Kem cards and rough treatment

[Jeff P]

I'm really wanting to spring for a set of Kem cards to use in our regular game. For those of you who use them, how do you feel about folks who are used to shuffling $.97 decks of cards, bending them every which way, etc? Do the cards hold up ok from people who don't know how to treat the cards?

The ones I'm looking at getting is a set of 2 decks - green and brown Club Casino cards for $33.99. I just would hate to pay that much for the cards then cringe everytime one of the guys bends the cards in half!

Thanks.

[lightw1thoutheat]

two things
the cards hold up pretty nicely, although when theyre new i tend to wince when some people shuffle them. They dont crease easily.

secondly, i think you could get a better price somewhere, i dont remember spending that much for them.
-light

[CptMisery]

The KEM's we use in my game are passed around and shuffled in ways I didn't even know you could shuffle cards and they have yet to show any wear after over six months being used at least 3 times a week.

The price you have seems kind of high for the KEM's. Try this site http://www.casinowholesalers.com/kempokerdouble.htm

I have dealt with them before and would recommend this supplier.

Good luck!

[gummy d]

Don't order KEM cards. They hold up alright but all the decks i've received and my friends have received in the last year have been marked in one way or another. Several other posts have been made about this. Do a search.

[JPinAZ]

Check ebay. I picked up 3 lightly used sets (6 decks) of the same style for $30.

[lossage]

I bought a setup six months back, and they're still fine, after having been used exclusively by idiots during that period. Bear in mind that my definition of "fine" is strong; I'm fussy enough about cards that I would toss a paper deck after only a day or two of use.

Two caveats: (1) You will get some warpage in any cards after some time; storing them under weight seems to clear this up fine. Kem cards still have tons more memory for their original shape than most. By all reports, you're more likely to have a corner snap off than you are to have a deal-breaking crease. (2) As others have said, the quality and supply of Kem cards has been dodgy of late. I don't know if Kem has gotten their act back together recently, or if we should seek out a new brand of choice, at least for a little while.

[Jeff P]

Thanks for all the replies.

I did some reading on previous posts regarding Kem vs. Copag (and other plastic/cellulose cards). I am somewhat concerned about the quality issues that are being reported by people who have recently bought Kem cards. However, I have played with Copag cards in some local amateur league tournaments at the bars and I wasn't crazy about them. I played with these Kem cards at Foxwood's and Harrah's, and like the "font" and face prints better.

With regards to the ebay auctions, my only concern there is getting a bad deck and not being able to return them, etc. I'll check out some of the other internet retailers and do some price shopping.

[DerryABU]

Cards by copag (http://www.cardsbycopag.com/product2.asp?pid=95) is the best place to get Kems,only $26.95 for the same set you wanted and they are original Kems not the USPC "new" Kems.I have bought about 10 sets over the last year from Joe at Cards by Copag and they have all been top quality. Hope this helps.

[Triple C]

I just picked up a single deck of these from them, but you can get a setup if you want. Better than $33.99. Personally, I picked them up because I needed to replace 1 card - kinda stupid, but better than buying two decks IMO.

Casino Club KEMs (http://www.gamelandsports.com/.sc/ms/dd/1105724635992054/9/nc/Playing%20Cards%5E2FDice-------------%20KEM/760/Casino%20Club%20Playing%20Cards%20-%20KEM)

[MSPatton]

I have a set of these Kem Vinyl Cards (http://www.nicetoys.com/kemcaliforniaclub.html)
They have a totally different feel then the standard acetate cards.
/images/graemlins/spade.gif

[Fairless]

i have had mine for over a year and the coke heads and alkies haven't damaged them to bad.

[Fins]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a set of these Kem Vinyl Cards (http://www.nicetoys.com/kemcaliforniaclub.html)
They have a totally different feel then the standard acetate cards.
/images/graemlins/spade.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
How so... good/bad?

Also, someone on another board posted about two kinds of finishes (textures) on Copags implying one for bridge size & one for the wide size?? Do you know if they're different?

Just curious,
Fins

[Fins]

[ QUOTE ]
<snip>
I just would hate to pay that much for the cards then cringe everytime one of the guys bends the cards in half!

Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]
Have you looked at Copag's (http://www.holdempokerchips.com/products.asp?cat=25)... might be a more cost effective route if you have jokers that insist on testing the flexibility limits of your cards. Just got a couple of the wide decks from HPC (excellent service) and my initial impressions are good. They feel & shuffle great - the only thing I noticed right off the bat was they seem thinner. We'll see how they hold up but from the looks of it they're definitely worth trying.

- Fins

[Jeff P]

I looked at the Cards by Copag site, and those are the exact cards I was looking at, except I would like them with regular index opposed to super index. I did find a seller on ebay with a store that is selling the cards I want to get, with two variations.

my first preference

Kem casino cards green/brown (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6146237150&ssPageName= MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcN__Stores)

and my second preference

Kem casino cards green/brown new style (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6146234202&ssPageName= MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcN__Stores)

I'm probably only going to get one setup, so a price difference of a couple bucks isn't too big of a deal. Do these look like good cards?

[TonyS0pran0]

I saw a guy at a home game slam his cards down and the Ace of Spades literally broke.

[PE101]

What do you mean "marked"?

I bought some the other day at a local store - got them home and found that two (from one deck) were smudged.

I tried to request replacement cards from the company - since they offer replacement cards if you know the lot number (on one of the aces). I never heard from Kem-Cards.
(I had called and left a message, and e-mailed them a scan of the smudged cards.)

I never heard a word from them! I wasn't happy with thier "customer service". The store replaced them with no problem.

Edit: The smudge was on the face, not the back. No player would have known the card. In both cases the suit was the part that was smudged.

[MSPatton]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have a set of these Kem Vinyl Cards (http://www.nicetoys.com/kemcaliforniaclub.html)
They have a totally different feel then the standard acetate cards.
/images/graemlins/spade.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
How so... good/bad?

Also, someone on another board posted about two kinds of finishes (textures) on Copags implying one for bridge size & one for the wide size?? Do you know if they're different?

Just curious,
Fins

[/ QUOTE ]

IMHO,
Less desireable to me. They are heavier and stiffer than
say the Arrows.

As for the Copags, I have not used Poker sized yet, but if you go to Copags web site Copag Brazil (http://loja.copag.com.br/) and if you speak the tongue, there are 3 lines of plastic cards, Silver, Gold, and U.S. Import. Most all the stuff here now is U.S. import stuff. Maybe some of the silver and Gold have a different texture. /images/graemlins/spade.gif

P.S. My new favorite is the new style casinos in the link above. I sell a lot of these, and just bought two doubles just to make two Pinnochle decks out of for my office game.
Speaking of......Got to go beat the sales staff. It's Friday!

[Fins]

Hi Jeff,
My two decks of KEM's are old (1963). One deck is still great but the other has had two replacement cards which are slightly newer looking enough so I can't use the deck... oh, well they can't last forever /images/graemlins/wink.gif.

I don't have any experience with the newer ones so I can't attest to the auctions you mentioned. I would however make sure that they are regular index and verify that they are not "blackjack" index (unless you're ok with that). The "blackjack" index has 2-9's pips slightly lower on the card which is fine if you're expecting it but not if you weren't. Also, I'd check on their return policy in case your deck has some blemishes e.g. 7 /images/graemlins/club.gif or 5 /images/graemlins/spade.gif's... doesn't look like you can use the replacement service anytime soon.

Also FYI - the #'s on the A /images/graemlins/spade.gif represent the date of mfr e.g. mine are 363 (March 1963) & 663 (June 1963). The last two digits represent the year and the first digit(s) is the month.

They do seem to be high priced considering they are "Casino Club"... this from the auction would concern me:
"Caution Casino Club is a different card made of vinyl they are not the same cards. They don't feel the same and are a lesser quality Kem card"

Check out Casino Club KEM's (http://www.gamelandsports.com/.sc/ms/dd/1094758983349908/9/nc/Playing%20Cards^2FDice-------------%20KEM/760/Casino%20Club%20Playing%20Cards%20-%20KEM)

Some others (http://www.gamblersgeneralstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=GGS&Category_C ode=12J) to look at if you haven't already.

We should search the threads to list all the places to get KEM's (chesset.com, nicetoys.com, compleatgamester.com posted recently, cards by copag, HPC etc... etc... be nice to have all listed in one place)

Hope that helps but in the end I still don't where I'd get 'em from /images/graemlins/grin.gif,
Fins

[MSPatton]

My old Pinnochle deck is a 1950 I still have the beat up brown cardboard box and the little book entitled
"Some Astonishing Facts About Kem". GTG play will get a pic later /images/graemlins/spade.gif

[MSPatton]

http://www.holdempokerchips.com/ebay/kempinnochle1.jpg

A /images/graemlins/spade.gif is 1150

[MSPatton]

BTW.....

1150 is older than I

/images/graemlins/spade.gif

[TheEleven]

Speaking of those foxwoods Kems, I just picked up a set of green/brown Foxwoods Kems from gamblersgeneralstore (look under cards/Kem specials). They're around $25 + shipping. They are bridge size/regular index. I've only played with them for one night, but they've been great so far - no defects and no problems so far...

[eric5148]

[ QUOTE ]
I just would hate to pay that much for the cards then cringe everytime one of the guys bends the cards in half!

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's what you do: when you sit down to play, say "Hey you jackholes, I spent $30 bucks for these cards so don't bend 'em, or I'll bend YOU. Okee dokee?" /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Triple C]

Maybe this is nuts. I was washing the edge of a deck of cards and then I towel dried them. However, they didn't sit right anymore...the edges were curvey and there were some small gaps between the cards when they were stacked...

There happens to be an "acetate" setting on my iron...I tried to iron the joker card as a test...I placed it between a mousepad and put a piece of paper over it to protect any sort of "coating." The card warmed up and seemed good, but it didn't completely restore itself. I was too scared to turn it up. Does anyone have experience with trying to flatten cards? How do you guys wash them? FYI..."acetate" is the lowest setting.

Tonight, they'll be sleeping under a stack of books /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[smoore]

Books and time, books and time. If you want to cheat, iron your Aces and you can feel them pop off the deck every time /images/graemlins/laugh.gif (don't cheat, dammit)

[Jay36489]

I just got a set of copags and I like them. I tried bending a joker to the point where it touched itself like I had seen on the internet, and sure enough it popped right back to place. I've since done it a bunch of times and that card is still flat as could be. It holds a tiny bit of memory for like 5 mins then goes back to flat (even when left on its side). I was impressed by that, and would think they can hold up to the most clumsy drunk shufflers.

[Accident]

I purchased 2 sets of KEMS for gifts and one of the sets had 'squared off' corners, not nice and round like my other KEMS are. So, I decided to try Copags. I like them just as much or better. I will still buy Kems in the future when the quality issures clear up. Also, as to the durability of Copags, Kems: They are well worth the investment. I used to use 2 decks of $1.00 cards from the "Dollar Store", because the gorillas at my game destroyed my $4.95 set every week! Always at least one corner bent every week. It's humid here and after about 3 hours the paper cards swell up and the stack sits 10% higher! After acumulating 20 decks of $1 cards(all ruined), I decided to try the KEMS. Havn't had one cards get wrecked yet in 6 months. Saved me prolly $60 over the paper cards so far. (yes thats right, no one EVER chipped in a dollar for cards OR brought a deck!)
Accident /images/graemlins/club.gif