Buge
Flush
Thinking about getting a setup of these KEMs but not sure if the price is steep. Bridge regular index brown and green. New setup for $35. Thoughts?
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KEMs worth $35? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Buge
- Start date
Eloe2000
Straight Flush
KEMs have been my favorite cards but I just can’t deal with the warping. I have now fallen in love with Fournier cards. They are the closest to KEMs that I have found just without the warping.
If you like Bridge-standard, have you seen the WSOP Fournier cards on eBay? They have fun WSOP backs and are dirt cheap. I think I got something like 13 setups for $70 shipped.
If you like Bridge-standard, have you seen the WSOP Fournier cards on eBay? They have fun WSOP backs and are dirt cheap. I think I got something like 13 setups for $70 shipped.
Wow, I was surprised to see the price had gone up so much. Feels like a year ago, these were $25 per setup.
Yeah, if that's the price, that's the price. They're unquestionably the best in my mind, but the fact that they tend to bow makes them a risky buy for many. The bowing may or may not be avoidable with careful storage techiques (I'm leaning toward "may" with my experiments.)
https://www.amazon.com/Kem-Playing-Cards/s?k=Kem+Playing+Cards
Yeah, if that's the price, that's the price. They're unquestionably the best in my mind, but the fact that they tend to bow makes them a risky buy for many. The bowing may or may not be avoidable with careful storage techiques (I'm leaning toward "may" with my experiments.)
https://www.amazon.com/Kem-Playing-Cards/s?k=Kem+Playing+Cards
LeLe
4 of a Kind
If you can stand the high maintenance of KEM, then yes they are worth it at today’s market
You're a card guy - do you think that casino KEMS are on different stock than retail KEMS? If so, do you think that these circle backs qualify as casino KEMS? I've always thought of casino KEMS as only custom printed KEMS with the casino name / log on them.
I used etsy, about the same cost I think
OP
OP
Buge
Flush
Thanks for all the feedback. I will give them a shot and probably order the Fourniers while I’m at it! 
You are right..
Stock they made of is the same.
The back patterns like circle and club are usually reserved for cards offerd to clubs and casinos.
The club name (customization) costs extra so sometimes clubs take default option.
Funny that most of circle back cards with standard index are made in green/brown combo, while jumbo index red/blue.
I do not know if anyone remembers Alpha back design, boring but I would pay good money for cello wraped set.
But do you think the casino KEMs are a different stock? I thought they felt a bit flexxier to me, but it’s always been based on memory - I’ve never done a side by side comparison.
I am not sure but I would say yes.
They feel the same brand new and after year or two.
As I remember my talk with Kem guru from USA technology they use does not allow variation...
There is a difference in feel between pre and post USPCC KEM. Pre are stiffer, colors are more saturated and some minor differences in index font
Eloe2000
Straight Flush
Thanks for all the feedback. I will give them a shot and probably order the Fourniers while I’m at it!
I just checked and it looks like he doesn’t have any of the 2012 WSOP Fourniers listed currently. He goes in and out of stock frequently. But I have an extra setup I can send you. Nothing tilts my players more than standard index apparently.
Edit: I caught him when he had temporarily slashed the prices and I paid $24 for 14 setups. Bonkers cheap.
Venturalvn
Full House
I've stocked up on pre-USPC KEMs in the brown casino boxes, which appear to have a much less severe bowing issue. Every setup of KEMs I've bought post USPC has bowed to shit within 1-2 months of opening them. I'm never buying them again, which is a shame, because they are without a doubt my favorite card.
These six card Charlie KEMS have resisted bowing for over a year, since being stored with the whole cut card, dealer button process (though sometimes they’ve been upside down, sometimes they’ve been on their sides.
I’m not saying it works. But I’m beginning to believe it. The red deck is perfect. The blue deck has just the slightest bow.
One man's opinion: I have been disappointed by KEMs on numerous occasions. Although I think stylistically they are the most iconic design in the world, the quality and durability does not live up to expectation and price point imo.
I would much rather take a copag deck which I would be content, but not ecstatic, playing with than a deck which quickly warps.
I quite like Gemaco cards, can't really fault them. My absolute favourites are Fournier. Coming from a dealer, they shuffle probably the best, and their jumbo indexes are simply stunning. If you're from the US I would recommend paying the high shipping prices to get yourself some Fournier cards, thank me later.
I am eager to try out Angel cards but I know they're pretty tough to get..
I would much rather take a copag deck which I would be content, but not ecstatic, playing with than a deck which quickly warps.
I quite like Gemaco cards, can't really fault them. My absolute favourites are Fournier. Coming from a dealer, they shuffle probably the best, and their jumbo indexes are simply stunning. If you're from the US I would recommend paying the high shipping prices to get yourself some Fournier cards, thank me later.
I am eager to try out Angel cards but I know they're pretty tough to get..
Venturalvn
Full House
I specifically store this this way, and yet I still got bow-attacked when I busted out a setup after a few months of non use that I had used maybe 2-3 times prior.
It’s a mystery for sure.
I’m just not giving up on them because the only cards I like better are those one or two off cartamundis (Tobago Casino and Neder Poker) and you cant get those in bridge jumbo if you can get them at all. So I’ll keep trying with KEMS.
Venturalvn
Full House
Totally agreed. I still store all my KEMs this way outside of the unopened brown boxes I try to grab when available. Cartamundi are my go-to otherwise.
OP
OP
Buge
Flush
Fournier cards ordered. Says they will be delivered May 13th lol
where are they coming from, the international space station?
In my experience, the trip from Lithuania to USA is much quicker than eBay thinks.
Probably more like 3 or 4 weeks
I have old and new Kem that bow or not (most of them do not)
Keep in mind that very often you talk about decks that few years old before you open them the first time...
I have a strong suspicion that condition they been stored playes key role.
It's known that high temperature may affected Kem cards.
Keep in mind that very often you talk about decks that few years old before you open them the first time...
I have a strong suspicion that condition they been stored playes key role.
It's known that high temperature may affected Kem cards.
2 weeks
I love KEM,
I don't have a warping problem,
But they get rough and the surface cracks like crocodile lines.
So I lost 10 + sets, which is a lot of money.
Storage has always been a headache, especially in summer.
I keep them in the closet, even in an incubator.
I am in China and it is not practical to change card sets.
I don't have a warping problem,
But they get rough and the surface cracks like crocodile lines.
So I lost 10 + sets, which is a lot of money.
Storage has always been a headache, especially in summer.
I keep them in the closet, even in an incubator.
I am in China and it is not practical to change card sets.
LeLe
4 of a Kind
I think it maybe because of the more humid and higher temp condition in Asia, I had the same shit issue with KEM too so no more KEM for me too
Cracking rough surface in KEMs is caused by high temperature.
If you leave cards in the car or other place without air flaw that's the result...
As I said before, storage condition are important...
KEMs are great cards but they not made of titanium...
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