EXPERT PLAYING CARD COMPANY - Official Topic

[Don Boyer]

I have noticed that Magic Finish has a sharper chemical scent to it than other decks.  My wife can pick it up from across the room when I open a fresh pack.  She actually likes the scent!

[sprouts1115]

I have noticed that Magic Finish has a sharper chemical scent to it than other decks.  My wife can pick it up from across the room when I open a fresh pack.  She actually likes the scent!

@Don - I thought the cards from the USCC could either be Smooth or Embossed.  I though Magic Finish was just another name for Embossed. Are you suggesting that the cards are dipped or sprayed with Magic Finish? 

@Expert P.C. Co - With having a uncut sheet of 9x6 for a total of 54 cards, do you think people might Kill the Jokers and just print two Gaff cards in the future.  I've heard your becoming a middle man.  Are you in touch with factories that do different uncut sheet sizes?  8x7 is the most common.  Just curious if there are other options...

[Don Boyer]

@Don - I thought the cards from the USCC could either be Smooth or Embossed.  I though Magic Finish was just another name for Embossed. Are you suggesting that the cards are dipped or sprayed with Magic Finish?

The technical definition of a finish is the texturing on the surface of the card, which in the broadest of descriptions is either smooth or embossed.  "Magic Finish" is not, technically speaking, a finish - it's a coating, a plastic-based lacquer like all modern playing card coatings (the only major exception being the new organically-based coating made of starch USPC uses on a limited basis for some more environmentally-friendly print runs).  They originally named it "Performance Coating" while it was still in the beta-test stage when they applied it to the entire print run of the Gold Arcane deck.  Brad Christian liked the name and kept it instead of using Magic Finish when he started applying it on his other decks.  Magic Finish coating can and has been applied to both smooth and textured playing cards.

The reason for the confusion is that at one time in history, finishes were "finished" in the coating of the cards by applying the coating with cloth-covered rollers.  These days, the finish is applied in the paper by pressing it with metal rollers, and the coating is a separate part of the manufacturing process, but the name-brand recognition of these finishes (Air Cushion, Linoid, Cambric, Ivory, Linen, etc.) made manufacturers like USPC loathe to remove the names or alter them to reflect present manufacturing processes, thus creating the confusion you just experienced when you asked me that question.

At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

[ThereIsNoFace]

Hello EPCC,

Do you guys have an official web site? I can't find one...

[Don Boyer]

Hello EPCC,

Do you guys have an official web site? I can't find one...

EPCC does not yet have an official website.  It's largely because they deal "business-to-business" and not at the retail level.  A new site is in the works, but I do not have a timetable for when it will be running.

Did you have a question you wanted to ask, or were you simply curious about the web site?

[ThereIsNoFace]

I wanted to see the list of the decks that were printed by EPCC and compare their cards to the USPCC ones. I know that people usually say that EPCC's quality is better, but I would rather see that for myself

[MrMollusk]

Man, have I missed a lot!

This certainly is interesting! While I love USPCC's casino decks, I find EPCC's decks are much more durable in the long run. (My first deck of Exquisites is still handling amazing!) I can't wait to see more from you guys!

[Rob Wright]

I think it's great that EPCC & LPCC are becoming go to card companies. I'm sure USPCC has noticed. My fear is that you guys will become like them. There are a lot of "junk" cards being printed with the Bicycle logo. I understand that EPCC/LPCC do not have a brand specific logos, but "printed by" is still on the boxes.
Are you guys screening potential designs, or will you print just about any design?

[Don Boyer]

I wanted to see the list of the decks that were printed by EPCC and compare their cards to the USPCC ones. I know that people usually say that EPCC's quality is better, but I would rather see that for myself

OK, EPCC has used two different printing plants thus far.

The cards from the plant in Shanghai, China are OK but require much more breaking in before they handle well, so in an instant-gratification Magic-Finish world, they're not as popular!  The decks made there:
Global Titans (2 colors)
The Nautical Deck (commissioned by The Blue Crown/HOPC, 3 colors)

The plant in Taipei, Taiwan is thought of by a lot of us as the "holy grail" printing plant, where the best decks are being made today.  Between Legend PCC and Expert PCC, these decks were made there:
Legends (original, 3 colors) * For LPCC
Legends (second edition, 2 colors for general sale, 3rd color exclusive to CARC {black}) * For LPCC
Exquisite (two colors)
Exquisite Bold (sold exclusively by the Art of Play)
NOC v3 (comissioned by The Blue Crown/HOPC)
Smith No. 3 (CARC exclusive)
Zenith Deck (commissioned by Paul Carpenter/Encarded)

I might have missed a deck or two, but that's what I can accurately recall, and there are more in the pipeline.  The least expensive option that's still for sale would be the NOC decks at $4.95 a pack.  Most of the decks mentioned were reasonably priced, with the notable exception of the Zenith deck - a limited edition of 1,000, each deck serial-numbered, they sold for just under $20 a pack and are completely sold out, only available from after-market retailers at a premium mark-up.

[Expert P.C. Co.]

It's official! We have a website! http://expertplayingcard.com
Of course more and more content will be added over time but it gives you an overview of what we are doing.
Thank you to Aron Prins for implementing the design for us!
You will also notice there is not a place on the site to buy anything. The decks meant for our own release will be sold via ConjuringArts.org

[Don Boyer]

Great news, guys!  Now I can point people to a page when they ask me about you and how to make a deck with you! 

[Expert P.C. Co.]

Thanks Don! You are a great cheerleader for us and we truly appreciate it.

[Don Boyer]

Thanks Don! You are a great cheerleader for us and we truly appreciate it.

It has everything to do with your quality of product, highly competitive prices and commitment to customer service.  I enjoy telling people that there are viable, even preferable, deck-making alternatives to the 800-pound gorilla.  If I didn't think EPCC was all that and a bag of chips, I wouldn't have much to say about it - but it is, thus, it's hard to shut me up!  I would not support your efforts like I do if I didn't believe in them.  The fact that a charitable cause gets boosted in the process is a genuine plus in your favor!

Simply put, you and Lawrence Sullivan's LPCC look to me to be everything that's right about the playing card industry as it exists today.

[21]

I know that this question cannot be specifically answered as it will depend entirely on the individual job, but can you give me a general idea of how much a basic deck (ie, no upgrades) would cost assuming an order quantity of 2500 decks?

I know the USPC would be roughly around $2.45 per deck so I would just love to see how pricing compares.  Again I understand that it would depend on many factors but I am just looking for a general idea.  Thanks!

It's official! We have a website! http://expertplayingcard.com
Of course more and more content will be added over time but it gives you an overview of what we are doing.
Thank you to Aron Prins for implementing the design for us!
You will also notice there is not a place on the site to buy anything. The decks meant for our own release will be sold via ConjuringArts.org

[Expert P.C. Co.]

Hi 21,
We are not presently publishing general price lists. But are available to quote specific decks via email. Please send us your specifics at custom-orders@expertplayingcard.com and we can give you a specific quote.

[21]

That's definitely fair.  Thank you very much.

Hi 21,
We are not presently publishing general price lists. But are available to quote specific decks via email. Please send us your specifics at custom-orders@expertplayingcard.com and we can give you a specific quote.

[Expert P.C. Co.]

Here is a little early info for forum dwellers.

As many will already know from this thread and elsewhere, Expert Playing Card has been working on a new red Zen deck. This is the deck with the detailed retro back design and sideways embossed and foiled tuck. In our efforts to keep pushing the boundaries of fine deck production we have done some experimenting with the deck's coating chemistry. Becuase the red Zen and Zen Pure are experimental prototypes these decks will not be for sale, ever. Instead we are going to give them away starting this afternoon!
For each mixed brick of NOCs you buy from Conjuring Arts you will get one experimental prototype Zen deck. I hope this will please both NOC lovers and deck collectors.
Please keep an eye out for the announcement today.

[Rob Wright]

So if I have no interest in 1 noc, much less 12. No option for zen? 
I'm not feeling very zen like now 

[Expert P.C. Co.]

So if I have no interest in 1 noc, much less 12. No option for zen? 
I'm not feeling very zen like now 

The Zen isn't dead! The release version is in production if you don't want the experimental version just hold on.

[Expert P.C. Co.]

Custom Decks
As many of you already know, Expert PCC produces cards for Conjuring Arts to sell as well as custom printing for other customers. In an effort to make it easier to manage custom projects we have published a questionnaire on our ExpertPlayingCard.com website. Just got to http://expertplayingcard.com/home/custom/custom-questionnaire/ and fill it out and we can get right back with a general quote etc.

[Rob Wright]

In our efforts to keep pushing the boundaries of fine deck production we have done some experimenting with the deck's coating chemistry. Becuase the red Zen and Zen Pure are experimental prototypes these decks will not be for sale, ever. Instead we are going to give them away starting this afternoon!
For each mixed brick of NOCs you buy from Conjuring Arts you will get one experimental prototype Zen deck.

So if I have no interest in 1 noc, much less 12. No option for zen? 
I'm not feeling very zen like now 

The Zen isn't dead! The release version is in production if you don't want the experimental version just hold on.

 
I guess I can sell the 2 bricks of NOC's I received a few days ago........

[Rob Wright]

From facebook

The Expert Playing Card Co.

8 hours ago
.
One of the finest custom cases I've seen.

[Expert P.C. Co.]

Expert Playing Card is so excited we can barely stand it!
Just back from a visit to our Taiwan factory and we can now confirm that the absolutely amazing 52 Plus Joker deck designed for the club by Jackson Robinson is a reality!
We are very proud to have worked with a number of club members and Jackson to create what will likely be considered the deck of the year.
Even though we would love to post a picture it's been decided that the deck will be launched at a special cocktail party to be held at the Club convention coming up mid October in Charleston, SC. This will be the first place to see this deck and also be the way to buy it!
Dying of curiosity yet? Then it's time to register for the convention and come see this deck and everything else planned for Charleston.

[aldazar]

It's official! We have a website! http://expertplayingcard.com
Of course more and more content will be added over time but it gives you an overview of what we are doing.
Thank you to Aron Prins for implementing the design for us!
You will also notice there is not a place on the site to buy anything. The decks meant for our own release will be sold via ConjuringArts.org

Any chance of implementing a distribution center out of Asia? As you produce in Taiwan, it would be cheaper for Asian clients to ship direct rather than shipping everything out to the US and back... Shipping is a killer for a lot of international customers!

[Don Boyer]

It's official! We have a website! http://expertplayingcard.com
Of course more and more content will be added over time but it gives you an overview of what we are doing.
Thank you to Aron Prins for implementing the design for us!
You will also notice there is not a place on the site to buy anything. The decks meant for our own release will be sold via ConjuringArts.org

Any chance of implementing a distribution center out of Asia? As you produce in Taiwan, it would be cheaper for Asian clients to ship direct rather than shipping everything out to the US and back... Shipping is a killer for a lot of international customers!

I can't speak authoritatively for EPCC, but consider this - are you talking about:
a) distributing a custom deck you produced to you in Asia, or
b) fulfilling all the orders placed by your customers or backers from a center in Asia?

While EPCC uses Kings Wild Fulfillment, I would imagine that a producer interested in distributing the decks in Asia could have them shipped to him from the Taipei factory - but what happens to them after that would be entirely up to that producer.  They'd need to line up a fulfillment center in Asia and take it from there - or create a center of their own, like what Jackson Robinson did with KWF.

No matter how you slice it, you'd really need to ask EPCC directly at custom-orders@expertplayingcard.com.