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NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)

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NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« on: December 04, 2011, 07:35:14 AM »
 

CBJ

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Yet another deck from Merz67 in this Series...  when will it end?







CBJ


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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2011, 08:55:35 AM »
 

loldudex2

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Series 1 = Cool
Series 2&3 = Annoying
Series 4 = Terrible
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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2011, 10:52:51 AM »
 

phantom1412

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I think they are all terrible.

 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2011, 01:31:47 PM »
 

Jin Jian

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i might buy it for the money monte gimmick and i love USA and since i cant visit there maybe just have a deck of it
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2011, 01:41:32 PM »
 

Lushbob

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Series 1 = Cool
Series 2&3 = Annoying
Series 4 = Terrible

Exactly. I was looking to buy a Series 1 deck (I never did in the end), and I was pretty excited about the next ones coming out. But as soon as I saw them, I was kinda disappointed.
"What have future generations ever done for us?" - Groucho Marx
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2011, 12:45:37 AM »
 

Jin Jian

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i just think that the back design look very cool .. dun you guys think so
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2011, 01:02:19 AM »
 

Kanped

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i just think that the back design look very cool .. dun you guys think so

Not as cool as literally any rider back that WASN'T recoloured by Merz.  His work devalues the cards; these are worth about a dollar per deck.  Seriously; save your money and get a different deck.  Most of them are made in America, anyway.
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2011, 03:16:33 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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Oh.  My.  God.

Someone please stop this man, Merz67, before my eyes start to bleed.

I've never truly designed a thing in my life, and I could design a better deck that this.  Blind-folded, even.  So could a roomful of monkeys flinging poop at each other.  It's the most insanely unimaginative Bicycle deck I've ever had the misfortune to set eyes upon.  Merz67 takes a dash of Microsoft Word clip art, some goofball color tweaks, and that's it, he's made a deck?  Perhaps, but not one worth buying, and not one worth my hard-earned bucks.  How often do you ever even see a Merz67 deck outside of his own website and eBay store?  Almost never, because they suck rotten eggs.

I knew when I got a look at the Tie-Dye deck there was a reason why I never thought it was worth buying.  And that's at least as "original" as his most recent works, if not more so.

@hawjinjian - there are a stupendous amount of better decks depicting America, the colors of the flag, etc. then the steaming pile that is the Red, White and Blue series.  Don't throw your money away on this when there's so many superior designs around.
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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2011, 05:04:48 AM »
 

Jin Jian

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haha ok thank for telling
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2011, 05:31:44 AM »
 

Jin Jian

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i found somthing that will make you all real angry
http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/Rare-Bicycle-Red-White-Blue-Deck-Series-5-Playing-Cards-Magic-Circle-Design-/190608802658?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c612b8362 series 5 has come out .. come on guy it time to get angry !!
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #10 on: December 05, 2011, 08:00:10 AM »
 

phantom1412

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i found somthing that will make you all real angry
http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/Rare-Bicycle-Red-White-Blue-Deck-Series-5-Playing-Cards-Magic-Circle-Design-/190608802658?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c612b8362 series 5 has come out .. come on guy it time to get angry !!


We don't have to be angry. Let him do what he wants. Just don't buy decks from him and don't hype the decks.
Nothing changes even if we angry.
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #11 on: December 05, 2011, 11:28:41 AM »
 

munro159

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I'm not sure about this and maybe someone who has dealt with USPCC can answer this(Alex). I don't think Merz is shelling out the money for a full run of any of his new decks. I think he is using the Bicycle personalized cards (the ones you get in the add card in most regular bike decks 3-100 decks for $19.99 deck or something like that.) Then list it on ebay for $30-40 dollars a deck. All he has to do is get 10 decks of each printed. He could sell those easily on ebay. I'm wondering why no one else has thought of this (not that I condone this).
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #12 on: December 05, 2011, 11:33:07 AM »
 

CBJ

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I'm not sure about this and maybe someone who has dealt with USPCC can answer this(Alex). I don't think Merz is shelling out the money for a full run of any of his new decks. I think he is using the Bicycle personalized cards (the ones you get in the add card in most regular bike decks 3-100 decks for $19.99 deck or something like that.) Then list it on ebay for $30-40 dollars a deck. All he has to do is get 10 decks of each printed. He could sell those easily on ebay. I'm wondering why no one else has thought of this (not that I condone this).

Those custom decks do not come with custom tuck boxes.
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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2011, 01:25:08 PM »
 

Kanped

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So, someone in the USPCC is letting him print 10 decks?  There's no way he's printing 5000 of these each; that would mean he's printed like 60k cards in the past year, with many (slightly) different designs.  He's doing runs of 10 on these.
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #14 on: December 05, 2011, 02:35:14 PM »
 

munro159

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USPCC must have different policies for different people. I thought the current minimum for custom printing was 5000 decks.  I can't believe Merz would print 5000 decks each of these designs. The only other explaination I can think of is USPCC means a limit of 5000 decks in total not 5000 decks of 1 design.  In other words maybe he could order 500 decks of 10 different designs.  Either that or he knows someone at the company ;)
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #15 on: December 05, 2011, 02:39:25 PM »
 

Lushbob

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The only other explaination I can think of is USPCC means a limit of 5000 decks in total not 5000 decks of 1 design.  In other words maybe he could order 500 decks of 10 different designs.

Huh. I'd never thought of it like that. I think it'd be unlikely, but it's definitely a possibility. If so, how come no one else has taken advantage of it?
"What have future generations ever done for us?" - Groucho Marx
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #16 on: December 05, 2011, 02:45:22 PM »
 

munro159

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I'm assuming he knows someone at the company.  Also I've been thinking about this recently, We've seen a few releases recently that have been hyped as under 5000 produced. The most recent I can think of is the Bicycle Apollo. The only thing I could think of was they were splitting the production runs.
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #17 on: December 05, 2011, 02:49:08 PM »
 

CBJ

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There's also the possibility that he might have connections at USPCC, or might be a past employee

He does live in Cincinnati, Ohio

as you can tell by his auctions

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190608802658&category=19085&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619
  I was the featured collector on UC for May/June, check it out: http://bit.ly/UC_MyCollection

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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #18 on: December 05, 2011, 02:55:01 PM »
 

munro159

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what if...hypothetically...he does have connections at USPCC. Maybe they cut him some kind of deal to test market these decks before bicycle does a million print run on them.  I mean none of these decks are revolutionary in design.  In fact they look like something someone threw together to do a test run.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2011, 02:56:06 PM by munro159 »
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2011, 03:04:13 PM »
 

Lushbob

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what if...hypothetically...he does have connections at USPCC. Maybe they cut him some kind of deal to test market these decks before bicycle does a million print run on them.  I mean none of these decks are revolutionary in design.  In fact they look like something someone threw together to do a test run.

They do look just like that! And it's possible, but I doubt it. This has never happened before, and why would they test the decks through him? But hey, it could be happening.
"What have future generations ever done for us?" - Groucho Marx
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #20 on: December 05, 2011, 03:06:43 PM »
 

Kanped

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Nah, these aren't test decks; they're clipart and recolours he's made himself and he only usually sells... well, none but he usually only puts 10 up for sale.  I highly doubt he has thousands, hundreds or even a single 1 more deck of anything he's 'designed' than what he has for sale i.e., someone is letting him do 10 deck runs.


I just noticed; the jokers on series 5; one depicts the New York skyline with the twin towers clearly visible and the other is a commercial airliner.  Seriously, that's messed up.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2011, 03:13:47 PM by Kanped »
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #21 on: December 05, 2011, 03:18:47 PM »
 

munro159

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I was just brainstorming to make some kind of sense out of this.  I agree with you he is getting some kind of deal with USPCC. I was thinking bicycle was letting him throw these clipart decks together to sell on ebay so they could get some free marketing strategy.  Ex. Americana decks sell...Zebra decks don't (I don't know if either deck sold just making an example).  Obviously someone at USPCC is paying attention to the cardistry community and what sells. Its not coincidence that Bicycle is coming out with a steampunk deck.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2011, 03:19:39 PM by munro159 »
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #22 on: December 05, 2011, 03:41:17 PM »
 

CBJ

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I think you guys are getting a little carried away with the conspiracy theory. lol

I would imagine it's smaller runs.

There are a billion different possibilities.

The one I believe is this...

He has connections/history at USPCC.  He approached them about making 12 different decks (he's released 10 already NOT INCLUDING the Tie Dye).  I would say 500-1000 of each at a premium price... instead of the $2.50-4 out the door price, maybe he pays $8-10.  That's my theory.

either way, it's too many deck at those prices.

I would purchase these decks if they were 5 bucks each.

Oh well, there are lots of other decks I can purchase with my money

CBJ
  I was the featured collector on UC for May/June, check it out: http://bit.ly/UC_MyCollection

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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #23 on: December 05, 2011, 04:17:24 PM »
 

munro159

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I know...I know...sorry about the theories. Just trying to pass the time at work. Well that and been watching way to much "Decoded" on the history channel! ;D
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #24 on: December 05, 2011, 04:18:18 PM »
 

Lushbob

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That sounds pretty reasonable, actually. But yeah, no way do I think they're worth it at all. I'd only buy them if they were $5, and even then I'd be hesitant.
"What have future generations ever done for us?" - Groucho Marx
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #25 on: December 05, 2011, 04:23:18 PM »
 

munro159

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I would only buy them if Lady GaGa performed with them wearing a dress made out of used copies of DandD Trilogy! ;)
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #26 on: December 05, 2011, 04:24:36 PM »
 

Lushbob

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I would only buy them if Lady GaGa performed with them wearing a dress made out of used copies of DandD Trilogy! ;)

Haha! So, you'd basically never buy them. :P
"What have future generations ever done for us?" - Groucho Marx
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #27 on: December 05, 2011, 07:38:38 PM »
 

KPopFever605

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Where does he get his ideas anyway, they're completely useless, although they make lots of $$$. The idea to me is useless. Merz probably sleeps in a bed made of money.
"The word impossible is reserved for those without an imagination." - Arvind

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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #28 on: December 05, 2011, 11:49:23 PM »
 

Don Boyer

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I think what he did was go through the Personalized Playing Cards system USPC has for small print runs.  It's possible that he paid a little extra to get custom deck boxes for them as well.  I don't know if he has any current or past ties with USPC other than as a purchaser, but even regular purchasers can get special extras and deals that Joe from the block making his first deck won't get.

I dread the thought of 5,000-deck print runs of these steaming piles existing out there, somewhere, waiting for some sucker to fork over his cash...
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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #29 on: December 06, 2011, 04:18:19 AM »
 

phantom1412

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Where does he get his ideas anyway, they're completely useless, although they make lots of $$$. The idea to me is useless. Merz probably sleeps in a bed made of money.


Is there anyone actually buying those ugly decks?
Even if I have never heard about Merz before, I wouldn't buy those decks. They are too ugly to be in my room.
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #30 on: December 06, 2011, 05:49:23 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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Hey, here's a pleasant thought!

He's actually buying 5K print runs for each deck - but he's DESTROYING large percentages of each run and using them as landfill, compost, etc.  This way he makes his decks that much more rare, leading him to believe they're that much more valuable.

The price run-ups on his decks?  I strongly suspect shill-bidding is going on - he bids against his buyers using a different account, or worse, creates more than one new account and is bidding against HIMSELF just to set a high market price based on his "sales".

He's a hack, plain and simple.
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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #31 on: December 06, 2011, 08:13:04 AM »
 

loldudex2

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Creatingdecks and destroying them is a waste of money. I bet you he'd make more money if he never destroyed any in the first place.
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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #32 on: December 06, 2011, 02:05:42 PM »
 

Lushbob

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This guy just sounds pretty dodgy in general. Another reason why I won't be buying any of his ugly decks.
"What have future generations ever done for us?" - Groucho Marx
 

Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #33 on: December 07, 2011, 01:45:49 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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Creatingdecks and destroying them is a waste of money. I bet you he'd make more money if he never destroyed any in the first place.

I think he'd make more money if he got out of the card design business and stuck with selling Billy Bob accessories and stun guns.

I'm thinking this may also be an ego thing, slapping up all these card designs.  The ability to alter a color scheme and toss in some clip art does not a designer make.
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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #34 on: December 07, 2011, 01:50:02 AM »
 

KPopFever605

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Wait, I thought USPCC didn't allow you to just alter the coloration of their back designs. Russel was refused the offer, but how come Merz is allowed to.
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Re: NEW DECK - Bicycle Red, White, & Blue (Series 4)
« Reply #35 on: December 07, 2011, 01:51:00 AM »
 

xela

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Wait, I thought USPCC didn't allow you to just alter the coloration of their back designs. Russel was refused the offer, but how come Merz is allowed to.

They allow recolorations, just not modifications.
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