Bicycle Expert Back (green and Blue) from Walmart

[CBJ]

A set of new decks have hit Walmart










CBJ

[jwats01]

How many did you pickup? 

I wonder if my Wal-Mart will also have this? I will def find out. Thanks!

[CBJ]

How many did you pickup? 

I wonder if my Wal-Mart will also have this? I will def find out. Thanks!

I don't have them yet.
These were on Ebay... but I know they are available at Walmart USA

[John B.]

Well I guess I will be hitting walmart up later today. Cant resist buying them from a store.

[Aptombstone]

Well I guess I will be hitting walmart up later today. Cant resist buying them from a store.

Exactly, decks I wouldn't even consider getting online will be instant purchases in a store b/c A) its right there, B) its usually cheaper (especially in Walmart) and C) there are no shipping charges to bring the deck from the aisle to the counter.

Next time I'm near a Walmart I'll see if they're in stock.

[Shebhnt]

Picked up a green pack, here are some photos

[badpete69]

stopped by my WalMart  they didn't have them yet

[jwats01]

stopped by my WalMart  they didn't have them yet

Mine either!

[52plusjoker]

I don't see that making them dirty adds appeal. Am I too old-fashioned?
here's a scan of an unopened box of a Canadian version from about 1920 - look how clean the box is!

[PurpleIce]

Picked up a green pack, here are some photos

No Walmart nor shops selling bicycle decks here 

But these decks do seem a little "too dirty" for my liking.

[Don Boyer]

I don't see that making them dirty adds appeal. Am I too old-fashioned?
here's a scan of an unopened box of a Canadian version from about 1920 - look how clean the box is!

The "dirty deck" trend arguably started with Magic Makers - they came out with two "faux dirty" decks, then a pair of "faux faded" decks.  Ellusionist combined the two to come up with the Bicycle Series 1800.  This was followed by the Bicycle Americana, and a trend was born - making brand new decks that looked like they'd been sitting outside under a porch in Nevada or Arizona for the past hundred years or so!  USPC decided to give it a try with an "aged-look" Bicycle Old Fan Back - which they screwed up by putting Expert Backs on the first print run, calling them Old Fan Backs!  It's an easy mistake to make, but it's also an easy mistake to catch - but they didn't.  The second print run had the correct backs and were a little less dirty, but they were available only in the red color.  I guess they decided they'd like to use that Expert Back plate after all..., 

Faux-aged decks, in my view, are becoming a little overused, appearing in places where they're not even remotely appropriate.

[BiggerDee]

I love faux-aging, but not decks that look dirty or moldy/mildew covered. I look at these decks and all that I can think is that I want to throw them in the trash because they've gotten wet/damaged.

[PrincessTrouble]

I don't see that making them dirty adds appeal. Am I too old-fashioned?

I don't get that either, Tom.  And it's not from being old-fashioned. 

[Don Boyer]

I don't see that making them dirty adds appeal. Am I too old-fashioned?

I don't get that either, Tom.  And it's not from being old-fashioned. 

It was a fun concept when it was a new concept, as in when Ellusionist made the Bicycle Series 1800.  But now it's been overused and worse, overdone.  Too much faux aging AND goofy-looking stains are just too much.

But I'll probably get them anyway because I like the old-style faces!

[DarkDerp]

I could see people using them for a Card Party. Bringing an Ole West gambling feel to a round of poker.

[Don Boyer]

I could see people using them for a Card Party. Bringing an Ole West gambling feel to a round of poker.

I dunno.  Series 1800 is definitely "Old West".  Bicycle Americana could also be "Old West".  With all the funkier stains, this looks more like "Old Drainage Ditch"!

[Card Player]

I don't see that making them dirty adds appeal. Am I too old-fashioned?

I don't get that either, Tom.  And it's not from being old-fashioned. 

It was a fun concept when it was a new concept, as in when Ellusionist made the Bicycle Series 1800.  But now it's been overused and worse, overdone.  Too much faux aging AND goofy-looking stains are just too much.

But I'll probably get them anyway because I like the old-style faces!

If your not into magic does the average person know about Ellusionists 1800. I think these will do just fine for Walmart. Not having to pay shipping is a nice incentive to pick a few up. The kids will love these. It all gets old and overdone when your like us and see or own almost everything.

[Don Boyer]

I don't see that making them dirty adds appeal. Am I too old-fashioned?

I don't get that either, Tom.  And it's not from being old-fashioned. 

It was a fun concept when it was a new concept, as in when Ellusionist made the Bicycle Series 1800.  But now it's been overused and worse, overdone.  Too much faux aging AND goofy-looking stains are just too much.

But I'll probably get them anyway because I like the old-style faces!

If your not into magic does the average person know about Ellusionists 1800. I think these will do just fine for Walmart. Not having to pay shipping is a nice incentive to pick a few up. The kids will love these. It all gets old and overdone when your like us and see or own almost everything.

Ah, all too true!  For a kid who's never seen a deck like this before, I'm sure it's enough to trigger a "mommy-get-this-for-me" response!

[Shebhnt]

After playing with them I will say that the stains don't really add to the deck, I wish the aging looked more like the E decks.  My wife's first reaction was to ask if I spilt coffee on them.  Now all that to say, for some reason these seem to be a really nice deck to handle.  They feel better than your average bike deck.  I haven't played with them a ton but I'm not good at fanning.  Even when I got a pack of dragon backs (which until now was my best "feeling" bicycle deck) I could only fan them kinda good.  I pulled these out and the first fan I pulled off was like the one I always dreamed myself of doing.  I don't know if I just got lucky but they feel really good.  I just wish they had a "clean" version or even if they kept some of the fake tears and scratches, just get rid of the fake dirt.

Oh and one last thing, the face aging makes the deck have a one way design.

[Don Boyer]

After playing with them I will say that the stains don't really add to the deck, I wish the aging looked more like the E decks.  My wife's first reaction was to ask if I spilt coffee on them.  Now all that to say, for some reason these seem to be a really nice deck to handle.  They feel better than your average bike deck.  I haven't played with them a ton but I'm not good at fanning.  Even when I got a pack of dragon backs (which until now was my best "feeling" bicycle deck) I could only fan them kinda good.  I pulled these out and the first fan I pulled off was like the one I always dreamed myself of doing.  I don't know if I just got lucky but they feel really good.  I just wish they had a "clean" version or even if they kept some of the fake tears and scratches, just get rid of the fake dirt.

Oh and one last thing, the face aging makes the deck have a one way design.

It often does.

You're experiencing the magic of Magic Finish.  Didn't exist yet when the Dragon Backs were made, and it's not used on the off-the-shelf standard retail decks.  I call it "the Great Equalizer" because it makes all new custom decks feel almost exactly the same: slick and slippery.  It's the default coating for all custom orders now - you have to request the original finish if you want that.

[BiggerDee]

I agree. For folks who don't know any more about cards than what Walmart or Target has for sale, these are exotic and very unique, and that's more than likely exactly the demographic that the USPCC is going for. They may know *slightly* moer about cards than I do! ;-))

[Shebhnt]

I thought the finish had to be different since it doesn't state "air cushion" anywhere on the box.  I do have decks that have magic finish but they are a little old now.  I must have forgotten what it felt like.  I was just surprised because it was a pack that was sold at walmart, and I didn't know that they would sell any packs with magic finish outside of a website like Ellusionist, theory 11, etc.

[Don Boyer]

I thought the finish had to be different since it doesn't state "air cushion" anywhere on the box.  I do have decks that have magic finish but they are a little old now.  I must have forgotten what it felt like.  I was just surprised because it was a pack that was sold at walmart, and I didn't know that they would sell any packs with magic finish outside of a website like Ellusionist, theory 11, etc.

Decks like this tend to sell for a premium over what plain old Rider Backs would go for.  That, plus the fact that it's a limited run - what the limit is, I have no idea - means that it's surely possible they used Magic Finish.  You can tell by the smell of the cards out of the box - they have a sharper, more chemical smell than a standard-coating deck would.

[Shebhnt]

I thought the finish had to be different since it doesn't state "air cushion" anywhere on the box.  I do have decks that have magic finish but they are a little old now.  I must have forgotten what it felt like.  I was just surprised because it was a pack that was sold at walmart, and I didn't know that they would sell any packs with magic finish outside of a website like Ellusionist, theory 11, etc.

Decks like this tend to sell for a premium over what plain old Rider Backs would go for.  That, plus the fact that it's a limited run - what the limit is, I have no idea - means that it's surely possible they used Magic Finish.  You can tell by the smell of the cards out of the box - they have a sharper, more chemical smell than a standard-coating deck would.

Well then I won't be able to help you there.  My sense of smell is almost non existent.

[Don Boyer]

I thought the finish had to be different since it doesn't state "air cushion" anywhere on the box.  I do have decks that have magic finish but they are a little old now.  I must have forgotten what it felt like.  I was just surprised because it was a pack that was sold at walmart, and I didn't know that they would sell any packs with magic finish outside of a website like Ellusionist, theory 11, etc.

Decks like this tend to sell for a premium over what plain old Rider Backs would go for.  That, plus the fact that it's a limited run - what the limit is, I have no idea - means that it's surely possible they used Magic Finish.  You can tell by the smell of the cards out of the box - they have a sharper, more chemical smell than a standard-coating deck would.

Well then I won't be able to help you there.  My sense of smell is almost non existent.

So is mine!  The smell is that sharp!  My wife can smell it from about a yard or two away when I open a fresh pack - she likes the fragrance.