KEM Hater (9 Viewers)

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Don't care, I'll take the hate. But I bought brand new KEM poker sized jumbo index arrow backs to see what all the fuss was about, >$30. Former dealer for a number of years, confident with my shuffles/washes and pitches, fine. But after 4 basic shuffles, I already have a slightly warped . This is me; Im not banging decks against the table or capping my card incorrectly, just shuffling and dealing to empty stacks. 4 basic pitch and grabs. No raised rail, cards have only touched padded rail and felt.

Will anyone else I'm playing with notice or care about this slight difference in the deck? Probably not. But as dedicated dealer I feel it damn near everytime I'm gonna cut and work these cards.

Am I crazy? I thought KEMs were flimsy but this is ridiculous. Shown is two different separations after 3 different shuffle n cuts.

 

[LeLe]

Ya, I had bad experience with Kem as well.

They are just too high maintenance for me at that price point, there’s enough other cards options in the market today that I will rather use for my home games

I got a couple Kem setup in my collection which I had retired and only keeping it as part of my collection

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Ya, I had bad experience with Kem as well.

They are just too high maintenance for me at that price point, there’s enough other cards options in the market today that I will rather use for my home games

I got a couple Kem setup in my collection which I had retired and only keeping it as part of my collection

I'm real confused, are they just supposed to be lightly pitched to be kept in goodiebags at the end of the night?? I didnt shuffle them harshly, wasn't at the end of a long session, this was very basic shuffle and deal. For a company thats so expensive, you hope for better product, eh?

 

[TheOffalo]

I gave KEM so many chances, but I swore off them forever after I got newly produced KEMs that were warped in the cellophane. Yes, maybe it's the warehouse's fault, but still I didn't want to roll the dice every time I buy cards, especially ones that cost that much.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

I gave KEM so many chances, but I swore off them forever after I got KEMs that were warped in the cellophane.

Aight. This was my, 'hey youre gonna be playin poker forever and @Pippa is selling them cheap, just try them' attempt. Done, Ill pitch them at my lower stakes night until I can comfortably toss em. Disappointment to say the least.

 

[LeLe]

I'm real confused, are they just supposed to be lightly pitched to be kept in goodiebags at the end of the night?? I didnt shuffle them harshly, wasn't at the end of a long session, this was very basic shuffle and deal. For a company thats so expensive, you hope for better product, eh?

It might be the material used in the cards making, i felt it’s give the card a very soft shuffling feel but also greatly reduce its durability as well

They just have no defend to wrap and shock resistance

 

[surfik]

just return them to seller, I keep hearing they quality control is not what it used to be
buy Modiano Platinium, for all shitty things they say about Modiano, Platinium keep quality, at least so far

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

just return them to seller, I keep hearing they quality control is not what it used to be
buy Modiano Platinium, for all shitty things they say about Modiano, Platinium keep quality, at least so far

I getcha, I like to support Desjgn over Modiano but might try the platinums.

 

[joeyshin]

I think when people say they like Ken they mean pre-uspc Kems. I loved pre-uspc Kems but absolutely hate any of the upsc ones.

 

[upNdown]

Are you sure it didn’t come like that?

 

[surfik]

I think when people say they like Ken they mean pre-uspc Kems. I loved pre-uspc Kems but absolutely hate any of the upsc ones.

i was using post Uspc Kem for a long time and loved them, granted most of them was produced between 2000 and 2008, mostly KEM Casino Circle Bridge, never had any complaints
maybe few last years witnessed decrease of quality,
but I would say that you may talk more of pre and post Cartamundi period right now
pre and post USPC KEM were different in feel, font and saturation of colors but quality stayed high in my opinion

 

[utgtrash]

Kems are great when they aren't warped, but IMO they're the most likely to arrive pre-warped still in packaging. must be extra sensi to humidity/temperature etc.

 

[surfik]

Kems are great when they aren't warped, but IMO they're the most likely to arrive pre-warped still in packaging. must be extra sensi to humidity/temperature etc.

its more temperature than humidity

 

[bernielomax]

I think you should re-do your title and fix your avatar. This makes more sense to me, then the arrow would be pointing to your avatar. Go ahead and do that now, thanks

<-----------KEM Hater

 

[mike32]

Kem cards should be pitched lightly, right into the garbage can.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

I think when people say they like Ken they mean pre-uspc Kems. I loved pre-uspc Kems but absolutely hate any of the upsc ones.

Ah. I'm new to the game, missed the good-KEM boat lol.

Are you sure it didn’t come like that?

Not 100% sure, but fairly certain. I had read about the warping so right away I put both decks down at eye level and didnt see anything straight out of the box. This may have just been them being held together and hiding the warping, only showing after I shuffled? Dont know whether I caused it or just revealed the problem.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

I think you should re-do your title and fix your avatar. This makes more sense to me, then the arrow would be pointing to your avatar. Go ahead and do that now, thanks

View attachment 1101890<-----------KEM Hater

I hate that you're right.

 

[grandmeme]

My regs have switched to liking Fourniers so we use them most of the time now. However I do need to find a good standard index option for circus games.

One reg only likes using KEMs so he brings 3 new setups every session lol. And without fail 2 of them will warp after each session. Just lousy cards at this point. To be fair though I really love the casino circles and pre uspc ones, but I will never recommend buying new KEM setups to others at the current price point.

 

[Toby]

KEM suck a phat one

 

[TheBigTater]

I've always said (and I get bashed for it everytime) that the Kems that are sold retail are not the same quality as the Kems sold to casinos. They just are different IMO. Buying retail Kems is like lighting hundos on fire. Only Kems I've had that were worth a crap are used ones (mostly circle backs) from a cardroom or casino.

Used to be a seller on feeBay (RuthRat) that sold used setups in bulk from cardrooms, that were probably changed out after a few hours of play, that were better than any other Kems i've ever owned. Unfortuinately I haven't seen her selling in a while.

 

[Old State]

Having owned numerous Kem setups I’ve never had any bow while playing with a new deck. That’s sounds bizarre and I’d have to think they were bowed before you opened them. They will bow if you leave them out in a damp environment.

Also, you were a casino dealer and never used Kems until now? I don’t think I ever played cash poker in any casino that wasn’t using Kems

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Having owned numerous Kem setups I’ve never had any bow while playing with a new deck. That’s sounds bizarre and I’d have to think they were bowed before you opened them. They will bow if you leave them out in a damp environment.

Also, you were a casino dealer and never used Kems until now? I don’t think I ever played cash poker in any casino that wasn’t using Kems

I believe it, frustrating. Might have been a problem I didnt see when first out of the plastic, doesnt make sense that it occured from that use. I know I took em out of plastic and placed them flat and didnt see it; might have been there and became much more prevalent with some shuffling.

Underground raked game while in college, used only Bicycle Prestiges. Dont have formal AC/Vegas training but just meant that I wasn't being rough with them.

 

[surfik]

My regs have switched to liking Fourniers so we use them most of the time now. However I do need to find a good standard index option for circus games.

One reg only likes using KEMs so he brings 3 new setups every session lol. And without fail 2 of them will warp after each session. Just lousy cards at this point. To be fair though I really love the casino circles and pre uspc ones, but I will never recommend buying new KEM setups to others at the current price point.

Maybe Modiano... Much cheaper

 

[grandmeme]

Maybe Modiano... Much cheaper

Too bad platinum only comes in poker size. Don't know about any other standard index modianos which are worth a try.

 

[CUORE3]

I've always said (and I get bashed for it everytime) that the Kems that are sold retail are not the same quality as the Kems sold to casinos.

Very interesting. Has there ever been a discussion about this?

 

[surfik]

Kem cards should be pitched lightly, right into the garbage can.

Don't mind if you do... I even pay shipping

 

[upNdown]

Very interesting. Has there ever been a discussion about this?

He’s not the only one who’s had that theory - I’ve heard other people suggest it here and there, over the years

 

[Nerxa]

Cannot compare with the newest Kem, but I have 2 sets of decks, one is 15y old and still feels new. My most are 5y old and nothing different. I have dealt copag cards in the past as well and I always felt better handling my kem, they felt a bit less slippery and since I got jumbo hands, I prefer them.

I keep all poker related stuff in a dark and dry place with humidity control as I also store thousands of books there. Water is evil.

 

[CUORE3]

I can't compare the quality but when I opened a deck of KEM circle back (which I believe to be casino cards) I felt them different than my KEM Arrows. I found them a bit more textured

 

[Defarse]

Don't know about any other standard index modianos which are worth a try.

Club?