Kem prices will be increased (again) (5 Viewers)

[pokerplayingpisces]

This seems a lot to me, $20/deck, I can't believe casinos spend that much in bulk even if that's only for plastic poker room decks.

I have to wonder if USPCC takes Kems to poker rooms as a loss leader, to secure the rest of the cards in the casino. All the blackjack, 3 card poker, etc, use their paper products, and replace them on a daily basis.
Think of a big Vegas casino like the MGM Grand. I’m sure USPCC doesn’t mind losing a little on Kems, as long as they have their products on the rest of the tables also, and make a much significant profit from those.

 

[justincarothers]

You could get almost 9 setups of Broken Arrows for the price of 1 setup of Kem

 

[Kam]

I have to wonder if USPCC takes Kems to poker rooms as a loss leader, to secure the rest of the cards in the casino. All the blackjack, 3 card poker, etc, use their paper products, and replace them on a daily basis.
Think of a big Vegas casino like the MGM Grand. I’m sure USPCC doesn’t mind losing a little on Kems, as long as they have their products on the rest of the tables also, and make a much significant profit from those.

They might go the Paulson path. At some point their pricing will be so high that there’s almost no volume or demand to justify the costs of setup/inventory/production etc, and they just stop selling to the public and focus on the high volume/cheaper direct to casino route.

 

[TheBigTater]

You could get almost 9 setups of Broken Arrows for the price of 1 setup of Kem

 

[dpeks13]

I once got these as a gift since I ‘like’ cards… in addition to the black background, they were twice as thick as a Faded Spade. I politely accepted.

View attachment 1488774

They will never see the light of day until someone picks them up at a Goodwill.

@NotRealNameNoSir would pay premium for that deck. How can you go wrong with WOLF STYLE

 

[Jimulacrum]

It's beginning to look a lot like money laundering.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

@NotRealNameNoSir would pay premium for that deck. How can you go wrong with WOLF STYLE

We're apes goddamnit, get it right.

Wolves have always been meh.

 

[justsomedude]

You could get almost 9 setups of Broken Arrows for the price of 1 setup of Kem

I'd rather buy BAs.

 

[rustycheerio]

if kem can mix some magic no-warp-dust into those cards MAYBE i'd CONSIDER it.
otherwise it's like burning money!

 

[upNdown]

if kem can mix some magic no-warp-dust into those cards MAYBE i'd CONSIDER it.
otherwise it's like burning money!

Have you ever tried the store them in the case face-up under a cut card and dealer button trick? It actually works, at least for me. But like I said, I still wouldn't pay $35 for a setup, let alone $70.

 

[ashetoother]

I thought that email was an April fools joke. I love my KEMS but can't justify this insane cost. I noticed a bend in one of my cards and kicked myself for not getting the replacement card option.

 

[Geremie]

$1/card is my max

Might have to start buying cards in barrels (“suits”) and piecing a whole setup together

 

[JMC9389]

$1/card is my max

Might have to start buying cards in barrels (“suits”) and piecing a whole setup together

I call shenanigans. You were offering more for Grimaud jumbo index!

 

[drdr]

That's like $17.50 a hand before they become unusable.

Worse in Australia. KEMs currently selling on Jacks for A$129 per setup (US$81). And currently sold out. Got two unopened setups, seriously thinking of flipping to buy cards that don't bow after touching air.

 

[drdr]

Worse in Australia. KEMs currently selling on Jacks for A$129 per setup (US$81). And currently sold out. Got two unopened setups, seriously thinking of flipping to buy cards that don't bow after touching air.

Wonder how much higher will go at next increase. I think I now understand what it feels to own Bitcoin.

 

[FlyEaglesFly]

But these are on sale!
View attachment 1488742

 

[Eightninesuited]

I love Kem. I have several sets.

But…. Cards like Modiano, Dal Negro, Faded Spade are much more fun to play with than Kem.

Dealers may prefer Kem because of how they shuffle, but I prefer cards that are a bit stiffer.

The colors and look of Kem is still the standard though.

 

[Jimulacrum]

Wonder how much higher will go at next increase. I think I now understand what it feels to own Bitcoin.

Except Bitcoin doesn't curl up like the Wicked Witch of the West's toes at the slightest temperature change.

 

[drdr]

Except Bitcoin doesn't curl up like the Wicked Witch of the West's toes at the slightest temperature change.

Heh. Not as often as least.

 

[TheBigShow]

I have my eyes on these for $30.

View attachment 1488739

Just purchased the Faded Spade FSX.

I have a pair of Kems and I do really like them but the warping is beyond frustrating for the price. Hoping these are nice. I see a lot of love/hate for the fadeds.

 

[horseshoez]

I have my eyes on these for $30.

View attachment 1488739

And worth every single penny. Faded Spade for the W.

 

[Old State]

Meanwhile..... Copag cards still sell on amazon for 19.95 per two-pack.

Crazy thing is when I first started buying Kems this was the MSRP…then Copags came out for $12.95

Kems are the best feeling cards ever made …and I’ve tried them all except one or two small brands. Never paid full price for any of them. Now they are never on sale and way overpriced so I stopped buying them several years ago. I have around 8-10 setups I’ve kept flat for 6-23 years so I’m content.

 

[Old State]

I have to wonder if USPCC takes Kems to poker rooms as a loss leader, to secure the rest of the cards in the casino. All the blackjack, 3 card poker, etc, use their paper products, and replace them on a daily basis.
Think of a big Vegas casino like the MGM Grand. I’m sure USPCC doesn’t mind losing a little on Kems, as long as they have their products on the rest of the tables also, and make a much significant profit from those.

A dealer at the Borgata told me they replace their decks weekly. Constant card shuffler use wears them out quickly

 

[Jimulacrum]

Crazy thing is when I first started buying Kems this was the MSRP…then Copags came out for $12.95

Kems are the best feeling cards ever made …and I’ve tried them all except one or two small brands. Never paid full price for any of them. Now they are never on sale and way overpriced so I stopped buying them several years ago. I have around 8-10 setups I’ve kept flat for 6-23 years so I’m content.

So far I've owned two setups of Kems. Both buckled before I got any significant use out of them. Oh well, just $4.5M (plus shipping) down the drain.

At this point, even with my negative experience aside, I refuse to do business with a company whose pricing has become such an insult compared to the rest of the market. It's like charging people $15 for a fucking avocado.

Texture-wise, pre-buckling, I don't hate them. They're better than Copag's texture, but I'd say they're still not as good as Da Vinci or Desjgn, my top two picks for texture. But that's more a preference thing than an objective point of value.

 

[parazyd]

Oh God so this really wasn't an April Fools joke...
Perhaps it's time to try out other brands.

 

[PepperPaul]

it is part of the regulations that they can only use certain card brand for the casino

So they do not have a lot of choice to pick from/

As a casino manager, it’s not. We’ve changed card vendors several times over the years. As long as they’re approved by the gaming commission, and offered by a licensed vendor, we can use them. Cost is definitely a factor, but so is usability. Some cards work a lot better with shuffle machines, and if the cards are constantly jamming and stopping the game, it is ln’t worth the cost savings of cheaper cards.

 

[Old State]

So far I've owned two setups of Kems. Both buckled before I got any significant use out of them. Oh well, just $4.5M (plus shipping) down the drain.

At this point, even with my negative experience aside, I refuse to do business with a company whose pricing has become such an insult compared to the rest of the market. It's like charging people $15 for a fucking avocado.

Texture-wise, pre-buckling, I don't hate them. They're better than Copag's texture, but I'd say they're still not as good as Da Vinci or Desjgn, my top two picks for texture. But that's more a preference thing than an objective point of value.

Desjgn are my favorite cards because of their artwork. Their card stock and texture is different with every release though. The best he had was the Modiano ..but they screwed him over.

I learned a trick almost 20 years ago to store Kems upside down with a cut card on top. I add a cheap dealer button as well which I started when I was accidentally shipped a dozen of them. Since I learned this storage method I’ve never had a deck warp…ever.

My first set of Kems bridge sized never warped even without this method and I think it’s because they always stayed in my finished basement and were heavily used. I think the hand oils seal the acetate…..and that’s a big point….

Kems are acetate card. ALL acetate cards bow when exposed to humidity and temperature fluctuations….especially if you don’t use them a lot.

Casinos can afford to buy whatever cards they want. Almost all of them choose Kems….so there has to be a reason for that.

 

[parazyd]

...

My first set of Kems bridge sized never warped even without this method and I think it’s because they always stayed in my finished basement and were heavily used. I think the hand oils seal the acetate…..and that’s a big point….

...

What do you consider "heavily used" on average?

 

[upNdown]

I learned a trick almost 20 years ago to store Kems upside down with a cut card on top. I add a cheap dealer button as well which I started when I was accidentally shipped a dozen of them. Since I learned this storage method I’ve never had a deck warp…ever.

I can back this up. I’ve used this method on several setups for at least a couple of years now and it has worked beautifully. It even worked to improve a setup that I received warped. And they’re stored in a ground level, not usually air conditioned room, subject to temperature and humidity fluctuations.
The people who dismiss this method as being too many hoops to jump through are nuts. Put them in their box face up, add a cut card (which should be there anyway) and a dealer button and then the cover. Simple.

 

[parazyd]

I can back this up. I’ve used this method on several setups for at least a couple of years now and it has worked beautifully. It even worked to improve a setup that I received warped. And they’re stored in a ground level, not usually air conditioned room, subject to temperature and humidity fluctuations.
The people who dismiss this method as being too many hoops to jump through are nuts. Put them in their box face up, add a cut card (which should be there anyway) and a dealer button and then the cover. Simple.

What about the newer Kem boxes where the cards stand upright rather than flat? I think with these you can only add more (cut) cards to keep everything tight.