Non Discript Stock Chips with Denominations (2 Viewers)

[Old State]

I am currently in the market for cheap but decent quality "travel" chip for cash games. So far the chip with the most interest are those Scroll designs. The reason- they don't have a real or imagined Casino/club/etc name on them.

It seems that the overwhelming majority of stock chips out there have some name on them. I'm just curious why there isn't more of a market for simple chips with a nicely executed design and denominations. I would have thought this would be a big segment but it's not.

 

[72o]

It's a good question and one that does seem to get mentioned from time to time. I don't have an answer as to why and I can't think of any current stocked chips like this off the top of my head (other than the CPC Rounders set but it does have a specific image obviously so not quite relevant). I do think CPC would have a successful line of chips if they provided this.

It's the main reason why I wanted a set of Protege's when they were in stock.

 

[DJ Mack]

It's a fickle market. When the vast majority of card players are content with a box of dice chips from WalMart, you're left with a relatively small group of people who enjoy higher end chips and those tend to be from a real casino or part of a theme. That's just the way they've been so people are accustomed to it. Beyond that there's so many different personal tastes that you're into custom territory, but that need not cost you a ton of money.

One option would be to buy unlabeled chips in your color of choice and then have them hot stamped with denominations, or have @Gear make custom labels to replace the inlays on some China Clay chip. OWPS, Spinnettis, Gamblers General Store, etc will all print whatever you want at less than a buck a chip.

I didn't mention CPC because it's not a cheap option but they'll certainly put whatever you want on an inlay too.

 

[upNdown]

Probably because people who market these things assume people want chips that look like casino chips. And A lot of what you see out there aren’t even original designs, they’re knockoffs of some real casino’s chips.
There’s probably some validity to this. If you read this site, you’ll see a big percentage of the chips designed here, whether as group buys or personal sets, are “tribute” sets - essentially copies of a favorite casino’s chips.
I can appreciate what you’re looking for though.the only suggestion I’d have is to keep an eye out on eBay for old clay chip sets - very often they’ll be simple chips, just hotstamped with a denomination. The only downsides to this are 1) they’re often monagrammed on the other side, and 2) they often get pricey because they’re genuine clay chips. But they’re very cool.

 

[crussader]

For a chip manufacturer, having a name on the chip helps build brand identity.

 

[Old State]

These are more for cash side games after tournaments and to take on vacation or the neighbors. I think $159 for 500 scrolls is a nice quality to price ratio for what I'm looking for. I just look at chips like the Blue Niles, Tiki, etc and think "damn, why don't they just make a non themed chip like that". I'm not really a chip collector like many here, but rather simply appreciate a nice poker chip.

I actually do have custom ASM chips from circa 2002 that I still use (they are showing wear though) and I'm currently looking into getting a set of custom ceramics. I also have 1000 near mint solid ASM/CPC chips that I may consider selling to fund that project.

 

[Old State]

View attachment 137131 View attachment 137131

For a chip manufacturer, having a name on the chip helps build brand identity.

I'm not reffering to the manufacturer name but rather stuff like "Monte Carlo" or even "Nevada Jack" which are not the manufacturers name like "Paulson"

I just think it would be great to see a "Tiki" or "Nile" chip designed like this:

 

[crussader]

View attachment 137132 View attachment 137131 View attachment 137131
I'm not reffering to the manufacturer name but rather stuff like "Monte Carlo" or even "Nevada Jack"

Me too. If say "Majestics" everyone knows what chips I'm talking about. Much more brand identifiable than "those scroll designs" as mentioned in the original post.

 

[Old State]

Not to split hairs but "Majestic Card Room" is not the manufacturer of the chip. It's an imaginary name ...which is what I am reffering to. I understand from a collectors perspective one may identify the chip that way...but it's the type of thing I'm trying to avoid.

 

[72o]

How about Veneratis?

http://www.buypokerchips.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=473

 

[Old State]

. I do think CPC would have a successful line of chips if they provided this.

It's the main reason why I wanted a set of Protege's when they were in stock.

If CPC did something like the Paulson Classics they would sell a lot of them. I bet there is a big market for people who want a nice non descript casino quality chip and don't have the imagination to design a full custom one. If they priced them around a $ .80- 1.00 a chip they would be quite popular I think.

 

[Old State]

How about Veneratis?

View attachment 137144

I am familiar with these.... and I would definitely go for those.... but I can't get over how they centered the entire denomination with the $ sign rather than just the numbers. But this is definitely the type of design and quality point that I think should be replicated and more widely available

 

[RichMahogany]

If they priced them around a $ .80- 1.00 a chip they would be quite popular I think.

If CPC could price inlaid chips at these amounts, they’d likely be out of business

 

[crussader]

Not to split hairs but "Majestic Card Room" is not the manufacturer of the chip

I never said anything about manufacturers promoting themselves. I'm talking about brand identity to promote sales. A single manufacturer can have many brands. In such cases, they advertise the brand not the manufacturer. I'm sure you've heard of Crest toothpaste. It's an identifiable brand, but it's not made by "Crest".

 

[Old State]

If CPC could price inlaid chips at this price, they’d likely be out of business

Not if they were making them in large numbers. I imagine a lot of the premium you pay for their custom chips is to set up the machinery and labeling. If they made a chip in quantities of the thousands it would be cheaper I think.

 

[RichMahogany]

Not if they were making them in large numbers. I imagine a lot of the premium you pay for their custom chips is to set up the machinery and labeling. If they made a chip in quantities of the thousands it would be cheaper I think.

But then they run the risk of having tons of backstock of chips that might not sell. With the high cost of making compression clay chips, do you think they’d risk that? I’d venture to guess that they keep a minimum amount of backstock of their current stock designs and only manufacture more when needed to fill an order.

 

[crussader]

Making compression clay chips is largely a manual process (especially for spotted chips). Unfortunately, there really isn't any economy of scale
to take advantage of.

 

[Old State]

But then they run the risk of having tons of backstock of chips that might not sell. With the high cost of making compression clay chips, do you think they’d risk that? I’d venture to guess that they keep a minimum amount of backstock of their current stock designs and only manufacture more when needed to fill an order.

Well they should sell them at what ever price they are getting for their stock chips or a little less. Didn't realize what they were charging for those until I just looked. I certainly wouldn't pay $1.75 for a chip that said "Atlantic Club" when I could get customs for a little more, but that is me. When I bought my ASMs they were $1 a chip with custom artwork and three edge spots. That's the most options they had at the time.

 

[Lash]

I am familiar with these.... and I would definitely go for those.... but I can't get over how they centered the entire denomination with the $ sign rather than just the numbers. But this is definitely the type of design and quality point that I think should be replicated and more widely available

You want a cash set but dont want dollar signs?

 

[Old State]

You want a cash set but dont want dollar signs?

No. When you center say "$5" in a circle, you center the 5. For $100 the second 0. In those Veneratis the 1 and 5 should be in the middle of the sunburst design. The $ sign shouldn't be centered.

Like the Scrolls are pictured here and the Paulson above.

 

[BGinGA]

When you center say "$5" in a circle, you center the 5. For $100 the second 0. In those Veneratis the 1 and 5 should be in the middle of the sunburst design. The $ sign shouldn't be centered.

I couldn't disagree more. I think the centering used in the Venerati line is vastly superior to that used by the Scroll chips. It's personal preference, not right/wrong. A lot of it has to do with the relative dimensions of the currency symbol and denomination.

 

[Old State]

Yes, technically there is not "right or wrong" but would bet to most people's eye and to most graphic artists the Veneratis look off. This is a common complaint on forums and is less common

These popular chips are also centered on the numbers

 

[Old State]

Other examples

 

[Justin Olson]

cheaper chip would be the nexgen pro , bout $100 for 500 chips and they do not use a fake/fantasy casino, believe they have the numbers centered

 

[Old State]

cheaper chip would be the nexgen pro , bout $100 for 500 chips and they do not use a fake/fantasy casino, believe they have the numbers centered

They are cool and you are correct. I did want to try some ceramics for a while before I pull the trigger on a custom set. I'm ordering some samples for that. If I sell my set of ASM solids I think my wife will be ok with another custom set.

 

[ejot]

Unlabeled Majestics/Milanos with custom labels definitely seems like the way to go if you can handle a ~$0.50-$0.70/chip price point, plus shipping and some sweat equity.

An un-themed design should be relatively straightforward to put together without the help of a professional designer, and you'll have full control to center the denoms and fine tune all the details exactly as you wish.

BTW - I like your idea and have suggested something similar in the past myself. In fact, I have a set like this on the drawing board. Please keep us posted if you go through with some semi-customs or custom ceramics!

 

[Old State]

Actually if I get a set of custom ceramics they will not be generic. I would incorporate the the logo in my avatar or something similar. My "man cave" where I host cards is known as the "Old State Club". My 15 year old ASMs are branded "Old State Card Club" They were heavily used for several years and are showing their age. I've always wanted ceramics and would like to give the ASMs a break.

The set Im considering in this discussion would be my travel chips for down the shore or up in the mountains etc. I'm also often asked to bring chips to my friends games if they decide to host.

 

[Old State]

Perfection. Imagine a design like this in a ceramic or quality China clay.

 

[BGinGA]

Other examples

Fwiw, those Monaco chips in your example are not centered on just the denomination

.

 

[CHP TD]

Yes, technically there is not "right or wrong" but would bet to most people's eye and to most graphic artists the Veneratis look off. This is a common complaint on forums and is less common

These popular chips are also centered on the numbers

Forums? i thought there were only 3 chip talk (dead as) this one and the chip board. i haven't seen any discussion on any of the forums about this? what did i miss