are they made like USPCC decks? or plastic? I live in kansas and would love to get some.
"Like" USPC? Dunno. Probably paper. But not by USPC.
looks like they are just playing 'middle man' for the USPCC.
On this page (http://www.usplayingcard.com/pages/custom_cards/10.php) there is a link: http://www.bicyclepersonalizedcards.com/ that when you click it takes you to Zazzle's page: http://www.zazzle.com/custom/playingcards
"Zazzle" btw has to be one of the worst names i've ever heard. Can't take a company serious with a name like that. Just sounds fake and cheap.
That's not the same as these. Those are Bicycle blanks - they print up Bicycle faces in bulk, then run them through what's probably the same process to make test decks, printing the back from a special computer printer. Notice the lack of an AoS code on the Ace of Spades, but the presence of the Bicycle name and "808" model number.
These "spade" decks are not Bicycles - they're not even made at the Bicycle plant. The page states they're made in Kansas.
Unless there's some missing or misleading information on that site, it looks like Zazzle is doing the printing.
also...look at this page: http://www.zazzle.com/playingcards
over 2,400 pages of playing cards and over 149,000 decks. It's just short run, one off decks that people pay $20+ for to get a custom image on the back. nothing special at all.
HOLY CRAP! There has to be a mistake - these can't all be made in Kansas!
Wait, I have a theory.
USPC mass-produces blank-backed Bicycle uncut sheets in the 11 different faces available. They send them to Kansas, to Zazzle. Zazzle uses the same printing process used on prototype decks to print new backs on the cards, then cuts them and packs them into tucks or clear plastic boxes.
Sound logical?