What to do when I seem to be the only one interested in a high quality chip set? (1 Viewer)

[oliCGN]

The story so far: I enjoy browsing PCF. Over the past three months I finally fell down the rabbit hole. First plans were made, sample sets were ordered. Receiving the sample set from CPC I was blown away by the feel, the sound... you know what I mean.

Last week I brought that sample set to our private home game. So far we are using a self-labeled set of metal-slugged plastic chips (a project I did many many years ago).

The reactions were... devastating. Of the five people that checked out the samples two just said that they're very much not worth the money while the other three reacted even worse. Consensus was that while the metal-slugged plastics feel high-quality, the CPC chips feel like cheap toys. Much too light. Not feeling good in your hand. 1/10, would not recommend.

Where do I go from here? Do I drag myself out of the rabbit-hole and call it a day knowing that at least I had a few weeks of fun planning and dreaming? Or do I go on and try to do some more convincing? And if yes, do you have any suggestions?

 

[Labrat]

You buy the chips you like and break them out after you've buried the sluggos in a secret spot.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Lol. Never tell them the price, big mistake, but people are just used to the metal filled ones. I eased into it with 43mm ceramics so they weren't smaller than the slugged hockey pucks theyd been playing with.

Dont worry too much about it, buy what makes you happy. Unless its KEM playing cards, then you should reassess and change yourself.

 

[Anthrax]

Buy yourself a nice set, which is usable for your needs and bring this to the homegame. Don´t know how your homegame is organised, but if you are the host, you decide which set to use. If they don´t like it, well......get new friends

 

[Beakertwang]

If it’s your game and you like them, get them and enjoy them. Sell the sluggers to one of your buddies who think they’re fantastic.

(For the record, I don’t hate all sluggers. I think some of them are fine.)

 

[davesilver88]

I know the feeling.

My advice - do what makes you happy. People over spend on their hobbies all the time- golf, painting, model train sets, bicycles, what ever. Thats what people do. If someone told me they spent $500 on their basketball shoes, I wouldn’t necessarily say they overspent, I’d think they probably really like basketball - so good for them. Same for poker chips, but being it’s likely a less common hobby than most, you should expect probably 9/10 to say you’re crazy to spent $1000s on chips.

 

[JMC9389]

Get what makes you happy. My regular players really don't care about chips either. Whenever I break out my chips or host, the nicest comments I get are when I bring out the ceramic hybrid replicas from Sunfly over the CPC's or Paulsons.

What I did get them to convert to is plastic cards. Thank goodness because I could never go back to paper after handling and playing with plastic.

 

[BigJackJones]

What are you trying to accomplish?

Are you trying to get a set that everyone is happy with? Then run while you can.

Are you wanting to invest in a set that you like? Then keep going.

If you are wanting to do both, and you are not financially prepared to take on the obligation yourself, take your time and keep filling the piggy bank.

This is a marathon, not a sprint. This is 36 holes, not 18. This is... I don't know. Some other metaphor.

 

[Stebo0792]

At first, after discovering this site by suggestion from @louBdub i got rid of my set of sluggers and purchased a tournament set of BCC GCR from @buffalojim and a HSI cash set from @Jeevansluck , I started to realize that not all players care about them as I do.
We have several players in our 334 Poker Club that have since purchased nice sets for their games. These guys realize what a privilege it is to play with these chips, yet there are others in my games at times could care less.
So I decided that I was going to purchase a chip set that was cheap and I break out when those types of players are at my table.
We all love our chips and want people to be able to play with them at our games, but most importantly, I want those people to respect my chips and realize my investment, that these are not your everyday chips, enjoy them, and realize the fact that I let you play with them is a privilege.

 

[Goldfish]

The vast majority of non-chipping poker players will not appreciate the time, effort or money that goes into creating a custom set of clay chips (Paulsons or CPCs). You are doing into more for you as opposed to your players. If you like them, buy them.

Regarding CPCs, you can’t show non-chippers just a few CPCs because they don’t present very well individually with no inlays to non-chippers. IMO they present much better as a full set so people can hold barrels and see the set in its entirety. Further, non-chippers tend to equate weight with quality because they don’t know any better. So, they think sluggos are better. Also, non-chippers have no idea the amount of work it takes to manufacture a set of CPCs so they do not appreciate the cost. My advice, just create the set you want and reveal them at your next game. Your players will learn to love them.

I will add that since people have been playing with my Paulson sets, 4 other hosts in the area have bought Paulson sets for their games.

 

[BPTDirector]

If they have ever visited a casino they will come around, if not then keep the nice chips for when you play with those who appreciate them.

 

[louBdub]

Chipping is just like any other hobby…. Go see fishtanks….. Same same.

I try and put myself in their shoes to understand. Example: I think golf is fucking stupid, I like mini putt putt, and the ball and putter I get there is perfect. BUT! Get a golfer involved and everything I say is blasphemy. His clubs are $100,000 and the balls are made of ambrosia….

That said, if the golfer dude handed me his clubs, I’d appreciate him sharing them with me, and respect his stuff, because I’m not a cock weasel.

Friends shouldn’t be cock weasels. Buy what makes YOU happy, and friends will be happy for you, and appreciate you sharing your joys with them.

 

[Moxie Mike]

Consensus was that while the metal-slugged plastics feel high-quality, the CPC chips feel like cheap toys. Much too light. Not feeling good in your hand. 1/10, would not recommend.

Where do I go from here? Do I drag myself out of the rabbit-hole and call it a day knowing that at least I had a few weeks of fun planning and dreaming? Or do I go on and try to do some more convincing? And if yes, do you have any suggestions?

I've owned some CPC chips here and there and I never cared for them either. I too find them to be a little on the light side compared to Paulsons. Plus, (unless I'm mistaken) they can't be cleaned with TSP in an ultrasonic.

That said, their opinion really doesn't matter. I host regular games and aside from @GrindstonePoker I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who cares about the chips very much. I've customized just about all of my gear - from the felts by @rjdev7 to the dealer buttons printed by @ABC Gifts and Awards.

 

[Nanook]

.......Receiving the sample set from CPC I was blown away by the feel, the sound... you know what I mean.........Last week I brought that sample set to our private home game..........The reactions were... devastating........Where do I go from here?......

The sooner you realize that whatever you do chip wise, you are doing for yourself, (not your crew/others) the better off you'll be.

This hobby is very much like being into watches. Very few others, besides you are going to appreciate it like you do. Once you know and accept that then you just move on and do what you're going to do.

I wouldn't give it a second thought & just forge ahead with what makes you happy.

 

[jamesjkim]

For perspective, we have roughly 12k members here. Globally there are estimated to be more than 100 million poker players.

 

[BigJackJones]

No idea what a cock weasel is, but it sounds vicious.

 

[grantc54]

I had the same experience in 2015. Bought all the samples and people preferred the slugged chips.
Bought Monte Carlos and played with those. A year or 2 later bought Milanos. Everyone preferred playing with them.

Another year or so later put together a relabel Paulson set from TCR and TCE sales. People didn't really seem to care UNTiL i brought out the old chips to play with. Big time complaints, everyone hated them and wanted to know where the Paulson chips were.

For most non-chippers it seems to be hard to really appreciate good chips without actually playing with them. Its the stackability, shuffling experience and feel that is a big plus (with the bonus of all the other aspects chippers appreciate).

 

[grantc54]

Oh, and I wish I bought the Paulson chips in 2015.

 

[Labrat]

His clubs are $100,000 and the balls are made of ambrosia….

I'd still shoot a 98.

 

[GrindstonePoker]

Personal experience is my players only really care about what the denominations are. I’ve rolled out all kinds of chips from slugged, cheap ceramics, Tropicana’s, Paulsons to full custom BRPros. All have very different feels. The only time anyone said anything was the goofy design on my El Burro tournament set because it was out of the box.

Find what you like and then rotate all the different sets you end up with because most likely you won’t be able to stop with just one.

 

[GrindstonePoker]

Oh and size. There have been comments when I use 43mm sometimes. They can tell something is different but don’t exactly know until I tell them.

I would love to get a 36mm set and really blow their minds.

 

[Bluegrass Poker]

If they have ever visited a casino they will come around, if not then keep the nice chips for when you play with those who appreciate them.

This is my experience too. Players who have spent anytime in casinos are more like to appreciate good chips. Those who have only ever played home games with dice chips don’t give a rat’s ass. (A rat’s ass is not to be confused with a cock weasel.)

 

[LeLe]

I felt like u need new friends. Do what you like and not what your friends approved

 

[TheRealTeddyKGB]

I agree with all the people who say "get what you want/makes you happy."

When I made the switch over to clay from plastic sluggos most of the players in my group were indifferent with only 2 of them being anti & another not liking them because they didn't shuffle as well. (Mint Paulsons)

Fast forward 5-6 years.

I took out my old chips and handed them to the 2 guys who were resistant. I asked if they would rather play with them over my clay chips. 1 guy said "hell no" & the other said "no thank you." The 2nd guy was an ABSOLUTE win. He has historically never agreed with me even if his life dependant on it!! (The 3rd guy loves the feel of shuffling Paulsons now)

In short people usually like what they're used to so ultimately it won't matter. Get whatever makes YOU happy.

 

[bigblind]

get what you like, they will appreciate them after a few games.

 

[4SUMERZ]

That's the danger of starting out with a cheap set of heavy 14g chips, no matter the make. The players get used to them, then once a good set of 10g chips hit their hands, they feel light. I've never had any comments, good or bad about any chips that I've had at my table over the years, from slugs, to mid range to decent chips. The guys just want to play poker, have a few drinks and some laughs. Honestly, I could use different color shirt buttons as chips and they likely wouldn't care, as long as we are getting to play poker.
I bought a nice set of chips (what I think is decent good looking chips) and the boys never said boo....Doesn't bother me in the least.
Now, when I changed out my custom felt for another, lot's of positive comments...Maybe my Leaf buddies were tired of putting their eyes on the previous Montreal Canadiens Ice rink felt I had on previous.

 

[louBdub]

No idea what a cock weasel is, but it sounds vicious.

Pretty accurate

 

[Gunnar]

I have found that my players like colors and denominations more than anything else. I have multiple chip sets and most players never complain. Dirty stacks really makes them crazy!

 

[BPTDirector]

I have a couple guys who like solids better than spotted chips, but all have turned into chip snobs over the years. I loaded a set of starting stack tubes with dice chips as a joke for my first tournament of this years series and got a couple chips thrown at me, lol.

 

[oliCGN]

Wow, thanks so much for all the nice and very helpful answers!

We are a small home game group where everyone gets to host now and then. I usually bring the chips though.
And what do I want? I'd love playing with a really great, high-quality, self-designed chip set. But where I am unsure is how much I'd enjoy it knowing that everyone else secretly wishes to go back to plastic-land.

You guys have given me much food for thought and I will surely reread this thread a few times. For now I guess I'll keep planning and at some point I will surely realize how much I want this and if it is worth this investment of time and money.

Oh, and btw my friends are fine except for having no clue about good poker chips.