Used Paulsons a worthwhile investment? (3 Viewers)

[tallsbutler]

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!

Just have fun with it baby! I have never had a set I wasn't willing to play. I have them because I love them. The way they feel, sound, stack, look, sharing them with others, etc. Why wouldn't I want to spend as much time with them as possible?

I don't think of them as investments.

The best advice I can give you is: don't go into debt for poker chips. Buy what you can afford. Upgrade them when you can. Try different sets. Stay in budget so you feel peaceful when using them

Have fun!

JB

 

[Blinders]

If you were just here one month ago, I had this set of new Paulsons at $1.40 a chip, though they are not quite Tigers. It really depends what you need. You can typically get newish Paulson $1 casino chips for under $2, but the other denominations for a set can get expensive.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/thre...sh-game-set-1380-shipped.134821/#post-2760917

 

[ekricket]

It’s like cars. A 1964 Corvette is collectible, a 1964 Dodge Dart is not.

 

[Vinman]

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

I think it was just a bad choice of words from the OP and from the overall tone I think he was just wondering if he could potentially get his money back if he decided to upgrade chips. Essentially, "would used/worn casino chips be worth anything in 5-10 years or should I look at them as a sunk cost?"?

Personally, I don't view poker chips as a strict investment as they're too heavy and bulky and need to be stored somewhere - the real benefit is if you like collecting or playing them, then you just might have a lucky windfall when you decide to sell. If not, no big deal and true collectors get intrinsic value out of owning them.

You're not investing for money, you're investing in beauty & quality for the hobby you love.

 

[Vinman]

I’m not a fan of chips this used, but they shuffle like butter once cleaned up.

Granted, but they're also probably only a couple of steps away from butter at that point.

 

[Josh Kifer]

It’s like cars. A 1964 Corvette is collectible, a 1964 Dodge Dart is not.

What about my 2021 Subaru Forester?

 

[twocannons]

It’s like cars. A 1964 Corvette is collectible, a 1964 Dodge Dart is not.

people still buy majestic stars

 

[RadicusScout]

What about my 2021 Subaru Forester?

Dibs

 

[ekricket]

people still buy majestic stars

To use. People still buy dice chips too.

 

[ekricket]

What about my 2021 Subaru Forester?

Not a collectible to the majority, unless it is a convertible.

 

[ekricket]

What about my 2021 Subaru Forester?

How many sacks of taters can you fit in one of them?

 

[Josh Kifer]

How many sacks of taters can you fit in one of them?

SO MANY TATERS.

 

[ekricket]

I would consider some chips and sets “stores of value”. What that value is varies greatly, but at least it’s tangible.

Somebody should make a “Tangibles” label like Terribles.

 

[ekricket]

SO MANY TATERS.

I wish you had a dollar for every potato joke you have heard

 

[TheChipVault]

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/

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

900 excellent for $2900 including extras
https://the-chip-vault.myshopify.com/products/complete-900pc-paulson-terribles-poker-chip-set

 

[Josh Kifer]

I wish you had a dollar for every potato joke you have heard

So do I..... Believe me.

 

[TheWhat]

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

The real trick is having that rent on hand, and if you can manage to sack away a couple months.