talkmagic.co.uk

Hi there. First post. De-lurking for some advice.

I bought 6 decks of red bicycle recently and they are all a bit dodgily cut.


Seems like more space on one side.


More blank space at the bottom.


The worst of the lot, quite obviously skewed.

I've never spotted anything like this on bicycle decks before, should I be sending them back?

No it's actually pretty standard, your spectators never notice, you can use them as a gaff deck (I think its called a tapered deck but I'm not sure) and it doesn't affect your handling.

Thanks for answering.

The card stock is perfectly square, no tapering, it's the printing that's off.

As an ex offset litho printer, if it was business cards I'd blame the guillotining, for not correcting a skewed print.

I'm sure USPCC don't do manual guillotining though!

What you have there is a natural one-way back. Very useful.

LOL.

I did appreciate the subtle use of the somewhat lesser offenders, but this is all six packs that I purchased to one degree or another.

It's just made be feel a bit put off purchasing any more from same retailer.

I'd send back the ones that you can't make use of. Chances are unless the retailer is somehow getting hold of recalled duff batches, then it's out of their hands, and the fault lies with USPCC.

USPCC will probably uphold that they are still fit for their intended purpose. But indeed, this is nothing out of the ordinary. I don't normally worry until I am missing an index or have part of an advert bleeding across onto my cards. Granted I have only hit upon these circumstances once, and as I was still at the shop when I discivered it, the issue was swiftly resolved.

Thanks guys, I've had similar feedback from the retailer now, he mentioned quality has not been so hot since Jaden took over. He'll replace them but can't promise they will be any better.

I'll use the worst for practice and save the better ones for spectators.

I haven't bought a new pack for years not sure how long, but I don't recall ever seeing this before.

It most likely that I haven't had a new pack since Jaden took over 6 years ago I suspect.

Being an ex-printer and graphic designer my eyes notice the smallest errors though, just one pixel out on a screen will shout out at me for example. This is definitely making me over critical! *grins*

I think they're poor, but I'd probably just use them. They aren't as bad as the only set I've ever returned though. It was a long time ago but if I remember correctly I just had to post back a small sample (2or3) of the defect cards to the retailer to have a new deck issued.

There is always some difference in the size of border in the packs but it is only a small variation I have seen some like these but never bothered about it as was said before spectators don't notice.

I would expect any retailer to exchange something like this for a customer. It is not worth their effort not doing.

Nic

Where did you purchase them? And how much did you pay? Cards are sold in three 'stages' for lack of a better term.

First run goes to dollar and box stores and are sold cheap because of printing issues, off set issues. There is nothing wrong with the cards. 2nd run, all those issues are squared away and they are sold to casino's some magic dealers, game shops etc and are sold at a higher sale, 3rd stage are usually sold to dollar stores and the like because the ink on the run is starting to fade, equipment may be running a little off line. Again nothing is actually wrong with the card.

However in most cases if you send back the joker or ace (can't remember which there are instructions on one of the jokers or info cards that come with every deck) they will send you a new deck. Bicycle does guarantee the cards.

It is difficult to get a perfect deck. And in your case, judging from the pictures nobody is going to notice the 'defect' unless you point it out to them. If your spectator are burning the cards that close then take a look at your presentation because something is wrong.

bmat wrote:However in most cases if you send back the joker or ace (can't remember which there are instructions on one of the jokers or info cards that come with every deck) they will send you a new deck. Bicycle does guarantee the cards.

That's a good point Bmat. I wonder if you can get a one way forcing deck with the Ace of Spade, send all the cards back individually and get yourself 52 new decks for the price of one! That will teach them for not printing the backs square

Le Petit Bateleur wrote:

bmat wrote:However in most cases if you send back the joker or ace (can't remember which there are instructions on one of the jokers or info cards that come with every deck) they will send you a new deck. Bicycle does guarantee the cards.

That's a good point Bmat. I wonder if you can get a one way forcing deck with the Ace of Spade, send all the cards back individually and get yourself 52 new decks for the price of one! That will teach them for not printing the backs square

Interesting idea, but I think it is only responsible to add, (because there are those who might try this) that 1 it is ethically wrong. 2. If you are indeed trying to 'stick it to the man!' then you would lose economically as well. A one way force deck is far more costly to you then a regular deck of cards...so, you would have to pay for the one way force and then pretty much give it away by sending them the required card and in return, yes you would get 52 decks of cards (if they didn't catch on) but those 52 decks would have cost them pennies so in the end they still win.

Hard to fight the system, but keep on trying.

I've had many decks that have had cuts right through the cards...severing them so they can't be used. Bad! PG

You get this every now and then but as noted previously, they can be put to good use.

I've only ever had one deck that was so awful I considered it unusable. I did as the USPCC suggested and sent back the Ace of Spades all the way across the water to America and a few weeks later got a replacement deck. They're as good as their word.

So I had a practice deck (minus the Ace of Spades) and a brand new 'un which was lovely. Don't abuse it though people, they'll take it away if you do that.