Playing Cards - "Fact or Fiction?" + Links

[6insider9]

actually the riderback deck had more ink in the pips, and i think a little bigger if i was told right, standard is a cheaper version.

Actually the story about the smaller pip goes like this... The "Rider Back" box design was changed to the "Standard" box design. in the beginning both had the same faces & pips. Then for a short period of time, for like a couple of weeks the faces were changed to the smaller pips and perfectly double ended faces. So when people started griping about the smaller pips, the faces were changed
back to the original size. "Standard" is not a cheaper version, It's only a ugly redesign.

[phantom1412]

And now the standard box has a color joker.

[6insider9]

And now the standard box has a color joker.

The colored joker is not in all Standard boxes this was for only for certain customers

[phantom1412]

The colored joker is not in all Standard boxes this was for only for certain customers

What? Really?
So the color joker is not typical?
But I got it from costco Japan.

But I'm glad that the white joker is still remain. I like the white one more.

[6insider9]

What? Really?
So the color joker is not typical?
But I got it from costco Japan.

But I'm glad that the white joker is still remain. I like the white one more.

Let me revise this just a bit, The colored Joker was originally meant for the Asian market, But it appears to be getting more common all over the place

[John B.]

all my jokers in my new standards are colored.

[phantom1412]

all my jokers in my new standards are colored.

And You are in USA, right?

[6insider9]

And You are in USA, right?

I doubled checked my resources and the colored joker is becoming wide spread.

[John B.]

And You are in USA, right?

yes i am and real quick anyone know about the 808's? i just found some riders in a small store and the back of the deck is the riderback but it the bottom says 808 and side says made in ohio.

[john]

yes i am and real quick anyone know about the 808's? i just found some riders in a small store and the back of the deck is the riderback but it the bottom says 808 and side says made in ohio.

I'm confused, can you post some pictures.

[6insider9]

yes i am and real quick anyone know about the 808's? i just found some riders in a small store and the back of the deck is the riderback but it the bottom says 808 and side says made in ohio.

Those are older decks, at least 3 years old. The 808 is being phased out with legal garbage since Jarden Corp bought USPCC

[John B.]

are they good or bad then? worth anything?

[phantom1412]

Worth more than a normal standard box nowadays.
But it's not getting more than $3 per deck.

[John B.]

that was what it costed for these or standards.

[phantom1412]

that was what it costed for these or standards.

Doesn't standard cost about 1.5-2$ in USA?
I got standard about 2$ at Japan.

[John B.]

depends on where you go.

[loldudex2]

Besides the fact that the Bucks promoted it, what's so special about the Absolut Decks?

[phantom1412]

Besides the fact that the Bucks promoted it, what's so special about the Absolut Decks?

It's non USPCC deck, which will give you different feeling in handle.
The cards are not in 3 piles as USPCC deck, it's one pile and much thinner.

(I don't have it, that's what I read)

[xela]

Besides the fact that the Bucks promoted it, what's so special about the Absolut Decks?

I'll add the full answer to this in the next update!

[vmagic]

Here's a question, if the minimum amount of decks one can order is 5000, how is it there are still limited editions being released?

[john]

Here's a question, if the minimum amount of decks one can order is 5000, how is it there are still limited editions being released?

lim·it·ed/ˈlimitid/
Adjective:   
Restricted in size, amount, or extent; few, small, or short: "a limited number of places are available".

Therefore if a deck will only be printed once it is in a sense "limited".

[CBJ]

Here's a question, if the minimum amount of decks one can order is 5000, how is it there are still limited editions being released?

Designers build up relationships with USPCC, then some are given special privileges to print smaller runs.  Or given special permission to print half one color/half another color.  Some return customers are also granted this power if their designs are of a certain caliber.

USPCC raised the limit to 5000 to try to diminish the low quality crap designs that people were approaching them with.  If you have the money, and want to do a 5000 print run... they will print it.  But at an average of 15-20 grand to print an order of that size, it really weeds out a lot of the bad designs.

Now sometimes a new artist comes along with a card design that is so good... that the rules are bent...
Alex Chin was given very special permission to print only 1250 of each color deck, I would imagine because of the reviews that his designs are getting from the entire playing card community.

CBJ

[xela]

Designers build up relationships with USPCC, then some are given special privileges to print smaller runs.  Or given special permission to print half one color/half another color.  Some return customers are also granted this power if their designs are of a certain caliber.

USPCC raised the limit to 5000 to try to diminish the low quality crap designs that people were approaching them with.  If you have the money, and want to do a 5000 print run... they will print it.  But at an average of 15-20 grand to print an order of that size, it really weeds out a lot of the bad designs.

Now sometimes a new artist comes along with a card design that is so good... that the rules are bent...
Alex Chin was given very special permission to print only 1250 of each color deck, I would imagine because of the reviews that his designs are getting from the entire playing card community.

CBJ

Unless his numbers changed, the last thing I heard was 2,500 sets and 5k decks total for the Seasons.

[CBJ]

Yes.. You're right Alex.

Confirmed with the other Alex


Kinda blows my theory out of the water LOL

[Don Boyer]

OK, so the "Standard" decks of today and the "Rider Back" decks of pre-2009 or so are essentially the same cards (style 808 Rider Backs), with "Standard" having an uglier box.  I know a lot of people have a real hate on for the new box design, especially those using gaffed boxes that match the old style.

But....

Someone out there is still making Bicycle Rider Backs in the old box design.  In fact, he uses Bee stock and has the cards traditionally cut for better shuffles and faroes.  It's Richard Turner, the same guy who co-designed the 809 Mandolin Backs for USPC.  And the cards are "Bicycle Gold Standard".  They look identical to the old boxes, except with a gold sticker on the back that reads "Traditionally Cut for the Professional" or something to that effect.  The best part?  They're only marginally more expensive than what I pay at retail for Bikes, or cheaper if you buy in bulk, while being far ahead in quality.  I have some and they are indeed worth it.

This is Turner's preferred retailer - there's a link to this page from his own website.  He also sells 809 Mandolin Backs.
http://waltonmagic.com/card-shop/

These guys sell the Gold Standards for fifty cents a pack less if you aren't buying in bulk.  I'm almost afraid to show you this page, because they have some AWESOME stuff for sale, including CUSTOM-CUT stripper decks in the design of your choice.  They appear to cater to (crooked) gamblers about as much as they do to magicians.
http://www.markedcards.org/cards-square.html