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I just had to go through and cancel about 4 KS pledges because I have come to a harsh realization that my spending on cards has financial repercussions.

Has anyone else had to do this? I just want to know I am not alone.

Also, to be clear, I simply "weeded out" what wasnt top tier cards that I wanted. Still in for Muertos, Plugged Nickel and Heretic. I'm not crazy. lol

Just canceled Classic Monsters, Starlight, Frontier, Kingdoms of Something-or-another. Feel me?

For me it was the shipping which brought me to acknowledge how much it was costing me. That and needing to eat. When shipping doubles the cost, and you see most US buyers on KS not paying anything above the deck cost, you start to feel like a fool for participating on such an unlevel field.

So...until I have more money coming in I will no longer be purchasing online. I've been finding some great cards at the thrift stores lately, even some custom court ones. It adds an element of surprise to the mix when I let fate take a hand in the cards I get. This is going to be difficult though with Mike's new project of CardLauncher around the bend.

I do it all the time!

dazzleguts wrote:For me it was the shipping which brought me to acknowledge how much it was costing me. That and needing to eat. When shipping doubles the cost, and you see most US buyers on KS not paying anything above the deck cost, you start to feel like a fool for participating on such an unlevel field.

So...until I have more money coming in I will no longer be purchasing online. I've been finding some great cards at the thrift stores lately, even some custom court ones. It adds an element of surprise to the mix when I let fate take a hand in the cards I get. This is going to be difficult though with Mike's new project of CardLauncher around the bend.

Yo let me tell you, I have started to look through a few thrift stores. Definitely some interesting stuff.

As far as CL goes, I'm going to try my best to not look at the sites and/or projects. Next step is poverty. lol

I totally understand. I've got mine a bit under control now. I'm more hesitant when it comes to pledging for projects. I usually wait it out a while before I pledge to really think if I like the deck. For certain top tier ones, I pledge right away, especially if there is a limited tier involved, and then continue to think about it as the project progresses.

Sher wrote:I totally understand. I've got mine a bit under control now. I'm more hesitant when it comes to pledging for projects. I usually wait it out a while before I pledge to really think if I like the deck. For certain top tier ones, I pledge right away, especially if there is a limited tier involved, and then continue to think about it as the project progresses.

This is exactly the thing I am starting to do. Wait it out type stuff. Unless its EXTREMELY shiny and there is a EB available.

That being said, luckily for me, I am a 1 deck type of customer. At least I have that. No bricks or half bricks for me.

I feel your pain! I've cut back quite a bit too, but mainly because my tastes are evolving and I'm becoming a bit more selective.

As far as money goes, I rationalize it this way ...

I finally quit smoking two years ago. A pack of cards is still way cheaper than a pack of cigarettes (at least here in tax-happy Canada! ). So when I hesitate to buy/pledge for a deck of cards, I remind myself of how many decks of smokes I bought over the years without thinking twice!

I consider myself lucky ... I can afford cards! What would I do if my passion was collecting sports cars?

I rethink pledges and cancel often, depends on whether or not I like the design direction during the projects, which changed more than ever now.

CL will solve shipping once and for all. I have not announced specifics yet, but shipping to Canada and Mexico are less than before, the rest of the world is likely going to ship from Taiwan and or Singapore for much less to everyone especially Asia and Oceania but even Europe and maybe Canada. You'll be able to pick standard or express shipping if you wish as well. Decks by Expert will arrive in Asia and Australia at the same time as the US and if Canada is cheaper from there they will be shipped a week before everyone else.

Separating shipping should make decks $6-$8 + shipping and multiple decks save a LOT on shipping and will likely be cheaper even with express shipping. Of course one deck will always be the most expensive, no way around that...

I too have cancelled a few. It just got unsustainable. Some, Like Global unrest were purely bad timing. It ended two days before payday and the $$ just wasn't there. I really wanted those decks and will have to get them after-campaign.

Great news Mike! That may open a whole new window.

Kruser wrote: ......

I finally quit smoking two years ago. A pack of cards is still way cheaper than a pack of cigarettes (at least here in tax-happy Canada! ). So when I hesitate to buy/pledge for a deck of cards, I remind myself of how many decks of smokes I bought over the years without thinking twice!

I like that. They're about the same size too. I wonder if an old cig vending machine could be made to take packs of cards. Now that would be cool and convenient.

dazzleguts wrote:Great news Mike! That may open a whole new window.

Kruser wrote: ......

I finally quit smoking two years ago. A pack of cards is still way cheaper than a pack of cigarettes (at least here in tax-happy Canada! ). So when I hesitate to buy/pledge for a deck of cards, I remind myself of how many decks of smokes I bought over the years without thinking twice!

I like that. They're about the same size too. I wonder if an old cig vending machine could be made to take packs of cards. Now that would be cool and convenient.

I think you might be on to something.....

SBurk49 wrote:

dazzleguts wrote:Great news Mike! That may open a whole new window.

Kruser wrote: ......

I finally quit smoking two years ago. A pack of cards is still way cheaper than a pack of cigarettes (at least here in tax-happy Canada! ). So when I hesitate to buy/pledge for a deck of cards, I remind myself of how many decks of smokes I bought over the years without thinking twice!

I like that. They're about the same size too. I wonder if an old cig vending machine could be made to take packs of cards. Now that would be cool and convenient.

I think you might be on to something.....

Now that is a cool thing, as long as somehow you had the patent on a Star Trek teleporting device, so you push the button and out pops any of over 5000 decks available, THEN you would have something! (A universal deck delivery system, with unlimited resoucres and instant fulfillment as opposed to calculating the time from the quarters hitting the bottom of the coin box to the time it dropped from the stack into the delivery box within 15 seconds, so I think that might be the final solution.

It's already been done with an army of old cig vending machines being used to dispense art (no teleporting involved):

http://www.artomat.org/

A selection of custom decks would be cool enough, but the machines were generally made to take $5 payments so I don't think it's actually doable.

I realized that after pledging $250 on Uusi, $150 The Independence, and $200 for the Origins, I now have to stop and take stock of my spending pattern. I realized I have to take a major step back and calm down. I only started collection this year and I wanted everything I could get my hands on that I loved, feeling jealous at other peoples collections, even though I realize some have been doing it for decades.

Now it's one project at a time when it comes to Kickstarter, and things are gonna get complicated once CL and JR crowd funding sites go live, and then there are T11 Ellusionists and others like them that will release decks.

I'll have to accept the fact that there will be a few decks that I just won't be able to get due to my budget, and a budget of someone who is not working.

And let's not forget my comics/Anime/The Criterion Collection/Cult Films equation.

Norbie wrote: I only started collection this year and I wanted everything I could get my hands on that I loved, feeling jealous at other peoples collections, even though I realize some have been doing it for decades.

I can totally relate. This is my problem as well.

Norbie wrote:I'll have to accept the fact that there will be a few decks that I just won't be able to get due to my budget

I've just started to become extremely cynical and critical of every deck i can. That way, if they pass my scrutiny, i REALLY wanted them and not just kinda wanted them.

Norbie wrote:And let's not forget my comics/Anime/The Criterion Collection/Cult Films equation.

I'm proud to say this is my only addiction.

SBurk49 wrote:

Norbie wrote: I only started collection this year and I wanted everything I could get my hands on that I loved, feeling jealous at other peoples collections, even though I realize some have been doing it for decades.

I can totally relate. This is my problem as well.

Norbie wrote:I'll have to accept the fact that there will be a few decks that I just won't be able to get due to my budget

I've just started to become extremely cynical and critical of every deck i can. That way, if they pass my scrutiny, i REALLY wanted them and not just kinda wanted them.

Norbie wrote:And let's not forget my comics/Anime/The Criterion Collection/Cult Films equation.

I'm proud to say this is my only addiction.

Ditto here. Kinda like AA. Hearing from others in the same situation, feeling the same things. Hello, My name is John and I am an addict!

nECr0MaNCeD wrote:Ditto here. Kinda like AA. Hearing from others in the same situation, feeling the same things. Hello, My name is John and I am an addict!

Yep, but we have to get the crux of the matter in there: "and I'm addicted to playing card decks!"...

I took what Sburk had to say about being picky to heart. My budget was stretched too far and I had to drop the Muertos deck. I liked it but wasn't blown away by it. I will pick up a set after market if I can, budget willing.

I didn't get the Muertos either, but then I am off KS altogether for the moment.

Perhaps this is a good thing. In the end our collections will be more streamlined and polished.
I know it's better for storage and display. I really don't want to be pushed out of my own living space by my collection.

Im at the same point. I spent way too much this time. Im not at the point of not eating or paying my bills but if i continue I will. I'm putting a limit on my spending on decks. Ive been getting crazy lately as well, picking up decks everywhere i could. Ive got a pretty decent collection now so it's time to ease off the gas pedal and cruise.

I've had to drop a few myself cause I'm still in college and don't want to be eating ramen my senior year, but at the moment nothing in Kickstarter has really appealed to me. It sucks, but I figure if I really wanted it that badly I'd deal with it. I guess ramen has grown on me

Cbkimble wrote:Im at the same point. I spent way too much this time. Im not at the point of not eating or paying my bills but if i continue I will. I'm putting a limit on my spending on decks. Ive been getting crazy lately as well, picking up decks everywhere i could. Ive got a pretty decent collection now so it's time to ease off the gas pedal and cruise.

I couldn't agree more. I have been working six days a week for nearly a year. My one day off is important. Three weeks ago I spent that one day driving to every drug store, Wal-Mart and Target I could find. Doing what you ask? Why looking for decks of course. I pledged a small fortune for Heretic and it's my last big spree on KS for awhile.

nECr0MaNCeD wrote:

Cbkimble wrote:Im at the same point. I spent way too much this time. Im not at the point of not eating or paying my bills but if i continue I will. I'm putting a limit on my spending on decks. Ive been getting crazy lately as well, picking up decks everywhere i could. Ive got a pretty decent collection now so it's time to ease off the gas pedal and cruise.

I couldn't agree more. I have been working six days a week for nearly a year. My one day off is important. Three weeks ago I spent that one day driving to every drug store, Wal-Mart and Target I could find. Doing what you ask? Why looking for decks of course. I pledged a small fortune for Heretic and it's my last big spree on KS for awhile.

I spent saturday visiting thrift stores and came up empty, so what did I do, hit target, walmart, and books-a-million just so I wouldn't go home empty handed. I pledged big on heretic and the only other one right now is plugged nickel but I'm not holding my breath on that one. I'm still planning on picking up one, maybe two, of Lotrek's new decks but KS is definitely going to be getting very little of my money for quite some time. For about the next 6 months, it'll have to be ultra limited, jump out and grab my attention, or be part of a major collection.

maybe try sticking to one or two "types" of decks that you pledge or buy in multiples. ie fully custom, or transformation, or casino decks etc.
then form a list of other wants outside those.
i then ration myself to purchasing one or one set of those extra wanted decks per week. if the extra deck is available on ebay, most times sellers have quantities available listed. i sometimes have even been known to move a extra wanted deck further down the list, if i know a retailer has 10 of them, and it wont pose a risk of not getting one now, in fear of it not being for sale next month.

"Hello, I am Mike, and I collect playing cards". Sounds like a 12 step program to me...

It was so difficult this morning not buy some decks off GW. ive got 3 codes that equal 30% off. I even went to the site and loaded my cart but emptied it and close the page.

Cbkimble wrote:It was so difficult this morning not buy some decks off GW. ive got 3 codes that equal 30% off. I even went to the site and loaded my cart but emptied it and close the page.

You are a better man than I.

30% off? I had at least 6 decks coming to me.

Now that Heretic is over I was pondering how to proceed, cautiously, with my collecting. I think for now I will focus on completing what I already have. I have the Federal 52 branded set but none of the unbranded. There are also a couple of Paul Carpenter's decks I still don't have as well as the Civil unrest decks.

nECr0MaNCeD wrote:Now that Heretic is over I was pondering how to proceed, cautiously, with my collecting. I think for now I will focus on completing what I already have. I have the Federal 52 branded set but none of the unbranded. There are also a couple of Paul Carpenter's decks I still don't have as well as the Civil unrest decks.

All good items to add to the collection. One bit of advice I would give for you and all the new collectors out there. Quality over quantity. At least, it's my personal view that I'd rather have a few shining examples of cards from designers as Emmanuel Jose, Paul C, Jackson, Chris O, and many others who I am sorry I didn't mention than to have the full releases from USPCC, Ellusionist, T11 and HOPC. Not to say that they don't put out some nice cards, I do like and own many of those company's offerings, but I'd rather buy 1 great deck than 2 of USPCC's peacock decks. Hope I'm clear on that, not meaning to be disparaging towards anyone or anything. I just think that having a high quality collection is better than having every deck imaginable.

chach wrote:

nECr0MaNCeD wrote:Now that Heretic is over I was pondering how to proceed, cautiously, with my collecting. I think for now I will focus on completing what I already have. I have the Federal 52 branded set but none of the unbranded. There are also a couple of Paul Carpenter's decks I still don't have as well as the Civil unrest decks.

All good items to add to the collection. One bit of advice I would give for you and all the new collectors out there. Quality over quantity. At least, it's my personal view that I'd rather have a few shining examples of cards from designers as Emmanuel Jose, Paul C, Jackson, Chris O, and many others who I am sorry I didn't mention than to have the full releases from USPCC, Ellusionist, T11 and HOPC. Not to say that they don't put out some nice cards, I do like and own many of those company's offerings, but I'd rather buy 1 great deck than 2 of USPCC's peacock decks. Hope I'm clear on that, not meaning to be disparaging towards anyone or anything. I just think that having a high quality collection is better than having every deck imaginable.

I couldn't agree more and that's part of my new strategy. I just had to slow down with the but every deck I could find thing. Thanks for the advice.