Fairly new member... spending time going back through older threads like this one (which is fantastic)...
this thread starts out by comparing PGI vs. GOCC, and then adds in CPC (using Sun-Fly), Old West Poker Supplies, and ABC...
but no mention of Sidepot (buypokerchips.com)... any thoughts on them? i really like their website (although I don't think they're a sponsor here). i have samples of their stock ceramics in both the Venerati and more expensive Archetype... they have custom samples available and seem to have a good custom process... this vendor seems to have one of the better customer facing websites but doesn't seem to get a lot of exposure on this forum... just curious as to why and what the thoughts are on their custom ceramics compared to the others in this thread...
Sidepot offered two different ceramic chips -- Archetype (produced by Chipco) and the lower-cost Venerati (suspected to be Sun-Fly but might be Chinese-manufactured, given the very low price). Stephan is a great guy, but with three of his main chip sources no longer available (Chipco,
BCC, Paulson), his recent business efforts have gone in other non-chip directions.
Most ceramic vendors use Sun-Fly blanks -- this includes PGI, OWPS, BRPro, and
CPC. At one time, PGI also offered chips produced on Chipco blanks. GOCC and ABC/Nevada Jacks use their own proprietary ceramic blanks. There is at least one other low-cost Chinese ceramic blank (fragile with more rounded edges and prone to breakage), which is used for a few budget chip lines such as Nile Club, Scrolls, etc. It is also rumored that GPI may be introducing a new ceramic chip for casino use.
Beyond the sound and feel characteristics of different ceramic blanks, the print quality and customer service can vary from one vendor to another. Always get samples before you buy, and getting proofs made prior to production (if offered) is also a good idea.
