NEW DECK- The Great Lazarus Deck

[MSimonart]

well, I have to admit, these look pretty damn sexy!

[NathanCanadas]

I dislike and don't understand the back design or pips. I like the faces' artwork though.

[Kenneth]

Well at least the jokers are changed into phoenixes (don't know if that's a word) I suppose which is related to Lazarus somehow (coming back from the dead) but the reveal is a bit uuhh random I would say although if the reveal phoenix is holding a card reveal on the beak it would be much more comfortable

[Don Boyer]

Well at least the jokers are changed into phoenixes (don't know if that's a word) I suppose which is related to Lazarus somehow (coming back from the dead) but the reveal is a bit uuhh random I would say although if the reveal phoenix is holding a card reveal on the beak it would be much more comfortable

This is actually a good reveal, one that's not terribly obvious at a glance.  It allows you to present both jokers for your spectators to glimpse without giving away that there's a difference between them.  Some of the magic I do requires two jokers that are either identical or close enough to pass as such at a glance.  The Arcane Jokeress is a prime example.

[vmagic]

In case anyone is interested this deck is now live on Kickstarter at this link - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thegreatlazarus/the-great-lazarus-playing-cards?ref=live

[loldudex2]

well, I have to admit, these look pretty damn sexy!

I thought the same... until he up and changed them. The new joker's are realistic doves, on plain white cards, with a reveal that looks like it was made in MS paint. I adored these.

Also, have you seen the new indices and such (I think he changed them). They look terrible in my opinion.

Now I was really looking forward to this, but now I doubt I'll even pledge.

[CBJ]

Well I wrote to Chris Lazarus about the crazy shipping fees

"Chis...
 
 seriously... $10 shipping to Canada for one deck?
 
 WTF?"


He wrote back

"Please dont bother me with harassing messages, apparently you have no idea what your taking about"


Oh really? 
What an ass.

CBJ

[Don Boyer]

CBJ, I'll do you one better - have you EVER heard of anyone getting a USPC Bicycle-branded deck off the ground on only FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS?  Because that's the goal this nitwit set for himself.  He's probably thinking, "I'll set the goal low so it succeeds, and I'll get the rest I need in overfunding..."  But if that overfunding never comes, this deck's going to turn into vaporware.

I have little confidence it will be made, and I think the design had promise but in its present state, it's hideous.

PASS.

(And now I have ANOTHER bloody deck to track in my weekly report...argh...)

EDIT: this guy has no idea how to do business.  Look at the reward structure for the "six-pack" deal.  $70 gets you 6 decks with international shipping included.  But that's idiocy.  It's the only deal on the board for six decks!  People from America as well as the rest of the world will all be competing for this reward - and there's only 50 of them!

[Paul Carpenter]

Not to tear anyone down, but this is a good example of how much planning and care it takes to make a successful Kickstarter campaign and follow through to the end. Those details like shipping costs and package amounts really are important and it doesn't seem like he worked that all out.

Don, I think you are correct that he's imagining that overfunding will take care of things, but if it just squeaks by he's going to have a heck of a time delivering the project. At a 2500 run just the cards will cost over $5000. Shipping is a killer, so unless he's cool with probably spending $3000 of his own money to ship stuff that could be a big mess.

Consider that to ship 6 decks effectively/safely you will probably use a small flat rate USPS box. That's $12.95 for an international package. If you go to a larger padded envelope, that's around $8, but either way that quickly becomes a burden if you didn't plan for it.

I personally don't like the style of this one so wasn't planning on pledging but it does seem like this project will be sketchy unless it is way overfunded.

[jmrock]

CBJ... I must agree with Lazarus... You are really harassing quite a lot these days... Just Kidding... On the contrary, the deck started to take shape, but the back is quite awful... A harsh contrast and very unappealing colors that clash... The design on the sides of the ambigram actually showed some promise, but the pips seem unsubstantial and the picture of the dove, again, awful... As for the financial debacle which is imminent, Lazarus, you really ought to think things through... In addition, your disrespect towards CBJ is foolish... I would think as moderator of his own forum and an active member here, you just may want to filter your thoughts before they reach the keyboard...

[CBJ]

CBJ... I must agree with Lazarus... You are really harassing quite a lot these days... Just Kidding...

Harassing?   me?  (Pointing at my halo!)  HAHAHAH

I'm really not sure why he snapped at me, it's not like I messaged him 50 times about it.  He's been on my card related FB account for a long time, and it was the first time I had messaged him about this.

Oh well, life goes on.

As for you JMRock...  you'll rue the day you called me harassing... you will rue the day...  well go ahead.. start ruing!

haha

CBJ

[xela]

He was posting here often before the KS launch. Maybe someone can contact him and let him clear a few things up? I think it's fair to let people explain themselves before getting the pitchforks out.

Hey may have a $5000 goal, but has anyone considered that he wants to pay for what is left over himself? Or that he got funding from resellers already and subtracted that cost? Or both? Many KS projects just launch to get that big chunk of change needed to make the deck, and make it easier on their pockets. With how few decks it seems he will sell via KS, I'd put my money on him planning to sell the majority of them to resellers and to the aftermarket.

CBJ, he snapped at you because "WTF" can be taken as a very aggressive term. Trust me, I've been there. Sometimes I view something I say as passionate, humorous or silly and people mistake that for me wanting to burn their children alive.

Also, $10 shipping for one deck isn't too high of a markup. The actual cost to ship one deck internationally with parcel post is a little over $8. Two decks are about $9 I believe and it just keeps going up from there.

And perhaps he is shipping with flat rate, which is $13, and not parcel post?

[Don Boyer]

He was posting here often before the KS launch. Maybe someone can contact him and let him clear a few things up? I think it's fair to let people explain themselves before getting the pitchforks out.

Hey may have a $5000 goal, but has anyone considered that he wants to pay for what is left over himself? Or that he got funding from resellers already and subtracted that cost? Or both? Many KS projects just launch to get that big chunk of change needed to make the deck, and make it easier on their pockets. With how few decks it seems he will sell via KS, I'd put my money on him planning to sell the majority of them to resellers and to the aftermarket.

CBJ, he snapped at you because "WTF" can be taken as a very aggressive term. Trust me, I've been there. Sometimes I view something I say as passionate, humorous or silly and people mistake that for me wanting to burn their children alive.

Also, $10 shipping for one deck isn't too high of a markup. The actual cost to ship one deck internationally with parcel post is a little over $8. Two decks are about $9 I believe and it just keeps going up from there.

And perhaps he is shipping with flat rate, which is $13, and not parcel post?

Alex does have a point about the small goal.  Cosmo Solano came out with a low goal for his deck, but that's largely because he had most of the funding in place to start with.  He likely didn't even need a Kickstarter project for funding as much as he wanted it to expand his fan base - shrewd marketing, eh?


But if Laz doesn't have anything behind that KS goal, he could be up Shit Creek with no paddle.

[DelMagic]

Flat rate priority mail shipping (small box, envelope, bubble envelope) is $12.95 but only to Canada. To everywhere else, the cheapest flat rate is $16.95.

You can ship a single deck by First Class mail parcel for a good discount, but with a sacrifice in speed and without any "in the U.S." tracking.

[xela]

Flat rate priority mail shipping (small box, envelope, bubble envelope) is $12.95 but only to Canada. To everywhere else, the cheapest flat rate is $16.95.

You can ship a single deck by First Class mail parcel for a good discount, but with a sacrifice in speed and without any "in the U.S." tracking.

You do get proof of shipment via the number on the Customs form which doesn't usually update beyond "accepted at facility" but sometimes it does.

USPS shipping is really inconsistent to say the least.

[Russell CircleCityCards]

inconsistant? yes, but my packages have been delivered correctly 99% of the time.




Now on to shipping costs...
USA $2.25 - shipping and materials
CAN $4.00 - shipping and materials
World Wide $5.75 - shipping and materials


random kickstarter shipping from lazarus - $10.00

[NathanCanadas]

Can anyone that is a part of his facebook group contact him to answer some questions about the deck and project? I also liked the first pictures better and am disappointed by the changes made.

[MSimonart]

Well, if he continous like he is doing now, he won't even be able to get 5 grant for his project. They cards look cheap, the jokers are hideous compared to the beatifull phoenixes he made. This isn't worth backing for my part. Certainly if he's not concerned about our opinions, and if he's not active in his project.

[Don Boyer]

He's changed his jokers YET AGAIN...

Now they're very boring yin-yang symbols.

The funniest part?

One of them (he made three) has a card reveal which he describes as being for the ten of spades - it's actually for the ten of diamonds...

I wouldn't trust this guy to tie his own shoes, never mind make me a deck of cards!

(OK, harsh, I admit it - but you get the idea here.)

This deck did at one time have some promise, but right now, it looks like it fell out of the fugly tree and hit every branch on the way down...  The indices are terrible, the court cards look like something a kid playing with Photoshop for the very first time came up with, and...and... oh, I'm just going to stop my rant right here.

It's ugly.  Period.  That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

At his present rate of funding, he'll make his $5,000 goal without too much trouble.  It's been a little more than a week and he's already over the 50% mark.  But his overfunding goal are absolutely ridiculous in terms of how much money he's alloting for them.

$10,000: More Decks will be produced.

(Does he honestly think it only costs five grand to make a 2,500-deck print run at USPC on Aristocrat paper with "High Embossed" Magic Finish?  Or that he can get "more" - presumably a five-k run - for just ten grand?)

$12,000: Metallic Ink will be added to the back designs to give them an extra special look (If demanded). Also, the tuck case will be embossed.

(I'm afraid to ask what part would become metallic...  the bright yellow, or the bright reddish-orange.  And the fact that the metallic inks I've seen so far aren't that bright will certainly alter the look of this deck.  And he can afford embossing as well?)

$15,000: The card stock will be upgraded to Bee Stock.

(If he raised the fifteen-k, he'd get the deck made.  Period.  No upgrades, no Bee stock.)

$20,000: The decks will be known as The Lazarus Series . . .

(Wait - is this a reward or a threat?  I'm not sure which...)

This is supposed to be a tribute deck to his grandfather, a bomber pilot, but there's not a single thing besides the name that ties this deck to him.  And don't even get me started on the atrocious use of English - grammar and syntax get tossed out the window here...

OK, now I'll really stop the rant.  Anyone funding this, in my opinion, is tossing money into a sinkhole if he hits five grand.

[MSimonart]

Hahaha, hilarious

Just for being funny, I'd be able to pledge for one. Just to show my fellow designers what you shouldn't be doing. I mean, he started of very well, like you said Don, but he just fell very hard. He went from heaven to earth in few days.

[xela]

inconsistant? yes, but my packages have been delivered correctly 99% of the time.




Now on to shipping costs...
USA $2.25 - shipping and materials
CAN $4.00 - shipping and materials
World Wide $5.75 - shipping and materials


random kickstarter shipping from lazarus - $10.00

Indeed, despite their inconsistency I've had a package go missing once, and it was delivered back to me. It's why I'm extremely skeptical when people claim they didn't receive something. You can pull that with UPS or FedEx, who have your neighbors sign for stuff or just toss your package on your balcony and hope for the best, but USPS seems to have their shit together in that respect.

As for the shipping fees, how are yours so low? The minimum to ship a single deck anywhere in the world is ~$8. Do you have a business account with USPS or something?

As far as his International shipping goes, it's still cheaper than most companies that deliver internationally and is on par with a lot of other KS projects. People keep mistaking KS as a pre-order site, or a sales site like Amazon. It is nothing of the sort. The pricing on there is carefully constructed (if you know what you're doing) to make sure you at least break even by meeting the project goal. A $10 fee for lower tier decks can mean a cheaper fee for high tier rewards. It's a trade-off, and the one deck reward package isn't really there for profit anyway. It's there for folks who want just one deck. If I lost everyone who bought one deck on my project, I'd still have easily surpassed my goal. His shipping fees are definitely not what is killing him.

Heck, it's not even the design that's murdering it. Worse things have been funded on KS. It's just it came out of nowhere and he is doing ZERO marketing and social interaction. 

I don't think he's doing anything evil or sketchy at all. I think he just has no idea what a card project really is like. $5k is nothing at all. If he isn't careful, he will find himself at least $10k in the hole. For example, one thing he has to get is a reseller certificate so he doesn't get charged tax with USPCC. When your decks cost $10k to make, an 8% tax is BRUTAL.

You also have to take into account 8% KS/Amazon fees, about 10% of your pledges getting their cards declined, a ton of money for shipping & supplies, as well as money for things like uncut sheets and the like which now cost extra money from USPCC...

I hope he is smart enough to close the project should he not raise at least $10k.

[redtank151]

He says there is biblical significance which I think nobody got except him.

[John B.]

I understand who lazarus was but it does not seem to part of the deck.

[Don Boyer]

He says there is biblical significance which I think nobody got except him.

I think the Biblical significance is going to consist of him praying that he can figure out what the hell to do when he's got a project he's promised on and can't deliver for lack of adequate funds...

[Russell CircleCityCards]

has he fixed the pips on the 8 9 and 10 yet?  they are completely screwy.