MailChimp Playing Cards

[PrincessTrouble]

I wantz.

[DarkDerp]

CONTEXT!!!!  Princess De Trouble!! CONTEXT!!!


Printed through theory11, designed by fuzzco for mailchimp.com as a promotional piece.

here is the link to the dribble page http://dribbble.com/shots/1492977-MailChimp-Playing-Cards

[Emmanuel]

I like this a lot! Any chance of it being available to the public?

[PrincessTrouble]

I like this a lot! Any chance of it being available to the public?

I sent them a message via their website and asked.  Will report back here when/if they answer me.

[DarkDerp]

I contacted them as well, just for giggles. I have used Mail Chimp in the past for enewsletters for various clients. Between the two of us we gotta get something right?

[PrincessTrouble]

I got this response (from their Facebook page):

Hi Andrea – these were quite limited, so unfortunately we don't have any available at this time. The best bet will be to sign up for our Marketing & Promotions mailing list so you'll be one of the first to know the next time we have any MailChimp swag to give away!

Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/tRGh

[ruicorreia]

Now available for sale, in Red and Black Edition at https://store.theory11.com/products/mailchimp-playing-cards

[mirciusx]

What do you think? I guess both are nice. Maybe black a little more. Love the tuck case also, like T11 usually does.

This decks will be limited perhaps like Jaqk (red/blue/black)?

[hecrob]

According to the people at T11 the decks are not limited (both versions) but right now they have a small number of the red ones.

Something funny...

Some weeks/days ago i saw a really pricey mail chimp deck a red and blue one it went for $100 + dollars or something like that.

Kinda bad deal now that T11 released the very same deck at a very low 9.95 cost...

[Don Boyer]

That was a VERY bad deal, indeed.  Unless there's some subtle difference between the originals and these new cards...

Ask your connection at T11 about that!

[PurpleIce]

That was a VERY bad deal, indeed.  Unless there's some subtle difference between the originals and these new cards...

Ask your connection at T11 about that!

I did read somewhere that they were the same. (can't remb if from an email from T11 or newsletter or something)

Just that previously it wasn't release to the public. Even before this news came out, the decks were selling for $100+ on ebay. Those who bought those then, well, unlucky i guess.

Its funny that "not limited" was mentioned when they say the have very low stock of the red, yet selling them in bricks. Hard to believe everything nowadays.

[hecrob]

Here is a quote from the mail i got directly from T11

"...The first run of these was very small in quantity so there is a limit of 72 decks per color (red / black) for our wholesalers. We do plan on re-printing more, those should be in within the month we hope..."

[HankMan]

These cards looks awesome IMO, do anyone have any review of these cards yet?

I searched for it but I can't find anything about it.. and I was actually thinking bidding on ebay a while a go... luckily I didn't 

[Fess]

I'm not one for simians. Unfortunately, I don't like this deck at all. Planet of the apes all that, turned me off on those beasts. Seeing the courts with monkey faces is just bringing it all back. This is a deck of horrors!

[Don Boyer]

I'm not one for simians. Unfortunately, I don't like this deck at all. Planet of the apes all that, turned me off on those beasts. Seeing the courts with monkey faces is just bringing it all back. This is a deck of horrors!

Well, remember to breathe, and that there are plenty of decaffeinated brands out there that taste just like the real thing...



I'm not big on the design, but it doesn't have anything to do with monkeys.  It just doesn't click with me.

[max]

Here is a quote from the mail i got directly from T11

"...The first run of these was very small in quantity so there is a limit of 72 decks per color (red / black) for our wholesalers. We do plan on re-printing more, those should be in within the month we hope..."

At this point, I am a bit confused...

They said there were quite limited, then they said (after releasing in T11) they were unlimited

And now, they are quite limited again.

Should we understand there are two different print runs or what T11 is selling are the last decks from the first print?

[Don Boyer]

Here is a quote from the mail i got directly from T11

"...The first run of these was very small in quantity so there is a limit of 72 decks per color (red / black) for our wholesalers. We do plan on re-printing more, those should be in within the month we hope..."

At this point, I am a bit confused...

They said there were quite limited, then they said (after releasing in T11) they were unlimited

And now, they are quite limited again.

Should we understand there are two different print runs or what T11 is selling are the last decks from the first print?

It sounds to me like there may be more than just two print runs at work here.  Regardless, they printed it at least once and they plan to print it some more - at least one more run, probably a sizable one.

As a MailChimp promo deck, it was a limited item, a special promo given to customers.  Now that T11's retailing it, it's not quite as limited.  I think of it as being a bit like the JAQK Wineries decks.  All that remains is whether there will be continuous printings, limited printings, just one more printing, etc. - but no matter how you slice it, it's notably less limited than it used to be.

[HankMan]

Do anyone know what type of stock and finish do these mailchimp decks have??

[Don Boyer]

Do anyone know what type of stock and finish do these mailchimp decks have??

Choices over at USPC are pretty limited these days.  Process of elimination, anyone?

Stock: Bicycle or Bee Casino.  They come in a range of thicknesses, but you don't get to pick the precise thickness, just the range.  Better still, they overlap!  A thick Bicycle deck can be thicker than a thin Bee Casino deck.  The Bee Casino is the thicker range overall, naturally.  They're probably Bicycle - Bee costs a little more and takes longer because they have to outsource the boxes (USPC doesn't make boxes large enough to accommodate the thicker deck).  T11 might use Bee for their own decks, but for a deck made for a third party (MailChimp), they probably used the less-expensive option.  I actually can't think of any occasion where they used Bee Casino on a third-party deck, but then again, I don't own all of them, either!

Finish: Smooth or Embossed.  Few people use smooth finishes these days because of the added glide an embossed card provides.  The pockets on the card's surface, as I'm sure you know, act like the dimples on a golf ball.

Coating: Standard or "Magic Finish."  Magic Finish is the default for all custom playing cards - standard is only used for their mass-produced decks or by specific request.

Process of elimination: Bicycle stock, embossed, with Magic Finish coating.

[HankMan]

I am not sure if it used Bicycle stock, if it does it mush be on the lower range of thickness.

To me it feels thinner than standard bike and softer. They are embossed but not too sure about the finish, I compared it to virts which uses magic finish, mailchimp actually last longer.

[Don Boyer]

I am not sure if it used Bicycle stock, if it does it mush be on the lower range of thickness.

To me it feels thinner than standard bike and softer. They are embossed but not too sure about the finish, I compared it to virts which uses magic finish, mailchimp actually last longer.

You're making a common mistake.  "They are embossed but not too sure about the finish," you said.  The embossing IS the finish!  The deck's finish is the texture.  Despite naming conventions to the contrary, "Magic Finish" isn't a finish; it's a COATING.  And I'm telling you right now, it's practically a certainty that the coating was "Magic Finish."  The other option is the standard finish they use on the mass-produced decks and you have to go out of your way to request what is largely considered an inferior product!

In testing, Magic Finish was originally called by a code name: Performance Coating.  Ellusionist was the first company to test it, using it on the Gold Arcane deck.  They preferred the code name and continue to use it instead of Magic Finish to this day - and personally, I prefer it as well.  Honestly, "Magic Finish" is to me the dumbest name you could have given it; not only is it inaccurate, but the word "Magic" printed on a tuck box makes people think you're not using a straight deck with them - it's a "magic" deck!

As far as the durability of any given Magic Finish deck when compared to any other Magic Finish deck, there's a lot that's beyond the control of the company when it comes to standards in manufacturing cards.  Simple things like the precise amount of post-consumer recycled content in the paper or the humidity and temperature in the printing plant on the day the cards were made can actually make noticeable differences in how a pack of cards performs, especially when compared to another pack made with the same basic materials under slightly different circumstances.  They'll all perform well in general, but there will be slight differences in the characteristics, often slight enough that they can go unnoticed, but occasionally more than slight.  One of the reasons a company wants to place a large order isn't just for the savings on the per-deck cost - it's for the consistency of having all the decks made from the same batch with the same paper on the same day (or as close to it as one can reasonably expect, if it's a REALLY large order).

[Card Player]

Theory11 released today, 100 MailChimp Summer Edition Decks. 1 per Elite member only.

They look sweet. Gold Foil Seal, Orange tuck box.

[Justin O.]

The collector in me says I have to have these because they are obviously popular and there is demand. The other collector in me (Don) says I don't really like this design so it isn't worth getting. Internal conflict!

[aldazar]

The collector in me says I have to have these because they are obviously popular and there is demand. The other collector in me (Don) says I don't really like this design so it isn't worth getting. Internal conflict!

Wait, Don is in you?! =P

Sorry, couldn't resist...

I actually think these look pretty sweet! Struggle for me is whether international shipping on 1 deck makes sense...

[PrincessTrouble]

The summer-specific mailchimp link on the site doesn't work for me.  I'm an Elite member but didn't get the email. 

[aldazar]

I don't see them.  Where are they?

I think you have to be one of their Elite Members (ie spent way too much money with them)...=(

[PrincessTrouble]

Lyle at T11 got my issue sorted out and I was able to get a deck. 

[Don Boyer]

Lyle at T11 got my issue sorted out and I was able to get a deck. 

That's...um..."colorful"...to say the very least...  I think you sprained the camera lens trying to capture that shade of magenta...

[PrincessTrouble]

I gleaned that pic off Fuzzco's site:

http://fuzzco.com/work/playing-cards/