Did USPCC stop making prototype decks ?

[Frost]

anyone know ?

[Don Boyer]

They probably do, but they were always prohibitively expensive.  Last I heard, it was around $500 for a prototype deck.  MakePlayingCards.com will make a single deck in your design starting for $12.  I know of a lot of designers that use MPC for their prototypes, regardless of who they print with.

[Reylek]

Yup, it's pretty much the expense that stops anyone from making them.

When I first started making decks, prototypes were about $200, and hard-copy uncut sheets were a built-in part of the proofing process.

They now do digital PDF or JPG proofs as standard - you have to ask if you want hard proofs.  At one time the cost of a cut and assembled prototype deck was $1,000.  I've not ordered a prototype deck in several years from them, so I'm not sure if they've shifted the cost again.

As Don says, for about $12 you can get a perfectly serviceable prototype from MPC.  The stock/finish isn't the same as USPCC, and they tend to print a little on the darker side than what you'd expect from your files, but it's hard to complain at that price.

[Paul Carpenter]

MPC really is the way to go for prototypes. As Kevin said, it's close enough for government work and you can get an idea of what your design will look like. I always get a couple MPC jobbies when doing a new deck.

I have one USPCC prototype (for the original Tendril) and honestly it's not all that different from an MPC.

[Don Boyer]

MPC really is the way to go for prototypes. As Kevin said, it's close enough for government work and you can get an idea of what your design will look like. I always get a couple MPC jobbies when doing a new deck.

I have one USPCC prototype (for the original Tendril) and honestly it's not all that different from an MPC.

I'd wager that USPC prints their prototypes using the same methods that MPC uses to print all of their decks - digital printing...

[Jason Haynes]

I've been going back and forth with USPC for a while now. When I went to get my first sample deck about 3 years ago it was around $450. Today, for a full custom deck it's $1,300. This cost does go towards the overall cost, however. So, if your going to get the deck done for sure, it really doesn't matter as much.

It's good to know there's other options out there though. I hadn't considered doing a test deck from MPC...interesting.

[Don Boyer]

I've been going back and forth with USPC for a while now. When I went to get my first sample deck about 3 years ago it was around $450. Today, for a full custom deck it's $1,300. This cost does go towards the overall cost, however. So, if your going to get the deck done for sure, it really doesn't matter as much.

It's good to know there's other options out there though. I hadn't considered doing a test deck from MPC...interesting.

You can save yourself some serious scratch by using MPC instead for your prototype decks.  It boggles my mind that USPC charges what they do for a prototype deck.