My thoughts on Tina’s and forum perspective (11 Viewers)

[MatB]

There's 20yr old Pappy and then there's Fireball
There's Wagyu Burger and then there's Macdonalds.

There's a market for everything and everything in between. Always will be.
Not sure there's really a 'shift' but Tinas have raised the temperature of the discussion on the Cheap vs not cheap chips.

 

[Tight_Lay_DOWN]

It’s only because they used to be less expensive that anyone complains. They are not unattainable.

Ahh all you boomers yearning for the old days…


Just curious what the “value point” for Tina’s is. At what price do you say “these things aren’t worth that?”

I don't want to say what the "Value Point" is - if I do - Tina / Dina will read this and raise their price very close to that point...

 

[TheOffalo]

I agree with the person above, who said that Tina have reset the floor for quality, affordable, custom chips. I

I have a name, you know!

Edit: Nevermind.

Ignore is "good enough."

Where is @BonScot when we need him to design a "good enough" chip?

I can't even get AI to do a "bad enough" (tm) job:

2nd try:

I give up!

(I think my favorite is the "Canadian" one... )

 

[upNdown]

Just curious what the “value point” for Tina’s is. At what price do you say “these things aren’t wo

We were all pretty happy paying something like 65 cents apiece for Sunfly hybrids around 8 years ago, so that plus inflation seems like a good place to start.

 

[TheYeti]

I was fairly active on ChipTalk back in the day and after going through a few different sets the set I ended up with, and used at the game I hosted for over 10 years, were the mighty Faux Clays. I don't remember anyone talking down to Faux Clay owners back then, at least not to my face.

And, look how sought after they are now. Maybe 20 years from now Tinas will be grail chips. Ya never know.

 

[upNdown]

And I hope I don’t come across as elite or whatever. I’m more like a grump without much of a filter.

Most of the shit I’ve talked about Tina focused on IP infringement, not the quality of the product. And though I don’t care for the cards molds, I’m kind of blown away by the 43mm Greek key hybrids. Here’s a quick video comparing the sound of those to the sound of leaded 43mm Paulsons. It’s not the same, but it’s surprisingly close.

 

[FestiveKnight]

Whenever there’s a discussion thread, the local PCF asshole always seems to ooze out of the same crevasses.

FYP

 

[PixelatedPunk]

Good discussion going on. I know I just joined in February and am still a newbie to the chip game, but I have learned so much from being on here. I also have learned so much about how to run poker game's (still need a hot dog roller!!!!) When I first joined, I was set on getting the outlaw slugged chips! After plenty of friendly people and just browsing the forum and taking my time, I have decided to get Tina's as they are affordable for where I am at in my life. I will most likely never (someone please don't quote me on this lol) buy Paulson's or more expensive chips, but I love looking at other's collections. I can respect the love of wanting an authentic feel poker chip; but at the end of the day, we all just want to play poker with some cool chips.

 

[LeCoq]

PCF never disappoints

 

[cpac54]

And I hope I don’t come across as elite or whatever. I’m more like a grump without much of a filter.

Most of the shit I’ve talked about Tina focused on IP infringement, not the quality of the product. And though I don’t care for the cards molds, I’m kind of blown away by the 43mm Greek key hybrids. Here’s a quick video comparing the sound of those to the sound of leaded 43mm Paulsons. It’s not the same, but it’s surprisingly close.

Same here. Just because Tinas aren’t special to me, doesn’t mean they can’t be to someone else. For what they are, the newer hybrids offer very good value for a fully customizable chip.

The fake Paulson molds and 1:1 copies are bullshit though and I’ll die on that hill.

 

[justsomedude]

As a guy who's been in and out of chipping for 12ish years, I will admit I find Tinas attractive and have no snobbery towards them. The customization for the price is hard to ignore, especially when inlaid custom clays are now $2.5 to $4 a chip (depending on spot complexity / level), and Paulson buys are now $2-$3-$4 a chip, assuming you can pull one off. Retail/resale Paulson prices can be even higher.

I'm working on a design for my own set of semi-custom Tina's. For the price... why not?

 

[chippitydoodah]

Has anyone broke out a set of Tina's at a meet up? Hmmm?

 

[Gunnar]

Has anyone broke out a set of Tina's at a meet up? Hmmm?

I will in next meetup I host, hopefully no one will take an early flight home because of it...

 

[Gunnar]

I started this thread as a view on my feelings as a long time chipper about my view on things. There was a silver lining there that we should all be able to exist on this forum with different taste and goals. The main ideas is that we celebrate what we like and talk nicely to each other. I feel like we are close to abandoning the last one.

You don't have to agree with others feelings regarding chips but you can bloddy well respect them.

 

[BEANO52]

There's 20yr old Pappy and then there's Firebull
There's Wagyu Burger and then there's Macdonalds.

There's a market for everything and everything in between. Always will be.
Not sure there's really a 'shift' but Tinas have raised the temperature of the discussion on the Cheap vs not cheap chips.

Before my old age, I used to hike/backpack, alot. 30+ years ago, my bag was filled with Walmart gear and weighed probably 50 lbs. Years passed, I started upgrading to "ultralight" gear. It was expensive but much easier to carry.

Guess what, it performed the same job as my old gear (albeit maybe sometimes more efficient).

Anyhow, there was a saying or acronym, HYOH. Stands for Hike Your Own Hike.

Let people buy, use, show off what they want. I like what I like and played with everything from dice to the best/rarest around. For me it's the fun of the game and camaraderie & I do enjoy some of the beautiful chips I've played with and collected.

 

[ChipMonster]

Early last year I was playing with dice chips in home games, but by the end of this year I'm likely going to close out with 7 Tina sets, 3 CPC sets, and a RHC set and call it good for likely a long time.

My view.. I like Tina. I like CPC. I like Paulson. Others also good. Dice chips bad.

Each chip type has factors that make me personally appreciate each one without diminishing the others.

My thoughts exactly…

I recently played at a neighbors house that was not only using dice chips, but he was taking a sharpie to some and creating new denominations on the fly after more people showed up than he originally expected. Did it hurt my soul? Yeah a little. Did anyone care? Absolutely not and we still had a blast. I didn’t know anyone there very much so I kept my mouth shut but If I told them how much money and time I’ve spent on Paulsons and CPC over past couple years they would’ve thought I was insane. Whatever makes people happy works for me and at the end of the day I just want to play poker.

And for IP, I’m fine with Tina making replicas of casino chips. That doesn’t impact me in the slightest. Those original sets aren’t readily available and pays homage to them. How is that any different than wearing an unlicensed sport apparel? Happens all the time and I don’t think anyone thinks twice. Copying someone else’s exclusive design for custom chips, yeah that crosses the line.

 

[Taghkanic]

I wonder if a Chinese company would start producing real clay chips what we would think.

I’d buy them.

 

[mr11]

I’m about two months into chipping and I’ve definitely learned a lot from this forum. I have no idea what it was like chipping “back in the day” but from my understanding, I feel like the current market is due to Paulson not selling to home markets anymore. I was looking back at some threads and came across this.

I still have this old invoice Oscar. If I had a crystal ball, I would have ordered much much more. View attachment 916361

That’s a 500 pc set of WTCH for $590. I punched this info into the CPI Inflation calculator from the US Bureau of Labor statistics and that would equate to $862.70 today. Recent sales of WTCH on PCF are about $6/chip which means this set would go for $3000. With these prices, it’s hard for a new chipper to acquire something like this. I know there are cheaper Paulsons out there but I feel like this is a good example of the current Paulson market.

With these prices, there now becomes a demand for more inexpensive chips. It seems like this is where china clays and abs chips started to grow in interest. Looks like Tina chips started being sold here in 2023 and reviews say they offers some of the best value chips where you’re able to have plenty of color and mold options, feel and sound decent, and are sold at a price point that is comparable to other affordable options. I personally don’t own any Tina chips but this is the feedback that I’ve seen here and why they’ve grown in popularity recently

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong but this is the info I’ve collected from this forum and hopefully it puts everything in perspective

 

[KHarp1]

I, and I'm going to say a few others as well, would love to watch you try and explain how I've come across as elitist in this thread, or, any other for that matter. I realize you probably can't help yourself, and, you're correct in one aspect in that you reside in that very bubble and never seen to recognize it. Most things have their place on life, just like you and you consistently snarky comments.

So, just so I'm not perceived as passive aggressive, I'll try and clarify and direct my aggressive aggressiveness to its proper place... you're an ass that can't seem to help himself in threads like this. Looking back through this thread you were the first to take on the elitist attitude that the OP was questioning by implying that Tina chips were for people that "good enough" was acceptable, and, that there were those like you for which that wasn't acceptable. That is the definition of elitism.

In summary, just so there is no misunderstanding about my passiveness, you often come across as a prick and an ass.

 

[Labrat]

I, and I'm going to say a few others as well, would love to watch you try and explain how I've come across as elitist in this thread, or, any other for that matter. I realize you probably can't help yourself, and, you're correct in one aspect in that you reside in that very bubble and never seen to recognize it. Most things have their place on life, just like you and you consistently snarky comments.

So, just so I'm not perceived as passive aggressive, I'll try and clarify and direct my aggressive aggressiveness to its proper place... you're an ass that can't seem to help himself in threads like this. Looking back through this thread you were the first to take on the elitist attitude that the OP was questioning by implying that Tina chips were for people that "good enough" was acceptable, and, that there were those like you for which that wasn't acceptable. That is the definition of elitism.

In summary, just so there is no misunderstanding about my passiveness, you often come across as a prick and an ass.

Sorry.

 

[VerdeChipper]

For now, I'm stuck with Tina's. I have champagne taste on a beer budget. Tina's are absolutely the best value for us beer guys. I will say that the sound of a Tina chip (on a proper table) is darn near indistinguishable from CPC chips. I do prefer the sharp edges of a brand new CPC or a Paulson.
Now Paulson's... They have a sound all their own.
I wish I had pulled the trigger on a Paulson set 10-12 years ago. Someday I'll knock over a liquor store or something to fund me some Paulsons.

 

[raynmanas]

“it’s good enough” is a pretty low bar

 

[doublebooyah85]

As for the forum changing….

Pokerchiptina.com

 

[raynmanas]

I have a name, you know!



Where is @BonScot when we need him to design a "good enough" chip?

I can't even get AI to do a "bad enough" (tm) job:

View attachment 1495339

2nd try:
View attachment 1495337

I give up!

(I think my favorite is the "Canadian" one... )

as long as you don't steal my grandfather's spelling too, i guess i'm okay with it

 

[w00zie]

Has anyone broke out a set of Tina's at a meet up? Hmmm?

Nine days from now. Just a tourney set though

 

[ekricket]

. CT and

I, and I'm going to say a few others as well, would love to watch you try and explain how I've come across as elitist in this thread, or, any other for that matter. I realize you probably can't help yourself, and, you're correct in one aspect in that you reside in that very bubble and never seen to recognize it. Most things have their place on life, just like you and you consistently snarky comments.

So, just so I'm not perceived as passive aggressive, I'll try and clarify and direct my aggressive aggressiveness to its proper place... you're an ass that can't seem to help himself in threads like this. Looking back through this thread you were the first to take on the elitist attitude that the OP was questioning by implying that Tina chips were for people that "good enough" was acceptable, and, that there were those like you for which that wasn't acceptable. That is the definition of elitism.

In summary, just so there is no misunderstanding about my passiveness, you often come across as a prick and an ass.

I’m speaking for the others that you aren’t speaking for. You come off as judgmental and resentful. You seem to be mad that others like stuff you can’t afford and they actually say they like those things.
I like higher quality poker chips than ceramics from China. You are perfectly willing to settle for those.

Price has nothing to do with it.

Just so you can understand this - price has nothing to do with it.

I prefer harder to obtain things, you prefer easy to get things. You like judging people and calling them names like a five year old, I prefer to just state my opinions.

I don’t think you are judgemental or elitist because of your poker chip choices. It’s actually your juvenile behavior that leads me to think that in your particular case.

Buy what you like. Or can afford, whatever you are whining about. But when you judge others because of their likes and dislikes - well you are just part of a different elite.

 

[Kam]

As someone that is very much the topic of this thread it creates quite a few thoughts:
- I am fairly new to the site
- I have a great deal of interest in Tina’s
- I will not be making the financial commitment to CPC’s or Paulson’s in the foreseeable future

This site caused me to learn Inkscape, led me to purchase and upgrade a Barrington table, multiple types of plastic cards, support a small business I otherwise would have never found, and greatly increased the enjoyment of the game for folks that come to play at my place.

Without this site I would’ve been content with a 6-8 person game. Now I want to get to 3 full tables, add bounties and create an event folks want to attend.

I have followed the two most important rules
- I no longer use Dice chips
- I own a hot dog roller

But … if not longing for Paulsons means I do not belong here than so be it. I am not knocking Paulsons or CPC at all, they seem great. It is unfortunate that new members have to be looked down upon for wanting to expand beyond the capabilities of traditional chipmakers. The day may come where I want genuine Tiger’s, IOC’s etc … but right now the set I want to bring to life and put into play is best achieved through Tina.

I think @JackJack ‘s post captures what IMO PCF and @Tommy needs in the long run to sustain and hopefully grow the forum. Like the multiple threads on ‘how to keep your poker game alive’ with the no#1 answer: always be recruiting.

This is such a niche corner of a small hobby, we should be looking to support and help increase the engagement of newer members. Hopefully a few hang around after the drive by, get the disease and then start buying/trading on the marketplace and contributing their wider poker experiences, table builds, game night pics as well. If you aint growing you’re dying and the supply/demand isn’t there for a forum that caters to just fans of rare leaded 1960’s Reno chips.

I like sharing my view with newer members and trying to guide them, initially it’s usually budget limited hence pokerstore/Tina/BRpro or worse case Walmart. There’s been a few college folk who’ve got Tina’s - I’m actually very jealous that they can start with affordable Tina Hybrids - I like most folk started with dice.

I certainly didn’t join PCF thinking I’d spend anywhere near what I ended up (lots of sticker shock), but I got a lot of great feedback and support early on a potential CPC design even though I knew really nothing about chip design and that initial positive experience and feedback kept me around even though I didn’t go with CPC.

When I joined a few years back, I think two things stood out to me, the two HoF Casa Mango/Moonlight, but also @MrRossKeys complete setups and themes, chips/cards/toppers/dealer buttons using Tina chips and his designs. Thought (&still do) it was so cool. I don’t have the creative streak, but love watching what others can create which is really only feasible on a budget with Tina unless you’ve got the key to the inner sanctum (+ $ and time).

Anyways, there’s not enough pr0n in this thread, here’s my journey of 20+ years on sets I’ve had/have/will have:

Just realized my first actual full set finished from PCF was Tigers, then a relabeled RHC project, and then @Cratty ‘s magnum opus. So maybe I’m doing this in reverse. Who knows.

To quote @Rieguy philosophy, here’s my take on overly critical views of folk that are actively disengaged on the forum and act out their unhappiness:

 

[Josh Kifer]

 

[SwissChip]

So next time you’re commenting on someone’s post—before saying that “only junk comes in stacks of 25” or that Tina chips are “just for beginners”—remember this: these chips are damn good. And for the price? Nearly unbeatable.

This happens in all stages.
When i tracked down all the chips for my relabel set, i was over the moon!
With IHC and fat hats included it was a dream come true.
And a member asked me what‘s spectacular about them… hahaaa!

So if Tina‘s are your favorite chips, ENJOY THEM, AND GIVE A S**T WHAT PEOPLE THINK OR SAY!

 

[chippitydoodah]

As a fan of Bud Jones chips I'd just like to say to Tina THANK YOU for taking all the heat off of us! Before you came along us BJ & Plastics fans used to take all the shit talking put down negative your chips are slippery spinning pieces of shit talk around here.