.To much Money, cheaper some where else.

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Oct 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Voodoo_Shaman	13 Oct 2003
I was amazed to recreantly see the Tarot of the Orishas, have about 17 bids and people going so crazy, and the price reaching about 65.00 bucks. This week, another of the same deck is going for 47.00. Funny because there are four other listings for this same deck starting at 14.99, and one can buy it for 20.00. My question for those who wish to participate. Have you ever paid allot of money, on e-bay or in any other market for a deck, and come to find out you could have got it cheaper some place else? A friend of mine purchased the Spanish Tarot cards, which in actuality was a 52 deck of Brisca cards that are traditionally used for Fortune Telling, but mostly for a Spanish card game.. He shelled out about $15.00. I told him that the Spanish Market down the street from his apartment sold the Briscas for 1.00 a pack.

Inannadescends	14 Oct 2003
I've seen decks that are rare/OOP go for a few hundred dollars, and then a few months later I'll see the same deck go for 60-70 dollars. I usually do a "background" check on decks before I buy them on ebay. I'll check here and on Amazon to see if the deck really is OOP or if it's not I check to see what the regular list prices is. I bought a deck on ebay where the shipping was $6.00 that pushed the price over what it would have cost if I had bought it in a store.

catlin	14 Oct 2003
I also recommend checking out prizes etc before bidding on ebay as there are often ppl offering stuff at exaggerated prizes.

truthsayer	14 Oct 2003
i can't remember a buying a deck at a higher than going price. i did do that with other collectibles but i had learned my lesson by the time i got to tarot. now i check prices at tarot garden and amazon before i take a major leap. i think what happens with those decks that go for high prices at ebay is that people get caught up in the excitement of the auction. that auction excitement is addictive. you feel like you have to be the one who wins the prize and it's so elating if you do win.

dolphinprincess	14 Oct 2003
Shipping is a *big* thing to check on Ebay. A few times I almost bid on a very reasonably priced deck.. only to find shipping was insane... I think its a way to "cheat" the system. Ebay gets a percentage of ending price. So, if you keep the price lower, but charge *high* shipping, you pay less........ .. but to prove your point... I just saw the Vampire Tarot on Ebay .. it has 6 bids and is up to $26. This deck *retails* for only $18.. so you could probably find it cheaper than that...

WolfSpirit	14 Oct 2003
I remember people here mentioning the William Blake going at ebay for much more than what the artist asked for it at his own website. I have also seen the Swedish Witch and the Merryday go at high prices. Checking prices before bidding is wise, but look further than amazon; the decks I mentioned are all not sold by amazon as far as I know, a reason for some sellers to call them "hard to find". It is possible to buy cheap at ebay, but you have to be careful. And sometimes I just can't be bothered to place a bid and wait for two weeks just to have it maybe a little bit cheaper.

Dark_angel	14 Oct 2003
You guys are so lucky! Tarot decks seem to be much more expensive in the UK than in any other country - even including horrendous shipping, it's often cheaper to import. The shop down the road sells me decks at about £15.00 - £25.00 - and that's with 20% of because they like me! xxx However, I have got a few question marks about the reliability of eBay - a couple of successful bids still haven't arrived, despite me paying for them several weeks ago. Does anyone know how long it takes for decks to go across the pond? xxx

HudsonGray	14 Oct 2003
I've sent stuff to Holland that, if they go air mail, get there in 4 days. If I send surface rate the shipping goes by boat & there's been heightened security at both ends, so what used to be a 2-4 week wait turns into 2 months. One stuffed toy I sent to England by 'air' took 3 weeks before it was delivered, it got hung up at his end, and it was only a 1 pound size box with one toy in it. Check with the shipper again as to the date it went out, and keep in touch with them.

Dark_angel	15 Oct 2003
Cheers, will do! xxx

Cerulean	15 Oct 2003
An estate sell recently somewhere in the South U.S. has yielded prices at about $10.00 for this 1985 deck in October 2003. I bought one off of Amazon.com About eight months ago it was somewhat over $50.00 and I thought I was lucky to get it at that price in E-bay. But I did periodic checks for two years, a few times a year. Even though I would like the Amber Tarot, I don't want to pay three figures for it, so I won't pay that price. Since there are many sci-fi fans, I doubt that I'll find one for what I consider reasonable, hopefully less than $50.00. And yes, I comb many stores in many places and many websites. Mari Hoshizaki

moonlitpath	15 Oct 2003
The only tarot deck that I've puchased through e-bay is the Hermetic Tarot, and that's because it IS

moonlitpath	15 Oct 2003
Sorry....accidently hit the post button.....anyway, the Hermetic is OOP and it's hard to find one that is in "like new" condition, which is what I wanted. I paid $150 for it and I've seen others on ebay cheaper but weren't in as good of shape as mine is and I've seen them as high as $250.....so really, I'm not sure I could have gotten them cheaper. I really wanted this deck badly, so for me, it was worth it. I wouldn't buy anything that isn't rare or OOP there because I've seen too many that aren't hard to find at ridiculous prices.

Alissa	17 Oct 2003
This thread is being relocated to the Tarot Decks forum, where it will be best suited.

lasourciere	17 Oct 2003
I don't like using ebay because they charge so much in shipping. If a deck retails for $18 at Amazon and they charge $5 for shipping, is it really better to get the same deck at ebay for $15 dollars and pay $10 in shipping? Also on ebay you have to deal with sellers who use multiple accounts to jack up the bidding price. And they don't really have much by way of quality guarantees or control. I prefer Amazon for that reason if I'm going to buy something used. It invariably ends up being cheaper than ebay.

SongDeva	17 Oct 2003
If you buy through paypal you can buy an inexpensive quality gurantee from them.

Voodoo_Shaman	17 Oct 2003
Although I have never had a problem with Amazon.com, in the sense that I always get what I order. Usually there is a problem, I purchase through snail mail, and send money orders. It is a big taboo for me to use cc on line. Anyway, shipping seams to always take forever, once it took 6 weeks to get a book that was in stock. I usually only purchase tarot in ebay if the price is really cheap, the shipping is inexpensive, and of course the seller has really good feedback. I have been lucky to get a few of my favorite decks for really cheap on ebay. Although there are many who go a bit crazy on shipping and handling. Come on 5.95, or 6.95 is really ridiculous. I am lucky and live close to Borders books, and Barnes and nobles, they know me well, and I can order from them and my decks usually come within 5 days. Also Salem Mass is not so far, and there are Tarot decks in almost every New Age shop there.

Melvis	17 Oct 2003
My buying from Ebay comes and goes. Right now I'm in the middle of a bit of a spree, but I just keep seeing decks that I don't have. As far as price goes, I rarely buy a deck on Ebay that I can get easily from Amazon. For other decks I usually check them out at http://www.allbookstores.com which covers the US Amazon site, as well as most of the European Amazons, Chapters in Canada, Half.com, and several other big booksellers. This is also a great site to visit when you're looking for the best price on a deck. I try to figure the shipping into total amount I would pay for a deck. For instance, if I wouldn't pay more than $18.00 for a certain deck (or if I can get it for that on Amazon with SuperSaver Free Shipping) and the seller's shipping is shown at $5.00, I won't bid more than $13.00 for it. This usually works out pretty well. Actually, I just got the Oswald Wirth Tarot that way. It's selling for $18.00 at Amazon, so I bid $12.50 with a shipping price of $5.01. What a deal...saved 49 cents! ;) The thing is, if I buy something at Amazon I usually buy enough so the shipping is free. That dang Free Shipping ends up costing me money! :rolleyes: Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

WolfSpirit	18 Oct 2003
hehe Melvis - that is exactly what I do too !

The .To much Money, cheaper some where else. thread was originally posted on 13 Oct 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.