Kems Out of Stock (2 Viewers)

edwardstarcraft

edwardstarcraft

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It seems like Kems are starting to go out of stock in many of the online stores and are super expensive on Amazon. Anyone know what's going on?

Are there any cellulose acetate cards that are a reasonable alternative? I'm not a fan of Copags (too easily damaged, poor colors on artwork) nor Faded Spades (too thick and hard to peel / shuffle).
 
I worried about this when cartamundi bought uspc.... They are not going to want copags to share the space with a more expensive acetate plastic deck.
 
inapinch said:
Lou does a great job reviewing a handful of different options you can find on Amazon

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/amazon-decks-poker-size.101352/
Click to expand...
I'm not opposed to buying from other stores and even paying shipping, but the fact that several stores have them listed as out of stock and Amazon is only selling via 3rd parties that have significantly marked up prices is concerning...

And yes I understand that Kems are controversial -- I don't have any warping issues keeping them stored in the box. I have had issues when I left them outside the box.

I've found that every game with Copags have had "marked" cards (like the controversy at WSOP this year).

https://twitter.com/x/status/1533090727206461440

<- Not that it really matters but Doug Polk switched The Lodge from Copag to Kem, for instance
 
edwardstarcraft said:
I'm not opposed to buying from other stores and even paying shipping, but the fact that several stores have them listed as out of stock and Amazon is only selling via 3rd parties that have significantly marked up prices is concerning...

And yes I understand that Kems are controversial -- I don't have any warping issues keeping them stored in the box. I have had issues when I left them outside the box.

I've found that every game with Copags have had "marked" cards (like the controversy at WSOP this year).

https://twitter.com/x/status/1533090727206461440

<- Not that it really matters but Doug Polk switched The Lodge from Copag to Kem, for instance
Click to expand...
No water, only soda...good. Great.


1692714346908.png
 
Kems were overpriced in the first place. Never had a setup last long enough for me to see how long they last in play, because they curl up like a pill bug as soon as they get slightly out of their ideal temperature/humidity. Crazy to pay more for one deck of that than a whole setup of a better brand.

If you don't like Copag for whatever reason, consider Desjgn or Da Vinci. (I used to like Modiano, but people complain about the thickness, and they buckle almost as easily as Kems.)
 
edwardstarcraft said:
It seems like Kems are starting to go out of stock in many of the online stores and are super expensive on Amazon. Anyone know what's going on?

Are there any cellulose acetate cards that are a reasonable alternative? I'm not a fan of Copags (too easily damaged, poor colors on artwork) nor Faded Spades (too thick and hard to peel / shuffle).
Click to expand...
To my knowledge there are only two current sources for cellulose acetate cards. Kem and Angel. Guild claims they are acetate but they don't say "Cellulose" acetate and guys claim they handle and smell more like PVC then cellulose acetate.

Here's where you can get Angel cards. The cards are cheap but shipping is expensive so buy in bulk. Angel's are about the best playing card made but they don't distribute outside of Japan. However it's easy to buy from Amazon Japan.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/SPNN633P-Plastic-Playing-Pattern-Millionaire/dp/B07G7QTDFR/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3AXRVQTBVBIW1&keywords=plastic+playing+cards&qid=1692726849&sprefix=plastic+playing+cards,aps,63&sr=8-9
 
Mid
davefr said:
To my knowledge there are only two current sources for cellulose acetate cards. Kem and Angel. Guild claims they are acetate but they don't say "Cellulose" acetate and guys claim they handle and smell more like PVC then cellulose acetate.

Here's where you can get Angel cards. The cards are cheap but shipping is expensive so buy in bulk. Angel's are about the best playing card made but they don't distribute outside of Japan. However it's easy to buy from Amazon Japan.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/SPNN633P-Plastic-Playing-Pattern-Millionaire/dp/B07G7QTDFR/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3AXRVQTBVBIW1&keywords=plastic+playing+cards&qid=1692726849&sprefix=plastic+playing+cards,aps,63&sr=8-9
Click to expand...
Modiano Platinum as mentioned:
B7B1DFDB-48D0-4962-8F93-5232E4CBA7C5.jpeg
 
edwardstarcraft said:
I'm not opposed to buying from other stores and even paying shipping, but the fact that several stores have them listed as out of stock and Amazon is only selling via 3rd parties that have significantly marked up prices is concerning...

And yes I understand that Kems are controversial -- I don't have any warping issues keeping them stored in the box. I have had issues when I left them outside the box.

I've found that every game with Copags have had "marked" cards (like the controversy at WSOP this year).

https://twitter.com/x/status/1533090727206461440

<- Not that it really matters but Doug Polk switched The Lodge from Copag to Kem, for instance
Click to expand...
The haters can hate but the reality is that almost (I’ll say almost but I’ve never seen anything else) all the major casinos in Vegas and AC use Kem cards and have for over 50 years. The only time I haven’t seen them in use is at SOME small card clubs on poker vlogs and some AC tournaments where I’ve seen Gemaco Superflex (but always Kem for cash) ….. But even many of the Rinky-dink card rooms you see on those same Vlogs are using Kems.

I know Kems are made in the US but not sure if they source the material over seas. There is evidently a major traffic jam at the Panama Canal. That said I’ve noticed the prices creeping up for a while now I own several Kem setups but on ever purchased them when they were on sale through Amazon or somewhere else. I haven’t seen any on sale in a few years….definitely before Covid. Last setup I got was from Amazon for some weird price like $15.78. I’ve never paid more than $22 for a setup ever.
 
davefr said:
To my knowledge there are only two current sources for cellulose acetate cards. Kem and Angel. Guild claims they are acetate but they don't say "Cellulose" acetate and guys claim they handle and smell more like PVC then cellulose acetate.

Here's where you can get Angel cards. The cards are cheap but shipping is expensive so buy in bulk. Angel's are about the best playing card made but they don't distribute outside of Japan. However it's easy to buy from Amazon Japan.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/SPNN633P-Plastic-Playing-Pattern-Millionaire/dp/B07G7QTDFR/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3AXRVQTBVBIW1&keywords=plastic+playing+cards&qid=1692726849&sprefix=plastic+playing+cards,aps,63&sr=8-9
Click to expand...
JMC9389 said:
I'm not so sure they're discontinued.

The artwork of the Platinum box that @w00zie posted is brand new.
Click to expand...
I'll definitely try getting a set of Angels and test them out. @JMC9389 when you were thinking of organizing the group buy, were they able to sell you the acetate cards or just the PVC ones?

Modiano Platinums are sold out on their website. https://www.modianocards.com/platinum-edition.html
This thread claims they're discontinued as well. https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...odiano-editions-have-been-discontinued.89347/

I'm a bridge size/standard index purist anyways
 
edwardstarcraft said:
I'll definitely try getting a set of Angels and test them out. @JMC9389 when you were thinking of organizing the group buy, were they able to sell you the acetate cards or just the PVC ones?

Modiano Platinums are sold out on their website. https://www.modianocards.com/platinum-edition.html
This thread claims they're discontinued as well. https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...odiano-editions-have-been-discontinued.89347/

I'm a bridge size/standard index purist anyways
Click to expand...
Haven't gotten a chance to respond to your PM, sorry about that! But anyway, I was only able to get a hold of some of the PVC Aristo Club Poker jumbo stock. I'll PM you the contact information of my Matsui contact, but I don't think anyone has been able to get an acetate stock group buy together. Similar to GPI only selling Paulson chips to casinos, same thing with Angel and their acetate stock. They only will sell that to casinos as fat as I know. Some Australian casinos have had Angel acetate stock, right @xdan , @davislane ?
 
JMC9389 said:
Haven't gotten a chance to respond to your PM, sorry about that! But anyway, I was only able to get a hold of some of the PVC Aristo Club Poker jumbo stock. I'll PM you the contact information of my Matsui contact, but I don't think anyone has been able to get an acetate stock group buy together. Similar to GPI only selling Paulson chips to casinos, same thing with Angel and their acetate stock. They only will sell that to casinos as fat as I know. Some Australian casinos have had Angel acetate stock, right @xdan , @davislane ?
Click to expand...
No problem, appreciate it! That's a shame if acetate is casino only :( I wonder if that's the same case with Kem right now? Prioritizing their Casino business over their consumer inventory.
 
edwardstarcraft said:
No problem, appreciate it! That's a shame if acetate is casino only :( I wonder if that's the same case with Kem right now? Prioritizing their Casino business over their consumer inventory.
Click to expand...
Supply chain issues have taken a hit to cellulose acetate playing cards lately. Supply is only recently starting to catch up, but you're right. Kem has slowly been phasing out their arrow home line. The casino back patterns (circle back) come up here from time to time. There was an eBay seller that I think was a floor manager at a Vegas casino that sold very lightly used lots of 10 or 12 bridge standard set ups on eBay, but I think they either got fired or moved on from that job, I don't see those listings come up anymore.

@Spinettis Gaming also gets them from time to time. May be worth an inquiry if you'd like any!
 
JMC9389 said:
Haven't gotten a chance to respond to your PM, sorry about that! But anyway, I was only able to get a hold of some of the PVC Aristo Club Poker jumbo stock. I'll PM you the contact information of my Matsui contact, but I don't think anyone has been able to get an acetate stock group buy together. Similar to GPI only selling Paulson chips to casinos, same thing with Angel and their acetate stock. They only will sell that to casinos as fat as I know. Some Australian casinos have had Angel acetate stock, right @xdan , @davislane ?
Click to expand...
the star in Sydney use them
 
edwardstarcraft said:
No problem, appreciate it! That's a shame if acetate is casino only :( I wonder if that's the same case with Kem right now? Prioritizing their Casino business over their consumer inventory.
Click to expand...
The Angel consumer cards I linked in #13 are Cellulose Acetate. I can smell that aroma a mile away. Angel claims their consumer plastic cards are the same stock/quality as their casino cards.
https://www.angelplayingcards.com/en/products/#gaming
 

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