Pokerchips.com - customer service?

[AZnuts]

I've been gathering chip samples for an upcoming buy. Pokerchips.com I thought was high on my list because I like high quality clays.

I have to admit, their horrible responsiveness in getting me some samples has me worried about placing a big order with them.

I've now asked for samples twice over the last 6 weeks, and followed up again a third time. I'm told to give it a few more days . . .

I've received chips from 4 other sources all within a week.

I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling about how well they would deal with my custom order - they don't instill a lot of confidence.

Any comments, experiences?

[ericslagle]

I just got my order from them and I pretty much had the same experience. Also, ignore anything they say about getting the chips to you in a timely fashion. Mine took about 20 weeks to get to me. However, if you go into it knowing that's pretty much the case then I would recommend them. The chips are pretty much what you get at a casino but with an added brass flaking in the clay. I would also recommend getting a custom insert - after I got my custom ones with edge spots only I wish I had sprung for a custom insert.
I would also be a little leary if I needed help with art since their service was so slow. But if you know what you're doing you should be fine.

[AZnuts]

Wow - five months to get an order. I'm sure what will happen is I'll love their chip samples, then dred having to deal with the service.

I do plan on a custom graphic insert. I guess maybe its best to have it in final form, and just give it to them.

[casinogosain]

I actually had a very pleasant experience with their graphic artist (Lara) - total of two weeks from first design to final. Now I'm waiting for the chips...

-Ash

[AZnuts]

Thanks casinogosain, I'd prefer to have some help on the art just before production, you never know exactly what's best for their process.

So, now how long since you finalized the art?

[sin808]

I've been waiting since mid Oct for a sample from them. I emailed them again the other day and they said they had sent them out and they must've got lost in the mail. I seriously doubt this story (it is possible I suppose, but not too likely imo). They are sending another set to me this week (supposedly). Certainly doesn't instill any confidence in me about the quality of their customer service.

[Slow Play Ray]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been waiting since mid Oct for a sample from them. I emailed them again the other day and they said they had sent them out and they must've got lost in the mail. I seriously doubt this story (it is possible I suppose, but not too likely imo). They are sending another set to me this week (supposedly). Certainly doesn't instill any confidence in me about the quality of their customer service.

[/ QUOTE ]

My samples took about 5 weeks. I sent one email request and sent no further correspondence. It got to the point where I was pretty sure I wasn't getting them, and suddenly they just showed up.

[CaptLego]

I bought a walnut case that holds 1000 chips from them.
As I recall, they warned me it would take awhile. It took longer. I followed up with some phone calls to check on the order (and to expedite it). Eventually, I got the case. It had the smell of being freshly finished. (They may build these to order.) Nice case.

I think they're OK -- you just have to be patient with them.

[Suited Deuce]

AZ,
Don't be discouraged. They are without a doubt over-burdened and under-staffed and are probably doing the best that they can given the demand for their chips.

I ordered and recieved my samples in about a week over the summer. I placed my order in October and then just planned on putting it out of my thoughts until January or February. Yeah, the wait blows - but a friend of mine has a set and they're worth every cent (or ChipCo's for that matter, too)

Hang in there.

SD

[edpsu92]

I ordered my set in January of 2004 and received it in September of 2004. When I placed the order I think they said 8 weeks. When the package arrived 9 months later, I actually wasnt even sure what it was /images/graemlins/smile.gif hahaha! To be honest, I wish I had ordered different chips. I, personally, am not sure why pokerchips.com gets such rave
reviews. I have played in casinos all over the world and I have yet to find one casino to which my pokerchips.com set is comparable. I find them to be too light, too skinny and their feel is awful. They have almost a grainy or sandy feel to them and they surely do not feel like the quality clay chips that I am accustomed to in real casinos. If I had it to over again, I would have bought from either of the following:

http://www.kardwell.com/chips.html
http://www.buypokerchips.com/

In my opinion the above two are the only two companies that actually produce a product that resembles a real clay casino chip. Heck if you want pokerchips.com that bad, you can buy mine. I have 160 blue, 120 red, 15 green and 5 black each with a different day glow edge spot. Sorry pokerchips.com fans but I would really like you to find a casino chip that is like your pokerchips.com chips. And by the way, my chips are the pokerchips.com clay circle square before you think I bought some cheap version and thought they were suppose to be "clay".

[PinataUT]

Isn't Kardwell selling the same chips?

I'm pretty sure they can do Blue Chip as well, but the ones on the website look a lot like pokerchips.com chips.

Can someone clarify for me?

[Slow Play Ray]

Kardwell sells pokerchips.com.

[edpsu92]

With no disrespect intended, the chips sitting on my desk from Kardwell are not the same as mine from pokerchips.com. But aside from that, my point was that the pokerchips.com chips are overrated and do NOT look, play, sound or feel like any clay casino chip i have ever held from any casino around the world. Anyone who claims they are are simply mistaken. The buypokerchips.com are the closest you are going to get and even those are still not exact. The only way to get real clay casino chips is to buy them from casinos that have closed. On EBAY now, there are a few lots available. Take care and have a good weekend.

[PinataUT]

I talked with someone at Kardwell about 2 days ago, but could not remember whose chips he said he was reselling. But it was either pokerchips.com or it was Blue Chip...

I don't want to pick up the phone to call him and ask him... I'd feel like an ass or that I was trying to 'end around' him... which wasn't the point. I'd rather pay a little more through kardwell to leverage their relationship with production to get it on time or faster...

[Johnny5]

[ QUOTE ]
With no disrespect intended, the chips sitting on my desk from Kardwell are not the same as mine from pokerchips.com.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, what is the difference (other than the fact that they don't offer the circle square mold)? They look like ASMs to me.

J5

[Triple C]

The chips you guys are looking at are made by Atlantic Standard Molding (ASM). This is the same company as pokerchips.com. Er, pokerchips.com is the "store" for the chip manufacturer, ASM. I am 100% sure about this. Ask them about getting 2 color edge spots...Blue Chip would let you, but ASM/Kardwell will make you get the big 1/2 inch edge spots.

The only advantage to going through kardwell might be that you MAY get it sooner, but I have not heard of this working. It might be worth a shot.

[Triple C]

Are you against using TR King? I'm waiting for samples from pokerchips.com as well and I've been waiting for about 4 weeks and have called twice. I think that TR King offers a good looking chip with good weight and amazing service. In addition, they don't have the silly edgespot restrictions.

I know some people complain about the prices with TR King, but if you get a lot of chips or perhaps organize a group buy, you could potentially get them cheaper than pokerchips.com - and faster.

[Jaquen H'gar]

[ QUOTE ]
I have played in casinos all over the world and I have yet to find one casino to which my pokerchips.com set is comparable. I find them to be too light, too skinny and their feel is awful. They have almost a grainy or sandy feel to them and they surely do not feel like the quality clay chips that I am accustomed to in real casinos.


[/ QUOTE ]

I realize you are not referring to the horsehead mold. I ordered a sample of nine horseheads off Ebay. Their quality is EXCELLENT; and individually, they are no different from a Paulson.

I interspersed them with the eight real casino Paulsons I have and with eyes closed, could not generally distinguish one from the other, in feel or sound. The edges were slightly sharper but the ASM's were mint, the Paulsons are used. I thought I would hate the brass flecks having only seen them in pics but didn't really notice them once I started shuffling and messing with them. I asked my wife what she thought the flecks were and she replied, "Gold and is that why they're so expensive?"

The inlay quality is actually slightly better than the Paulsons althought the Paulsons were used which may have affected that. All inlays were centered perfectly.

The only difference manifested itself when comparing a stack of horseheads vs a stack of Paulsons. The stack of horseheads is lighter. I couldn't distinguish an individual chip being lighter but could tell that 8 horseheads were lighter than 8 Paulsons. Thickness was the same.

I'm not sold on the one color edge spot but from a feel, sound, and quality stand point, ASM horseheads are da bomb.

For those wanting samples, it's a whole lot faster to pay $2/chip via Ebay than waiting on pokerchips.com.

Just my $0.02 worth

[AZnuts]

I see Kardwell claims 6 weeks delivery for custom printed inlay, minimum 1000 chip order.

I asked them for some samples too; we'll see what happens. Sounds like their Horsehead and A-mold may be the same as pokerchips.com?

[ncskiier]

How much do you want for your crappy old chips?

[AZnuts]

I finally received my samples, one horsehead(american eagle stock chip), one A-mold. I do like the mold quality, smooth edges, & brass flakes.

The horsehead only weighed in about 8 grams, thought it was heavier; the A-mold about 9 grams.

I've also asked for samples from Kardwell for comparison.

(Disappointed in those new Paulsons)

[MeridianFC]

To reiterate what someone said earlier, Kardwell resells ASM (aka pokerchips.com).

I think ASM are far overburdened by the current poker craze. I think they make really great chips (they made the chips used in "Rounders" FWIW). Their restrictions on edge spots and the rather lengthy turn around time have kept me from purchasing from them. In the past their customer service has been impecable.

[ericslagle]

AZnuts -
Hey, I just got some samples from TR King and if I was you I would order from them. The chips look real shiney like platstic on their web site, but they are clay. They look more like a casino chip than my ASM/pokerchips.com set I just got. I'm probably going to use TR King for a Teddy KGB/Rounders look alike chip. They offer a 4 spot, 5 spot and a two color 3 spot. I don't know how much you can customize the colors, but I wish I had gotten these instead of the pokerchip.com ones I just got.
If you really like pokerchips.com's work - I'll sell you my set of 1,000 with edge spots and no printing.

[casinogosain]

[ QUOTE ]

So, now how long since you finalized the art?

[/ QUOTE ]

I put in my order on 10/5 and finalized the art on 10/13. They say 12-14 weeks from then...

-ash