Napkin math Tina vs BR PRO (3 Viewers)

[Oryx]

I was curious so I did a little math to see what the price difference is between Tina GB and BR PRO.
I'm constantly told that Tina is cheaper and similar in quality. I don't have every figure sorted out yet but at a cursory level that's just not as true and people say it is. Depending on PayPal fees and a shipping quote. There's a chance BR PRO is cheaper. I am in Canada so I must account for the exchange rate as you can see in the example. Though I have a Michigan address I can ship to.
Also factor in that I can just pay for the BR PRO on my US VISA. Whereas I need to make a PayPal account and sort out how I'm going to send money to Justin if I go the Tina route.
I'll also just mention here as well with my Tina math the birdcage would be purchased and shipped within Canada which is why it comes after the bulk of the math.

 

[TKEUofM]

I have a set from each and my personal opinion is that the BR Pro is better quality. I had spinner issues with the Tina chips.

 

[chippitydoodah]

I was curious so I did a little math to see what the price difference is between Tina GB and BR PRO.
I'm constantly told that Tina is cheaper and similar in quality. I don't have every figure sorted out yet but at a cursory level that's just not as true and people say it is. Depending on PayPal fees and a shipping quote. There's a chance BR PRO is cheaper. I am in Canada so I must account for the exchange rate as you can see in the example. Though I have a Michigan address I can ship to.
Also factor in that I can just pay for the BR PRO on my US VISA. Whereas I need to make a PayPal account and sort out how I'm going to send money to Justin if I go the Tina route.
I'll also just mention here as well with my Tina math the birdcage would be purchased and shipped within Canada which is why it comes after the bulk of the math.

Is your birdcage math correct? $136.72? Amazon has them for $57.

 

[Oryx]

I have a set from each and my personal opinion is that the BR Pro is better quality. I had spinner issues with the Tina chips.

Good to know. That's part of my point for making this post as well. For me as I see it the $40 difference is negligible compared to the quality

 

[Oryx]

Is your birdcage math correct? $136.72? Amazon has them for $57.

Is that in CAD? ALSO that's the price I got from a supplier I usually order from in Toronto. It's napkin math I could probably get one cheaper from Amazon Canada.

 

[chippitydoodah]

Is that in CAD? ALSO that's the price I got from a supplier I usually order from in Toronto. It's napkin math I could probably get one cheaper from Amazon Canada.

$57 USD

 

[Oryx]

$57 USD

Gotcha. Comes to $83.22 with exchange. Still cheaper for sure. Not sure if I'd pay shipping or not on that. I never order from Amazon US

 

[FestiveKnight]

I have a set from each and my personal opinion is that the BR Pro is better quality. I had spinner issues with the Tina chips.

I’ve only ever handled samples of Tinas so I haven’t been able to QC what you get in a set full of em but I would pick Tina hybrids over BR PRO or Sun Fly any day of the week. The latter two are too soft, too rounded, and the edges are too slippery.

 

[Cratty]

IMO I think the two biggest variables are design and mold (incl. Hybrids).

No-mold is a better comparison to brpro, but also comes at a lower cost ($0.36, but more for cards mold) that would need to be factored into your math.

I have difficulty comparing Tina hybrids to brpros as they're just different types of chips to me.

 

[Oryx]

I’ve only ever handled samples of Tinas so I haven’t been able to QC what you get in a set full of em but I would pick Tina hybrids over BR PRO or Sun Fly any day of the week. The latter two are too soft, too rounded, and the edges are too slippery.

Interesting take. I have no samples of Tina's so to be fair I'm not sure how their chips compare. I personally really enjoy the feel of the BR PRO, with no comparison to Tina samples. I also hear a lot that when I comes to the hybrids spinners are almost non existent so that is definitely something to consider.
There's a lot to be said about comparing the two. I personally like the art and spot designs of the Dunes set over the DDLM edge spots and artwork.
It just seems like A LOT more complex for me to get a hold of Tina's as a Canadian. And that's with a shipping address that is frequently visited in the states, over getting my hands on BR Pro chips.
So many factors to consider. My head is spinning LMAO

 

[Oryx]

IMO I think the two biggest variables are design and mold (incl. Hybrids).

Absolutely, the Dunes design to me tops DDLM by a massive margin. For me personally ease of access is a huge factor. It's just harder to get my hands on Tina's over BR. It's not even close.

No-mold is a better comparison to brpro, but also comes at a lower cost ($0.36, but more for cards mold) that would need to be factored into your math.

That's a great point. I do like the Oasis cash set and at the price point it would be closer to a $100+ difference. I did the math quickly just for budgetary purposes and I found the results curious.

I have difficulty comparing Tina hybrids to brpros as they're just different types of chips to me.

Ultimately yes they are totally different chips. Would you say that the hybrids are closer to Apache CC chips when it comes to feel and texture?

 

[BGinGA]

< Tina hybrids and BRPro > are totally different chips. Would you say that the hybrids are closer to Apache CC chips when it comes to feel and texture?

China clays are a completely different animal -- injection-molded soft plastic with mineral additives.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with slugged plastics = 1 and compression clays = 10, I'd rank them based on looks and feel:

4 = china clays
7 = BRPro ceramics
8+ = Tina hybrids

 

[Oryx]

China clays are a completely different animal -- injection-molded soft plastic with mineral additives.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with slugged plastics = 1 and compression clays = 10, I'd rank them based on looks and feel:

4 = china clays
7 = BRPro ceramics
8+ = Tina hybrids

Hey thanks for the input!
I would imagine this is the opinion of many on this forum eh?
I didn't realize Tina Hybrids were better, if even by a slight margin, then BR ceramics. I definitely need to get a hold of some samples and see the difference myself.
I'm glad I started this chat it's definitely helping to skew me one way.

All this to say I need exchange rates to drop before I buy anything LMAO

 

[foreverdev]

FWIW here’s my breakdown of my Tina Greek mold hybrid order last year with direct air shipping to Montreal. It wasn’t complicated at all because Justin just has Tina airship directly to international buyers like me, so there was no reshipping logistics.

 

[demonnic]

You should put up a wanted ad for some tina samples from a fellow Canadian, I'm sure there's someone who has them and wouldn't mind passing them along.

 

[Oryx]

You should put up a wanted ad for some tina samples from a fellow Canadian, I'm sure there's someone who has them and wouldn't mind passing them along.

Thought already crossed my mind. I'm hopeful I'll find someone, thanks for the suggestion

 

[MC_CPA]

FYI straight poker supply phoenix cardroom chips are the same thing and would only run you $339CAD. Downside is no $0.05 chip. But you can always relabel them (it's easy).

Theyre no paulson chips but its the next best thing.

 

[Sal Bandini]

better apples to apples would be to the no mold

no label fee, about $35 shipping to MI, add $58 birdcage, use CA multiplier 1.46

around $450 shipped

big difference

 

[upNdown]

better apples to apples would be to the no mold

Yes, and the quality difference between BRPRO and tina no mold is clear. The Tina chips are playable; the BR Pros are nice - probably the best you can buy.

 

[Oryx]

FYI straight poker supply phoenix cardroom chips are the same thing and would only run you $339CAD. Downside is no $0.05 chip. But you can always relabel them (it's easy).

Theyre no paulson chips but its the next best thing.

I was looking at those too. They're pretty nice. I think I'd need a 5¢ and have always wanted to try my hand at relabeling. Can't get a sample of them through straight poker supply. Wonder if there is somewhere else I could

 

[Oryx]

FYI straight poker supply phoenix cardroom chips are the same thing and would only run you $339CAD. Downside is no $0.05 chip. But you can always relabel them (it's easy).

Theyre no paulson chips but its the next best thing.

Out of curiosity which would you relabel to 5¢? I could probably get away with the purple $500 and not even worry about relabeling until I had a custom design or something.

 

[foreverdev]

I was looking at those too. They're pretty nice. I think I'd need a 5¢ and have always wanted to try my hand at relabeling. Can't get a sample of them through straight poker supply. Wonder if there is somewhere else I could

Seems like you can order a roll of 25 https://www.straightpokersupplies.com/phoenix-cardroom-poker-chips-10g-chips-sold-by-the-roll.html

 

[MC_CPA]

Out of curiosity which would you relabel to 5¢? I could probably get away with the purple $500 and not even worry about relabeling until I had a custom design or something.

This may be silly but I'd make the light blue 5c and the dark blue $10 as the 25c. Or you can use yellow as your 25c and baby blue as your 5c. Really up to you. There are lots of upper denomination chips to play with.

You can also mix and match from other sets if youre relabeling. It is super easy to do and the labels from gear are cheap.

The chips arn't Tiger chips but theyre also not $700/rack so imo its a good deal.

With that being said if you really want dunes, go for it and pass on these. Don't buy something just because it is cheaper or available. Go with your heart on this.

 

[Rex]

Does that price for the birdcage account for the 6 chip racks you would need?

 

[Oryx]

Does that price for the birdcage account for the 6 chip racks you would need?

Yes it does

 

[Rex]

I have few sets of BR pro poker chips. (DDLM and SPW). I don’t regret the purchase, as the chip quality is excellent. If the price/cost is truly that close, I would recommend BR Pro

 

[Oryx]

I have few sets of BR pro poker chips. (DDLM and SPW). I don’t regret the purchase, as the chip quality is excellent. If the price/cost is truly that close, I would recommend BR Pro

I love the feel of the chip, but if I'm being honest they don't have a set that excites me that much. I don't mind the Tropic Oasis or DDLM.
I honestly really like the Majestic chips from Apache but my ideal colour scheme would mean relabeling 600 chips and that became cost prohibitive fast lol. Especially considering the overall quality for dollar per chip with Apache.
The reason why I have Dunes of Arrakis in my breakdown is because it offers a 5¢ chip and it has one of the few $5 red chips that I actually like. I find most $5's too bright but the real photos of the DoA chips chow it as quite muted which I don't mind.

 

[Timmah]

I love the feel of the chip, but if I'm being honest they don't have a set that excites me that much.

Hire a designer and make a custom set. That way you can a design that you love.

 

[Rex]

I love the feel of the chip, but if I'm being honest they don't have a set that excites me that much. I don't mind the Tropic Oasis or DDLM.
I honestly really like the Majestic chips from Apache but my ideal colour scheme would mean relabeling 600 chips and that became cost prohibitive fast lol. Especially considering the overall quality for dollar per chip with Apache.
The reason why I have Dunes of Arrakis in my breakdown is because it offers a 5¢ chip and it has one of the few $5 red chips that I actually like. I find most $5's too bright but the real photos of the DoA chips chow it as quite muted which I don't mind.

It sounds like you haven’t found the set you like and probably need to search a little long. I was also considering the Apache chip. The Royals or Majestic were in the running, but the dealbreaker for me with Apache was what they wanted to change for shipping. I was living in Ottawa at the time and had a US Box, and it didn’t matter where I ship the Apache chips. They wanted to charge a good amount of money. I found BR pro was more reasonable in their pricing.

 

[allforcharity]

I give negative points to "Tina" because once you submit your design, it's not really yours anymore.