What is it with Amazon and Lo Scarabeo????
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Khatruman |
24 Jul 2003 |
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Ok, now Lo Scarabeo has been putting out some very interesting decks lately. However, it seems that somewhere along the distribution line between them and Amazon in the U.S. there is a disconnection.
It started when I ordered the Fey Tarot through Amazon. Months after its release, Amazon had it listed as "not yet released". I had to go through a series of e-mails to Amazon, then to Riccardo at Lo Scarabeo, then to Llewellyn, who apparantly distributes Lo Scarabeo decks in the U.S. Someone finally convinced them that it was available and they shipped me my order.
Now I am going to encounter the same thing with the Leonardo Da Vinci deck. They have it as being released in April of 2004!!!. I have already sent an e-mail to Amazon, telling them I have gone through this with another deck, and of course I received a canned reply basically telling me that they are going to wait to hear from the distributor, which won't happen. I tried e-mailing Riccardo, but he hasn't answered yet. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
I am Mr. Cheap himself, and I know I can get it at full price from someone else, but heck, I want that 30% discount!!! And if that isn't bad enough, I see the Tarot of New Vision which looks incredible, but, once again, listed as "not yet released".
Is there a way to fix this missed communication?????
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| darwinia |
24 Jul 2003 |
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I have the Da Vinci on backorder, and the owner of my tarot shop gave me a release date of August 4th, which tallies with what Tarot Garden are saying too I think.
Maybe the reason Amazon are giving such a large discount is so that they can generate enough sales between now and next April that they get some sort of bulk discount from LS?
I any case, it will be available in North Americia sometime in August regardless of what Amazon says.
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| Umbrae |
24 Jul 2003 |
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Just my opinion folks, so don’t get excited…
You can support a big mega-store like Amazon.
Or whenever possible you can do business with a friend who runs a small business.
Try Tarot Garden. Good prices, fast shipping, excellent selection. They don’t do patio furniture, DVD’s, apparel, and accessories…they do one thing…Tarot.
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| darwinia |
24 Jul 2003 |
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Originally posted by Umbrae
Just my opinion folks, so don’t get excited…
You can support a big mega-store like Amazon.
Or whenever possible you can do business with a friend who runs a small business.
I agree. The little shop I go to has sold things for me on consignment, and I can just call her up on the phone and order anything without pre-paying. I have great rapport with her and she's doing well and fixing the shop up, and the more tarot decks I buy, the more she stocks. Sometimes she makes a special point of giving me catalogues and showing me samples and she's always, always ready to help or order or track things down. She knows her stuff.
She's a good person and I try to support her as much as possible by purchasing decks through her. I also ordered the Kaplan Encyclopedia through her and she's on alert to order the fourth volume for me when it's published. Where else can you get that kind of concern and service?
Oh yeah, and she didn't know about the Golden Tarot so I told her about it and gave her the web site, and she'll get that for me when it comes out and probably a couple for the shop too. Reciprocal energy, ain't it grand?
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| Mimers |
24 Jul 2003 |
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I used to be an Amazon Save 30% junky.
I ordered my Vision Quest from Tarot Garden and now I won't order anywhere else. It is WELL worth the couple of extra bucks!
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| Astraea |
25 Jul 2003 |
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Khatruman, I understand your frustration. I have found that the savings at Amazon are often eaten up by shipping, and if there are problems with decks (as there often are, nowadays) like blurry or missing cards, it can be next to impossible to remedy the situation.
I'm another fan of Tarot Garden -- in fact, I can't praise Jeannette and Lori highly enough. They really know tarot, they appreciate their customers, they go out of their way to locate hard-to-find decks, they ship fast, they remedy deck problems, they are friendly and helpful -- I have nothing but good things to say about them. And Tarot Garden has lots of sales, and you get a nice discount on preorders (including all the latest Lo Scarabeo decks).
I know that your original question was simply: where is the disconnect between Amazon and Lo Scarabeo? But I think it's been the experience of many of us that it's too frustrating and irritating to try to figure it out, when Tarot Garden is such a superior option.
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| Gerbear |
25 Jul 2003 |
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Amazon is so big that small orders often get lost in the system, and their system often doesn't know what it has. Tarotgarden can be a better choice. There excellent service is like instant gratification.However as I find myself pursuing harder to find and more exotic decks, I'm also finding that a particular collector's deck may be less than one third of Tarotgarden's price (including shipping ) at other sources. You can't go wrong with old - fashioned comparison shopping. Caveat emptor!
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| Emily |
25 Jul 2003 |
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Also I've found Amazon UK don't carry many Lo Scarabeo decks, in fact they have eight and three of those were limited availability, one unpublished, the others available from 2 to 8 days.
Even the Ancient Italian, I was very lucky they carried that one, is now on an 8 day delivery and it was 24 hours when I ordered it on Monday night (think I might have had the last one though :D )
I know they can't carry all the decks but to have so few from such a large company as Lo Scarabeo is such a shame.
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| purplelady |
27 Jul 2003 |
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Originally posted by Khatruman
Ok, now Lo Scarabeo has been putting out some very interesting decks lately. However, it seems that somewhere along the distribution line between them and Amazon in the U.S. there is a disconnection.
It started when I ordered the Fey Tarot through Amazon. Months after its release, Amazon had it listed as "not yet released". I had to go through a series of e-mails to Amazon, then to Riccardo at Lo Scarabeo, then to Llewellyn, who apparantly distributes Lo Scarabeo decks in the U.S. Someone finally convinced them that it was available and they shipped me my order.
Just another opinion:
I've noticed this same type of thing also Khat, Sometimes companies post descriptions and pictures of "upcoming decks" , but you really cannot count on getting that deck by the date they say it will be released. So.................I look at these upcoming decks with interest but I don't count on it until I know it is physically in the store Or the online seller posts it as being IN stock. I never pre order . I figure I will get it when it shows up in American stores .
On Amazon.com. Oh I LOVE amazon.com and saved 30% plus free shipping on my last order BUT I've decided to not order from them anymore! The reason? - The mail, UPS verses USPS.
I am often not home to sit by the door and be there to recieve package from UPS mailperson. This became a Real problum last time I had to get someone to drive me halfway across the city to retreive my large package from the UPS warehouse! Anyhow , I decided to ONLY order anything online from companies that would guarantee USPS service and not UPS. SO I ordered from Barnes-N-Nobel. I didn't get a 30% discount BUT I did get free shipping, and it arrived even faster than amazon.com Plus it arrived in my mailbox OR to be picked up at the post office and I never had to stress about chasing a UPS man halfway across town again!! Also, their customer service seems to be very good and they claim to have the largest selection (of books anyway) anywhere.
But Khatruman I know what you mean about waiting for these upcoming decks to be released. Right now I am holding my breath for tarot of the mermaids which it seems All the "megastores" have on hold, it is simply not there yet. Maybe someone has them ALL stashed away in the back just to drive all those people who "pre-ordered" crazy?
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| Khatruman |
27 Jul 2003 |
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Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I agree with you all on the wonderful benefits of the small company through which to place an order. At this point, in the low-fund summer, it is the cheap price, or not getting it at all. I put the Da Vinci on order, and if it isn't in my hands by September, I'll go with Jeannette and Lori.
Yeah (as I sit here typing on my iMac avoiding Bill Gates as much as possible) I am against the Big Companies as much as you all are. Guess it is just a matter of the wallet, and just wanting it all... })
Thanks again!
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| full deck |
28 Jul 2003 |
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Originally posted by Umbrae
Try Tarot Garden. Good prices, fast shipping, excellent selection. …they do one thing…Tarot.
They are very responsive as well as being nice. They too, however, are waiting upon the delivery of the Da Vinci Tarot, which is still forthcoming.
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| RiccardoLS |
29 Jul 2003 |
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Hello,
I was finally able to answer Khatruman, and to contact Llewellyn as well, to ask the reason of the Amazon delay.
They have promised to check on it, and told me that the LS decks just are been processed rigth now.
Between the time a deck is available in Europe and when it is available in North America, there is usually a month delay, as the decks must phisically cross the ocean.
In other parts of the world, it will depend from individual distributors (if any of You need, I may check. Just write me in Lo Scarabeo)
The scedule of the next Lo Scarabeo decks should be, roughly, the following:
Witchy Tarot: September [both in the usa and in europe]
Mini Tarot decks [universal, art nouveau, fairy, egyptian, new vision]: September [both in the usa and in europe]
Oracle decks [karma angels, paracelso oracle, mother nature oracle, saints oracle, lenormand oracle, kalachakra oracle]: Late September in Europe, Late October in the USA.
Bruegel Tarot: September in Europe, October in the USA.
Gothic Tarot of Vampires: Late September in Europe, Late October in the USA.
Best,
Riccardo
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| RiccardoLS |
29 Jul 2003 |
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Regarding the "Against the Big Boys" :)
Small stores vs Big Malls...
Just my humble penny to the discussion. Sometims we should not feel so compelled to try to have something the latest release. I mean... with so many Tarot decks out there, it is not that the latest is the best we may do with :)
I'm trying to do this with music (and I buy CD from a small music shop. Yes, I do stll buy CD :)). I just think that once we are out of the rush to buy, it will help also the Small Guys cause.
(I know, I'm not very clear :))
Riccardo
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| Marion |
29 Jul 2003 |
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Perfectly understood Riccardo. And I agree.
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| HudsonGray |
29 Jul 2003 |
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"Between the time a deck is available in Europe and when it is available in North America, there is usually a month delay, as the decks must phisically cross the ocean."
So they send them 'surface rate' by boat, huh? That can take up to 3 months sometimes, depending on when it gets loaded & how fast the ship is & who collects it from the other side. Too bad they just can't Fed-Ex the stuff in smaller batches.
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| RiccardoLS |
30 Jul 2003 |
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yes,
they go "surface" (but ir really takes just about a month).
It is just a matter of price, I suppose.
Riccardo
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| Diana |
30 Jul 2003 |
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Originally posted by HudsonGray
[bso they send them 'surface rate' by boat, huh? that can take up to 3 months sometimes, depending on when it gets loaded & how fast the ship is & who collects it from the other side. too bad they just can't fed-ex the stuff in smaller batches. [/b]
I don't think things like that get shipped by boat anymore....
Surface mail is an old term. Today it means that the parcels/letters or whatever, don't get priority space in the airplane.
Federal Express in Europe is very expensive. I know in the States, it is very common to use UPS, FedEx and other companies like this for postage, but here it is an exception, rather than a rule.
Our postal services are pretty good....
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| Hedera |
30 Jul 2003 |
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I don't know if they sometimes not still ship them by boat: some recent 'surface mail' took almost 3 months to get here.
That would have to have been one sloooooow plane....;)
More like horse and cart, actually!
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| raeanne |
31 Jul 2003 |
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Hi all,
Just for comparison I want to share a really FAST delivery story. I am a great tennis fans. Each year I follow the grand slam events including Wimbeldon. Beginning with the year 2000 I have collected the towels from Wimbeldon by ordering from their web site. This year I also ordered my towel and a couple of other things. I placed the order on Monday afternoon, got the conformation e-mail on Tuesday, and the items were on my front doorstep when I got home from work on Thursday. From London to the midwest USA in just a couple of days! I didn't pay for any special shipping or anything, just regular delivery. This just shows that IT CAN BE DONE.
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| RiccardoLS |
01 Aug 2003 |
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Actually with "surface" mail I was really saying by "boat".
Of course You don't send anymore individual decks or letter by boat, but when you're sending heavy or bulky things (3 tons weight of decks), you use the boat.
:)
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| Jeannette |
01 Aug 2003 |
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A note to Riccardo and the Aeclectic gang:
I've just confirmed with our Llewellyn sales representatives that the Lo Scarabeo titles have arrived at their Minneapolis offices. I just sent out an email update to our Lo Scarabeo preorderers, and I'll post this info on any other other relevant threads. We expect to receive our supply of the following decks on Monday (August 4th):
- Leonoardo da Vinci Tarot
- Spirit of Flowers Tarot
- Book of Thoth (Etteilla Tarot)
- Vikings Tarot
- Angel Voices Kit
- Tarot of the Mermaids
- Tarot of the New Vision
- Success Cards Mini-Kit
If you think you preordered any of the above through Tarot Garden, but you don't receive your email update from us by tonight, be sure to write to me this weekend at jkr@tarotgarden.com to let me know. Thanks!
-- Jeannette
http://www.tarotgarden.com
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The What is it with Amazon and Lo Scarabeo???? thread was originally posted on 24 Jul 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.
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