Watching the classifieds and the Chiproom recently, it looks like there are options for good condition THC solids (starbursts or roulettes), spotted whites (Jack Cinci or Horseshoe Cleveland $1s), and spotted blues (Paris $1s) for under $2/chip. I’m curious, are there any spotted red, green, or black chips available in the same condition and price point? My impression is no. If that’s the case, what should one expect to find the lowest prices to be (roughly) to hit the same condition as those I listed? Recommendations on chips to search for are appreciated, too. I tried researching this myself a bit but came up dry.
What's the low(ish) end of the THC market? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Servo
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Age of the chip can matter as well, because there are leaded THC and unleaded THC. Low end is still under a buck, but high end is pretty much the sky's the limit.
There are still places you might be able to harvest at face value. Mostly Las Vegas $1s, occasional $5s, maybe even $2s.
There are still places you might be able to harvest at face value. Mostly Las Vegas $1s, occasional $5s, maybe even $2s.
$1s are usually the cheapest/easiest to find since there are many of them in circulation. Plus the live ones (such as Paris) you can get yourself at (obv) face value or pay the harvest people whatever extra they charge.
$5s are apparently the work horse chip for stakes ranging from 25c/50c to $2/$5 and everybody ”needs” 5+ racks so they’re harder to find/more expensive. Face value Paris $5s aren’t too bad of a deal actually compared to what you’ll be paying for non live THCs
$25s aren’t quite that difficult/expensive (all relative of course).
$100s and up. Casinos don’t need as many of the bigger denoms so naturally there are fewer of these. But maybe you don’t need as many either.
Leaded vs unleaded also makes a big difference as stated above.
$5s are apparently the work horse chip for stakes ranging from 25c/50c to $2/$5 and everybody ”needs” 5+ racks so they’re harder to find/more expensive. Face value Paris $5s aren’t too bad of a deal actually compared to what you’ll be paying for non live THCs
$25s aren’t quite that difficult/expensive (all relative of course).
$100s and up. Casinos don’t need as many of the bigger denoms so naturally there are fewer of these. But maybe you don’t need as many either.
Leaded vs unleaded also makes a big difference as stated above.
Thanks for the info! It sounds like ~$5/chip for reds, if I’m following. What does “aren’t quite that expensive” look like for greens in that condition? Any suggestions for a chip or two to look into? I’m only really thinking about unleaded.
If you can be more specific about what chip denominations you need for your game this forum could help you better without a bunch of random answers.
I’m not sure what you’re looking for exactly. But it sounds like you’re talking about inlaid red THC $5s with edge spots?
Condition will matter a lot. You might find some heavily used chips for that price or even a little lower, if you can find a seller. But excellent, stand on edge or better condition? That’s a tough find and certainly more expensive than face value.
I say this not to be a Debbie downer, but as practical advice. If you’re looking to build a set with inlaid spotted THC fives, you should probably try to find those first. Because that’s the toughest piece of this puzzle.
What's wrong with brand new Diamond Jacks $5 @ $1.59ea?
Nothing at all. (And I bet you could get them for cheaper than that.) But when this guy said he was interested in THCs, I assumed that meant he was not interested in RHCs.
I’m actually not concerned about denominations, which is why I’ve only been mentioning colors. I’m trying to determine whether pursuing a relabel/overlabel THC project would be financially viable.
Red spotted, yes; doesn’t have to be a $5 (but I recognize nearly all are).
I may not have been clear about condition, and perhaps my thread title was misleading by citing the low end. I suppose you could say I’m using the current Paris $1s that pop up these days as a benchmark on condition, as those are the ones that initially caught my eye as a viable, affordable frac relabel. I noticed that solids were available in the same condition that could be 5c if I went micro, and the whites I mentioned were there, too, to be relabeled as $1s. So, I wondered what the low price point would be on similar condition red, green, and/or black to determine what I’d be getting myself into for relabeling as $5s and up.
Edit to add: my problem is that I can find those chips all day long in the classifieds, but I don’t know which are common and which are priced high because of other factors (ie, Tigers). Hence, my asking for leads on what I should expect, and which chips I might look for, that would be at the low end.
LeLe
4 of a Kind
I have theory crafted a set build around Paris $1 last year on a budgeted THC but eventually I give up because I dont really like the $1 enough to build one set around it
Overall, it quite affordable at today market prices, this is the rough estimate that I came up with, ofc i basing them on excellent condition.
100 x 25c White ($1 Bailey or Jack Cincinnati) about $175 to 200 per rack or $100 at face value if you can harvest yourself
200 x $1 Blue (Paris $1) about $150-170 per rack or $100 at face value if you can harvest yourself
200 x $5 Red (Paris $5) about $600 per rack or $500 at face value
60 x $25 Green (HS gardena) about $300 total or (Sterling) about $225
40 x $100 Black (Sterling) about $200 total or (Jack 43mm IHC) about $600
Labeling and shipping maybe another $100++ cost
So estimate about $2,400 give or take for a 600 chip set
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chipinla
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ekricket
Royal Flush
You should find a yellow $1 (to use as an $5) instead of those red $5. You are relabeling everything anyway
LeLe
4 of a Kind
I didn't know many cheapish yellow THC to be fair, which one are you thinking about ?
I am thinking from the standpoint that I be relabeling the whole set into a Paris set so using the $5 actually save some money on labeling and they have face value of $5
Exactly the type of info and leads I’m looking for— thank you!
louBdub
Full House
This was a banging deal for a complete THC set…. Can be added onto pretty quickly too…
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/small-paris-set.106700/
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/small-paris-set.106700/
LeLe
4 of a Kind
You are most welcome, GL with your search.
ekricket
Royal Flush
Hmm still thinking about this. The place to really save money is to use a chip that costs a lot less than those red $5’s
So still thinking - how about a little out of the box - move the Paris $1 to be $5’s, use the white chips (Cleveland or what you have listed) for the $1, and then you just have to buy a nice set of frac or rack to use as frac. Use the same 25’s and 100’s you have listed.
You’d have to relabel two racks to be $5’s in addition to the .25 one either way. So you save about $400-600 but have to label two more racks.
There’s always a way to do it a bit cheaper I think, but there is always trade offs. Condition or color or edgespots, there’s usually something that has to slide to get there though.
chipinla
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IMO if you don’t have unlimited funds to throw at people you’ll probably “settle” on something just because it’s THC. I would suggest going CPC so you can get exactly what you want in regards to colors and edge spots.
This is probably the cheapest you will find a red thc $5 with sharp edges.
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/viva-las-vegas-5s.107140/#post-2210797
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/viva-las-vegas-5s.107140/#post-2210797
philhut
Flush
Older THC hot stamps can run a bit cheaper in the approx $1 each range depending on condition and design.
ekricket
Royal Flush
I would sell these THC spotted $5 for $2.50 each.
chipinla
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You’d also have to find other chips that are as worn as these if you want your stacks to be even close to matching in height. I would say a barrel of these would be off by a full chip next to a barrel of mint chips.
ekricket
Royal Flush
They are not $8-$16 apiece. If you bought one rack of $8 chips then you’d have to find other chips that were in the same condition as them, most likely paying much more for any higher denominations.
Go for it.
The title says lower end THC. Maybe I posted in the wrong place.
ekricket
Royal Flush
I’ve got 250 of them I think. I’d have to count for sure. $625 shipped.
chipinla
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I understand he asked for lower end. I was just saying if he buys bike tires he needs to find bike tires to match. Obviously only if he wants stacks to be somewhat matching in height.
ekricket
Royal Flush
This is one of my sets -actually using it tonight - to show you what you can do with worn chips. So buttery smooth is incredible.
ekricket
Royal Flush
If you go this route as well I can probably help you fill out a set. Leaded used THC aren’t that hard to find.
Thanks everyone! Definitely not ready to pull the trigger on anything, but I appreciate all the tags—still in the scheming phase! These are great leads on which chips to be on the lookout for when/if the time comes.
This is in the back of my mind, but part of the allure of this potential project is that I already have a (stock) CPC set and a ceramic set, so adding Paulson to the stable could be appealing.
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