PCA PLAQUES - CARDS MOLD (2 Viewers)

[fishsaybloop]

Hey friends!

Exhausted by constantly bumping my PCA search thread, I decided it was less effort to just try to make some instead. @Johnny5 has kindly created a lovely design for a run of plaques that I'm planning to launch shortly. For production, I explored going with MSK/Matsui similar to other plaque GBs, but was wondering who else makes good value chips and ended up reaching out to Tina (Cards Mold) to see what they could do. I was pleasantly surprised to find they make custom plaques at affordable prices (USD1.6 - 1.8 per plaque) excluding the setup cost.

I'm planning to run denom in $20, $100, $500, $1000 depending on the interest. Probably a 66*48mm for the $20 and either 81*56 or 94*66 for the higher denoms.

I'll be gathering interest for two weeks, and plan to make an order on 6 September. If there's enough interest, I'll start an order thread next week.

Have spoken with Tina and they can split up the shipments, but would need a point of contact to ship to in each country to do reshipping.

Prices:
Per chip: USD 1.6 to 1.8 (depending on size)
Setup fee (per denom): USD 30
Custom color fee (per color): USD 60 (will depend on final design, but probably one custom color fee per denom unless they have the color in stock e.g. $100 won't need this)
Artwork fee: USD 0.60 per plaque

All in (excluding shipping): $3.1 - 3.3 per plaque (if we're at 100 plaques)

Have added a survey to gather the interest on colors and number per plaque. Cutoff time will be this Wed 9pm EST. These are indicative interest not promise to buy.

I’ll finalize the numbers this weekend once we confirm the designs. Everyone will have a chance to readjust the number of plaques.

Thanks!

https://forms.gle/6ioTrpNnb1rj3BDw7


Design:
Colors will be finalised once I figure out interest.

Samples:
The plaques (in my opinion) are looking awesome! They're a little thicker and more plasticky than MSK/Matsui. DOES NOT FEEL LIKE MSK OR MATSUI.

But at the price, I'm pretty happy with where they ended up.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

Pics of design? Even if not final yet.

I'm in for a small number, just because I want to see what Tina's plaques look like in hand. At least one of each, depending on design.

 

[BEANO52]

At <$2 I am certainly in for a few. $20 & $100 denominations.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

So the yellow ones are from Tina? Looking good!

 

[fishsaybloop]

So the yellow ones are from Tina? Looking good!

Yup I did a sample run to have a look. I'm digging it!

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

At <$2 I am certainly in for a few. $20 & $100 denominations.

Under $2 is the base production cost. Adding in the additional fees, looks like they will come in somewhere around $3 each.

Right @fishsaybloop ?

 

[fishsaybloop]

Under $2 is the base production cost. Adding in the additional fees, looks like they will come in somewhere around $3 each.

Right @fishsaybloop ?

Yup if we're at 100x per denom will be $3 - $3.5 excluding shipping.

 

[Ben8257]

Those look like the same manufacturer as these.

Still need to order some more for a playable set!

Very plasticky, but as long as you are not expecting MSK or Matsui, they are actually pretty damn nice!

 

[BearMetal]

I think that at $3 per plaque, we should be happy they're not made out of spaghetti. For the look, I think these are gonna explode the group buy!

 

[fishsaybloop]

Yup! That’s the same stock.

It definitely does not have the solid feel of the MSK/Matsui.

 

[fishsaybloop]

Those look like the same manufacturer as these.
View attachment 763131
View attachment 763132
Still need to order some more for a playable set!

Very plasticky, but as long as you are not expecting MSK or Matsui, they are actually pretty damn nice!

Now imagine a custom joker plaque tourney set….

 

[Ben8257]

Now imagine a custom joker plaque tourney set….

I will just throw mine in the trash! You have my attention sir! Any Jester hat involvement... count me in!! Lol

 

[aggie]

Definitely in for some $500s, maybe others once dialed in.

 

[jpietrella]

Is the $50 plaque not an option in the poll? That and the $20 are probably the ones I'd be most interested in.

 

[brewdawg]

I would probably be interested in at least a sample or 2 of each one

 

[fishsaybloop]

Added a $50 option. I swear if it’s just you @jpietrella



then I’ll send you some

 

[Phantom]

They look great. Could we grab a side view of the stacks please?

 

[davislane]

Interested in a sample

 

[fishsaybloop]

They look great. Could we grab a side view of the stacks please?

Added into OP

 

[FordPickup92]

In for samples!!!! Lol these actually look pretty decent, I like how they turned out!

 

[Phantom]

Added into OP

look great thanks
would welcome a sample to Australia if possible

 

[fishsaybloop]

look great thanks
would welcome a sample to Australia if possible

will figure out smth for you guys down under!

 

[FordPickup92]

In for samples!!!! Lol these actually look pretty decent, I like how they turned out!

Oh forgot to mention happy to do recieving/reshipping for a US GB

 

[Phantom]

will figure out smth for you guys down under!

Thanks mate. Would be great to have a look compared to MSK.

Any idea what MSK charge these days for 81*56? I had plenty of MSK back in the day and they were good value then

 

[fishsaybloop]

Thanks Brie!

 

[fishsaybloop]

Thanks mate. Would be great to have a look compared to MSK.

Any idea what MSK charge these days for 81*56? I had plenty of MSK back in the day and they were good value then

Last I heard from a 2020 quote was $5.07. Someone else might have a more up to date figure.

let me see if I can get some samples this weekend to do a few comparison shots. Forgot to do them last time.

 

[Phantom]

Last I heard from a 2020 quote was $5.07. Someone else might have a more up to date figure.

let me see if I can get some samples this weekend to do a few comparison shots. Forgot to do them last time.

Awesome mate, really helpful
Cheers

 

[CrazyEddie]

Those look like the same manufacturer as these.

There's a number of different graphic designs (including yours, which, I hasten to add, are pretty cool!) that, I suspect, all ultimately originate from the same manufacturer, or at least from mfgrs that are using similar molds and methods.

If anyone wants to get samples in their hands of what they feel like, here's a few retail sources:

• Pink $5000 on Amazon for $6.99, I think this size is 94mm x 66mm
• Assorted denoms in the "High Stakes" design on thepokerstore.com for $8.99 (buy 3 get 1 free), all of these are 94mm x 66mm
• Assorted denoms from seller mathens22 on ebay for $4.25 plus $5.45 shipping, some are 81mm x 56mm, some are 94mm x 66mm (click on the seller's name to see the listings for the other plaques, he'll combine shipping if you request it before you pay)
• Assorted Euro-denominated plaques from pokerstore.nl for our overseas friends, €6.50 for 68 mm x 48 mm and €8.50 for 94 mm x 66 mm

The ones that @fishsaybloop is showing off above are, I think, smaller than any of these three sizes, but I haven't seen a retail source for any that small. Alibaba vendors have them in many sizes but not at retail quantities, of course.

Here's a video showing off a few big stacks of them.

Very plasticky, but as long as you are not expecting MSK or Matsui, they are actually pretty damn nice!

I agree! I actually prefer the way these feel to Matsuis, but I'm probably the only one here that would say that. They're slightly thicker than MSKs. The molded recess is slightly more prominent. The acrylic feels... I'm not sure how to describe it, but "softer" kind of captures it. MSKs and B&Gs feel more "rigid" than these, and I'm honestly not sure why since they're all basically made out of the same material, and it's not like any of them flex or deform. I think it might be an illusion based on the plaques being thicker and having a little more "thud" and a little less "clack" when clattering against each other than the MSKs and B&Gs do.

The lamination seams on the edges are very different from MSKs, Matsuis, and B&Gs. From the side, you can see that they don't have the colored / white center stripes that the others do. But besides that, the centermost seam (on the plaques that I have) actually has a small gap, so that there's a very shallow notch running all the way around the edge. You'd never notice it if you weren't looking for it, and I don't think anyone would notice or care when actually using these in play. But it is an indication that these are manufactured with a less meticulous (and less expensive) assembly process.

The recess/ridge design is very similar to what B&G uses (i.e. what European casinos use), and rather different from the circles-in-the-corner recess design that MSK uses. Matsui of course uses a smooth face, which is apparently somewhat common in South American casinos.

If you're used to MSKs or B&Gs then you'd probably consider these a step down. But if you just want acrylic plaques and don't want to pay through the nose for them then I think these unknown-Chinese-manufacturer's plaques will look and feel great.

@fishsaybloop - The "High Stakes" plaques have a translucent design, which makes me think that the manufacturer could do a decent job simulating lunettes. You might check with J5 and Tina to see if your design could incorporate translucency somewhere in the plaque. That would be an extra touch of class that could really pay off.

 

[CrazyEddie]

Oh, and if you go forward with this then I would definitely buy a few samples! I got bitten by Plaque Mania a few weeks ago.

 

[JWJ]

In for $20s and $50s