Harvesting Paris Chips - Tell Us Your Story! (2 Viewers)

[BarrieJ3]

As everyone knows, with the WSOP, Paris is running cash games, has ordered new Paris chips, and it's been an open field day on harvesting.

Other than a comment here or picture there, no one is really talking too much about it.

I personally have never played in a card room, let alone harvested, and I've always found this topic fascinating.

So for all the folks out there who are curious, let's gather our stories! Some folks harvested well over $10,000 worth of chips. Some vendors jumped in for some. Some folks got caught and had to give all their chips back. Others just grabbed a rack or two for the plane ride home. Boring or fun, share your story here.

PLEASE don't pat yourself on the back or humblebrag for bringing chips to other chippers at cost, PLEASE don't berate people that harvested to resell, and PLEASE just have common respect for each other. This is a topic I love reading about, so I hope some people are willing to share their fantastic or boring stories of WSOP harvesting so far!

 

[BarrieJ3]

I'll kick it off with my experience. No idea if others will find this entertaining, I thought it was an absolute fricken blast.

3rd night of the WSOP running I think? We're still puling some "as close to mint without being able to call them mint" racks, they obviously have not hit the table yet. Haven't seen too many people mention it yet, but there are some whispers and everyone isn't quite sure how easy it will be to get chips.

I'm with a fellow chipper, and we head to Paris cash room. We start with a quick sit n go. I'm out on the second hand, all in TPTK on flop and Villian rivers a flush. Chipper says go get some chips. I grab a couple racks from the cage and take a seat nearby, just me at an empty table in a sea of empty tables. Floor guy is walking around and approaches. I have quite a few racks just stacked on top of eachother next to me.

FG: Hey, what are those......$2s?
Me: Yeah.
FG: What were you playing?!
Me: Oh.....I'm still on the list.
FG: Why do you need so many chips?
Me: Half are for my friend over there.
FG: *Walks away looking very confused*

 

[BarrieJ3]

This trip was obviously my first time ever attempting to harvest a single chip, so I'm both giddy and slightly fearful. It's a chipping rite of passage to try and harvest at least once. But, we were also sure that us taking almost 20 racks of $2s was going to set off alarms at some point.

Almost every trip to the cage was comical (for me).

Cage: What can I do for you?
Me: I'll take a rack of $2s.
Cage: Oh.........sure. I don't have any. Ummmm.....give me a couple moments.

This is nerve-wracking for a first time harvester. She goes to the back, talks to several people. They all huddle around a steel cart. People are signing papers, photocopying those papers, about 7-8 literal minutes go by. I feel like I'm in Oceans 11 and security is about to come by. After all that work and time, she comes back with only 3 racks of $2s.

Cage: Here you go hun, just 1 rack?
Me: *pulls out two more bills* You know I'll just take two.
Cage: 2 racks then
Me: *pulls out two more bills* You know I'll just take all 3, that way you don't have to go get me more later.
Cage: Sure thing hun, here you go. Good luck!

 

[BarrieJ3]

Every single time, something had to happen. While some of the racks were coming out, literally mint, unlocked from a cart, some didn't come out as clean. Finished up a cash session, have a couple of racks in my bag (which by the way was tiny and could barely hold a couple racks). Before we walk off, try to grab one, last rack.

Me: Hi, can I just get one rack of $2s?
Cage: Sure, not a problem. *proceeds to check her drawer, her neighbors drawer, and the third drawer on the end, nothing* Hold on a sec, I need to go get some.

My bag is about to explode of chips and there's like 3 floor guys and runners waiting to either turn in or run chips out. While we're all standing there together, she picks up a rack of $2s off a back table and proceeds to drop it, chips exploding EVERYWHERE. Cue the floor guys and chip runners looking very unimpressed, while this lady is now laying on the floor on her stomach trying to fish out individual chips from underneath tables, cabinets, printer, everything. Meanwhile, I'm just standing there in a ridiculous outfit with giant animal slippers on and a backpack filled with probably a grand in chips primed to explode.

Again, just a nervous nelly waiting for someone to surely say something.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Last one. Don't think we were playing, just walking by the cash room and decided to dart in to grab a couple quick racks.

Me: Hi, can I get 2 racks of $2s and a rack of $1s.
Cage: You don't want $5s?
Me: No thanks, just the $2s and $1s please.
Cage: *Counts my $500, does the math several times in her head, looks at the money then the chips, looks at me very strangely* You want......
Me: 2 racks of $2s and a rack of $1s if I can.
Cage: Okayyyyyyyyy.........

She then proceeds to fan out my bills and match up the racks with the bills. She must have looked and counted that it all totaled $500 like 5 times. I don't quite understand her confusion, but as a non poker player (again first time ever in a room) maybe that was just a super awkward breakdown request.

 

[BarrieJ3]

I understand that this experience was not the normal experience. Looking back, noone ever had more than 1 rack of chips. Occasionally people cashing out would be at two racks. I can see how out of place it might look when 2 chippers walk away from the cage with 8-10 racks at once.

The other part is that they were understaffed and way over busy. I mean literally only 1 dealer out of the 20+ I asked even knew what the $2s were meant for. We were literally just going to cage, sitting down, and pouring all the chips into bags/boxes to walk out.

Meanwhile, I could totally imagine some folks harvesting 10s of thousands of chips that first week, it was that easy. It was only difficult for us because......we were not prepared.

I had an over the shoulder men's european type bag that would fit around 5 racks max. And even that would make it bulging at the seams and very difficult to carry.

So I had to hustle on over to Paris, fill up, then hustle on back across the way to the room. It's not too bad but still bloody hot, I have on a full animal skin headdress thing, and am running back and forth in Vegas in oversized animal slippers. I was dripping sweat and my feet were kicking.

But the goodies, oh the goodies! Getting there in the early days, many racks were coming out like what's here. The left rack is cherry picked and I think would objectively be titled "Near Mint". Not a scratch on any of em. The right rack is my utterly destroyed chips, probably Excellent? By the time we left, many 1s/2s were all coming out of the cage as Very Good Condition.

 

[JWJ]

Well done! I truly enjoyed your stories (and the slippers)! Those $2s are amazing!

 

[bergs]

Why were you wearing an animal headdress and animal slippers?

Actually, more importantly, why didn’t you just take a cab?

 

[BarrieJ3]

Well done! I truly enjoyed your stories (and the slippers)! Those $2s are amazing!

I know it's a bit much, the posts, but I'm always so curious about these happenings and we don't see them talked about much.

Hoping that some other folks drop by with their experience!

 

[doublebooyah85]

Great thread idea

If I didn’t have 3 cash sets I’d be making one w paris chips.

I’m all for harvesting. @casinochipper22 Kills it. But I fear this World Series of poker run they really may make it more difficult

 

[HaRDHouSeiNC]

I just heard like 4th handed they cut off selling at the cage cause so many chips are “missing”

Some folks got caught and had to give all their chips back.

What???

 

[BarrieJ3]

Why were you wearing an animal headdress and animal slippers?

Actually, more importantly, why didn’t you just take a cab?

It wasn't a super far walk from building to building. Going through Vdara and through the Cosmo is like 15 minutes right there. Then popping out right there on the Blvd you're golden, Paris is like 5 minutes or less away, but then it's another 15 minutes getting to the actual cash poker room.

So the door to door is super short, it's just getting from the actual room to the actual room.

Edit: Ummmm, why not wear an animal headdress with matching animal slippers? It was my first WSOP event, I don't know the dress code!

 

[BarrieJ3]

I just heard like 4th handed they cut off selling at the cage cause so many chips are “missing”


What???

This is what I heard, but I don't know who, how, why. That's in part why I started the thread. I'm not one to nose around or poke in PMs, so I figure if someone wants to share they can share here!

For me personally, I felt like either a) a little kid about to be yelled at or b) an absolute criminal mastermind.

I mean we were laughing like little kids, grabbing racks, dumping, and running. It was a blast.

 

[JMC9389]

This is what I heard, but I don't know who, how, why. That's in part why I started the thread. I'm not one to nose around or poke in PMs, so I figure if someone wants to share they can share here!

For me personally, I felt like either a) a little kid about to be yelled at or b) an absolute criminal mastermind.

I mean we were laughing like little kids, grabbing racks, dumping, and running. It was a blast.

Like dumping an unattended bowl of candy on the neighbor's porch into your pillowcase Halloween night...

 

[BarrieJ3]

Oh, oh, oh! Okay I hate to be talking this much, really, but I love reading this stuff so thought I would share one last item.

It's day after playing til like 3 am, went to bed, woke up like 3 hours later. Fellow chipper goes off to their WSOP event, and I decide to grab what chips I can for us.

Cue me getting back to the room - I'm TIRED, HOT, SWEATY.

So I do what normal people do. I get undressed, and now I'm in nothing but my boxers for the next hour lining up chips for photoshoots. I felt like one of the women in the drug cartel shows/movies where they are packing cocaine in their bras and panties.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Like dumping an unattended bowl of candy on the neighbor's porch into your pillowcase Halloween night...

You're so dead on it's not even funny Hope they didn't charge us for the pillowcase!

 

[Josh Kifer]

Oh yeah, this is starting off with a bang. Time to start the pool up again..... PMs sent....

 

[bergs]

I grabbed a rack of $2s 2 Fridays ago and got challenged by a dealer and then a cashier cage boss why I needed them. I told them I was using them as tips for casino stuff because I don’t want to carry around a fat wad of $1 dollar bills and the staff deserves more than just $1 chips.

Then I stood there and prayed that they wouldn’t ask why I don’t just tip 2 $1 chips.

After about 10 seconds the cashier boss said “ya know that’s awfully considerate” and slipped me the rack on the counter.

So if you’re looking for a line when challenged, particularly with the $2s, this kinda works.

 

[Coyote]

Me on the phone, talking to Ballly's, a few years ago:
"I 'd like to have a rack or two of your $1s sent to me, 'cause I am a collector, from Athens, Greece"
Bally Lady on the phone: "you 've got to come here, SWEETHEART"

 

[BarrieJ3]

Oh yeah, this is starting off with a bang. Time to start the pool up again..... PMs sent....

In what possible way can I get in trouble? Lol if you jackwagons report these threads/comments I'll........well I guess I won't be able to do anything cause I won't be here.

 

[Josh Kifer]

In what possible way can I get in trouble? Lol if you jackwagons report these threads/comments I'll........well I guess I won't be able to do anything cause I won't be here.

Pssh. I ain't no bitch. I only report my own fuck ups and racism. Past that, thunderdome!

I'm just here to make the money.

 

[wonderpuddle]

Great idea for a thread Jeff. Here’s a couple pics of a haul @WhiteMamba1646 and I brought back last year. Notice the barrel of Paris in the top left corner…

It’s funny how success rate is seemingly random. I wanted to harvest a live golden nugget set for myself. Wanted $2s to relabel as twenties. Tried to buy a rack and they told me “No way. You can have one chip but I can’t let you leave with more than that.”

The next day I’m hammering the craps table for fives and @WhiteMamba1646 walks up and somehow talks his way into a full rack of $2s. And my set gets built with $20s after all.

Boulder station had just started using $2s. @WhiteMamba1646 asked for three racks “to take pictures.” He took some pics then put the chips in his bag. Manager immediately came over and said he couldn’t leave with any chips and they needed them back. Made him take all three racks out of the bag and return them.

Somehow we were able to still harvest 6+ racks from the 8/16 game that weekend but it was tough getting them out of there back then.

Ended up with an awesome haul. My golden nugget set (which I still have). His aria set (which he eventually sold). His flamingo limit set (also eventually sold). Two awesome racks of Bally’s fives for @Windwalker. Some circus and Bally’s $1s for my jack rabbit slim’s set. A barrel of Paris $1s. And some boulder chips for projects that never happened.

Really fun haul. We need to go back soon.

 

[BarrieJ3]

Great idea for a thread Jeff. Here’s a couple pics of a haul @WhiteMamba1646 and I brought back last year:
View attachment 934464View attachment 934465
It’s funny how success rate is seemingly random. I wanted to harvest a live golden nugget set for myself. Wanted $2s to relabel as twenties. Tried to buy a rack and they told me “No way. You can have one chip but I can’t let you leave with more than that.”

The next day I’m hammering the craps table for fives and @WhiteMamba1646 walks up and somehow talks his way into a full rack of $2s. And my set gets built with $20s after all.

Boulder station had just started using $2s. @WhiteMamba1646 asked for three racks “to take pictures.” He took some pics then put the chips in his bag. Manager immediately came over and said he couldn’t leave with any chips and they needed them back. Made him take all three racks out of the bag and return them.

Somehow we were able to still harvest 6+ racks from the 8/16 game that weekend but it was tough getting them out of there back then.

Ended up with an awesome haul. My golden nugget set (which I still have). His aria set (which he eventually sold). His flamingo limit set (also eventually sold). Two awesome racks of Bally’s fives for @Windwalker. Some circus and Bally’s $1s for my jack rabbit slim’s set. And some boulder chips for projects that never happened.

Really fun haul. We need to go back soon.

That is fricken awesome. Lol and you were smart and brought all the chip boxes with you. Mayne that was one hell of a haul.

I didn't know we would be harvesting so I just didn't plan on having the money on hand we needed to pull off something like that. Man it would suck to have to empty the bag back to the cage, but not when you still come home with all that!

 

[bergs]

I love the idea of a mixed casino $2 limit set. I buiilt a small $1 set (6 casinos, 3 racks each, all white THC or House Molds) but the various $2 colors would be awesome.

 

[bergs]

I gotta make it back there. Living in AZ now I can drive there and not bother with shipping or airport security.

Anyone else ever have their bags continually searched because of chips? So annoying.

 

[FordPickup92]

I gotta make it back there. Living in AZ now I can drive there and not bother with shipping or airport security.

Anyone else ever have their bags continually searched because of chips? So annoying.

Every time we fly out of Vegas we allot for extra time for them to go through the bags. Now we just take them all out and tell the gentleman at the beginning of the line these are poker chips they'll want to pull them for a second look

 

[HaRDHouSeiNC]

Lol and you were smart and brought all the chip boxes with you.

Spinettis is just down the road
Many boxes for sale I think

 

[BarrieJ3]

I gotta make it back there. Living in AZ now I can drive there and not bother with shipping or airport security.

Anyone else ever have their bags continually searched because of chips? So annoying.

I don't think they looked at either of our bags coming back. Ran mine down conveyor twice, but I told them beforehand, "I have some chips".

Flying international from France into Florida with a couple thousand chips, that took a hot minute at customs.

 

[BarrieJ3]

I just heard like 4th handed they cut off selling at the cage cause so many chips are “missing”


What???

Wait. Where would they sell? Are they making you pick up chips as you go to sit now?

That would suck. And honestly, despite how brazen we were about the whole thing, we did keep in mind "keep the chips flowing".

We 1000% could've walked up and asked for 10 racks of $1s, 10 racks of $2s, 10 racks of $5s, and walked out - finishing a whole trip's worth of harvesting in seconds. But we also knew that it would probably be over right after that, so we played the game.

 

[HaRDHouSeiNC]

Wait. Where would they sell? Are they making you pick up chips as you go to sit now?

That would suck. And honestly, despite how brazen we were about the whole thing, we did keep in mind "keep the chips flowing".

We 1000% could've walked up and asked for 10 racks of $1s, 10 racks of $2s, 10 racks of $5s, and walked out - finishing a whole trip's worth of harvesting in seconds. But we also knew that it would probably be over right after that, so we played the game.

I’m guessing you have to ask for chips at the poker tables when you sit down?

Still easy to harvest $1s / $5s at poker
Idk about $2s unless there is a $8/16 limit