So dissapointed

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

GregGuy814	26 Sep 2003
I was really excited to get to the mall tonight to buy my first tarot deck in the new Barnes and Noble that just opened (today), and all they had were a few decks I wasn't all that interested in. However, I broke down and bought a million books. I always get so depressed when I go to a book store because there are so many books I want, but I'm only 15 and can't get a job. Anyway, can anyone tell me where to find some cool tarot decks? My friend told me a place in another mall called "Blue Moon". Anyone ever heard of that?

CompassRose	26 Sep 2003
On the main Aeclectic tarot site, herein (click on the big Aeclectic Tarot up top, there), you will find an area called "Decks". Pictures. Loads and loads of pictures, of many, many decks. Some, it's true, are out of print, but many are not. Browse among them, and find the cool deck(s) of your choice. Follow the Amazon link, and note the ISBN, too. (I'm suspecting you don't have a credit card... otherwise, you could order online, though not necessarily from Amazon.) If you can't, then any bookstore or New Age-ish type store that stocks SOME tarot cards should be able to order you any of the OTHER decks by the publishers they carry (which should almost certainly be at least any of the US Games ones). I recommend an independent bookstore (as in single, unique rather than a chain as in Barnes and Noble) because I've found them much more customer-friendly about special orders ... not to mention, it's nice to support your local indy. Go to that bookstore, tell them the name of the deck and the ISBN, and a few weeks later, you should get a call and can trot down to pick it up. And/or check the Tarot Trading section in this website, and see if anyone would be willing to trade you a deck you'd like for one or two of your million books, ones that perhaps turned out to be not quite the thing when you got them home and read them. Beware, my friend. First, it's one or two nifty decks, then suddenly you'll find the decks and the books are picketing wanting a bigger house.

Mimers	26 Sep 2003
Hi Greg, Where in CT are you in relation to Danbury CT? If you are fairly close there is a wonderful shop off 84, exit 5 to be exact. It is called Purple Moon. It is a wonderful shop with a good selection of decks and books. They don't have a website, but the number is 203-730-2412, they are located on 45 Padanaram Rd in Danbury. Sorry, this is the only place I know of in CT. Good luck! Mimi

rota	27 Sep 2003
And of course, check out Tarot Garden (tarotgarden.com). Lovely, friendly people there, which I know from experience. But beware, mortal, for thou shalt spend thy hours and days mooning after decks thou mightest not be able to get thy hooks on, for, yea, they can be pricey. :)

GregGuy814	27 Sep 2003
Thank you for the help. I've actually looked through just about every tarot deck in the world, lol, and have been wanting a few for a while now... The only problem is I don't know where I can find a good place that sells a good variety. Again, thanks for your help!

Voodoo_Shaman	27 Sep 2003
Barnes and Nobles does not seam to be as Tarot friendly as Borders. Every B&N I have ever been to seam to have less Tarots, than Borders which I always seams to have much more. If you go to Barnes and Nobles, sometime they also have tarot behind the counter where you check out. Anyway, you live in Ct. ever think about going to a trip to Salem Mass. It would be fun for Halloween, but anyway there is a store called Pyramids Books, and they have a nice variety of Tarot. Also there is a male order company in Mass, close to the Ct. border called Abyss Distribution, they have a huge inventory of Tarot, and male them very quickly, you will receive your deck usually days after you sent payment. Hmm I have never heard of Blue Moon so I can not comment there. I have an advice for you though. You say you get depressed in a Bookstore, You are still young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. I believe that it is better to have a small amount of books, and appreciate them then to have a million books and have them in a shelf collecting dust. But do not get me wrong, I have a large library. But I am 33, and it took me since about your age to get this library. Take life slowly, the little books you have enjoyed them, live in the moment, and learn from them. Believe me, I have some books that bring back memories and take me to the time when I bought them. Anyway I am straying away from Tarots, “sorry folks.” Again with Tarot as it is with books, I have a small but growing Tarot collection, and usually I can remember when and where and with who I was with when I purchased the deck, so that makes each deck a memorabilia, that of course is special to me. It makes my collection that more precious to me. Plus I am also picky like you when it comes to picking Tarot, although I mainly use one deck for readings, each of the decks I have purchased has helped me to see the deck I use in a different light, and see different insights into them. Take it slow, start with one, learn from it, use it, cherish it, and when you are ready the right deck will come to you, and slowly your collection will grow. You have a long life ahead of you, Blessings Brother. Voodoo Shaman

Dark_angel	27 Sep 2003
eBay has never let me down when it comes to decks. If you have the patience (and time/ high boredom threshold/ obsessive-compulsive nature lol) you can get almost anything. The only thing is that once a deck goes, it can be a while before you get another shot at it. They're usually cheaper than getting them in shops; I don't know how much decks retail for in the US, but in a lot of instances it has been cheaper for me to bid on an item in the US and have it imported to Britain than it is for me to buy it from my local bookstore. I think the best bargain so far has to be my Gothic tarot, which I got for half the UK list price! Also, check out the Trades section here - some people say that they'll accept payment instead of trades, and you can be sure that your new deck's coming from a good home. luv, Fi. P.S. You think you have it bad now - wait till you're a uni student - I'm living off 15p baked beans from Iceland (the ultimate in poverty!). Oh well, off to tarotgarden I go...

galadrielsphial	28 Sep 2003
Greg, You could go to Barnes & Noble's website (www.bn.com) to see which tarot decks they have in their system (there are lots more than what they have on the shelves), and they should be able to order them for you in the store. That's how I got my Vampire Tarot...another plus to having someone in the store order them for you is that you don't have to pay shipping costs like you do when you order them online. And in about a week or so, they should be calling you to say that you can pick it up! Good luck! :)

SongDeva	29 Sep 2003
DiscountNewAgeBooks.com is Owned by Mondazzi Emporium 42 Bridge Street East Windsor, CT 06088 USA Phone: (860) 654-1919 You can view their selection on their website, and their decks are largely discounted. If there's anything good, you can visit the in person.

WolfSpirit	30 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Dark_angel I'm living off 15p baked beans from Iceland (the ultimate in poverty!). Oh well, off to tarotgarden I go... Sounds like you have reached the ultimate in taroholism ! After this there is only starvation for decks })

ladycheryllynne	06 Oct 2003
I'm in California and so far I've found a really good selection at Tower Book Store. Not sure how far east Tower goes, but if it doesn't go as far east as you, maybe you can do an online search for it. Ebay is also a good start. You don't always have to use a credit card. I myself pay with a money order. Good luck on your quest! Cheryl

lark	07 Oct 2003
The Barnes and Noble in my town has a pitiful tarot deck selection. I have many times found a deck I liked and just walked up to the counter and ordered it. They can get most any deck and the advantage is that you can pay cash, and if you decide you don't want the deck you can just leave it there. Also no postage to pay! So spend some time in the card section here at Aeclectic and savor the excitement of picking your first deck.

Chronata	07 Oct 2003
Alas in my current location, I am not near enough to civilization (unless ya count the wallmart!) to have a barnes & Noble or a Borders really anywhere nearby. But when visiting my folks back home in the Chicago area...I noticed something sort of strange... Both the B&N and Borders had very little selection of tarot, and both stores had all thier decks locked up in a glass cabinet! I kind of understand , that they be worried about customers opening packages...but then why do they have all the big comfy chairs to entice people to sit and read? If you can read an entire book in one of these stores, then why don't you have the permission to look through a box of cards? Maybe they had a lot of thefts... all I know is that it seemed really unfriendly, and there didn't seem to be anyone working in either that had the time or inclination to help me. I just wanted to share this, as it left a bad taste in my mouth, and just made me want to support independants and websites a whole lot more!

CompassRose	07 Oct 2003
Tarot cards and occult books have about the highest rates of theft of anything in a bookstore. Likewise with the Occult section of the library. Sad, but true. Seems a lot of people with these interests are not taking in any of what they read about the law of returns, threefold rule, or karma.... however it is named.

baba-prague	07 Oct 2003
Yes, I think it's true. We now have our tarot in a lot of bookshops here in Prague - and every one of them puts the deck on the counter where they can keep an eye on it - or even in a locked case. It's a shame as it makes it harder for people to really see and handle it, but the shops say that if they did anything else it would simply be taken. I was quite surprised by this - and saddened too.

galadrielsphial	07 Oct 2003
Yes, the tarot/occult books in the library disappear pretty regularly, which makes trying to find something good to borrow difficult more often than not. I was at Borders two nights ago, and they did have their tarot decks in a glass cabinet, though I don't think it was locked. I can understand why they wouldn't want to let people look through decks (even if they had some just as customer samples that wouldn't be sold), because for some the temptation to take a card or two might be too much. And I doubt the store clerks would want to take the time to count the decks all the time to make sure all the cards were still there.

Gaidheal	08 Oct 2003
The Borders nearest me keeps all their decks locked up, too. If you want to browse the decks, though, just ask someone at the counter, and they'll unlock the case and let you look (at least, they let *me*). I think it's just the idea that the decks are fairly expensive and often small enough to fit in a decent-sized pocket, so they would rather not take the chance. Also, let's face it-those cards are definately the first thing *I'd* steal, if *I* were a thief...but maybe that's just me, hehe.

The So dissapointed thread was originally posted on 26 Sep 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.