[gagners]

After reading some posts about ASM and the "extra chip" drama and PI and their never ending string of different projects (officially the chip-maker/importer with the worst case of ADHD out there ), I began to think: "If there is ever going to be a place where consumers can preach about what they want, CT is it."

So here is the thread. I have included 13 areas of chip design/manufacture. Comment on them as you wish. Hopefully, we can zero in on what everyone really wants. The 13 categories are:

• EDGESPOTS
• MOLD
• SOUND
• WEIGHT
• TEXTURE
• COLORS
• STRENGTH
• PRECISION OF MANUFACTURE
• LABELS (OR HOT STAMP)
• CUSTOMER SERVICE
• BRAND NAME
• CUSTOMIZATION
• OTHER

My comments:

EDGESPOTS - I want choices. I don't care if they're not perfect.
MOLD - Is there anyway to get a custom mold without spending over $1000??? Good molds are out there, but everyone has them already
SOUND - I think sound is subjective. I like how each chip has it's own, distinct sound.
WEIGHT - too light/too heavy is bad. Somewhere in the middle is fine with me.
TEXTURE - no pref, really
COLORS - I like the bright, vivid colors as opposed to muted ones.
STRENGTH - If it doesn't break under normal play conditions, that's good enough for me. I don't care if a chip can stand up to the "vise grips and pliers" test.
PRECISION OF MANUFACTURE - Like JimB said, clays are an art, plastics are a science. I can live (I prefer) small inconsistancies.
LABELS (OR HOT STAMP) - If they don't come off in normal play, I'm cool. Size is relative to me. Shaped inlays would be a nice option...
CUSTOMER SERVICE - HUGE! Don't make me wait 2 weeks for an email reply. Either hire more support staff or clean up QC (the call volume is either related to too many customers or too many customer complaints)
BRAND NAME - Don't care if they're T&C, BC, PI, ABC, LMNOP. If I like em, I like em.
CUSTOMIZATION - What I really want. The more custom, the better. Let's face it, ceramics didn't get the market they have by "feeling better"
OTHER

[SandmanDC]

Amen

[99%evil]

What about the metal slug? You can't forget that.

[palmimports]

Originally Posted by gagners

After reading some posts about ASM and the "extra chip" drama and PI and their never ending string of different projects (officially the chip-maker/importer with the worst case of ADHD out there ), I began to think: "If there is ever going to be a place where consumers can preach about what they want, CT is it."

So here is the thread. I have included 13 areas of chip design/manufacture. Comment on them as you wish. Hopefully, we can zero in on what everyone really wants. The 13 categories are:

• EDGESPOTS
• MOLD
• SOUND
• WEIGHT
• TEXTURE
• COLORS
• STRENGTH
• PRECISION OF MANUFACTURE
• LABELS (OR HOT STAMP)
• CUSTOMER SERVICE
• BRAND NAME
• CUSTOMIZATION
• OTHER

My comments:

EDGESPOTS - I want choices. I don't care if they're not perfect.
HAS to be made by hand- as China wont do small custom orders- this forces you to go to ASM, BC, Paulson etc
MOLD - Is there anyway to get a custom mold without spending over $1000??? Good molds are out there, but everyone has them already
No- Even China molds for compression chips cost me 3 grand- BC and Paulson 7500.00 +
SOUND - I think sound is subjective. I like how each chip has it's own, distinct sound. Iagree- to us not a factor in buying chips
WEIGHT - too light/too heavy is bad. Somewhere in the middle is fine with me. Were between 10 and 11 grams ( paulson shaped inlays are 11 grams)
TEXTURE - no pref, really-
COLORS - I like the bright, vivid colors as opposed to muted ones.
Us too- unfortunately for EACH color made in china a ton of raw materials MUST be purchased for EACH color- and to be honest- they JUST dont have the vivid colors down YET.
STRENGTH - If it doesn't break under normal play conditions, that's good enough for me. I don't care if a chip can stand up to the "vise grips and pliers" test.
PRECISION OF MANUFACTURE - Like JimB said, clays are an art, plastics are a science. I can live (I prefer) small inconsistancies.
I agree- it indicates a hand made effort or at least quasi hand made effort and adds character to the product.
LABELS (OR HOT STAMP) - If they don't come off in normal play, I'm cool. Size is relative to me. Shaped inlays would be a nice option...
Both can be achieved-- we can make shaped AND standard labels which, when UV cured- wont come off.
If the other printers would buy the expansive materials to print on- using permanent adhesive-/UV curable adhesives- temporary labels would be a thing of the past.
CUSTOMER SERVICE - HUGE! Don't make me wait 2 weeks for an email reply. Either hire more support staff or clean up QC (the call volume is either related to too many customers or too many customer complaints)
Amen to that
BRAND NAME - Don't care if they're T&C, BC, PI, ABC, LMNOP. If I like em, I like em.
CUSTOMIZATION - What I really want. The more custom, the better. Let's face it, ceramics didn't get the market they have by "feeling better"
Custom is where it's at right now with everything- especially slot machines and poker chips- people can affort to own a unique and custom product -
OTHER

We will NEVER see small order compression clays from china- not profitable- not profitable even making the ones they make for us now- they do it to pacify us and keep our business.
One day when we take the time and effort to learn this craft- then we will be able to do this- but it's a ways away- but it's on my list of TO DO things for 2007- we want to make clays here with virtually NO limitations-

My two cents
Joe

[RTBrandy]

EDGESPOTS

• MOLD
• SOUND
• WEIGHT
• TEXTURE
• COLORS
• STRENGTH
• PRECISION OF MANUFACTURE
• LABELS (OR HOT STAMP)
• CUSTOMER SERVICE
• BRAND NAME
• CUSTOMIZATION
• OTHER

My preferences are as follows:

I wanted Clay.
I wanted my own, unique inlay
I wanted my own color combos
I wanted cool spots

of course I wanted a sound product that was tested and proven. The great customer service was just a bonus as far as I'm concerned. the price was right, the volume was right.

I enjoy the fact that my chips are not uniform and I dislike shaped inlays.

If I could get one thing changed, I would've liked to have the chips be [just a skosh] heavier.