Cheapest place to get custom chips?

[Moyer]

I'm looking to buy my own set for a home game. Something that would be hard for others to buy. I don't need anything real special, but hopefully casino like quality with my initials on them. Thanks.

[Vagos]

I bought a nice set of custom chips at pokerchips.com. I had a custom logo and edge spots so they were kinda expensive(95 cents per chip) but they have cheaper ones that may fit your needs. For example you can get the same clay chips without a custom logo, just edge spots. Check 'em out, I'm sure they'll have what you're looking for. They did an excellent job, very friendly staff and professional service. Highly recommended.
-Andy

[slogger]

I currently have an order in to pokerchips.com for their real clay chips w/ edge spots. This post is in now way meant to disparage the quality of these chips, as I've been told they're excellent (this is the reason I ordered from there).

However, not only do they tell you it will be 3 months when you order them, they then lie to you every time you call to check the status of your order and request an estimate of delivery date. I ordered mine in mid-February, and was told that I could expect them to ship around the end of May.

When I called in mid-May, they told me it would more likely be June 1. When I called to confirm delivery (and change my address because I was moving May 31), they told me that it would be June 4. The chips never came and I called back the following week. I was then told that there was a shortage of the lavender clay and that this was delaying the process (I told them that it would have been nice if they could have told me that the last two times I called). They told me then that the chips would likely be ready by mid-June, to be delivered around June 21.

I called to confirm delivery around June 18 and was told that they were not even in production yet. They said it would be about 2 more weeks. I complained and told the agent that I felt I was not being told the truth when I called to confirm my order. She said something about there being a separation between the production floor and the sales office and that this unfortunately led to some miscommunications at times (I'll say!).

So I called back at the end of June and was told that they had just gone into production the day before (can you say "bullsh*t?) and that they'd be delivered approx. July 9.

Nothing so far and I call them this morning to check the status: Supposedly, the chips are finished now (am I supposed to be relieved about this?) and are in Portland awaiting shipment, which the woman tells me will take place sometime around the beginning of NEXT WEEK.

Needless to say, I have to disagree with the assessment of the pokerchips.com service and professionalism. I have never dealt with a less professional or a less honest vendor of any kind. I'm sure the chips are lovely (and I will follow up with a report on that when I get them around Christmas time), but I think anyone in the market for chips should avoid pokerchips.com unless they are willing to wait at least 2-3 months longer than whatever shipment date the sales agent initially provides.

Sorry for the rant, but other posters have expressed similar concerns about this service and I would like to prevent all 2+2ers from having to endure all of the BS that I've been forced to deal with over the past 5 months.

[AliasMrJones]

It does take forever to the chips from pokerchips.com. I ordered and waited a couple of months, emailed to check on status -- art wasn't approved. I emailed them back the email I got back from their art department saying thanks for approving the art and we'll get right on this from 2 months ago. They put a "rush" on it. Then later they said they were out of lavender. I changed to purple. I got the impression that with the poker craze, they have more orders coming in than they can handle.

If you want custom artwork and real clay chips, though, I have to say that even with the wait I don't think you'll find better quality chips or a better price. The flat $50 artwork charge that I got for 5 different images on 4 denominations (same image on all backs different image on each front) compared to the $250+ art charge for the same thing from elsewhere made a big difference in the final price. I also looked at pre-printed clay and ceramic chips, but at $.80-$1+ per chip I thought why not get my own custom art for the same price or just a little more?

While the wait was longer than I had expected, The chips are excellent quality and I think worth the wait.

Also, thought I should point out that the dice and suited "clay" chips are not clay. They are injection molded plastic with a metal disk to make them heavy. They make a metallic "clink" and are smoother than clay. Having said that, they are nice chips and significantly cheaper than clay so if you don't want to spend $.75-$1 per on real clay I think they are a great option.

Samples from pokerchips.com and also chipco.com (they make more "modern" looking full-face ceramic chips) are free so if you want to check out the quality, just email them and ask for samples. That's what I did before I made a decision.

[TenPercenter]

Jones, can you show us some photos of your chips? Or post a link if you've shown them in another posts somewhere...

Thanks,

Ten

[Bum]

If you do end up buying from pokerchips.com, ask for a discount, and they'll give it to you. When I called and asked for a quote, I almost jokingly asked if they could lower the price, and I was shocked when I was told she'd reduce the price by 10%. I guess it never hurts to ask.

Going by that, you can get a customized pokerchips.com chip for $0.855 or a customized chipco.com chip for $0.80. Only difference in the cost of the customized graphics. pokerchips.com offers several custom small inlayed graphics for $50, compared to $185/graphic at chipco ( with the 3rd+ graphic going for $85/graphic ). I've been told chipco ships quickly ( 2-4 week production time ), but the chips are as smooth as a baby's bottom, and the ceramic chips don't have that 'poker' feel to them =/. Still, you can either go with the best in ceramic chips, or settle for a half-assed clay-chip from pokerchips.com with standard edge marks that can't be customized. ( I'm sure they're the best that are offered to the public, but they sure aren't a Christy & Jones chip ).

To compare... here's a quote on two 1200 chip orders, both customized to the tits.

pokerchips.com
1200 chips @ 0.855
2 custom graphics - $50 total
$70 shipping ( to Canada )
$1146 total

chipco.com (until 7/30/04)
1200 chips @ 0.80
7 custom graphics - $610 total
$40 shipping ( to Canada )
$1610 total

I need a graphic located in the middle of my chips, with a different colour around the graphic. With pokerchips.com, this is done easily by changing the chip colour. With chipco.com, you need a different graphic for each of your chips. They gave me a break in the price and offered me 7 custom graphics for the price of 6. $185 for the first one, and $85 for each additional one. They charge $85 for a minor change like colour, and $185 for a major change like a new graphic. Hope this helps! =)

[razor]

Have you looked into HomePokerChips.com? Here is a link to their Pricing details. I believe they get ChipCo to make their chips. Seems like the artwork would be cheaper than what ChipCo is charging.


NOTE: I'm not associated with them, nor have I bought chips from them. Just curious if others have checked them out and/or bought chips from them.


Edit: I just noticed they changed their prices recently, so the extra per chip cost may outweigh the savings in artwork (I haven't bothered to do the math)

[SevenStuda]

If I were you, I would cut circles of cardboard out, and then glue construction paper to them and then write your initials or whatever else you would like them to say. That would be inexpensive and not too special, don't you think?

-Dimitri

[hoterdoc]

5stardeal.com
I got 1,650 chips, 3 aluminum cases, 3initials on both front and back of All the chips. Cost around 650, but I paid for "rush" 'hot-stamping' of the initials, and rush delivery.
The chips are 11.5 gm clay, diamond cihps

They have cheaper ones too.
Doc
http://www.5stardeal.com/

[Moyer]

Thanks