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KEM Hater (3 Viewers)

KEMs are the best. If you don’t want to waste your money on expensive setups that might bow, I can’t argue with that. And if you’re one of those people who think flexy cards feel flimsy, any you prefer cards with a “snap,” I can’t fix that. But they’re the best. And the fact that they’ve been used in the most casino cardrooms for a long time is good evidence of that.
I’d suggest addressing any problems with Kem directly; I’ve read good things.
 
CUORE3 said:
Very interesting. Has there ever been a discussion about this?
Click to expand...

Plenty, just search the forum. KEMs are usually a polarizing subject, most people either love them or hate them.

Back before the poker boom they were the card no arguement, now there are so many other good card choices based on how you like a card to feel & play they aren't worth the headache with storing them in some weird special climate controlled ways or to pay the inflated retail price for IMO. If you can get the used circle backs that are used in the casinos/cardrooms for a decent price then I say go for it. YMMV.
 
upNdown said:
KEMs are the best. If you don’t want to waste your money on expensive setups that might bow, I can’t argue with that. And if you’re one of those people who think flexy cards feel flimsy, any you prefer cards with a “snap,” I can’t fix that. But they’re the best. And the fact that they’ve been used in the most casino cardrooms for a long time is good evidence of that.
I’d suggest addressing any problems with Kem directly; I’ve read good things.
Click to expand...
Lol about fixing my opinions, silly. I disagree they're the best if there's quality concerns in every conversation about them.

Ive reached out, we'll see.
 
If you like Acetate but hate KEM what are the options?
Modiano Platinum- Discontinued very hard to find old stock
Angel - Pretty hard to find outside of Japan
Cartamundi Acetate Casino - Very hard to find, sold out???

Does that leave Guild as the only other Acetate based card that's readily available in North America?
 
davefr said:
If you like Acetate but hate KEM what are the options?
Modiano Platinum- Discontinued very hard to find old stock
Angel - Pretty hard to find outside of Japan
Cartamundi Acetate Casino - Very hard to find, sold out???

Does that leave Guild as the only other Acetate based card that's readily available in North America?
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I wasn't even aware that there was another acetate option in NA 0_0
 
There are “Kim’s” and then there are cards. When you’ve slung them all, there just isn’t any comparison.
D906DCB6-C21D-4B95-B0F0-E25F07527380.jpeg
D45703B8-0084-431D-9FDE-CB00CFFE7188.jpeg
 
davefr said:
https://www.amazon.com/Guild-Arrow-Bridge-Playing-Plastic/dp/B00VMGCSUG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=169WDG23M8OA9&keywords=guild+cards&qid=1679257275&sprefix=guild+cards,aps,191&sr=8-3

According the their description there's only one source of this card stock left in the world. Does this imply that KEM and Guild share the same card stock?
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I own a few set ups of Guild also. Great cards! Slightly heavier than Desjgn but alll in all great cards.
These are the only two brands that hit my felt. POKER size of course. ;)
5C58AAC5-1234-4EDD-8A2C-7D8E73113079.jpeg
 
davefr said:
If you like Acetate but hate KEM what are the options?
Modiano Platinum- Discontinued very hard to find old stock
Angel - Pretty hard to find outside of Japan
Cartamundi Acetate Casino - Very hard to find, sold out???

Does that leave Guild as the only other Acetate based card that's readily available in North America?
Click to expand...
This is great question, and how do we know for sure? I’ve had cards where you can sniff them and know that they’re pvc, but I’m not sure all pvc decks smell like pvc.
 
You do realize all acetate cards will bow…. as will many PVC? I’ve had several PVC cards arrive bowed or eventually bowed. I’ve found that the cards that feel the best are the most susceptible to bowing. Cards that feel the cheapest usually don’t.

Of the dozen or so brands I own, Fournier, DaVinici, Modiano (non acetate) and Cartamundi (non acetate) are the only that never bow or bleed (Copag) . Of those the Cartamundi CCP feel the most high end and are usual pretty inexpensive.
 
I love the card debate, as I love cards as much as I love chips. I think @upNdown is right about KEMs. It’s either a love or hate. Personally, I think there’s just nothing that can match them. The bowing is definitely a real thing, but that darn dealer button in the case truck really works. If you can keep them from bowing, there’s not a card that will last longer. My oldest deck is around 25 years old, and it has hundreds of playing hours on it. It’s still going strong.
 
NotRealNameNoSir said:
I disagree they're the best if there's quality concerns in every conversation about them.
Click to expand...
That they are considered to be the best despite the quality concerns is an endorsement, not an indictment. There are quality concerns about Apple in every conversation about them, and I would still rather yeet myself out of a fifth story window than use anything else.
 
glynn said:
That they are considered to be the best despite the quality concerns is an endorsement, not an indictment. There are quality concerns about Apple in every conversation about them, and I would still rather yeet myself out of a fifth story window than use anything else.
Click to expand...
Then we are worlds apart lol, I can use Apple but avoid them and have none of their products currently. I can build a PC for a fourth of the price that does everything better. Overpriced for what you're getting, plus a possible expiration date? Hmmm maybe we are talking about KEMs lol.

Thats fine for people that consider them the best; I clearly do not. I appreciate all the viewpoints but I dont like the feel of them, Ive paid more than any other setup and they show up warped and I'm told 'yeaahh, they do that sometimes', doesn't excite me on the product.
 
DMack said:
I love the card debate, as I love cards as much as I love chips. I think @upNdown is right about KEMs. It’s either a love or hate. Personally, I think there’s just nothing that can match them. The bowing is definitely a real thing, but that darn dealer button in the case truck really works. If you can keep them from bowing, there’s not a card that will last longer. My oldest deck is around 25 years old, and it has hundreds of playing hours on it. It’s still going strong.
Click to expand...
Yup. I currently have seven set ups ranging from 2003 - 2019. I keep them upside down with a cut card on top with a dealer button and they are all flat.
My oldest setup stayed flat for years with no storage technique but also had a lot of usage.

The only deck that really warped bad was my first from 2002. I left the cards out on the table after a late night game (not in the box…just all over the table as they were when the game stopped) in an unfinished basement for about three + days. The cards bowed.

I have one single deck from 2009 that took a very slight bow… but no different than what most of my Gemaco’s have and my Cartamundi Acetates did too
 
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NotRealNameNoSir said:
The KEM hate continues, my fault for buying used. Picked up some decks called "very good" condition with "minimal to no bowing". You can clearly see every Ace, here they are distributed. A day may come when I get a non-bowed KEM deck, but it is NOT THIS DAY!
View attachment 1103612View attachment 1103613
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That’s gross. I would never ever buy a used Kem deck. I don’t even like buying older sealed decks without really good pictures.
 
upNdown said:
That’s gross. I would never ever buy a used Kem deck. I don’t even like buying older sealed decks without really good pictures.
Click to expand...
Lesson learned. Came in a bundle and the rest are also pretty beat up. Now Ive felt all the big brands and types, time to just get bunches of the ones I like.
 
FWIW my 2011 KEM WSOP decks are not warped. Maybe KEM made sure high profile casino cards were made from top shelf card stock quality. The 2011 WSOP KEMs are also the most affordable (eBay).
 
davefr said:
FWIW my 2011 KEM WSOP decks are not warped. Maybe KEM made sure high profile casino cards were made from top shelf card stock quality. The 2011 WSOP KEMs are also the most affordable (eBay).
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm just lucky then! They came in the bundle and they're pretty taco-ish, make a popping sound when you press the center lol. No bent cards or anything so I think I'll just put a cut card and a plate on them for a while, see how it works.
 
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davefr said:
FWIW my 2011 KEM WSOP decks are not warped. Maybe KEM made sure high profile casino cards were made from top shelf card stock quality. The 2011 WSOP KEMs are also the most affordable (eBay).
Click to expand...
Scratch that! My 2011 WSOP are bicycle, my fault.

Flipped half the deck to show how curled they are. 'Minimal to no warping'
16794399069176281134548059429781.jpg
 
davefr said:
FWIW my 2011 KEM WSOP decks are not warped. Maybe KEM made sure high profile casino cards were made from top shelf card stock quality. The 2011 WSOP KEMs are also the most affordable (eBay).
Click to expand...
Do they come with reading glasses?
 
bernielomax said:
Excuse me Sir, what exactly is the problem with these two decks??? It looks like the seller provided an accurate description of the item.
(note: I was not the seller)
Click to expand...
Honest question, you see that as minimal warping or very good condition? You can be honest. I'm put off but then again Im biased, cause I purchased them.
 
davefr said:
I guess it's YMMV, but I don't detect any warpage or odd markings on my 2011 WSOP KEM's. They are really nice cards and decent value IMHO.
View attachment 1103918View attachment 1103919View attachment 1103920
Click to expand...
Beautiful! I believe you. Few of the decks are warped, I'm blaming the person that sold me these instead of KEMs themselves.

My 2012 WSOPs are some of my favorites to play with and gift to people. I know they're different, but have kept very well. Got them cheap but I act like I'm Tony Soprano giving them out lol. "Na, you don't understand, this is the good kind my friend. Real WSOP cards."
 

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