Gold and Silver 2008 Beijing Olympic Cards

[Don Boyer]

They are 800 NTD a deck on Taiwan auctions if you can not find them in Beijing

That's a little over US$27 - and that doesn't even count shipping.


I'll wait and see what Krystle finds! 

[digipunk]

They are 800 NTD a deck on Taiwan auctions if you can not find them in Beijing

That's a little over US$27 - and that doesn't even count shipping.
I'll wait and see what Krystle finds!

I don't wanna say that but it is difficult to find the decks in local shops in Beijing. If she has friends in China, maybe they can try Taobao, that will be a much better way to get them. I am not sure, I don't trade with China sellers

[Don Boyer]

They are 800 NTD a deck on Taiwan auctions if you can not find them in Beijing

That's a little over US$27 - and that doesn't even count shipping.
I'll wait and see what Krystle finds!

I don't wanna say that but it is difficult to find the decks in local shops in Beijing. If she has friends in China, maybe they can try Taobao, that will be a much better way to get them. I am not sure, I don't trade with China sellers

Is Taobao a city or a shop?

[Lara Krystle "Lane"]

Taobao is like a chinese ebay. I buy my shoes and clothes from there a while back and I will soon again. I have not tried buying cards from there since well... its china. But I will give it a shot though

[digipunk]

Is Taobao a city or a shop?

In most Asian countries such as Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, etc, only "localized" auction services may survive and TaoBao is the main auction service (maybe the only one) in China.

eBay ever came to these countries but was totally defeated by other localized auction service companies.

[xZEROx]

Taobao isn't actually an auction service. All items on there are buy-it-now, if we use the eBay term. there are other similar online purchasing sites, but not as popular.

[digipunk]

Taobao isn't actually an auction service. All items on there are buy-it-now, if we use the eBay term. there are other similar online purchasing sites, but not as popular.

Thank you for your correction. You are right.


Actually I tried Taobao few times and got worse experiences. Some sellers listed the items they didn't have and that wasted me much time to communicate and figure it out.


BTW, I found another 2 auctions here, the price for a GOLD deck is 499:

http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21101113233233
http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21012151394661

[Don Boyer]

Taobao isn't actually an auction service. All items on there are buy-it-now, if we use the eBay term. there are other similar online purchasing sites, but not as popular.

Thank you for your correction. You are right.


Actually I tried Taobao few times and got worse experiences. Some sellers listed the items they didn't have and that wasted me much time to communicate and figure it out.


BTW, I found another 2 auctions here, the price for a GOLD deck is 499:

http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21101113233233
http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?21012151394661

Even with Google Translate, it's not easy to understand...


I'm putting my faith in Krystle's deck-hunting skills!

[VortexHead]

Would you guys say $23 for a sealed deck of the gold ones is too much? Cheers

[digipunk]

Even with Google Translate, it's not easy to understand...
I'm putting my faith in Krystle's deck-hunting skills!

I just provided a "Plan-B" in case they are not available in China. I am not the seller and as I said earlier on UC that I won't buy items for anyone. Of course I hope Krystle will find the decks directly.


@VortexHead, 499 NTD is approx. $17 USD.

[VortexHead]

Even with Google Translate, it's not easy to understand...
I'm putting my faith in Krystle's deck-hunting skills!

I just provided a "Plan-B" in case they are not available in China. I am not the seller and as I said earlier on UC that I won't buy items for anyone. Of course I hope Krystle will find the decks directly.


@VortexHead, 499 NTD is approx. $17 USD.

Okay, thanks digipunk, I'll probbaly leave them for now, it's a bit pricey I guess.

[xZEROx]

considering they were sold for 80RMB (approximately $12.5USD) when it was released during the Olympics, i don't think $17 is too bad. it's not being printed anymore, and it's a souvenir type playing card. souvenirs always end up at the higher end of the price spectrum.

[Don Boyer]

Would you guys say $23 for a sealed deck of the gold ones is too much? Cheers

Four-year-old deck, limited edition, printed in a foreign country for sale there, very interesting design...


I'd say I'd pay that, so no, not too much.  Just watch the shipping charges.

considering they were sold for 80RMB (approximately $12.5USD) when it was released during the Olympics, i don't think $17 is too bad. it's not being printed anymore, and it's a souvenir type playing card. souvenirs always end up at the higher end of the price spectrum.

Souvenir decks on the high end?  Maybe vintage ones.  None of the top five most expensive deck talked about here are souvenir decks.  Most souvenir decks are cheaply made and poor quality.  I guarantee you that a sealed New Fan Back in white would fetch more than a sealed "Welcome to Hoboken" deck...


Having said all that, an Olympic souvenir deck, well-made, can fetch a premium.  But that has more to do with the manufacturer and limited nature of the deck than the fact that it's a souvenir deck.  The most valued souvenir decks around are mostly USPC-made: stuff like the '84 and '96 Olympics decks, the Air Force One decks, the 2009 Bike Messenger deck, the Hanshin Tigers deck, the Yomiuri Giants decks, the Harry Potter Japanese deck, Original Fake, Clot Limited Editions, etc. - the list goes on, but the common factor is "made by USPC".  That makes the difference.


These gold and silver decks look mighty cool, and I think they're plastic - are they, Krystle?

[Lara Krystle "Lane"]

They feel plastic-ky and foil-ish too. . I bought them for cheap back then. which was why i bought 4 decks. 2 gold poker size, 1 silver pokersize and 1 silver bridge. But yeah I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the olympic flagship store still has it.

[xZEROx]

Souvenir decks on the high end?  Maybe vintage ones.  None of the top five most expensive deck talked about here are souvenir decks.  Most souvenir decks are cheaply made and poor quality.  I guarantee you that a sealed New Fan Back in white would fetch more than a sealed "Welcome to Hoboken" deck...


Having said all that, an Olympic souvenir deck, well-made, can fetch a premium.  But that has more to do with the manufacturer and limited nature of the deck than the fact that it's a souvenir deck.  The most valued souvenir decks around are mostly USPC-made: stuff like the '84 and '96 Olympics decks, the Air Force One decks, the 2009 Bike Messenger deck, the Hanshin Tigers deck, the Yomiuri Giants decks, the Harry Potter Japanese deck, Original Fake, Clot Limited Editions, etc. - the list goes on, but the common factor is "made by USPC".  That makes the difference.

It's true that USPCC makes the difference. But what I'm saying is that souvenirs usually cost more than the product if it was to be sold in a regular store, simply because they've got the logo on it.
 
The "top five most expensive decks" you mentioned are at their price because of the companies' marketing strategies, rarity of the deck, and the printing process and finishing of the deck (including printing fees, manufacturer, stock used, etc.).
 
What I'm talking about here are the regular, common playing cards, not the fancy ones we as collectors, magicians or flourishers use. They're meant for the common public so they shouldn't cost as much. However they would still cost more than the Bicycle/Bee/Tally-Ho amongst the Western community, and the 3A's in China.

[digipunk]

I don't like and don't want the GOLD/SILVER Beijing Olympic decks, but I think they should be more valuable than some ugly decks such as the Clot Limited Edition (I even don't understand why people are willing to pay $35-50 for it)...

[Jin Jian]

I don't like and don't want the GOLD/SILVER Beijing Olympic decks, but I think they should be more valuable than some ugly decks such as the Clot Limited Edition (I even don't understand why people are willing to pay $35-50 for it)...

i personally like the bicycle clot deck alot .. some poeple have their own thinking so that might want the cloth deck and that deck is also limited edition

[digipunk]

I don't like and don't want the GOLD/SILVER Beijing Olympic decks, but I think they should be more valuable than some ugly decks such as the Clot Limited Edition (I even don't understand why people are willing to pay $35-50 for it)...

i personally like the bicycle clot deck alot .. some poeple have their own thinking so that might want the cloth deck and that deck is also limited edition

Sorry, I know what I said was very subjective. In fact the Clot decks are sold for 400 NTD (about $13.4 USD) a deck on Taiwan auctions, but I just don't like them even though I can get them with a much cheaper price.


As for the GOLD 2008 Olympics Decks, are they worth $17 per deck? I think they are. The 2008 summer Olympics was held in Beijing, there was no reason to have them produced by USPC. These decks were produced and released officially by the host country. 499 NTD or 800 NTD is not a problem if I want to add them to my collection.

[Don Boyer]

Souvenir decks on the high end?  Maybe vintage ones.  None of the top five most expensive deck talked about here are souvenir decks.  Most souvenir decks are cheaply made and poor quality.  I guarantee you that a sealed New Fan Back in white would fetch more than a sealed "Welcome to Hoboken" deck...


Having said all that, an Olympic souvenir deck, well-made, can fetch a premium.  But that has more to do with the manufacturer and limited nature of the deck than the fact that it's a souvenir deck.  The most valued souvenir decks around are mostly USPC-made: stuff like the '84 and '96 Olympics decks, the Air Force One decks, the 2009 Bike Messenger deck, the Hanshin Tigers deck, the Yomiuri Giants decks, the Harry Potter Japanese deck, Original Fake, Clot Limited Editions, etc. - the list goes on, but the common factor is "made by USPC".  That makes the difference.

It's true that USPCC makes the difference. But what I'm saying is that souvenirs usually cost more than the product if it was to be sold in a regular store, simply because they've got the logo on it.
 
The "top five most expensive decks" you mentioned are at their price because of the companies' marketing strategies, rarity of the deck, and the printing process and finishing of the deck (including printing fees, manufacturer, stock used, etc.).
 
What I'm talking about here are the regular, common playing cards, not the fancy ones we as collectors, magicians or flourishers use. They're meant for the common public so they shouldn't cost as much. However they would still cost more than the Bicycle/Bee/Tally-Ho amongst the Western community, and the 3A's in China.

It really depends on the deck.  There are really poorly-made souvenir decks, bad in every way, then there are more artistic decks with some level of customization, and there are also decks that were designed to be more "playable" in terms of production values.

Most souvenir decks fall in the category of "poorly made, bad in every way."  A picture back, zero customization on the faces, cheap stock, no real finish to speak of.  Do they retail for more than a deck of Bikes?  Maybe.  Are they worth more than a deck of Bikes.  Hell, no.  The only collector that would pay a premium for them would be a souvenir collector, not a card collector.

The Beijing '08 Olympic decks appear to have greater customization and production values.  Those a deck collector WOULD pay more for, especially one who wasn't in Beijing in '08 and didn't have a chance to buy them at original retail.

[VortexHead]

I'm tempted by these, I know someone in the uk who has one available for £15/$23, it's a little pricey though, I'll probably end up passing on them just because I cant afford to spend the money right now.

[Don Boyer]

I'm tempted by these, I know someone in the uk who has one available for £15/$23, it's a little pricey though, I'll probably end up passing on them just because I cant afford to spend the money right now.

Dude, it's a reasonable price.

If you're passing, you should post the link and share the knowledge!

[VortexHead]

I'm tempted by these, I know someone in the uk who has one available for £15/$23, it's a little pricey though, I'll probably end up passing on them just because I cant afford to spend the money right now.

Dude, it's a reasonable price.

If you're passing, you should post the link and share the knowledge!

There's no link, I just contacted a seller on ebay who sold one late January on the off chance he would have another and he does, I could post a link to his page I guess but maybe it's best to send me a pm if your interested and I'll pass on his info, if you just want the link to his ebay page here the I can do that but there will be nothing to see?

[Don Boyer]

I'm holding out for what Krystle finds in Beijing.

I don't like and don't want the GOLD/SILVER Beijing Olympic decks, but I think they should be more valuable than some ugly decks such as the Clot Limited Edition (I even don't understand why people are willing to pay $35-50 for it)...

The Clot Ltd. Editions are sought after here because they're nearly impossible to get here.  I managed to buy them at retail, and the shipping was high - they threw in an extra deck which helped to offset the expense a bit.  Also, some really like the "faceless" court card designs.

[xZEROx]

I'm holding out for what Krystle finds in Beijing.

The Clot Ltd. Editions are sought after here because they're nearly impossible to get here.  I managed to buy them at retail, and the shipping was high - they threw in an extra deck which helped to offset the expense a bit.  Also, some really like the "faceless" court card designs.

How did u get them to throw in an extra deck??

[Don Boyer]

I'm holding out for what Krystle finds in Beijing.

The Clot Ltd. Editions are sought after here because they're nearly impossible to get here.  I managed to buy them at retail, and the shipping was high - they threw in an extra deck which helped to offset the expense a bit.  Also, some really like the "faceless" court card designs.

How did u get them to throw in an extra deck??

By doing nothing.  They did it of their own accord.  Another US resident here who ordered them from the source as I did got an extra deck as well.

Good customer service.