Used Paulsons a worthwhile investment? (3 Viewers)

[ttt3714]

Hi guys,

New to this forum and spent the last couple of days going down a deep rabbit hole and came out wanting to purchase Paulson chips. I'm prepared to pay the hefty prices, but the idea of buying used chips has been bothering me a bit. The only new Paulson chips I could find on the internet were Tiger Palace chips that were ridiculously expensive ($8k for a set), so my only realistic option is to buy used ones. Was hoping people could share their experiences purchasing used Paulsons and how they looked / felt (though I'm sure it depends on the particular chip set) Thanks!

 

[mr11]

Paulson stopped selling to the public in 2015 so getting unused Paulson now is pretty tough to find. You’ll definitely pay the price for any unused/mint chip. I personally love the feel of clay chips and I would say the majority of people here would say the same thing. It’s always a person preference.

If you want new clay chips, you’ll have to go through CPC. They’re the only vendor I know of who makes clay chips for the public. They’re currently moving their factory across the country so they aren’t taking orders now but hopefully will resume shortly

Everyone will recommend getting samples when starting out to see what you like.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[doublebooyah85]

Get samples. The rhc mold has recently became very affordable for as low as $2 a chip in bulk sets…

 

[Colquhoun]

The question is…why do you ask about investment?
Are you looking to maybe sell them for more in the future?
Are you afraid that in the future if you change your mind, you’ll have trouble making your money back?

The vast majority here buy Paulsons because of the way the feel, age, etc. Knowing they depreciate very little and often appreciate in value only serves as insurance in the back of the mind…the main focus is how they play. I suggest getting as many Paulson samples as you can (THC, RHC, hotstamps, etc) and decide for yourself which you like and what you’re are willing to pay.

With that in mind, THC Paulsons tend to show less wear over time, and are more desirable among chippers, and that is reflected in their cost. RHC show wear a bit more, and some aren’t fans of the mold, but they are still great chips. There are other molds like “Paulson Chips” and WTHC suits mold that you can try as well.

 

[CraigT78]

Unless you overpay for a crap set, you'll be basically renting them as long as you have them.

 

[MC_CPA]

The only new Paulson chips I could find on the internet were Tiger Palace chips that were ridiculously expensive ($8k for a set)

If things go well you'll see that 8k is a steal for those chipe (especilly if the'yre the chips you want).

 

[TKEUofM]

Depending on what you are looking for (Cash/Tourney) there are plenty of sets that come up for sale where people have sat on mint Chip Room sales and never played them. Depending on the set you can still find new ones around $3-$4 per chip.

 

[ekricket]

I believe there are Faro Dunes left if you are looking for tournament sets

 

[upNdown]

If things go well you'll see that 8k is a steal for those chipe (especilly if the'yre the chips you want).

I disagree. Those Tigers are overpriced and that's why they're still available.

Used Paulsons will rarely be an investment, but it depends on how used they are. Lightly to moderately used Paulsons are likely to return their value. Heavily used Paulsons, less so. But there are so many variables that this generalization is dumb. Buy them because you love them and because you want to play with them. If you want to make an actual investment, don't be a dummy and buy poker chips that you know nothing about.

 

[TheChipVault]

Hi guys,

New to this forum and spent the last couple of days going down a deep rabbit hole and came out wanting to purchase Paulson chips. I'm prepared to pay the hefty prices, but the idea of buying used chips has been bothering me a bit. The only new Paulson chips I could find on the internet were Tiger Palace chips that were ridiculously expensive ($8k for a set), so my only realistic option is to buy used ones. Was hoping people could share their experiences purchasing used Paulsons and how they looked / felt (though I'm sure it depends on the particular chip set) Thanks!

Check out thechipvault.com

 

[doublebooyah85]

I disagree. Those Tigers are overpriced and that's why they're still available.

You can argue they are overpriced, but will you please stop insisting it’s because a product has inventory. That doesn’t qualify it being overpriced lmao

 

[MC_CPA]

I disagree. Those Tigers are overpriced and that's why they're still available.

That's what I thought before this set sold out: https://tigerpalacechips.com/products/tiger-palace-vip-1-cash-set-0-25-0-50
That's what I thought before this set sold out: https://tigerpalacechips.com/produc...n-cash-set-vip1-0-25-0-50-vegas-set-800-chips
That's what I thought before this set sold out: https://tigerpalacechips.com/products/tiger-palace-vip1-cash-set-1-2-700-chips

By the way it's going if I don't get this one soon it might sell out: https://tigerpalacechips.com/products/tiger-palace-paulson-cash-set-vip1-2-5-vegas-set-700-chips

 

[upNdown]

You can argue they are overpriced, but will you please stop insisting it’s because a product has inventory. That doesn’t qualify it being overpriced lmao

If we were talking about something that had some intrinsic value, I’d agree with you. But they don’t.

 

[doublebooyah85]

If we were talking about something that had some intrinsic value, I’d agree with you. But they don’t.

Don’t worry. He will eventually sell out. Round 1 sold out. Round 2 will sell out. Round 3 was his website. All while not dropping prices and keeping their value more so than any other NAGB chip.

 

[AlbinoDragon]

Getting this thread back on track, don't think of chips as an investment. They are items intended to be used in the course of a game of poker (or other gambling endeavor).

As a group, we here put a premium on Pauslon chips as they are the ones that used in casinos. Availability of them, especially brand new, has become limited for reasons described above. I have Pauslon chips from previous buy-outs of closed casinos from @TheChipRoom that I could put up for sale right now and make a pretty profit based on what I spent on them approaching 15 years ago, but I'm not going to do that. I bought the chips because I like them, and I want them for my home games.

If you go into this hobby (chipping) with the intent that this is an investment, that is the wrong mentality for this and is generally against what the majority of folks here think about or do. There are other threads that have asked what is essentially your question and a quick search should uncover those. Yes, the value of chips and chip sets have gone up over time, but this is a strange hobby and all it takes is a couple changes to how it all works for things to become very different.

Ignore what anyone says what set to buy. Get what you like, put those chips into play and enjoy the game while using them.

 

[Kam]

I bought a ton of samples of ceramics, some chinese Tina hybrids, used casino chips and CPC molds when I started out.

Out of all of these, the actual used casino chips were the worst, like this Jumers RHC chip since they had got years of constant casino abuse on them. Really worn down and didn’t feel like clay at all:

Personal preference- I’d rather have a ceramic chip from BRPRO poker than a ‘bike tire’ worn down actual clay casino chip. Some folk here prefer chips broken in so they shuffle better. Some chips look great online but once you see them in person and can hold can be completely different.

The below line up is from my first RHC set and you can kinda see the different levels from left (worse condition) to right (better /newer/ almost no gaps in stack). The yellow and blue are casino used, I paid someone to harvest a rack of blues from a casino so they have flea bites, some warping etc.

The white, red and green chips were only in casino for a really short time and basically almost new but still used in very good condition. The last charcoal barrel was from a fantasy set, so never in a casino and is basically ‘mint’ with sharp edges and unused.

I definitely prefer the very good condition chips and self professed edge snob, but exactly 0 players in my home games have said anything about the blue chips having some flea bites or feeling different from the white chips. So like other folk have said, only you will really notice or care.

Best recommendation is to buy some samples and/or shuffle stacks. Folk sell single barrels of 20 chips - buy a couple of different molds and types and play around with them. I’ve sold every sample I bought back on PCF to another new chipper once I made my mind up.

Recommend you keep checking the marketplace as deals do come up, like the below today (same as my white chips above):

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/indiana-grand-ig-secondary-1s-two-racks.136191/#post-2774035

For entertainment value and all the perspectives, read this thread (I don’t recommend Tigers for anyone just getting started):

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/tiger-palace-chips-are-they-worth-the-price.103264/

What kind of budget were you thinking and we can point you in the right direction of options to look out for.

GL!

 

[DrStrange]

Chips aren't an investment; they are a collectable.

I have been around long enough to see some really big swings in prices. Huge upswings followed by crushing down swings followed by breathtaking gains.

The market is fickle. Remember how coin-in-center chips were the rage? The Faux clay nation? Prices are hugely dependent on a small number of buyer/sellers. Fads come and go. Perhaps some things hold value. There are some vintage Vegas chips that are desirable to a wider audience vs. the NAGB chip sets. Big bucks for a vs tropicana set or a golden Nugget house mold might be "investment grade" Still could lose money though.

The market is thin. There are 16K members here. When bad times come, the buyers often don't have money. Some of the prices from 2009 - 2011 are exceptionally low. we might look back at 2023-2025 as "too high" Or maybe not.

Let's take another angle. You need to put hands on other types of chips. There are more options than Paulson chips. Some people are solidly sold on Paulsons. Others like Bud Jones or other sorts of plastic chips. Tina products get some bad press, but the price point for custom tina chips is remarkable. I can make a good case for getting custom Tinas rather than vintage Paulsons

OP has been a member less than a week. WAY too soon to make informed choices. Sure, if dropping $10,000 on a set you'll never use and never sell works for you then go for it.

GET SAMPLES is outstanding advice for new chippers. Go to a meet-up. Go to Vegas and prowl around - there are a lot of different styles of chips in play. You will have opinions. Make informed choices. Don't worry so much about "investment" or getting your money back. Focus on getting the best bang for your buck - what makes you happy when you host a game.

Welcome! Make sure you have a good time -=- DrStrange

 

[Jers28]

@ttt3714 i hope those Tiger Palace aren’t upsurdly overpriced. If so, I’ve been had pretty badly the past few weeks as I’ve bought a ton.

You’ll note my join date was less than six months ago. At that point, my most expensive chips were around 50¢/chip, which I thought was expensive. My, my how time changes your perception. I’d definitely get my hands on some samples. Tina’s, BRPro ceramics, Paulson’s of various molds, etc. I wasn’t post to give a sales pitch, but as I’m writing this, it occurs to me I have a mint set of all of those samplers I’d part with. The Tiger Palace sampler is listed right now, but come to think of it, I do have sample sets for the others. I no longer need any of them as I have sets of all of the above and a half dozen more. Rabbit hole, indeed.

Here’s the Tiger Palace sampler, if interested. And just DM me for the others, if you’d like to get your hands on some to see what you like.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/pre-fall-cleanup-sale.136120/

Welcome to the forum! Hope your wallet fairs better than the rest of ours. lol

 

[Josh Kifer]

Hi guys,

New to this forum and spent the last couple of days going down a deep rabbit hole and came out wanting to purchase Paulson chips. I'm prepared to pay the hefty prices, but the idea of buying used chips has been bothering me a bit. The only new Paulson chips I could find on the internet were Tiger Palace chips that were ridiculously expensive ($8k for a set), so my only realistic option is to buy used ones. Was hoping people could share their experiences purchasing used Paulsons and how they looked / felt (though I'm sure it depends on the particular chip set) Thanks!

Are they a fun investment? Yes.

Can you make money? Yes.

Are they a good investment? Lol no.

 

[foreverdev]

for me it started about providing a premium experience at my home game. I had trouble keeping a regular game. But when I built a good poker table and brought some custom Tina’s, and later a cash Paulson set, I was able to host a monthly game. I even encouraged folks to dress up a bit. It feels like an event rather than just plain gambling.

But the feel of the chips, the look, the history — it makes the game feel different, more meaningful somehow. And I try and keep as many chips on display in my home office. Frequently, I’ll just be walking by and feel the urge pop open a rack and shuffle them. It’s a small moment of joy. Perhaps that’s the nature of collecting. I’m not expecting to make money from collecting, but it’s nice to know that maybe I’ll only lose SOME of the money I’ve put into the chips, and enjoy myself in the process.

Like everyone says, get samples. Then, hunt for some deals for chips you like. I just got a very good condition rack of used paulsons for 100$. And two racks of CPC mint for not much more than that. It takes time to know what type of chip you like, what design you prefer, and how you’re gonna use them.

But don’t let the concept of profitability lead your chipping adventures, I say.

Good luck!

 

[Moxie Mike]

The only new Paulson chips I could find on the internet were Tiger Palace chips that were ridiculously expensive ($8k for a set)...

'New' as in fresh from the factory? Yeah you'll have to pay a premium for those and they will likely not hold their value in the secondary markets.

But there are mint-uncirculated Paulson chips that can be had. Much depends on your budget and what you're looking to assemble. As examples, look at Jack Cincinatti, Jack Detroit, and Harrahs NOLA for reference.

As to 'casino used', conditions vary. They can range from bicycle tires (completely worn out) to chips that only show slight wear and still stand on edge. Generally, the more worn they are, the less they cost.

As to the 'investment' part of your question, you really didn't expand on that but I assume you're asking about resale value. As a generalization, buying at full retail pretty much means you'll always be selling at a loss. The used markets tend to hold their value better - so if resale prices are a factor in your decision that's probably your best bet.

 

[Felt_Lizard]

Take a look at the Key West subforum in the Vendor section. PM Dennis.

You can get brand new CPC's designed by J5 in a fully customizable denominated set. And for a better price than Paulson's...

 

[Gus]

Current Paulson used sets in the classifieds linked below.

There's usually 5-10 great Paulson sets for sale here in the classifieds of varying condition. Some sets are extremely desirable for obscure reasons that don't make sense to newcomers (including myself often!). Condition, provenance, beauty of the colors or inlays, and other factors all impact price.

If you bought any of these sets, played with them for a few months, and decided to sell you'd almost certainly get 80% of your money back. You can sit on the sidelines forever if that's your preference - lots to learn, special deals may arise if you're quick to click, etc... Or you can buy a set you like, try it out and hopefully keep it for years or sadly put it back on the market.

600 chips for $2250 (great condition)
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/terrible’s-st-joseph-cash-set-600-count.136230/#post-2775180

640 chips for $2200
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/am-flagship-cash-set-640-2-099-shipped-update-8-28-25.132636/

940 chips for $6900
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/940-chip-lake-elsinore-set.136245/

--

just sold, but much cheaper 500 chips for $525
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...-paulson-rhc-525-shipped.136210/#post-2774944

 

[TheYeti]

Take a look at the Key West subforum in the Vendor section. PM Dennis.

You can get brand new CPC's designed by J5 in a fully customizable denominated set. And for a better price than Paulson's...

Came here to mention Key West chips, I love my set!

 

[upNdown]

Take a look at the Key West subforum in the Vendor section. PM Dennis.

You can get brand new CPC's designed by J5 in a fully customizable denominated set. And for a better price than Paulson's...

Came here to mention Key West chips, I love my set!

Yes, I’d 100 percent rather Key Wests than casino-worn, unleaded RHCs. But as always, get samples.

 

[rustycheerio]

ı wouldn't look at them as being able to get your money back, even if you buy pretty low.

 

[doublebooyah85]

@Machine drop the link!

 

[Vinman]

Out of all of these, the actual used casino chips were the worst, like this Jumers RHC chip since they had got years of constant casino abuse on them. Really worn down and didn’t feel like clay at all:

Look at the Jumers sample set at Apache - these poor chips looks like they've worn down and been smoothed/edge-milled over and over. The top of the hat is gone on some of them. I certainly wouldn't be "investing" in anything like that, even if it's just hoping to get your initial cash outlay back.

 

[Kam]

Look at the Jumers sample set at Apache - these poor chips looks like they've worn down and been smoothed/edge-milled over and over. The top of the hat is gone on some of them. I certainly wouldn't be "investing" in anything like that, even if it's just hoping to get your initial cash outlay back.

View attachment 1566102

Where do you think I got my sample from?

I ended up using those to practice murdering chips:

But to be fair to apache, they had super high res pictures of the chips on their website so the condition was obvious to any buyer. Agreed you’d be unlikely to get all your money back on chips like these.

Sharing my experience to OP about buying used Paulsons, I’m not a fan of chips this used, but they shuffle like butter once cleaned up.

 

[bigblind]

Poker chips are meant to be used.
Poker chips are NOT meant to be an investment or retirement account