Tigers

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The nice side of me says to shut the hell up, but the mean side of me is screaming something about the lunacy of spending $865 on samples when you don’t own a poker table.

Damn, I think I’ve reached beyond peak degeneracy at this point then
I bought $1800 racks that I can’t even use yet in a set

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These chips are awesome!
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Thankful for the opportunity to own them!

Who cares if Ken makes 100 Million in profits? As others have said... he took this whole thing on his own shoulders and his wallet!

This hobby is and has been starving for new chips to feed the beast! Many leaded singles that used to be a few $$ are now $20 - $60... ask me how I know.

I love casinos with history and old chips like many others... but bright and inviting colors on quality chips appeals to the masses... you don't have to buy them if it's not your thing. Hell lots of people sold lead just to purchase Tigers... hence bringing more chips back to the market for those that don't like the new stuff. Win/Win??

I understand the ?s of trying to control the secondary market... I can't even argue on that one... if you buy them, they are yours and in a free country I think you should be able to sell them for whatever you want! Profits were made, not sure why it's frowned upon for others to make profits as well... I mean it's been happening for a LONG time... like it or not, don't pay if you don't like the price! I mean I'm the guy that spent $7k on 2 racks of IG sec $1k claws because I wanted them! In the sale they were what $10 each? What kind of idiot would pay $35 a chip a month later?? Well... me... why... from my understanding only 730 of those chips exist, they are quite rare and the most beautiful IHC $1k chip I have ever seen! A few decided that's what they would let their racks go for... and I paid it!
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(About $24k invested now... who would pay that? Nobody and don't worry... I'm not selling)

The days of buying and selling for the same price are gone... OK there are many members that behind the scenes buy and sell to friends at cost because they know they are not getting flipped... but trully without FROR they are your chips, do what you want!

Invest how you want to invest! Those that previously bought thousands of NAGB chips and saw the prices plummet when the next one hits... well... only pay what you are happy to pay for chips. If you are in this hobby just to turn profits then maybe you should stick to paying for the fastest internet possible so you can keep grabbing chip room sales the second they go live and flipping them before they even hit your mail box to the folks with slower internet!

Ken tried to give everyone an equal opportunity that was interested... wasn't selling all of his chips behind the scenes to the top bidders like other NAGB folks (no problem with that either, again pay what you feel is fair). We can all sit back and point fingers... Apparently, that's what this hobby is really, really good at!

I saw this as possibly my last opportunity to check off a huge box on my collection list. When I joined, I quickly fell in love with the hot stamped Auora Stars... unfortunately, they had already been flipped several times, many murdered and turned into something else... I knew building anything of decent size would be next to impossible! I am extremely happy that @JeepologyOffroad convinced Ken to go with Hot Stamps one more time... again, possibly the last, and decided it was time to check that box off the list of my forever sets. I can't afford to build it all at one time, but racks, barrels... eventually, I will complete this dream set and honestly thankful for the opportunity to do so.

If your booty hurts, I hear try Preparation H... it works wonders for some butt hurt issues! Lol

Blackbeard
 
These chips are awesome!
View attachment 8294
Thankful for the opportunity to own them!

Who cares if Ken makes 100 Million in profits? As others have said... he took this whole thing on his own shoulders and his wallet!

This hobby is and has been starving for new chips to feed the beast! Many leaded singles that used to be a few $$ are now $20 - $60... ask me how I know.

I love casinos with history and old chips like many others... but bright and inviting colors on quality chips appeals to the masses... you don't have to buy them if it's not your thing. Hell lots of people sold lead just to purchase Tigers... hence bringing more chips back to the market for those that don't like the new stuff. Win/Win??

I understand the ?s of trying to control the secondary market... I can't even argue on that one... if you buy them, they are yours and in a free country I think you should be able to sell them for whatever you want! Profits were made, not sure why it's frowned upon for others to make profits as well... I mean it's been happening for a LONG time... like it or not, don't pay if you don't like the price! I mean I'm the guy that spent $7k on 2 racks of IG sec $1k claws because I wanted them! In the sale they were what $10 each? What kind of idiot would pay $35 a chip a month later?? Well... me... why... from my understanding only 730 of those chips exist, they are quite rare and the most beautiful IHC $1k chip I have ever seen! A few decided that's what they would let their racks go for... and I paid it!
View attachment 8295
(About $24k invested now... who would pay that? Nobody and don't worry... I'm not selling)

The days of buying and selling for the same price are gone... OK there are many members that behind the scenes buy and sell to friends at cost because they know they are not getting flipped... but trully without FROR they are your chips, do what you want!

Invest how you want to invest! Those that previously bought thousands of NAGB chips and saw the prices plummet when the next one hits... well... only pay what you are happy to pay for chips. If you are in this hobby just to turn profits then maybe you should stick to paying for the fastest internet possible so you can keep grabbing chip room sales the second they go live and flipping them before they even hit your mail box to the folks with slower internet!

Ken tried to give everyone an equal opportunity that was interested... wasn't selling all of his chips behind the scenes to the top bidders like other NAGB folks (no problem with that either, again pay what you feel is fair). We can all sit back and point fingers... Apparently, that's what this hobby is really, really good at!

I saw this as possibly my last opportunity to check off a huge box on my collection list. When I joined, I quickly fell in love with the hot stamped Auora Stars... unfortunately, they had already been flipped several times, many murdered and turned into something else... I knew building anything of decent size would be next to impossible! I am extremely happy that @JeepologyOffroad convinced Ken to go with Hot Stamps one more time... again, possibly the last, and decided it was time to check that box off the list of my forever sets. I can't afford to build it all at one time, but racks, barrels... eventually, I will complete this dream set and honestly thankful for the opportunity to do so.

If your booty hurts, I hear try Preparation H... it works wonders for some butt hurt issues! Lol

Blackbeard
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I'll dare beat the horse I've been beating one more time. I for one don't care about his "profits". I care about his transparency. Rare chips? None are rare, especially if there was a second buy. And then the BS excuse "I priced them this way so there wouldn't be any flipping" "If you flip you cant buy from me again" All BULLSHIT. If they're rare and short supplied just say how many there are.... It is what it is and I don't care who buys or bought them.

But to call him some kind of hero that brought chips to the "Community" is pure BS. There's 1000's of beautiful chips for sale in the markets, the beast isn't that hungry. I see chips we were all raving about and couldn't get hands on sitting for sale......

I love ya @Blackbeard, but I'd be happy too if I was in a set of them for $2 or $3 a chip too! Honest question: Would you be as happy or own as many if you had to pay:
Tiger Ticket: Prices for ‘add-on’ chips
T1: $650/rack
T5: $750/rack
T25: $550/rack
T100: $600/rack
T500: $600/rack
T1000: $650/rack
T5000: $850/rack
T25,000: $700/rack
T100,000: $900/rack
T-NCV (Arc Yellow): $850/rack
 
I'll dare beat the horse I've been beating one more time. I for one don't care about his "profits". I care about his transparency. Rare chips? None are rare, especially if there was a second buy. And then the BS excuse "I priced them this way so there wouldn't be any flipping" "If you flip you cant buy from me again" All BULLSHIT. If they're rare and short supplied just say how many there are.... It is what it is and I don't care who buys or bought them.

But to call him some kind of hero that brought chips to the "Community" is pure BS. There's 1000's of beautiful chips for sale in the markets, the beast isn't that hungry. I see chips we were all raving about and couldn't get hands on sitting for sale......

I love ya @Blackbeard, but I'd be happy too if I was in a set of them for $2 or $3 a chip too! Honest question: Would you be as happy or own as many if you had to pay:
Tiger Ticket: Prices for ‘add-on’ chips
T1: $650/rack
T5: $750/rack
T25: $550/rack
T100: $600/rack
T500: $600/rack
T1000: $650/rack
T5000: $850/rack
T25,000: $700/rack
T100,000: $900/rack
T-NCV (Arc Yellow): $850/rack
Other than my small initial set that yes I was given a "deal" on... those are exactly the prices I have been paying for the 1,000 chips I have added on since. I haven't found anybody selling for less than his prices... maybe a few dollars per barrel for some t25s I got (like $100 a barrel as opposed to $110) but yes to be fair because of the initial set my cost per chip is slightly less.

I agree on the "rarity" thing... I get that! But also wonder if being honest woth counts would have been a no-no. But yes I guess I would agree on claiming rarity and then flooding the market with them... I could see where that would be a bit missleading.

Did anyone know the counts on BTPs? Or the other NAGBs? Does scarcity of NAGB chips drive values up? Or is it simply the best edge spots and colors that make certain chips in more demand?

Example.... most want more $5s in a cash set, were significantly more $5s ordered in those sets to accommodate those $5s or all the same numbers therfore driving the $5 value up because folks want to horde those?

In tourney sets the T100 and T1000 are typically the work horse and generally most of us want more of those 2 denoms... are proper structure breakdowns taken into accommodation when ordering? I understand completely different subject but maybe still relevant?

And yeah chips aren't moving as much for many reasons... but to deny that people are happy and content with their new Tigers and dumping other sets, flooding the market, and hell let's just skip the economy and inflation aspect...

Soo many of the new chippers are 100% amazed and happy with Tina Poo Poo that they don't even have the desire anymore to crack into the real clay market... does that have some effect on chip sets not moving... well I think so! Especially throw in Web, scrown and Fakehatncanes... just counterfeit the hell out of absolutely everything... oh and also maybe throw on top that you can order fakes of almost every single group buy ever... even fake 98 CDIs... the kids don't know any better! Why pay $3 - $5 a chip when you can buy brand new replicas that non chippers probably won't even know the difference for $.50 a chip!

Without Tina's and Tigers... I think we would still be seeing blood baths over quality chips...

Will some folks just deal with the Tina chips slipping and sliding all over the damn place once the texture wears down ever so slightly... sure! But I think many will probably come back looking for better chips that will stay stacked when you walk by the poker table and rip the ever so slightest fart!

But what do I know

The Preperation H comment was simply because I got 4 cases for cheap and have no idea what to do with it... thought maybe I could sell it to some of you guys for a discount price... I've been using on my face for Anti aging cream and woke up yesterday looking like Nacy Pelosi... hey! Don't hate an entrepreneur for trying... $3 a tube BTW get em while they're hot!! Haha

The beardless and NoT Black dude!
Blackbeard!
 
Other than my small initial set that yes I was given a "deal" on..
I think here is where the problem kind of starts when you decide to comment in a thread and not be completely transparent about a topic that one of the biggest complaints is just that, lack of transparency.

Like every NAGB from Tigers to Boat chips, people get fed up with the dishonesty surrounding these things.
I think if it were me, I probably would have just kept my initial comments to myself and enjoyed my “Deal.”

Nobody is “Butt hurt” over TPs. The only person that seems to be “Butt hurt” is Ken when somebody calls him out on his lack of transparency.
I’ve personally seen the pms he sends to people that question his pompousness.
The only other people that might be “Butt hurt” are the majority of folks who didn’t get a “Deal.”

Ultimately though, that’s on them for lining up to get bent over.
but yes to be fair because of the initial set my cost per chip is slightly less.
Again, I’d venture to say the proper use of words here is not “slightly” but instead SUBSTANTIALLY LESS.

I must say I was a bit surprised reading your initial post in this thread today knowing that you are typically a man of transparency and someone I have great respect for.

I remember a time when I was involved in an NAGB and tried to get two of my newest friends whom I had great admiration for brought into the buy.
One person who I considered a good chipping friend at the time kept that from happening.
Not because you guys weren’t good new chippers but mainly because they had the power to say no. That’s it!

I’ve been a non fan of NAGBs since because of people like that and “Butt hurt” pompous assholes who think their shit doesn’t stink.

FUCK KEN AND HIS PRICING!
AND FUCK AN NAGB!

Wanna praise Ken cause you got a “Deal”………then praise him because you got a DEAL!
Most suckers got fucked but again, that’s on them.
 
Like every NAGB from Tigers to Boat chips, people get fed up with the dishonesty surrounding these things.
I think we tend to expect some degree of fairness, but thats kind of ridiculous. And I think the more invested we are in the community or the hobby, the more likely we are to feel that way. But we all know deep down that this hobby is the Wild West.
There are no reliable pricing guides or condition standards. The best you can do is educate yourself and make friends and have cash ready when opportunity arises - try to make smart buys and hope you’re treated well. But there are no rules here. Even TCR, who seems to set up nice structures, is selling to his friends or best offers first. Why shouldn’t he? It’s his shit to sell.

I don’t blame anybody for complaining about the transparency thing - if a seller was looking to be the most fair, he’d be transparent. As a buyer, I’d like to see that! But if he’s looking to maximize profits, he probably wouldn’t be very transparent. And I bet if I invested a house worth of cash, I’d probably have an eye on profits.
 
Even TCR, who seems to set up nice structures, is selling to his friends or best offers first. Why shouldn’t he? It’s his shit to sell.
And good on TCR and his friends. And if his friends want to praise him for it, at least be honest about it and say you got hooked up in your praise.
That’s all.

I don’t own any TCR chips either.
 
There are no reliable pricing guides or condition standards. The best you can do is educate yourself and make friends and have cash ready when opportunity arises - try to make smart buys and hope you’re treated well. But there are no rules here. Even TCR, who seems to set up nice structures, is selling to his friends or best offers first. Why shouldn’t he? It’s his shit to sell.
💯
 
I think we tend to expect some degree of fairness, but thats kind of ridiculous. And I think the more invested we are in the community or the hobby, the more likely we are to feel that way. But we all know deep down that this hobby is the Wild West.
There are no reliable pricing guides or condition standards. The best you can do is educate yourself and make friends and have cash ready when opportunity arises - try to make smart buys and hope you’re treated well. But there are no rules here. Even TCR, who seems to set up nice structures, is selling to his friends or best offers first. Why shouldn’t he? It’s his shit to sell.

I don’t blame anybody for complaining about the transparency thing - if a seller was looking to be the most fair, he’d be transparent. As a buyer, I’d like to see that! But if he’s looking to maximize profits, he probably wouldn’t be very transparent. And I bet if I invested a house worth of cash, I’d probably have an eye on profits.
TCR Jim is the closest thing to a chip "hero" I've seen in the sets community, he does very well I'm sure. When he's selling chips for .60 cents, that's a service to the masses. While obscure Indiana and the like, REAL casino chips and numbers known. chips with known to be 4 or 5 racks at $20 a chip, ok, known rarity. etc. Not sure if he does "behind the scenes" deals but if he does so what, there's so many that everyone gets something.

I watched when the temptation came to him and he was going to auction things, what happened? the community began to grumble and he went back to his original method.
 
For not being butthurt, folks sure are acting....butthurt.

I mean how dead can the horse possibly be? Vendors sell things to make money. They make what they can.

If I'm buying a rack I plan to murder and relabel, that adds $150 and months of waiting right off the top. When the work can cost as much as the chips, it can almost seem crazy for some. Until you realize the time and effort it takes. I'm almost surprised by how low the cost is for Kifer milling and Gear labels while at the same time being surprised by how much.

If you're in a TCR sale, transparency isn't the focus because it's a vendor's sale. Post on number count of chips, and your post is likely to be modded. There will be no mention of the fact that cherry picked sets have been pulled out for all of Jim's friends, no mention of how many gold tickets were used, etc. Some sales it's just pure roulette - pay the money and see what you get. IGs were a great example. Some people received sets that were almost entirely fantastic condition, while others received sets that were literally almost 100% flea-bitten disasters. But where else are you going to go?

As a vendor Ken said I have chips, here they are for this much. And no he doesn't share the cost he paid or how many chips he has because that helps him in literally no way possible. Maybe he should also tell us who he ordered from and how? Maybe TCR should give us a Standard Operating Procedure on how he obtains all his chips? Maybe people who have "finds" in the wild shouldn't be allowed to resell?

To somehow say that one is better than the other is a joke and again, mental gymnastics. If you're going to post the same meme 100 times over and tell us again 100 times over how great you are compared to Ken and what you would have done better than Ken and what a bad person Ken is and how much Ken has hurt our hobby and how much your not butthurt by Ken and yadda yadda yadda - make sure you do it with everyone.

And yes Ken has continued to roll out chips. Even I have made a joke at his expense about it. I just haven't focused on it to the point where anti Ken is my entire personality. It's possible to think for yourself and apply critical thought. Y'all can do it!

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For not being butthurt, folks sure are acting....butthurt.

I mean how dead can the horse possibly be? Vendors sell things to make money. They make what they can.

If I'm buying a rack I plan to murder and relabel, that adds $150 and months of waiting right off the top. When the work can cost as much as the chips, it can almost seem crazy for some. Until you realize the time and effort it takes. I'm almost surprised by how low the cost is for Kifer milling and Gear labels while at the same time being surprised by how much.

If you're in a TCR sale, transparency isn't the focus because it's a vendor's sale. Post on number count of chips, and your post is likely to be modded. There will be no mention of the fact that cherry picked sets have been pulled out for all of Jim's friends, no mention of how many gold tickets were used, etc. Some sales it's just pure roulette - pay the money and see what you get. IGs were a great example. Some people received sets that were almost entirely fantastic condition, while others received sets that were literally almost 100% flea-bitten disasters. But where else are you going to go?

As a vendor Ken said I have chips, here they are for this much. And no he doesn't share the cost he paid or how many chips he has because that helps him in literally no way possible. Maybe he should also tell us who he ordered from and how? Maybe TCR should give us a Standard Operating Procedure on how he obtains all his chips? Maybe people who have "finds" in the wild shouldn't be allowed to resell?

To somehow say that one is better than the other is a joke and again, mental gymnastics. If you're going to post the same meme 100 times over and tell us again 100 times over how great you are compared to Ken and what you would have done better than Ken and what a bad person Ken is and how much Ken has hurt our hobby and how much your not butthurt by Ken and yadda yadda yadda - make sure you do it with everyone.

And yes Ken has continued to roll out chips. Even I have made a joke at his expense about it. I just haven't focused on it to the point where anti Ken is my entire personality. It's possible to think for yourself and apply critical thought. Y'all can do it!

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Believe it or not, I tend to agree with Barrie a little. Jim is revered by most, and I don’t really understand why. He seems to price things that he can get out the door, not sit on for years. I understand it.

Does he bring chips to the hobby? Yes. Are some sold at what seem to be fair prices? Yes. Is he doing it for the “hood of the community?” Laughable. He’s an astute businessman that’s making a killing.
 
Believe it or not, I tend to agree with Barrie a little. Jim is revered by most, and I don’t really understand why. He seems to price things that he can get out the door, not sit on for years. I understand it.

Does he bring chips to the hobby? Yes. Are some sold at what seem to be fair prices? Yes. Is he doing it for the “hood of the community?” Laughable. He’s an astute businessman that’s making a killing.
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If the upcoming TCR Hot stamp sale is at 800 or 1000 a rack or more........ Thank.....
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Why only blame Ken? Why not those that buy TCR chips for $1k a rack and then flip them 2 weeks later for $3,500 a rack? I mean fair to say he has definitely played his part in setting the recent market! I mean leaded original casino used... based on the current market of 8 gram chips... why not $1,500 a rack... a few would sell sure! But he would also be stuck with a crap ton of chips not moving. Just a dart board guess but I would guess $4 to $6 range on the low denoms ans working their way up from that!

Why would Jim not try and get a little more of the meat for himself... we all know what's coming in the minutes after the sale... need I remind you on a wanted add for Jack snappers hours after the sale offering 3x what was paid?How about a certain post "interested in spotted hot stamps... offering 3 times the going rate for good chips and we can discuss those more rare!" I mean that was the moment I saw the hobby spiraling down all while TONs of members praised him for his antics.

Round and round the merry go round we go!

Why not those who were able to participate in the very first NAGB... put those chips in a dark closet and every time they need a $10k - $15k pay day they take a few racks of "mint never played" out and sell at max market?

I think.another thing worth mentioning... when Jim started chip room sales years ago there were what 2k members mixed across a couple chipping platforms... during covid we had massive inrush of new members and the Orange place is currently sitting at 13k members. Absolutely agree many of those folks made accounts bought a set and ran, but also how many active members where there in the original 2k? Maybe quarter of them...the indisputable fact is the hobby has grown... they are not making more leaded chips, those found "un-earthed" are yes going to cost a premium and if JIM doesn't charge it... the secondary market will add it for him... and don't worry! If they sell out in minutes or seconds, NO matter what price Jim charges! In the same 24 hour period the price will increase!

I love you Danny but what positive is coming out of that post? I guess in hind sight what positive was going to come out of my first post in this thread.... to be 1000% transparent my Tigers cost me exactly $1.56 less per chip that the prices listed above (not including the 10 plus shipping charges to build the set by barrels and racks at a time about another $.06 per chip brings that overall paid to $1.50 less). Sorry Tuna yes I said $.35 per chip on the phone this morning and I was wrong... I did the math!

Wanna know how many times people have turned profits off of me all the way back to my first chipset built since joining PCF? Who knows... wanna know how many times I sold chips for a profit? Twice.... wanna know how many times people sent me chips absolutely free including yourself? Several! Danny you have been one of the absolute most amazing people I have met on this thing called a chipping journey. Your generosity to myself and others in this hobby has been un-mesasureable!

Wanna know what the first one was... like I would forget... you found a big collection of chips that included Pick Hobson Fracs, it was Easter Sunday and I was with my family and Brie at the Baltimore zoo (at the penguin exhibit to be exact!) I got a little PM back after hoping and praying that you would help a no name guy named Ben after years of blood and sweat painfully building my rack of fracs 1 at a time... I was 37 chips away from putting that dream to bed... standing in the zoo I began crying when I read a response saying "sure Ben I would love to help you finish that dream rack, what price do you think is fair?" I responded " well I have been paying $15 to $25 for these... so you tell me!" You responded "how about $10 a chip for the used ones..." you absolutely did NOT have to do any of that... as a fact many on the forum had been treating you like crap!

Little did I know it was just the beginning of an amazing friendship that grew into so much more than chipping, including hours of conversations picking a guy up that had never hit the ground that hard! The hours of sleep lost just to make sure your buddy was OK! @DuckPlug too! Thank God for your late night routes driving and listening to a 41 year old man balling his eyes out for hours... falling asleep on you and then calling you back minutes after I woke up... I am forever indebted to you both!

Facts are the facts... the chipping market and the "members" of it are going to do what they're going to do! Choose your friends wisely like any other aspect of life... choose to participate in groups that think Farts are funny... if you yourself find fart jokes funny. Be old, crabby and grumpy with other old crappy farts if that floats your boat chips!

And in the spirit of good ole fashioned "burying the hachet"... Let's get back to good ole fashioned Matt's short jokes!
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Go ahead and lift that leg at the table Matty and let one fly to your left... you're damn right I don't want a seat on your right... I be scarred!!
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Also fresh off the press for your viewing pleasure!
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The beardless crusader!!
Blackbeard
 
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