Premier Poker Buttons Review

Wylecoyo · #1 03-13-2006, 12:09 PM

Manufacturer: Premier Poker Buttons
Retailer(s): Premier Poker Buttons
Average Price: $19.99 for Standard Buttons, but will vary with size and customization for Premier and Custom Buttons.
Material: Acrylic.
Member Review by: Wylecoyo

Having upgraded the vast majority of my portable poker gear setup over the last year or so, a quality set of buttons was the only thing I was really lacking. After a ton of online research, the neatest set I could find was a set of acrylic buttons from Premier Poker Buttons (also known as known as cheaper2u on EBay). My main concerns were price, after all $40.00 seems like a lot for a few buttons, and deciding on whether to go custom or basic. After going back and forth for a few months, I finally decided to take a shot and buy a set of three slightly customized standard buttons. While many people may not use or like to use anything more than a Dealer button, I normally do because I seem to be one of the few players in my regular game which can figure out who is who without them.

Price

Premier Poker Buttons offers an endless amount of customization in terms of size, color, and graphics, so pricing will depend on what you actually want to spend. For my set, I went with a basic set of three buttons (Dealer, Small Blind, Big Blind) which cost $45.00 for the set, including minor customization and shipping. Expect to pay about $19.99 for an off the shelf Dealer button or set of Blinds buttons and about $29.99 and up for Premier or Full Custom orders.

Construction/Durability

Premier Poker Buttons are made out of 100% acrylic material which is laser engraved and then hand painted and polished to achieve an outstanding visual presentation. With the exception of engraving, each button is crafted by hand in a process which takes several days to complete due to the layered hand painting and polishing necessary to achieve their signature look.

Lowell Muramoto, the Owner/Designer of Premier Poker Buttons, is very meticulous and attentive to your desires and will go to almost any length to ensure your buttons come out exactly as you wish. This may seem to be overkill in the case of buttons, but I spent several hours on the phone with Lowell while he laid out the various options and possibilities available for my set. Each purchase includes a full lifetime warranty, including the ability to ship your buttons back in order to have the manufacturer remove any scratches or blemishes which they may pick up during the course of play.

Despite a wealth of graphics and layout options, I finally decided to stick with a simple look for my set, secure in the knowledge I can always go back later and have another set made with fancy graphics should the urge develop. I did, however, decide to modify my setup by altering their sizes and selecting a different coloring for each one. Most of Premier’s Buttons come in a two inch size for dealer buttons, one and a-half inches for the Big Blind, and one and a-quarter inches for the Small Blind. I originally was thinking of having all three buttons the same size, but, after talking to Lowell, decided to go with a three inch Dealer button in pure white, a two and a-half inch Big Blind button in Chrome Yellow, and a two and a-quarter inch “Small Blind” button in “Reflex Blue.”

Looks/Feel

Although these look great in pictures, they look even better in person. The clear acrylic body of the button allows the color of the painted engraving to glow around the edges under direct lighting. They are like little works of art. The overall feel is nice and perfectly smooth, with only the laser engraving to break up the face of the button. Each button has a nice weight and are easily visible on my table covering.

Each button includes a small felt bag with drawstring in order to store and protect them when not in use. A very nice, and useful, touch.

Reviewers Comments

These buttons can add yet another element of class to your game. Prior to buying a set, I used the white plastic dealer puck and cheapo engraved buttons you can find all over the net. While the certainly served the purpose, they were not exactly elegant or fancy. As is commonly stated about using paper cards with premium chips, I think it is kind of cheesy to use cheapo buttons when everything else in your setup is of a nicer quality. These buttons fully round out my setup and I love the way the look.

Customer satisfaction is very important to Lowell and he is willing to go to almost any extent to ensure you are completely satisfied - he even requests you contact him after receipt and tell him what you think of your buttons. He is so concerned with customer satisfaction that he insisted on remaking my small blind button after I mentioned how I wished I had picked a lighter color tone for that particular button - despite the fact I selected this color entirely on my own volition even after he had warned me the reflex blue might be too dark for a green playing surface.

Pictures

BigDogPoker · #2 03-23-2006, 06:16 AM

Very well written review. I think I'm going to buy some of these dealers buttons. You've sold me on them!

Thanks, BigDog

Dissolved · #3 03-23-2006, 06:22 AM

They Look very nice, I have some metal custom buttons myself. plastic ones would get to beat up i think

Wylecoyo · #4 03-23-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dissolved

They Look very nice, I have some metal custom buttons myself. plastic ones would get to beat up i think

I have not had any real problems with them after several games now. If this becomes a problem later on I will just send them back in to have them refinished.

Dissolved · #5 03-23-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylecoyo

I have not had any real problems with them after several games now. If this becomes a problem later on I will just send them back in to have them refinished.

Do they offer that? If so, it might be worth to have a couple custom made

Wylecoyo · #6 03-23-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dissolved

Do they offer that? If so, it might be worth to have a couple custom made

As posted in the review:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylecoyo

Each purchase includes a full lifetime warranty, including the ability to ship your buttons back in order to have the manufacturer remove any scratches or blemishes which they may pick up during the course of play.