To Play or Not to Play, That is the Question. (1 Viewer)

[markleteenie]

I enjoy the fact that you've started this thread. It shows your investment in this forum, not that you need to actually prove yourself to me or to anyone here.

I will say, lots of people have mint sets that they are "afraid to felt." Not even from a collector point of view, but rather a, "I've spent over my means and I need to protect it so I can resell it in the future, if I have to" point of view.

Everyone has different philosophies. Mine is to play the chips. I like mint chips (where I can) because they stack evenly and break in super well.

Great collection so far - btw.

 

[RichMahogany]

I don't know anything about collecting vinyl. I don't know if playing a rare vinyl takes its value down, or is looked down up on by the vinyl collecting community. I literally gave you, in my original post, a whole paragraph on how collecting certain things colored my perspective.

I'm beginning to realize the point is not important to you, just arguing is. So, I'll leave it here.

Lol it’s cool but I do think you are missing my point.

I don’t care what the vinyl collecting community thinks about what I do with my records or whether that lowers their value. Obviously that does color my viewpoint about collecting chips.

Regardless, you do you!

 

[TheDuke]

You have amassed an amazing number of sets!

They're yours so do as you please and not to please others.

If your inclination is to store these to preserve them you should go ahead and do that.

If you look in the classified you'll frequently find claims of 'mint never used'. So while everyone who has chimed in thus far are saying they put all their chips in play there's also a large population of folks who don't or claim they don't when it comes to selling their sets.

So in summary, do whatever you want. There's no code of chipping or any other nonsense to follow.

 

[madforpancakes]

There is a member here who has some ES chips that have pretty rounded edges, complete with homebrewed hooker juice! Gonna search a bit and see if I can find the pics.

Found em! https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/official-home-game-pics-thread.4135/post-944862 @JMC9389

 

[David O]

Learning about a new hobby, Lesson #238:

A well-intentioned PCF'er had been advocation caution about selling to me in private messages and groups, and how I never intended to felt some of the GRAIL sets I recently acquired, based on comments I specifically made to him. Turns out, he was just cautioning against something that is a big no-no in chipping, but completely non-intuitive to a serial collector like myself. This morning, said PCF'er and I finally realized why we had been talking at each other, and not "to", and attempted (and somewhat succeeded) to see each other's point of view.

I thought the lesson learned is a good one to remind anyone in the space, and for those newbie lurkers, it might alleviate some future angst.

So, in the traditional world of collecting, especially when it comes to things that have utility (classic cars, comic books, first edition books), it is a HUGE no-no to use them extensively, once bought for collection. In fact, in the comic book world, once a comic has been graded by the CGC (the definitive independent grading authority in the field), it goes into a sealed laminate container, and you can't open up that seal unless you're willing to risk the grade of the comic. The idea of reading, or even OPENING a GRAIL comic book is sacrilege. For example -- an opened and read 7.0 versus 9.5 CGC graded Detective Comics #4 (first appearance of Batman) or perhaps the rarest to find in a high grade, Pep Comics #22 (first appearance of Archie Andrews) could mean differences in hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps even 1-2 million dollars. Classic cars are similar, in that you want them with lower mileages, and as less driven as possible. And the world of modern first editions -- it would be considered murder to crack open and read a first edition first printing of Catch 22, or Catcher in the Rye.

These are the collecting (mis)conceptions I entered this hobby with.

So, when I got my hands on a couple of GRAIL sets, and when I was asked what I planned to do with them because it seemed like my games would not need fracs, I provided what I thought was the respectful answer to anything "GRAIL" -- I planned to collect it, not use it. Turns out that is the worst thing you can say to a serious chipper, and NOT how Grail sets are to be used. What I thought was the appropriate sense of gravitas and respect, I was subsequently informed, was actually disrespectful. Sets are meant to be played. Singles are meant to be collected. This simple idea was something I realized until only AFTER I had acquired a couple of desirable sets.

So, when my formerly antagonistic PCFer friend and I shared each others' point of view, all was understood.

So -- now that I am aware of how GRAIL sets are to be used, you can rest assured that you will see copious amounts of gentle felting of all the chips I have bought. I'm even thinking of putting together a Southern California PCFer game that I am happy to host!

So, that's it, in case you were wondering. I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Chips are meant to be played. Your Grail set is someone else's "nice set". Your purchase, your money, your chips! I have seen near mint sell at mint prices with no harm. All of my chips have or will see play at some time or another!

On the other hand, put them on a shelf and stare at them if you want want. They are your chips!

You do what you do and not worry about others. I did not respond to your other post about people upset about your purchases. NOT YOUR PROBLEM!!!

I have said it once and will say it again... I live by two rules in life. Rule #1 Is don't sweat the small stuff! Rule #2

Spoiler: Rule #2

In the grand scheme of things, it's all small stuff

So be happy and enjoy your chips! Do not worry about others negativity. Like an old saying I came up with over 30 years ago...
"Worry, is the interest paid on the principle of a problem you have not taken out yet."

I ask, when is the last time you started paying interest on a loan that you might or might not take out?

Good Luck and Keep on Chipping!

 

[mathewsarcher83]

Put me in the play camp - couldn’t stand to just stare at them in case or display.

 

[BGinGA]

There are select members on here with 20k plus chips and I call super bullshit if they are going to tell me they put all their sets in play and most dont sit in racks/birdcages/warneke boxes.

Dunno about being a 'select member', but I have 20K+ chips across 30+ sets, all of which have seen play except for a couple of newer ones that haven't yet had the chance (but eventually will). Take your super bullshit and stuff it where the sun don't shine.

 

[tabletalker7]

Honest question here ..................

I assume you own a car. Do you let people online tell you that you have to drive said car so much and can't just park it in your garage if that is what you want to do?

Why let someone else dictate what you do with you own stuff man ............... it is your stuff do what you will.

 

[Coyote]

Has anyone ever seen a somewhat worn down set of boat chips, BTP, SB, etc? I've seen some worn down Jack's, but that was ONE time.

Bring out the Gimp... - sorry I meant @BELGRADE (pics please)

 

[David O]

Dunno about being a 'select member', but I have 20K+ chips across 30+ sets, all of which have seen play except for a couple of newer ones that haven't yet had the chance (but eventually will). Take your super bullshit and stuff it where the sun don't shine.

I agree with this. I know I have a little North of 10,000 chips and all of mine have seen play.

 

[sheikh617]

Dunno about being a 'select member', but I have 20K+ chips across 30+ sets, all of which have seen play except for a couple of newer ones that haven't yet had the chance (but eventually will). Take your super bullshit and stuff it where the sun don't shine.

Wow the almighty exception as always. Everyone bow down.

Great job on missing my point. The chips are his and he should do what he wants with them. If my post rattled you in any way that's on you, it wasn't directed with any one member in mind. I just love how everyone thinks they get to decide what kind of chipper Windwalker has to be. I'm very happy to hear all your chips get in play, that's pretty dope.

 

[CraigT78]

The only chips of mine that haven't seen play are my sample sets.

 

[Windwalker]

Honest question here ..................

I assume you own a car. Do you let people online tell you that you have to drive said car so much and can't just park it in your garage if that is what you want to do?

Why let someone else dictate what you do with you own stuff man ............... it is your stuff do what you will.

It's a complicated question. If I belonged to a community of classic car collectors (which I do) and my access to new acquisitions depended on how many of the other collectors saw I was using the current cars in my collection, or the reputation I was getting based on something I was doing, I'd want to correct that perception. I wouldn't give a crap about how people thought about me using / driving my daily-driver Tesla, though

 

[BGinGA]

Wow the almighty exception as always. Everyone bow down.

Great job on missing my point.

And you on missing mine. I seriously doubt I'm the exception around here -- I think many more people with large collections play their sets -- all of them -- than you're willing to give them credit. Post a poll if you want to see if your 'calling super bullshit' on people is actually warranted, or feel free to shoot your mouth off uninformed if that's what you prefer..

Either way, it's up to @Windwalker to decide how to use -- or not use -- his chips, same as it's up to me how to use mine.

 

[CraigT78]

Post a poll

A hotdog is NOT A SANDWICH!!!!

 

[sheikh617]

And you on missing mine. I seriously doubt I'm the exception around here -- I think many more people with large collections play their sets -- all of them -- than you're willing to give them credit. Post a poll if you want to see if your 'calling super bullshit' on people is actually warranted, or feel free to shoot your mouth off uninformed if that's what you prefer..

Either way, it's up t @Windwalker to decide how to use -- or not use -- his chips, same as it's up to me how to use mine.

And I also believe that there are many racks of chips sitting in boxes, not in sets, not being used. I could care less what people are doing with their chips is my point. Throw them in a vault to never see the light of day. Doesn't matter to be because they don't belong to me. So people who try and tell him how he should handle his chips is ridiculous. We're obviously at odds here so if you wanted to have a full blown discussion my PM's are always open.

 

[Steppenwolf]

Wow! Really? So much angst...and in a thread that was clearly designed to alleviate tensions caused by misunderstanding one another's intentions and values. Perhaps we have a way to go still PCF. Disappointed.

 

[ssanel54]

Learning about a new hobby, Lesson #238:

A well-intentioned PCF'er had been advocation caution about selling to me in private messages and groups, and how I never intended to felt some of the GRAIL sets I recently acquired, based on comments I specifically made to him. Turns out, he was just cautioning against something that is a big no-no in chipping, but completely non-intuitive to a serial collector like myself. This morning, said PCF'er and I finally realized why we had been talking at each other, and not "to", and attempted (and somewhat succeeded) to see each other's point of view.

I thought the lesson learned is a good one to remind anyone in the space, and for those newbie lurkers, it might alleviate some future angst.

So, in the traditional world of collecting, especially when it comes to things that have utility (classic cars, comic books, first edition books), it is a HUGE no-no to use them extensively, once bought for collection. In fact, in the comic book world, once a comic has been graded by the CGC (the definitive independent grading authority in the field), it goes into a sealed laminate container, and you can't open up that seal unless you're willing to risk the grade of the comic. The idea of reading, or even OPENING a GRAIL comic book is sacrilege. For example -- an opened and read 7.0 versus 9.5 CGC graded Detective Comics #4 (first appearance of Batman) or perhaps the rarest to find in a high grade, Pep Comics #22 (first appearance of Archie Andrews) could mean differences in hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps even 1-2 million dollars. Classic cars are similar, in that you want them with lower mileages, and as less driven as possible. And the world of modern first editions -- it would be considered murder to crack open and read a first edition first printing of Catch 22, or Catcher in the Rye.

These are the collecting (mis)conceptions I entered this hobby with.

So, when I got my hands on a couple of GRAIL sets, and when I was asked what I planned to do with them because it seemed like my games would not need fracs, I provided what I thought was the respectful answer to anything "GRAIL" -- I planned to collect it, not use it. Turns out that is the worst thing you can say to a serious chipper, and NOT how Grail sets are to be used. What I thought was the appropriate sense of gravitas and respect, I was subsequently informed, was actually disrespectful. Sets are meant to be played. Singles are meant to be collected. This simple idea was something I realized until only AFTER I had acquired a couple of desirable sets.

So, when my formerly antagonistic PCFer friend and I shared each others' point of view, all was understood.

So -- now that I am aware of how GRAIL sets are to be used, you can rest assured that you will see copious amounts of gentle felting of all the chips I have bought. I'm even thinking of putting together a Southern California PCFer game that I am happy to host!

So, that's it, in case you were wondering. I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

My advice would be not to confuse the term Grail with expensive or awesome, and instead think of it in the more traditional sense of the term - something that is searched for for years. For many people on this forum, collecting has nothing to do with condition, but simply just finding enough individual chips to create a playable set. Many of the great sets were pieced together a handful of chips at a time - doesnt matter if they cost $1 or $40 each, the thrill was in the hunt, and the reward was being able to put them on the felt for a game with others who appreciate the hobby.

There is a whole other side of Chip collecting that is more concerned with condition and scarcity, and they DGAF about shaped inlays, Lead count, bright colors, spot progression etc.. They care more about the R value, and the discovery of these hoards like Binions bring their individual values down. This is the collecting mentality you are probably more accustomed to, but its generally more applicable to Casino chips.

 

[ssanel54]

No but I spent my early to teens through my late 30s collecting rare colored vinyl. I don’t have a single record that hasn’t been played multiple times

Do you happen to have any Prince Purple Vinyl for sale?

 

[BGinGA]

We're obviously at odds here

WTF?? Can you even read? We are both saying the exact same thing:

people who try and tell him how he should handle his chips is ridiculous.

it's up to @Windwalker to decide how to use -- or not use -- his chips

 

[BarrieJ3]

And I also believe that there are many racks of chips sitting in boxes, not in sets, not being used. I could care less what people are doing with their chips is my point. Throw them in a vault to never see the light of day. Doesn't matter to be because they don't belong to me. So people who try and tell him how he should handle his chips is ridiculous. We're obviously at odds here so if you wanted to have a full blown discussion my PM's are always open.

We have at least 4 people here with over 100,000 chips, and probably a couple more than that.

I don't get the problem with saying that surely some of them don't get every chip into play often and people can do what they want. Hell I've bought and sold countless that didn't get into play. But when PCF wants to fight PCF wants to fight *shrug*

 

[Windwalker]

My advice would be not to confuse the term Grail with expensive or awesome, and instead think of it in the more traditional sense of the term - something that is searched for for years. For many people on this forum, collecting has nothing to do with condition, but simply just finding enough individual chips to create a playable set. Many of the great sets were pieced together a handful of chips at a time - doesnt matter if they cost $1 or $40 each, the thrill was in the hunt, and the reward was being able to put them on the felt for a game with others who appreciate the hobby.

There is a whole other side of Chip collecting that is more concerned with condition and scarcity, and they DGAF about shaped inlays, Lead count, bright colors, spot progression etc.. They care more about the R value, and the discovery of these hoards like Binions bring their individual values down. This is the collecting mentality you are probably more accustomed to, but its generally more applicable to Casino chips.

That’s a very very useful distinction! Thanks, Scott.

 

[RichMahogany]

Do you happen to have any Prince Purple Vinyl for sale?

Cant say that I do unfortunately

 

[sheikh617]

WTF?? Can you even read? We are both saying the exact same thing:

Not on that portion. On the part specific to people using/not using their sets and you saying I should make a poll. Do you purposely like to throw out underhanded insults because I can fire that shit right back. I try to be a pretty civil member on here and not create a fuss with other people but I'm going to ask that you not act like a dickhead.

k thanks

 

[Rieguy]

This seems so simple. From my observation since I signed up, most people believe and recommend you should put your chips into use/play. Most also ultimately believe that it is your choice how you go about the hobby and collecting, so long as you have good intentions and are respectful of others. I plan to use the chips I acquire and would hope others do the same, but if they do not, it is not my place to chastise them or even really waste any time caring about same. Live and let live; enjoy the hobby and your chips as you see fit.

 

[sheikh617]

We have at least 4 people here with over 100,000 chips, and probably a couple more than that.

I don't get the problem with saying that surely some of them don't get every chip into play often and people can do what they want. Hell I've bought and sold countless that didn't get into play. But when PCF wants to fight PCF wants to fight *shrug*

I can't read according to another godly member so I don't know what you wrote here.

 

[BGinGA]

Not on that portion. On the part specific to people using/not using their sets and you saying I should make a poll. Do you purposely like to throw out underhanded insults because I can fire that shit right back. I try to be a pretty civil member on here and not create a fuss with other people but I'm going to ask that you not act like a dickhead.

k thanks

You're the one calling super-bullshit about stuff you have no clue, and I'm the dickhead? Typical masshole..

 

[72o]

Damn...I seriously hate the thought of chips not seeing the felt. Seriously one of the worse things to do with chips is not use them for their intended purpose. At least have the intention of playing them I guess. Ugh what a waste.

And how does one use the term “grail” when they’ve only been around for such a short period? Just curious.

 

[TheDuke]

To lighten up the mood here.

For some reason this thread reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Mr Peterman buys a slice of preserved wedding cake from a royal wedding thinking he was going to make alot of money from it and Elaine just ends up eating it.

 

[sheikh617]

You're the one calling super-bullshit about stuff you have no clue, and I'm the dickhead? Typical masshole..

I didn't insult you or your opinion. You took it to that point so yeah man, you're the dickhead. You could easily disagree with a point without telling to shove something where the sun doesn't shine or basically calling me stupid by asking if I can read. It's funny that you specifically felt the need to reply to my OP because it hit you some kind of way. If the shoe fits I guess.