Why are Tarot cards so expensive?

[phoenixsong]

Why on earth does it cost about IR£18-30 (not sure exactly how much more in $) to buy a simple pack of Tarot cards? Even for a very plain, not very well designed pack? It is not kind to the pocket of a jobless 16 year old!

[Flaire]

Mine was like $27..
I think it's like the paper they're printed on or something... But I don't know for sure. :D 8O

[Myst]

thick paper

printing costs

ink

artwork costs

the little book and box costs

cost to assemble

you could just get some cardstock and make your own deck too. Even cue cards could suffice in a pinch.

[Xois]

someone around here said that you can take regular playing cards and rub off the stuff on them with acetone (fingernail polish remover) then print / draw your own

I am sure with some inguenity, you could get large avery printer labels and print out designs you like fromthe web and stick them to card stock and cut them out...

:)

not that I would EVER encourage the printing of someone elses art work or anything...

Cheers
xois

[Theres]

and that's exactly why they cost so much... the copyright.

i know that alot of people don't like the idea of used cards, but if you cleanse them well and infuse them with your will this is a viable alternative to the cost of a new deck. used bookstores are certainly a good way to find the books you need. and it keeps the money out of the hands of the big corporate bookstores and gives it to the small local stores that need it.

[Myst]

Originally posted by Greenman
and it keeps the money out of the hands of the big corporate bookstores and gives it to the small local stores that need it.

As an aside, you can achieve the same by getting your deck from a magickal or pagan store (whether offline or online).

[Lavender]

My Wheel of Change cards cost me $45.00 Cdn. But take into account, it took the artist 10 years of her life in designing these cards plus the nice big almost 400 page book it came with. It was expensive but it was worth it.

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Cards here in the US sell from $12.00 on up pending on the deck. The average price for a book and the deck as a set is roughly $35.00. Many decks can be purchased without the book for $18.00 -- $23.00.

Just like everything else, everyone has to get their "cut" of the $$. The artist, the "publisher", the wholesaler, the retailer...along with the cost of the materials.

[phoenixsong]

Maybe I will try and design my own... either that or save up and buy the beautiful £30 dragon deck by DJ Conway.

[Silver Venus]

Hi, you can buy cards in the Uk for £12.99 I got my Secret & Mythic deck's for that and they are my favourites!!!
Try searching for some UK or Irelnad based tarot shops and see what you can find :)
Hope you manage to find one soon :sunny:

[Muffin]

I got mine in a sale and they were still like 12 quid! Magick is way too expensive sometimes.

[Silver Venus]

Yeah I agree but if you think of the work gone into each of those cards, all the major figures, backgrounds and symbols and if the minor have picutres in too ~ thats allot of work and just like books and books cost a fair bit dont they!
Just think how long they will last you ~ forever!
:)