KEM - Don't understand the hype. (1 Viewer)

[Mikiethebull]

I've had the exact same experience. "Unused" brown box casino KEMS that came in silly resealed plastic and were bowed and warped. I paid decent money for them, too.

Perhaps too much time has now passed to find pre-USPC KEMs in good conditions. Or perhaps there really is no difference and it's just luck of the draw if you happen to get a deck from a good lot. It's just odd to me that some KEMs bow and others don't.

 

[Gameface]

I used to feel the same way, but after handling the KEMs regularly, I really started to enjoy that that soft buttery feeling. But you're right, the first time I tried to shuffle a deck of KEMs, I could barely do it. I HATED them. They felt whispy; like paper. But after handling them for several days, I started to appreciate how much less effort it takes to shuffle them, and I am a total convert. You definitely have to use a softer touch with them. But the first time I tried, I couldn't even shuffle them. It was comical. It's too bad they have so many quality control issues.

I bought my first deck of KEMs when I was 14 years old, in the early 90s. I used KEMs for years and years and 100s of poker games before I started trying other types of plastic cards.

KEMs are not in my top 5.

 

[Gameface]

Perhaps too much time has now passed to find pre-USPC KEMs in good conditions. Or perhaps there really is no difference and it's just luck of the draw if you happen to get a deck from a good lot. It's just odd to me that some KEMs bow and others don't.

I was sold new unused cards that had clearly been repackaged. It was fraud.

 

[Mikiethebull]

I was sold new unused cards that had clearly been repackaged. It was fraud.

Might be time to move on - the Fourniers/Bicycle Prestige bridge are very solid. I will try a Desjgn set up next.

 

[Gameface]

Might be time to move on - the Fourniers/Bicycle Prestige bridge are very solid. I will try a Desjgn set up next.

It was about 10 years ago... I have moved on.

I'm looking to hook up with Jason and get some of his casino Bridge jumbo index Desjgns. Those look damn nice!

 

[v1pe]

I used to feel the same way, but after handling the KEMs regularly, I really started to enjoy that that soft buttery feeling. But you're right, the first time I tried to shuffle a deck of KEMs, I could barely do it. I HATED them. They felt whispy; like paper. But after handling them for several days, I started to appreciate how much less effort it takes to shuffle them, and I am a total convert. You definitely have to use a softer touch with them. But the first time I tried, I couldn't even shuffle them. It was comical. It's too bad they have so many quality control issues.

I'm the same, didn't like them at first but now I feel that you just can't beat the feel of a nice deck of KEM.

 

[Old State]

Perhaps too much time has now passed to find pre-USPC KEMs in good conditions. Or perhaps there really is no difference and it's just luck of the draw if you happen to get a deck from a good lot. It's just odd to me that some KEMs bow and others don't.

Seriously, there is no difference pre vs post. It’s an Internet myth. New production (starting around 2011) do have a rougher texture.

All you get with pre USPC Kems is more time to bow. I can’t speak for recent times but many years ago you used to see brown box used Kems for sale. These were used casino cards usually in the circle back design. They were usually warped beyond playability. I guess a vendor could shrink wrap them and sell them as new only for you to find out their condition when you open the box.

Just buy them off Amazon when they have them for $22-23. I also got a few packs of these to keep on top of my Kems and others cards. https://www.amazon.com/DEALER-BUTTO...24&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=dealer+button+5+pack

My Gemaco Superflex, DalNegros, and Cartamundi Acetates all took a very slight bow. The only ones that “fixed” them self’s were the Cartamundi after storing them upside down with a dealer button on top of a cut card under a tight fitting lid. I put them on top of many of my decks just in case...not just Kem

 

[Old State]

Oh, if you buy the Prestige bridge sized for $10 off Amazon and want the same case they normally come with you get them here. Also check eBay too.

http://www.kemcards.net/kem-card-stroage

I recently bought a bunch of single deck Kem boxes for about a buck a piece of eBay.

 

[Mikiethebull]

If anyone interested, here is a comparison of some bridge size card indexes from left to right: KEM Arrow Reg; Modiano Club Large; Fournier 2826; KEM Arrow Jumbo. You can see how the Fournier’s strike a nice size balance. I wonder how the Desjgn bridge reg and Bridge jumbo compare

 

[upNdown]

My Gemaco Superflex, DalNegros, and Cartamundi Acetates all took a very slight bow.

Thanks for the list of cards not to buy. I’ll add those to the KEM list. It’s a damn shame, because the best cards I’ve ever felt were the Cleveland Horseshoe KEMS (which had the newer, rougher texture, apparently.) But spending $20-$30 on a setup that’s going to bow is never an option for me, no matter how good they feel, out of the box.

 

[Old State]

Thanks for the list of cards not to buy. I’ll add those to the KEM list. It’s a damn shame, because the best cards I’ve ever felt were the Cleveland Horseshoe KEMS (which had the newer, rougher texture, apparently.) But spending $20-$30 on a setup that’s going to bow is never an option for me, no matter how good they feel, out of the box.

For what it’s worth, I recently played in a game with bowed Modianos that were identical to DaVincis I have. Also, the first deck of Desjgns Classic Cultures I bought arrived with a bow in them (which they replaced and even sent a bonus prize (y) :thumbsup never had an issue with any other Desjgns though.

Oh yeah, add Gemaco 5 Star too. Bowed within a month but they were very cheap.


In my experience acetate card have the greatest tendency to bow but also feel the best. That said almost any brand can bow...which is why I now store most of my cards with a button on top now

 

[Tcollie51]

With all the new types of cards marketed for home games I can understand not liking the hype on Kems, however when I started playing, their was not much to choose from as far as plastic coated cards, and even moreso, they all tended to he bridge cards. There are a few old decks I wish I still had but I can find a nice deck for $5-$10 so it's mostly nostalgia for me!