Where people buy their decks.
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| SunChariot |
15 Nov 2004 |
|
I'd be curious to know of the people who have bought their own decks, if more people buy their decks online or at a store (bookstore or other)
I have gotten all mine online, as well as my Tarot pouches. I check out this site and when I find one I like I order it online. It doesn't show all teh cards of course, but I have never been disapointed.:-)
In case anyone has not seen this site yet, I will leave you all with the site where most of my Tarot pouches have been from. They make stunning ones.
http://www.tarotbags.com/tarot%20bag.htm
BFN
Bar
|
| loveinspirit |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
i have so far only brought my tarot cards and books from bookshops, never from online yet, but i think thats going to change soon. as i have looked at that website its really good, i might just treat myself. to another deck or pouch for christmas..
|
| Nec |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
Hi, I bought my tarot books from the bookshop. With regards to tarot bags I either stitched or crochet the bags I used to keep my cards. I also stitched my own spreadcloth and I usually used the same fabric that I used in making the bags.
|
| yupkigirl |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
All my decks were bought online. It is just so impossible to get decent decks here. I've ordered from Tarot Garden and I so just love the personalized service and packaging. I ordered a deck from Alida and I am excitedly waiting for it to arrive. And my Sakki-Sakki Tarot was bought from MPress herself.
I once bidded for a deck on eBay, and I lost. Fortunately I did, because I found out that the deck I was bidding was so affordable @Alida and the shipping cost was not that scary!
|
| Astraea |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
Tarot Garden, Astroamerica, Amazon and Alida on-line; and Hastings, Borders and metaphysical shops in-person. Sometimes one can only purchase decks from the artist, and I've done that several times, too.
|
| annik |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
I often go to amazon.ca and alidastore. I also got some decks from the magical blend, both online and in their store http://www.themagicalblend.com/
|
| Waterdancer |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
I buy online a lot because there are no real metaphysical bookstores in the area. The local bookstores only carry a few decks and they are usually full price. At amazon you can usually get some kind of discount and free shipping if you spend over $25.00.
|
| Keslynn |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
I usually buy online but I have also bought in stores. If a local metaphysical store has the deck I want in stock, I will try to buy it from them to support their business. Also, when buying online I try to buy used from eBay or Half, or I like to shop at smaller businesses like Tarot Garden. Once again, it's nice to support individuals. Still, I have bought some from Amazon, but most of mine come from other online sources.
I used to buy lots of tarot bags too, but then I found out how easy they are to make (or trade for)!
:) Kes
|
| Cocobird55 |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
I buy mine from a variety of places. There are a couple of New Age stores relatively close to my house, and I've gotten some decks there.
Oddly enough, Borders has a great selection, so I've gotten some there. It's a good deal when I get a 20% coupon.
Online, I've bought quite a few from Tarot Garden, and Jeannette is great. I get my orders quickly.
I've bought quite a few from e-bay -- mostly out of print decks. I've also bought some directly from artists' websites, and those are very special.
I've also acquired a few from trades right here on Aeclectic.
I guess I buy them wherever I can.
Sue
|
| Shade |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
Most of my decks came from the local metaphysical bookstore and many of those were special orders. A few came from Borders, I've had very good luck with eing able to find the decks I want. I'm very big about patronizing the brick and mortar small bookstores and they usually order more frequently than the big guys.
Ordered a couple of times from amazon (and the german amazon), the only deck I've gotten from Ebay was the PoMo.
I've had very good luck with Llewellyn. I ususally call the 1-800-the-moon line to order. I once had the receptionist physically check for a copy of the decameron in the office when the distrbutor was out (they had one), and they were very kind about replacing a card from another deck with a printing snafu on it.
I've heard great things about tarot garden so when they were offering the Gay tarot signed by Lee I put a request in and was told I was on the list to be contatced when they had them. But I never heard back and when several others got their signed decks I picked a copy up from Borders. Probably just a communication error.
|
| rosyelf |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
I like to support my relatively-recently opened metaphysical store . They have a good, though not huge selection. So far I have bought from them-the Tarot of Lombardy, the Thoth, the Fairy Wicca and the Nefertari. Lombardy I'll use for research purposes, i.e. looking at the symbolism, how it's evolved. The Nefertari I love. The other two I couldn't warm to, but that's hardly the fault of the store !
Sometimes I use Amazon. And occasionally a wonderful shop in London called Watkins-it's been up and running since 1894, so it's contemporary with the Order of the Golden Dawn ! More prosaically, they offer a good service by mail-order.
Most of my most-treasured decks have been ordered from artists' websites.
|
| Gerbear |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
Tarot Garden for rare, OOP and HTF decks
Alida
Somerville
La Maison du Tarot
Chrisvoyant Tarot - These four for European decks
Triangle
YesAsia - for Asian, anime, and manga decks
Google - A great site for searching the web, using the Encyclopedias as a guide.
Abebooks
Amazon
Seven Rays
Isis
Alltarot - bargains at times
Deck creator sites
Private sales from collectors getting tired of it all.
Then there is ebay for those one of a kind, or special bargain decks.
|
| Kit |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
I have managed to find one great small shop in town which is easy for me to get to. The range of decks they stock is relatively small, but when you walk in to a shop and don't see the deck you need, do not walk out! Often, even the smaller shops are able to give you a (fairly long) list of decks they can order in through their deck supplier. If it's in Australia yet, my new found favourite little shop can usually gat it in for me.
Today I'm really excited, because I'm off to pick up my Tarot of a Moon Garden deck which the shop got in for me in less than a week and a half. Not bad.
I haven't ever bought a deck online (no credit card, *sigh*).
Raeven
|
| SunChariot |
16 Nov 2004 |
|
Wow! Thanks for all the info. I usually just go to amazon.ca too. Thank you all for sending all these great sites. I have saved them all. :-)
Bar (aka bardia)
|
| Firekeeper |
18 Nov 2004 |
|
I bought mine in game shops, but it was a long time ago. I think the next one will be on e-bay or price minister.
|
| Nevada |
18 Nov 2004 |
|
This probably depends on where we are. When I lived in an urban area there was a plethora of great bookstores, and I could find my cards in one store or another, usually an occult bookshop, or at least one with a more philosophical leaning. I liked buying from independents.
Now I live in a smallish town in an agricultural area. There's just one chain bookstore nearby--in the next town north--and it's one I don't like. The only other "bookstores" are very tiny, more like gift shops, with no Tarot. There's one occult shop, with a limited selection, also in the town to the north. Lots of traffic, freeway driving--ugh. I avoid that these days.
So now I buy online, from Amazon or Tarot Garden. I love Amazon's discounts and free shipping with orders over a certain amount (and of course their limitless selection), but I like Tarot Garden because they're a smaller independent, not a big corporation. I struggle between small-business loyalty and budget. :) I like that I can buy from either place and, if I'm carefull how I click, help Aeclectic out as well.
Nevada (looking for a good source to buy my Hadar)
|
| Emily |
19 Nov 2004 |
|
I buy most of my decks online too - Amazon UK, Alidastore and Somerville are the sites I use most often. The only decks that haven't been bought online were my first Rider Waite and about 5 Lo Scarabeo decks. The bookshops round here just don't carry the stock so it's easier to get them online. :)
|
| Paul |
19 Nov 2004 |
|
Alida Store and Somerville Playing Cards, both on the internet.
Easy, secure, great selection, impeccable customer service, timely delivery, and not prohibtively expensive (yes, there is shipping charges from Europe -- for me in America, but it's not outrageous.) Just use an online currency converter to translate Euros into dollars (if you need to, that is).
|
| MAR |
19 Nov 2004 |
|
Well, most of my decks have been bought online, as Amazon, Ebay, but also I have bought them in book stores and swap shop too, always in a very good price :)
Oops, I almost forgot, you can check for lower prices at www.walmart.com I have bought here it's very good, they have a lot of varieties tarot decks and books, just take an eye, you'll see.
|
| Jeanette |
21 Nov 2004 |
|
Ooooh, I never thought to check out Walmart.com! But I've bought most of my decks at bookstores, a few online (and e-bay auction), and a few my mom got at yardsales. And as for tarot bags, I make my own, and have so much fun embellishing them and making coordinating spread cloths!
|
| amyel |
21 Nov 2004 |
|
Oh, mostly in stores.
I am a very tactile person. I need to be able to feel the deck, to see it, to rifle through it. I also have some cards that are "bellweathers" for me, meaning, if I can not connect with the image, I don't buy the deck. Those cards are Devil, Tower, Moon & Star. Why? Well, the Devil & Tower are usually among the most disturbing cards in the major arcana (I "get" Death, so the image doesn't worry me), the Moon & Star, because I connect with these two cards in a very positive way.
So, online is tricky for me, unless I know I am buying the deck purely as a collector, or in cases when I have had an opportunity to handle it and can get a better price online.
|
| Rusty Neon |
21 Nov 2004 |
|
And occasionally a wonderful shop in London called Watkins-it's been up and running since 1894, so it's contemporary with the Order of the Golden Dawn ! More prosaically, they offer a good service by mail-order.
rosyelf ... Your post interested me enough to look up Watkins on the web. The store's history (given at http://www.watkinsbooks.com/history.html) is itself a fascinating part of the history of occult.
|
| MeM |
21 Nov 2004 |
|
I just recently purchased a deck from Amazon. I have not received it yet and am growing more anxious. I am so excited due to the fact that this will be my first usable deck.
|
| SunChariot |
21 Nov 2004 |
|
Don't worry I am sure you will get your deck any day now, MeM. I have ordered a lot of stuff from amazon, both from amazon.com and amazon.ca and they have always come pretty quickly. :-)
Bar
|
| rosyelf |
22 Nov 2004 |
|
RustyNeon, glad you've looked up this shop. In fact, it's not a shop, it's an EXPERIENCE. As well as a big selection of Tarots and oracles and books to go with them, there's a huge selection of books on all kinds of spiritual and esoteric subjects-Indian Philosophy, Gurdjieff, Theosophy, Sufism, the Kabbalah, the Golden Dawn (of course!), and much else. And, next door is Watkins' Esoteric Centre-I believe it offers a range of evening courses and day workshops on subjects such as Goddess spirituality, meditation and, yes, Tarot.
And the staff are very helpful and friendly and knowledgeable.
love to all,
rosyelf
|
| Sulis |
22 Nov 2004 |
|
Most of my decks have come from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com. I've bought from Richard Sommerville's Playingcardsales.com too and a few decks are from a magical supply shop which is only a couple of miles from my home - The Magik Thread: they have a very large stock of tarot decks but are a bit pricey - their website is www.themagikthread.co.uk
Love
Sulis xx
|
| Bazaa |
22 Nov 2004 |
|
I wish I could buy decks by net ;_; Here in my country it's really rare to see stores selling decks, and the ones they sell aren't really my taste ^_^ So it's kind of a miracle to see a beautiful deck in a store ^^;
|
| Michelle |
22 Nov 2004 |
|
I have purchased most of my decks at metaphysical stores. I think I got one deck at Borders. I am amazed at the huge selection Borders has now. I remember when they only had a few. Media Play is also starting to carry many more decks & books.
Have also received a few as gifts from my husband.
|
| divinerguy |
22 Nov 2004 |
|
I get most of my new and used cards at a great metaphysical bookstore in San Diego called, Controversial Books. They've got a huge inventory of Tarot, as well as books, magick supplies, etc. They have a web site, but I've long ago lost the link.
|
| Chubby Mummy |
23 Nov 2004 |
|
Holisticshop.co.uk.....with super-fast deliveries and a really wide selection of "spiritual" stuff! definitly quality!!!
XX
CM
|
| tinkerbell |
23 Nov 2004 |
|
again, i favour amazon, my only gripe being that they don't display any images so i have to refer to aeclectic before i buy.
i have also aquired a few from my wishlist here, through the trading posts.
i don't have a good metaphysical store nearby so amazon is the cheapest option but i always have to buy a couple of books or cd's to bump up the cost so i get free posting-( an expensive business at times!!!)
love tink xx
|
| MeeWah |
23 Nov 2004 |
|
The source of my deck purchases is online. I favour Tarot Garden for both its customer service & its selection; also because purchases benefit Aeclectic Tarot. I also prefer exchanges with members, especially those whom I have dealt with more than once & thus know & trust.
|
| annik |
23 Nov 2004 |
|
When I make a tarot purchase from Amazon.ca, I usually purchase a few decks together.
|
The Where people buy their decks. thread was originally posted on 15 Nov 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.
|
