should I get?

42?

<ducks>

 

[Rhodeman77]

For those that are getting 10-20+ spares per denom, do you ever find that you actually need that many at the end of the day. Chips go missing or are breaking that much?

Not yet, I have only lost 2 chips and the only chips I’ve had beak have been China Clay. But I don’t want to take a chance down the road. Plus it gives me some extra samples for a charity auction or to trade.

 

[viet rounder]

Wow you guys order that many extras?

For me, not including extras for samples, I would say one chip per rack. Maybe two max. Can’t speak for others but my chips are only in play when I’m present so the likely hood of a chip going MIA is very rare. In my years of hosting I’ve only lost one chip.

 

[JustinInMN]

The optimal number is 21: a spare barrel + a spare for the spare barrel.

Irrefutable answer.

 

[JustinInMN]

I am planning 5 per denom myself when I do my customs. But chips are always cheapest on the first order, so I think it's fine to be overly cautious.

 

[Coyote]

I understand the anxiety, but, again, I have never lost a single chip in 30 years of home, single-table, poker.

 

[BNM]

10 minimum, per denomination. Though I kinda like the idea of a barrel per denomination. Don't forget, though, if you're doing CPCs then you're almost guaranteed to get extras so if you're all about even numbers prepare to feel off as the number of extras can't be predicted.

 

[viet rounder]

I am planning 5 per denom myself when I do my customs. But chips are always cheapest on the first order, so I think it's fine to be overly cautious.

Why are chips cheapest on the first order?

 

[JustinInMN]

Why are chips cheapest on the first order?

Because at a minimum, one has to pay separate shipping on subsequent orders. Also if one is benefitting from any sort of quantity discount on the initial order, that won't be the case on a subsequent order of small quantities.