New Brand of Plastic Cards. Has anyone else tried them?

[holdem75]

I have just about every brand of plastic cards: Kem, copag, Gemaco and the Italian brands Modiano and Dal Negro.. I'm always on the look out for new cards. I was surfing google and came accross "Shark Cards" - i had never heard of them, but for the price, i figured why not.
In all seriousness, these handle just like the italian manufactured cards and i couldnt believe how affordable they were. I'm curious to see if anyone else has heard of or tried Shark Plastic Cards?? Maybe they have been around and i just haven't seen them??
Anyway, the link on google is:
http://www.google.com/products?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS265US266&q=shark+plastic+cards&um=1

I also found this link from Y! www.buysharkcards.com

I have been playing with them for over a month and i actualy preferr them to my other decks. Please let me know if others have these cards or have heard of them.
Thanks!
HoldEm

[Midnight Rose]

hmmm...

[chipNAchair]

2X hmmm + scratching my head   Interesting as I just bought a deck of the desjgn cards and really like those.  I'm tempted to get a deck of these to just out of curiousity

[Jambine]

I have just about every brand of plastic cards: Kem, copag, Gemaco and the Italian brands Modiano and Dal Negro.. I'm always on the look out for new cards. I was surfing google and came accross "Shark Cards" - i had never heard of them, but for the price, i figured why not.
In all seriousness, these handle just like the italian manufactured cards and i couldnt believe how affordable they were. I'm curious to see if anyone else has heard of or tried Shark Plastic Cards?? Maybe they have been around and i just haven't seen them??
Anyway, the link on google is:
http://www.google.com/products?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS265US266&q=shark+plastic+cards&um=1

I also found this link from Y! www.buysharkcards.com

I have been playing with them for over a month and i actualy preferr them to my other decks. Please let me know if others have these cards or have heard of them.
Thanks!
HoldEm

Are you spaming this forum?   It reallly looks bad for a new member to post so many links to a sale item.  1/2 your posts on the first day.  Lets slow down on that a bit, eh?

I removed the extra, unnecessary, spammy thread from the OP at the link A5S was pointing to.  I think this thread makes the point easily enough. -MR

[Flaming Frog Poker]

I would be interested in trying them.  If you want to send me a sample let me know and I will give you the address.

Mike
Director of Sales
www.brybelly.com
888 832-5634

[ky70]

I would be interested in trying them.   If you want to send me a sample let me know and I will give you the address...

Best response...EVER.

And though I am not a vendor, I'm also willing to give these cards a test drive.  I would also recommend to the seller (whoever that may be  ) that they should take closer pics of the card faces.

[Flaming Frog Poker]

I would be interested in trying them.   If you want to send me a sample let me know and I will give you the address...

Best response...EVER.

And though I am not a vendor, I'm also willing to give these cards a test drive.  I would also recommend to the seller (whoever that may be  ) that they should take closer pics of the card faces.

I was being perfectly honest with him.  Our various websites sell a huge amount of cards each week.  I am always looking for new items to sell and will give any product an honest look.  I am guessing from all the spam that this guy actually owns these cards so can easily put a few in a priority envelope and send them on over.

[ky70]

I would be interested in trying them.   If you want to send me a sample let me know and I will give you the address...

Best response...EVER.

And though I am not a vendor, I'm also willing to give these cards a test drive.  I would also recommend to the seller (whoever that may be  ) that they should take closer pics of the card faces.

I was being perfectly honest with him. 

I didn't think you were joking...my response was about you addressing the poster as the seller though the premise/appearance of his original post was as a card enthusiast and not the seller (I appreciated how you cut through the smoke).

P.S.  I'm also serious about accepting these cards...or better yet send some to Nut'n (the site propietar) so that he can do a review.

[holdem75]

I am actually not selling the cards, a friend of mine has been working on them for a while and trying to get them in stores etc..
Apologizes if my postings came across as advertisements etc.. I am just excited for my buddy and was also curious if anyone has heard of them yet.
My input on the cards is honest though – I was impressed vs what I was expecting.
Looking back, I can see that my postings came across the wrong way. Again, my apologies

[Midnight Rose]

I am actually not selling the cards, a friend of mine has been working on them for a while and trying to get them in stores etc..

See how much easier that was?  We do have a place for this kind of post, you know: the Non-advertiser's Forum.  I'll move this thread there now.  Tell your friend good luck with that; I'm sure that if he takes Brybelly and KY70 up on their offers, he'll have some success.

[kkbait]

For .99 cents I ordered a deck to try.
kkbait

[Detroitdad]

I have a question, what start off in your first post being dishonest? 

If its your buddy designing the cards, why lead off with "surfing google, came across these cards"

"I have never heard of them"

IMHO its just not a good way to start off is all.

B

[Flaming Frog Poker]

I have a question, what start off in your first post being dishonest? 

If its your buddy designing the cards, why lead off with "surfing google, came across these cards"

"I have never heard of them"

IMHO its just not a good way to start off is all.

B

The problem is that he was confused about HPT.  We are not the normal idiotic forum crowd. 

[Detroitdad]

I have just about every brand of plastic cards: Kem, copag, Gemaco and the Italian brands Modiano and Dal Negro.. I'm always on the look out for new cards. I was surfing google and came accross "Shark Cards" - i had never heard of them, but for the price, i figured why not.
In all seriousness, these handle just like the italian manufactured cards and i couldnt believe how affordable they were. I'm curious to see if anyone else has heard of or tried Shark Plastic Cards?? Maybe they have been around and i just haven't seen them??
Anyway, the link on google is:
http://www.google.com/products?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS265US266&q=shark+plastic+cards&um=1

I also found this link from Y! www.buysharkcards.com

I have been playing with them for over a month and i actualy preferr them to my other decks. Please let me know if others have these cards or have heard of them.
Thanks!
HoldEm

I think the best way to make amends for being ummmmmmm, misleading is what we will call it.........is to send every member over 4300 posts a free set up of cards

B

[Midnight Rose]

I have a question, what start off in your first post being dishonest? 

If its your buddy designing the cards, why lead off with "surfing google, came across these cards"

"I have never heard of them"

IMHO its just not a good way to start off is all.

B

The problem is that he was confused about HPT.  We are not the normal idiotic forum crowd. 

Well, there is that.  Plus, I'm not convinced that there is an actual "friend" involved, especially given the OP's email address ("pokercardguru@yahoo.com").  Still, WTFE.  Either the cards are worth something or they're not (I'm leaning toward the latter; given that the cards cost only .99¢, that plus the lies and the advertising hype don't really speak well of the product - not to mention the man/men behind it).  Either way, the end result will tell the tale for him/them.

[Detroitdad]

I have a question, what start off in your first post being dishonest? 

If its your buddy designing the cards, why lead off with "surfing google, came across these cards"

"I have never heard of them"

IMHO its just not a good way to start off is all.

B

The problem is that he was confused about HPT.  We are not the normal idiotic forum crowd. 

Well, there is that.  Plus, I'm not convinced that there is an actual "friend" involved, especially given the OP's email address ("pokercardguru@yahoo.com").  Still, WTFE.  Either the cards are worth something or they're not (I'm leaning toward the latter; given that the cards cost only .99¢, that plus the lies and the advertising hype don't really speak well of the product - not to mention the man/men behind it).  Either way, the end result will tell the tale for him/them.

That is pretty much what I was implying, but not being a Mod or anything I didn't want to go there 

[cigarherb]

I say everyone with over 2000 post. Since I dont post as much as I used to.

[Flaming Frog Poker]

I say everyone with over 2000 post. Since I dont post as much as I used to.

I have waaaaaayyyy less than 2000 posts but he did send me a PM saying he would have his "friend" send me a deck.  I will check them out and post my thoughts.

[Detroitdad]

I say everyone with over 2000 post. Since I dont post as much as I used to.

I have waaaaaayyyy less than 2000 posts but he did send me a PM saying he would have his "friend" send me a deck.  I will check them out and post my thoughts.

Great, look forward to hearing your review.......however there are more reputable sponsors on here (including you) that I would rather deal with.

On a threadjack, I put some of the COPAGS into play that I picked up from you. The Mandala's and Peace cards were a big hit.

B

[Midnight Rose]

I agree with DD; those Peace cards were just gorgeous.

[holdem75]

OK! YOU BLEW MY COVER!! 

Free Cards for all

[kkbait]

Received my cards today. Don't seem bad for the money. Will give them a test next weekend.
kkbait

[holdem75]

Sorry guys,
I wanted to get my cards out there so i made up the bs post. I actually feel really bad now since i'm becoming more and more interested in the other cards out there and people's thoughts and i really like this site.
So, to try and make up for it, i will send the following free cards (i think i covered everyone that was active in this link):
Midnight Rose, chipNAchair, Jambine, Detroitdad (just send me a message through HPT with your address and i will get them out asap).
BryBelly and Ky70, i mailed yours on saturday, you should get them in the next day or 2.
 - Rob

[austin5string]

Sorry guys,
I wanted to get my cards out there so i made up the bs post. I actually feel really bad now since i'm becoming more and more interested in the other cards out there and people's thoughts and i really like this site.
So, to try and make up for it, i will send the following free cards (i think i covered everyone that was active in this link):
Midnight Rose, chipNAchair, Jambine, Detroitdad (just send me a message through HPT with your address and i will get them out asap).
BryBelly and Ky70, i mailed yours on saturday, you should get them in the next day or 2.
 - Rob

One thing to know about this group.  We are all a bunch of sicko, card and chip hoarding, freaks passionate collectors.  No need to be shady.  For one, because we will sniff you out.  For two, though, if you come out and say "Hey, I'm selling some cheap cards, who wants to try 'em out?" you'll get plenty of sales.

Stand up offer on your part.  Hopefully they others forgive (you're offering free stuff, so I'm betting they will).  Stick around and join us in our illness hobby.

~A5S

[holdem75]

LOL - I know, i feel bad. Its my first time on these forums. I totally understand everyone's  responses and I deserved it. Im trying to make it right by doing what i can on my end.  Once again, my sincere appologies. Hopefully people will give me a 2nd chance, but if they dont - i do understand.

[Detroitdad]

I'm all for second chances, at least you came clean (of course so did my teenager once they were caught).

Anyways, I will give you my addy, and I will post an honest review of the cards.

B

[sharkyspoker]

DD,
Definitely let us know what you think of the cards......For obvious reasons I am interested in these...however my the lowest my bar of approval goes down to is the Cristallos, so they have to at least equal that.

Sharky

[ChrisChip10]

The problem is that he was confused about HPT.  We are not the normal idiotic forum crowd. 

Speak for yourself sir!  

Quite an amazing thread.  I could test the cards as well.  

[cigarherb]

I was active in the early part of the thread also, but I dont get any free cards. 

[Midnight Rose]

Stand-up offer, Rob, and I'm not saying that just because I'm about to get some free cards.  Like the fellas said, we don't trunk no foolishness 'roun these here parts; and it takes stones to come back and face the peanut gallery.  Stay on this track, and you'll be ok.

[holdem75]

Thanks guys - lesson learned for sure.
Appreciate the 2nd chance and i am interested to hear what you thinkn of my cards. Detroit, Midnight Rose - im sending yours now.

[cigarherb]

Stand-up offer, Rob, and I'm not saying that just because I'm about to get some free cards.  Like the fellas said, we don't trunk no foolishness 'roun these here parts; and it takes stones to come back and face the peanut gallery.  Stay on this track, and you'll be ok.

No really, it's because she is getting free cards.

[Midnight Rose]

Stand-up offer, Rob, and I'm not saying that just because I'm about to get some free cards.  Like the fellas said, we don't trunk no foolishness 'roun these here parts; and it takes stones to come back and face the peanut gallery.  Stay on this track, and you'll be ok.

No really, it's because she is getting free cards.

 

[ky70]

BryBelly and Ky70, i mailed yours on saturday, you should get them in the next day or 2.
 - Rob

Thank you.  I look forward to it.

[Midnight Rose]

Rob, I received the cards today, thanks.  I won't open them until I get home, at which point I'll do some quick comparisons and will try to do a write-up for them.  I can say right off the bat that I really, really like that logo; very sharp.

[austin5string]

Rob, I received the cards today, thanks.  I won't open them until I get home, at which point I'll do some quick comparisons things with them behind close doors that will never be discussed and will try to do a write-up for them.  I can say right off the bat that I really, really like that logo; very sharp.

FYP

[Midnight Rose]

Rob, I received the cards today, thanks.  I won't open them until I get home, at which point I'll do some quick comparisons things with them behind close doors that will never be discussed and will try to do a write-up for them.  I can say right off the bat that I really, really like that logo; very sharp.

FYP

You promised you wouldn't tell!

[holdem75]

Great, looking forward to getting your input. Thanks for the compliment on the design!

[sharkyspoker]

Rose,
It's been almost 4 hrs.....where is that review. I'm interested in these cards also. If anything just because of the name.

Sharky

[Flaming Frog Poker]

We received the cards in the Indianapolis office as promised.  I actually work out of my home in Ohio though so I can't review them personally.  I asked one of the owners to take a look and here is the IM conversation I just had about them:

Mike says:
did you look at those shark cards?
Belly Boy says:
briefly
Belly Boy says:
i didn't spend much time with them - they were better than some I have seen but the design and index was just god awful
Belly Boy says:
the funny thing is that we get a call from someone this week asking about them
Belly Boy says:
but this is what they asked
Mike says:
probably a set up
Belly Boy says:
I hear you can dip them things in Motor Oil - is that true
Belly Boy says:
i really wish I would have taken that call
Mike says:
they were asking about the shark cards?
Belly Boy says:
y


Take from the conversation what you will.  I will actually be in the office on the 17th so will take a look myself.

[Midnight Rose]

I'll be posting my impressions here in outline style (it's a holdover from...well, don't worry about that) as I go along.  I'll do a full-blown review with pictures tomorrow after work:

-Initial impression before opening the box: I love the "Shark" logo - stylized S - and the back of the box promises something different than industry-standard cards; reminiscent of Desjgn Cards in its stylishness

-Text hype on back made me roll my eyes a bit; "lasts up to 500 times longer than paper cards!"?  Ok, show your work, or tone down the hype.  Though it's not hard for tissue paper to last up to 500 times longer than paper cards...

-Opened box of blue deck, and realized that since these are poker-size cards and all I have are bridge-size cases, I won't have anything to transport these cards in.  This box won't last long.  Not sure what I'll do about this.  I do have a collector's tin of Harley-Davidson cards that I'll never use, but I was hoping to save those for my granddaughter.  Hmm. 

Then I noticed "51A" is stamped on the box lip.  Kind of curious about that one.

-Then the notorious Plastic Card Funk drifted up to my nose.  peeeyeww!  To be fair to these cards, this has been reported as being common across the board for plastic cards.  I've never experienced it with the Modiano, Dal Negro, or Fournier setups I have - I know for sure that if I ever smelled that before, I'd remember it - but it went away after the cards were exposed to the air for a bit.  That, or I just got used to it.  Yeow, that was nasty.

-Dang, these are blue cards.  The backs are so deeply blue that the sides look deceptively blue when you straighten the deck.  This is a good thing, I think; it would be difficult to mix up the decks for very long. 

Still, all the blue in this deck (and probably the red in the other one; haven't opened it yet) brings new meaning to "full bleed".  Keeping with the stylization, looking at the back horizontally reminds me of an old-fashioned TV screen.  Instead of having a white border as most non-full bleed cards do, these are blue/red around the perimeter, with thin white inner border around a series of dots.  This design is so bold that the stylized Shark S gets lost in the center.  Maybe toning down the back will help, though the design as is kinda wakes you up.

-Unscientific comparison to my workhorse deck of blue Dal Negro Grand Slam bridge size: I really wish the Sharks were bridge sized.  They feel too big in my hand, but that's no different than any other poker size deck.  Side by side, the DN top card slides over the Shark top card when both are pressed down; the deck of 53 Sharks appear to be minutely thinner than the same number of Grand Slams. 

-Man, these are blue.

-I can't detect any visible flaws in the backs, but on turning them over, I see a strange horizontal line through the red joker, and a similar vertical line through the black joker.  I can't feel the line at all, and it only shows up at certain angles; I can't  get the line to show up in a photo, but it's there nonetheless.  I see this as a very, very minor point, one that wouldn't make me return the cards if I'd purchased them, but it's something unexpected.  As I look through the rest of the blue deck, I'm finding other cards with the strange mark on them - three with vertical lines, 3 with smudges - but again, and this is important, only on the fronts.  The backs appear flawless.

-There's the dreaded top-card slide; but that's fixed by tapping down on the top card.

-Final aesthetic notes: unlike the Grand Slams which have face borders only on the paint cards, all of the cards in the Shark deck have borders separating the body from the rank/suit designation.  In this, it looks something like a picture frame.  And again, reminiscent of the Desjgn design, the serifed ranks stand out from the more standardized look of the industry leading manufacturers.  You won't easily mistake a Shark card for most any other plastic card, to be sure.

This is a plus in some areas - the Joker riding on a shark is simply an inspired move; the numbered pips are clean; and the paint cards didn't seem to be occupied by the same old bags-under-the-eyes queens, kings, and jacks so prevalent across the board of big-name manufacturer's sets (though their faces need to be bolder; they look like ghosts, they're drawn so lightly).  But the Ace of Spades - the card that should set the tone of the entire deck - left something to be desired.  There was no punch, no oomph in that card.  It could as easily have been just another low-ranking card in the deck.  Compare that with the relatively ugly, but yet striking, Modiano and Dal Negro Ace of Spades, both of which make definite statements about the cards yet to come.  And though most card nuts wouldn't be caught dead with a flimsy deck of paper Bikes or Bees, those Aces of Spades remain untouched in their awesomeness, to my eye.


Wow, this was way longer than I expected.  I haven't even opened the red deck yet though I suspect I'll have much the same reaction.  I'll play with the cards for a bit to see how I feel about their playability, and will take them out next weekend when I deal for a local charity, to see how non-card freaks react to them.

[Three more quick notes: the red deck is really red; the royalty on the paint cards need to eat a meal or two, they're so gaunt; and these cards are sharp - literally.  I got a paper...um, plastic?...cut when I did my first shuffle.]

[Midnight Rose]

Ok, I'll say it.  These cards are stiffer, thicker, than any Dal Negro I currently own.  I love stiff, thick cards as much as the next woman.  But damn, shuffling the Sharks are developing the muscles in my hands, they're so stiff.

Yes, I can hear the snickering from here.  Tell me how else to put that, and I'll rewrite it.

[ChrisChip10]

I think Rose is really Nut'n, or she is trying to get his job.  What a review.  I would like a setup of those, although being so thick I am not sure that will go over well.  I like the "blue" idea, I wonder if the red is just as deep.

Rose, I would send you some cases I got with the Desjin cards, but it's probably not worth it, they are plastic and the 6 I got had a cracked one from the mailing.

The funk was present in my Dal Negro, both setups.  I think it probably has to do with how long since they were manufactured.

Thanks for the review...looks like more stuff for my poker drawers.  I need someone with nice strong hands to go through my drawers to organize my chips...and cards...Sorry, couldn't resist.   

[desjgn]

Chris, I can always send you a replacement case.

Apologies that one arrived cracked.

[Midnight Rose]

I think Rose is really Nut'n, or she is trying to get his job.  What a review.  I would like a setup of those, although being so thick I am not sure that will go over well.  I like the "blue" idea, I wonder if the red is just as deep.

It is; and very much so.  I didn't have a chance to finish my review (if you can believe it, with all those words), but after I typed that, I used them in a quick heads-up game with my son.  I asked him what he thought of them, and he and I had very similar views on them:

• They have the deepest back colors of any card we've ever experienced;
• Kub used an extremely inappropriate word for what he thought of the paint cards, but except for that word (for which he got smacked upside the head), I'd have to agree with the sentiment.  The face cards need to be more drawn-out;
• They're very, very stiff, to the point of having to raise the hole cards higher than normal to see what you have;
• We both liked the way the cards read on the board; the "picture frame" made it easy to tell the cards apart, even when spacing the cards tightly on the board;
• They'd be a good card to buy in a local supermarket; their rich back colors would really make them stand out on the shelf, and probably would get a lot of attention from the younger set.  We both kept thinking "Crayola" when we looked at the top of the decks.

I'll report back in about a week after using them in a live game with the ATC college set.

Thanks for the review...looks like more stuff for my poker drawers.  I need someone with nice strong hands to go through my drawers to organize my chips...and cards...Sorry, couldn't resist.   

 

[Midnight Rose]

Rose,
It's been almost 4 hrs.....where is that review. I'm interested in these cards also. If anything just because of the name.

Sharky

I posted my detailed thoughts above, though I'll write it in bite-sized chunks next week.  Overall, I like the cards, with the caveats I mentioned.  And since they're poker size, and I'm a bridge size chick, and these have your name all over them, I'll give you this setup after the game I deal next weekend.  I think I have it already, but PM me your address, just in case.

[holdem75]

Thanks for the thorough feedback rose!
The next run will have bold, vivid color on the face cards - the colors were not as substantial as we had anticipated.

We are working with a couple different factories on some really exciting new lines; I will make sure I get samples out to you once we are running high volume. Our next series will also be available in bridge size and will include a nice case.   This is a great forum – I really appreciate you taking the time to write such a detailed review. Input such as yours is invaluable and enables us to make better cards.
This is the first line of shark cards, but expect several more in the future!
Thanks again for the feedback and I hope you enjoy the cards.
We will have sharkcards.com open in a couple months, in the mean time we are on ebay if anyone is interested, our decks typically sell for $5-$6 a pack and we often have sales (like now) where you can get them for ~ $4 a pack.
www.stores.ebay.com/Shark-Plastic-Cards

[cavalar]

Can anyone post a good close-up picture of these cards?

[Midnight Rose]

Can anyone post a good close-up picture of these cards?

I forgot to last week, sorry.  I'll post the pics when I get home, if no one else beats me to it.  They're all very similar, so I'll just pick a random few.

[Midnight Rose]