Paper or Plastic?

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c32077

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Hello All,

Chuck from Pittsburgh, PA. First post here.

Not a big online player. I like poker for the get-together more than the game. I'm usually the donk at the table. I'll limp into the money now and then, but I play my cards and not my opponent so I don't expect to win many.

Anyway, I just wanted to get an opinion here for a project I have going on. Among other things, I am a graphic designer and I have custom designed a set of poker cards to be printed on Bicycle Prestige stock for my future pool hall. I personally love the 100% plastic cards and I cannot bring myself to print this design on paper cards. After playing with these plastic cards earlier this year I have been hooked on them. I could never go back to paper cards or even other plastics I've used.

My project hasn't been doing well because most of the people who have looked at it are not poker players, but magicians and cardists who do not like plastic cards because they can't do all of their tricks with them. I just wanted to know, from a poker player's standpoint, what you guys and gals would prefer. If the majority is paper I may have to rethink my project or wait a few years when plastic cards are hopefully more commonplace. I just think a lot of people outside of the regular poker players are not familiar with them and don't like the price tag.

Any thoughts or opinions on your preference for paper or plastic would be much appreciated and a big help to me for better understanding my market. I have been joining a lot of new forums lately just to ask this question and to get a better idea of my market's preference. I typically design chips so if you belong to any of those forums you may recognize my screen name.

I designed this deck for my future pool hall, so the design may not have mass appeal either. I will attach a pic here to get your opinion of the design as well. This is not a real picture. It's just a 3D visualization I made to help market the cards.

Would this design interest you guys (regular poker players)? Would you buy a deck or a set if you came across them in a store or pro shop? If you saw this deck of cards online would it speak to you at all or would you just pass it by?

I apologize for my first post being sort of a call for help, but I'm up a tree right now and I'm trying to pool every resource I can. Any info or opinions you can offer would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Chuck

 
DontRazeMeBro

DontRazeMeBro

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Its all gonna be dependent on preference. I found myself going out and buying new cards every week for my home game when we started with paper cards.

After a while we switched to plastic, and I personally prefer plastic for a few reasons.
1.) the increased price is very worth it, as they will outlast a paper deck by many many many uses.
2.) extremely hard to 'accidentally' crease while picking up or shuffling etc
3.) if anything is spilled on the cards (or some of the hands touching the cards), you can fairly easily wipe them down.

Some downsides to plastic cards however:
very very slippery when new
the colors will eventually rub off (I have replaced a few decks because of this, never because of damaged edges or corners.)
obvious higher price
 
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bert0111

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im probably on my own here but i prefer paper cards

i find them nicer to shuffle and less slippery.

my NYNY set from vegas last year are still doing me proud
 
WVHillbilly

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Plastic and it's not even close.

As for your design, I like the backs but kind of hate the fronts. The card on card look really distracts from the design imo.
 
JusSumguy

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I agree... Plastic

I like the face. Has peek index placement, so the look shouldn't matter, as most players just peek at the corners.

I think they're gorgeous.

-
 
MediaBLITZ

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Plastic and it's not even close.

As for your design, I like the backs but kind of hate the fronts. The card on card look really distracts from the design imo.

Ditto

The card backs are really cool but the face (though a really cool design) is not practical for stud poker where you need to ascertain the value of your hand at a glance and pretty much just by looking at the corners. This design would be pretty much outside the comfort zone of hold'em and omaha players.

And... " I just think a lot of people outside of the regular poker players are not familiar with them and don't like the price tag." BINGO

 
MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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Here's an idea to maintain the card face design - 4 color deck (blue diamond, green club, red heart, black spade - is that correct?)
 
dj11

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When it comes to cards, you need to think Bridge. Every card in play every hand. And the cards are held by the players, above the table most of the time, so they get max use over a very short period of time.

You will not find a serious, or even regular bridge player who prefers paper.
 
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kazor

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Have to go with plastic. The paper cards will have to be replaced quite often.
 
MediaBLITZ

MediaBLITZ

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Well now on a business end - you probably have more buyers of paper (the less serious sorts and fiscally challenged). And while I prefer plastic I only own paper due to cost. Also paper wears out so the folks that do buy them will have to replace them. A plastic deck at home may not ever get replaced - or it will be a while.

Think target audience (buyer).
 
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c32077

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Thank you guys for all of the help.

So far it seems plastic is the way to go and the design could use work. I have another design for the fronts, but thought it was too boring so I went with this one.

I'm at work so I don't have any way to post a pic of it. If I get a chance tonight I'll put it up and ask your opinion of that one.

I agree with the plastic fans. I chose to print on plastic because I intend for these cards to represent my business and I wanted them to be quality. They're durable, cleanable, not as easily marked or folded either intentionally or otherwise. Also, as stated by MediaBlitz they could last a lifetime in a home where they are not regularly used. that would mean a lifetime of promoting my business.

Thanks again for the help and you may see the other front designs tonight. I don't have face cards for them yet. Only the numbers.

Chuck
 
schister10j

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yes

Plastic is the way to go. People can't purposely bend part of a card for future reference. I only play with paper cards if it's at someones garage/bar game or if its a last resort.
 
skoldpadda

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Plastic cards AINEC.
 
Reptar7

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Paper or Plastic? Bring your own fabric bags. Have them wrap the meat in plastic tho.

Oh wait, poker cards... hmm, I guess plastic but I already have so many decks and people give them to me all the time, so I'm not buying cards so maybe not a good person to ask. I have never gone to the store and made a decision on plastic v paper. It seems like people buy me cards based on what the cards have on them. Like my grandparents went to Nevada and got me Flamingo casino cards with Flamingos. Before that I got some WPT cards from a friend. Before that I think I got Glacier National Park cards. Most of my cards have some theme, like a tourist attraction place, a casino, or a online poker site.
 
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smerald

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Paper or Plastic? Bring your own fabric bags. Have them wrap the meat in plastic tho.

I see what you did there. :icon_thum

Oh, and plastic seem better for the long term.
 
lcid86

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Custom deck definitely plastic. Otherwise, depends on who's playing. We tend to open new decks every time we get together.
 
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c32077

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Thanks again guys.

It seems my assumptions were correct about the regular poker players (or card players to include the bridge crowd). Plastic seems to win out here.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I will be getting them printed this time around. My project is only 14% funded at the halfway point and I have only 16 days left to raise the rest. Not likely it seems.

I thank you all for your help in offering your feedback and opinions on this subject and my design. I will be back to get some feedback on another design which I will print on paper this time. I'll sell those in an attempt to fund the plastic cards on my own. There doesn't seem to be enough interest in, or awareness of the plastic cards right now to carry my project through to print.

If anyone here is interested in checking out the project you can find it on Kickstarter if you search for Phil's Poker Cards. I'd appreciate any support you could offer, even if it's just spreading the word to others who may be interested. It may be too late to really make a difference at this point, but I figured I'd let you know about it anyway.

Thanks again for the help.

Look for another design coming soon.

Chuck
 
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I2jr

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The paper ones I think are better, here in argentina, have a thin and delicate plasticizing in some places and that makes them not slippery much less good flexibility and classic look does not distract or anything like that
 
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rugby0

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It does not matter to me. If I am playing in a home game I request that a new deck is opened each evening.
 
miamia

miamia

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Definetly plastic.This feeling of plastic under hands are great.
 
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Vonick

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Plastic is too slippery for me.good quality of paper cards are good for me.
 
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When it comes to cards, you need to think Bridge. Every card in play every hand. And the cards are held by the players, above the table most of the time, so they get max use over a very short period of time.

You will not find a serious, or even regular bridge player who prefers paper.
Wut???? I don't know a serious bridge player who prefers plastic. And especially, I don't know a bridge club that uses plastic cards.

But maybe we're in misunderstanding. English is not my native language, so I don't know how to say it, but - good cards are plastified or plasticized, I don't know which word is correct, if either...
Good cards are made of paper/carton/cardboard and coated by plastic. That's the only option. Entirely plastic, or entirely paper cards are just bad...
c32077, you should visit some local bridge clubs and talk to people
 
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Dan Perkins

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no question it would be plastic just for the durability, tho paper do have a softer feel. my vote would have to be plastic.
 
Diegol

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I have just paper cards, i have ones that was from my grandmother that are like 60 years old at least and they are good as new.
 
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