These decks were sold only in pairs, and originally were being priced at $49.95 a pair. People held off on buying them, and a limited-edition deck of only 2,500 pairs took a long time to sell out. I bought them from Wingra Direct maybe a month ago for $24.95 a pair before the sell-out.
I don't recall them being sold for $49.95 a pair. They were sold on the USPCC official website (directed to from Facebook in around 2011 April) for $19.95 per set, with $5.00 shipping internationally.
The USPC website doesn't sell anything. There's no shopping cart, no "add to cart" button... They redirect you to other retailers, including their own, GGS. For example, when I visit this page selling Dragon Backs:
http://www.bicyclecards.com/products/playing-card/bicycle-dragon-back-playing-cardsThere's a link marked "Where to Buy" - not "Buy Now", not "Add to Cart". Clicking on that link takes you here:
http://www.bicyclecards.com/about/where-to-buyWhich lists many retailers selling their products, including GGS, Merz67, BMPokerWorld, etc.
I can't say they were never for sale at GGS, but I can say I never saw them for sale at GGS.
On the home page, there is a new link for buying cards, but it just redirects to Wingra Direct.
I think I spotted them at BMPokerWorld shortly after release at $49.95 a pair. A few other retailers had them at that price, too. Apparently they thought the collectors were insane enough to buy the set at a madly inflated price. Perhaps a few were, but apparently not enough to keep the lights on. BMPW is still selling them at $40 a pop, but that might be because places like Wingra are sold out.
BTW: check out this video - USPC at the New York Toy Fair last week. They "reveal" a few new products.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKcyKEKOkUkI thought it was kind of funny when they were showing off the Steam Punk deck, but using the T11 version of it rather than their own!
Sigh...
So many decks I want to get. Seriously, I am going to go bankrupt if Krystle wasn't stopping me from spending too much. :-X
With this deck, you aren't missing much. The back and the ad cards are the only custom things about this deck. Otherwise, it's no different than Standard Bikes.