Author (Read 6093 times)

hazofhorsham · « **on:** February 14, 2012, 04:13:24 PM »

Now I am partial to Merz... I think he is a marketing genius. His decks aren't my favorite but for collections sake I have a few. They are quite easy to pick up as well since after about 6-8 months his price is like £9 in the uk. Also cos so many people dislike him you know he'll have them awhile - unlike D&D which in my opinion are almost as bad as him in terms of releases.

Anyway, just a heads up, he has released another four in the Trace Series. RRP atm is £50.

dmbaggs · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:20:46 PM »

Well no kidding! Do you know when/are there pictures? I haven't heard much about the trace decks but I've heard a great deal about Merz. I haven't picked up any of his decks but the trace decks I have seen look alright.

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:32:31 PM »

I don't have any merz decks. And I can't find any pictures. Can any one tell me if you think they are worth the price and post any pictures?

xZEROx · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:42:23 PM »

Here's the four traces deck he released last year:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-4-New-Rare-Trace-Decks-Blue-Red-Gold-Silver-Bicycle-Playing-Cards-/120829584862?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c220125de

Guess there're more of his clip art decks coming out. Yellow, green, orange and purple?

dmbaggs · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:48:43 PM »

The Blue Trace deck looks kind of cool, but the rest look like rubbish. Is that actually his art on the jokers?

xZEROx · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:49:50 PM »

Like I mentioned, it's all clip arts. Very easily obtained if you just search on google images.

dmbaggs · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:52:03 PM »

Quote from: sxjy0109 on February 14, 2012, 04:49:50 PM

Like I mentioned, it's all clip arts. Very easily obtained if you just search on google images.

Okay I wasn't sure if you were just mentioning the style haha. I figured there would be some legality issues but I guess not.

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:52:22 PM »

They aren't just colors... They have stupid names as well:
There is:
Bicycle Purple Trace Playing Cards Angel Devil DesignBicycle Yellow Trace Playing Cards Sun Moon DesignBicycle Black Trace Playing Cards Nuclear Bad Apple DesignBicycle Green Trace Playing Cards Alien Design

xZEROx · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:53:22 PM »

Meh I got three of the colour right.
Where did you get the information? And again, any pictures?

Paul Carpenter · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:55:50 PM »

That he gets $10 per deck, for that stuff, honestly makes me a little bit

Sigh. :'(

xZEROx · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:57:46 PM »

Oh how I wish they are $10 a piece. They were $40 to start with (I think it was $40...), and they're at around $13-$15 per as of right now. I can see it dropping to $9 in a few months though.

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2012, 07:01:45 PM »

Can someone list all of his decks and put pictures and places where they are for sale? It would be greatly appreciated!

Evan · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2012, 07:05:52 PM »

The worst part is that a lot of people buy that crap! They don't even know how unoriginal his designs are.

phantom1412 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2012, 07:28:11 PM »

Quote from: NathanCanadas on February 14, 2012, 07:01:45 PM

Can someone list all of his decks and put pictures and places where they are for sale? It would be greatly appreciated!

Here,
http://stores.ebay.com/Merz67

I don't know what he made, but it should be the things those are in his store only and not anywhere else.

Kanped · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2012, 08:02:36 PM »

I don't think he's sold a great number of his own decks. He most definitely is not a 'marketing genius'.

Case in point, I'm pretty sure these are the same, unsold, trace decks from last time.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-4-New-Rare-Trace-Decks-Blue-Red-Gold-Silver-Bicycle-Playing-Cards-/120829584862?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c220125de#ht_1091wt_1272

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2012, 09:21:50 PM »

It's a long term investment. A 5000 deck run costs him what, $15,000 if that? He releases them at $50 sells a few, then lowers them. People see them lower and buy thinking they are getting a bargain. If he sells his decks at no more that $8 a deck, he only needs to sell 2,000 to be in profit. Pretty smart - just annoying to those who appreciate design. I didn't mind his tiedye deck though-

Anyway pictures:

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2012, 09:28:14 PM »

Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 14, 2012, 09:21:50 PM

It's a long term investment. A 5000 deck run costs him what, $15,000 if that? He releases them at $50 sells a few, then lowers them. People see them lower and buy thinking they are getting a bargain. If he sells his decks at no more that $8 a deck, he only needs to sell 2,000 to be in profit. Pretty smart - just annoying to those who appreciate design. I didn't mind his tiedye deck though-

Anyway pictures:

Would any one that owns these 4 trace decks be willing to sell them to me?

Kanped · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2012, 09:50:31 PM »

Quote from: NathanCanadas on February 14, 2012, 09:28:14 PM

Would any one that owns these 4 trace decks be willing to sell them to me?

Yes, Merz will.

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2012, 09:54:21 PM »

Errrm... Nathan at the moment these are £50 a deck at the current exchange rate thats $75 a deck... or $300 a set. You really wanna buy these at that price? Or you could get a variety box, a couple gold arcanes, a hell of a lot of stuff from E, just about any deck you want, etc, etc.

Give it a few months and they will have dropped down to $15 a deck, buy them then.

xZEROx · « **Reply #19 on:** February 14, 2012, 11:06:08 PM »

I wouldn't even get them at $15 a piece. The tie dye deck was also produced by merz a few years back, and they're now $9 per deck. That sounds a little bit more reasonable to me.

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #20 on:** February 14, 2012, 11:19:55 PM »

I found the red, blue, gold and silver ones for 50$ total with shipping, but I can't find these other 4. Which ones are newer. And how come these 4 cost so much?

dmbaggs · « **Reply #21 on:** February 14, 2012, 11:37:41 PM »

They cost that much because Merz priced them that high. The new ones I don't think can be purchased yet. I could be wrong on that though. Red, Gold, Blue, and White were the original four, I'm pretty sure. They really aren't worth what he is charging. For how little effort is put into the deck I would pick up something from E or T11 or even some riderbacks over these

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #22 on:** February 14, 2012, 11:45:50 PM »

Thx brown_baggs. But then, once again, where can I buy the newer 4 decks? (I just want to see, and I don't care how much or how little they cost!)

dmbaggs · « **Reply #23 on:** February 14, 2012, 11:50:08 PM »

Quote from: NathanCanadas on February 14, 2012, 11:45:50 PM

Thx brown_baggs. But then, once again, where can I buy the newer 4 decks? (I just want to see, and I don't care how much or how little they cost!)

Haz posted pictures of them in a post earlier in this thread which you can go back and look at. It just has pictures of the boxes. I'm sure that soon Merz will put out pictures of the Ace of Spades and Jokers for each deck. Like I said, they aren't available for purchase yet, but they will be soon.

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #24 on:** February 15, 2012, 12:46:31 AM »

Oh. I didn't understand that they weren't available yet! Thanks for the info! Looking forward to these, despite what others say!

Don Boyer · « **Reply #25 on:** February 15, 2012, 01:00:40 AM »

All I'll say is that everyone knows my feelings about his clip-art lazy-design decks and the pricing tactics he employs to sell them. I buy other stuff from him since he does have good prices on them, but never a deck he designed.

xZEROx · « **Reply #26 on:** February 15, 2012, 01:15:58 AM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on February 15, 2012, 01:00:40 AM

All I'll say is that everyone knows my feelings about his clip-art lazy-design decks and the pricing tactics he employs to sell them. I buy other stuff from him since he does have good prices on them, but never a deck he designed.

You're right. But as a collector I'll probably pick them up sooner or later. Probably when they're at $8 a piece or less. But he does have some insanely good prices for a lot of the other decks. I'm not sure how he manages to gain profits selling them. For those of you who don't know, check his website too, alongside with his eBay store. Sometimes he's got cheaper goods on one, sometimes on the other.

Kanped · « **Reply #27 on:** February 15, 2012, 04:34:29 AM »

These decks will continue to go down in value, in contrast to every other deck on the market. They're essentially worthless. They're definitely worth less than standard Bikes i.e. you should never pay more than $2 for them.

phantom1412 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 15, 2012, 07:56:22 AM »

Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 14, 2012, 09:54:21 PM

Errrm... Nathan at the moment these are £50 a deck at the current exchange rate thats $75 a deck... or $300 a set. You really wanna buy these at that price? Or you could get a variety box, a couple gold arcanes, a hell of a lot of stuff from E, just about any deck you want, etc, etc.

Give it a few months and they will have dropped down to $15 a deck, buy them then.

Really agree with you.
The price will drop soon. Don't be hurry if you really want these decks.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #29 on:** February 15, 2012, 11:05:27 AM »

Quote from: sxjy0109 on February 15, 2012, 01:15:58 AM

Quote from: Don Boyer on February 15, 2012, 01:00:40 AM
All I'll say is that everyone knows my feelings about his clip-art lazy-design decks and the pricing tactics he employs to sell them. I buy other stuff from him since he does have good prices on them, but never a deck he designed.

You're right. But as a collector I'll probably pick them up sooner or later. Probably when they're at $8 a piece or less. But he does have some insanely good prices for a lot of the other decks. I'm not sure how he manages to gain profits selling them. For those of you who don't know, check his website too, alongside with his eBay store. Sometimes he's got cheaper goods on one, sometimes on the other.

The selection on both sites is different as well. An item you want could be in one place but not the other.

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #30 on:** February 15, 2012, 04:54:25 PM »

These are avaliable :L I just figured you guys wouldnt care for the links - do you want them? :L

CBJ · « **Reply #31 on:** February 15, 2012, 04:59:35 PM »

Yes, post the links

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #32 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:13:37 PM »

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Purple-Trace-Playing-Design/dp/B00770YG2Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AJBKHBBQVXK53&s=generic&qid=1329343960&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Green-Trace-Playing-Design/dp/B00770XL5W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&m=AJBKHBBQVXK53&s=generic&qid=1329343960&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Black-Playing-Nuclear-Design/dp/B007710FCI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&m=AJBKHBBQVXK53&s=generic&qid=1329343960&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Yellow-Trace-Playing-Design/dp/B00770SZJE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&m=AJBKHBBQVXK53&s=generic&qid=1329343960&sr=1-6

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #33 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:18:42 PM »

Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 15, 2012, 05:13:37 PM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Purple-Trace-Playing-Design/dp/B00770YG2Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AJBKHBBQVXK53&s=generic&qid=1329343960&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Green-Trace-Playing-Design/dp/B00770XL5W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&m=AJBKHBBQVXK53&s=generic&qid=1329343960&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Black-Playing-Nuclear-Design/dp/B007710FCI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&m=AJBKHBBQVXK53&s=generic&qid=1329343960&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Yellow-Trace-Playing-Design/dp/B00770SZJE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&m=AJBKHBBQVXK53&s=generic&qid=1329343960&sr=1-6

Wow! That's not cheap. With the current currency rate, that's almost 80$ a deck. 50$ seemed too much, but 80$... don't even talk about it!

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #34 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:43:39 PM »

I warned you that you were looking at $300 a set...

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #35 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:48:40 PM »

Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 15, 2012, 05:43:39 PM

I warned you that you were looking at $300 a set...

And I thought you were exaggerating!

xZEROx · « **Reply #36 on:** February 15, 2012, 05:52:05 PM »

Quote from: NathanCanadas on February 15, 2012, 05:48:40 PM

Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 15, 2012, 05:43:39 PM
I warned you that you were looking at $300 a set...
And I thought you were exaggerating!

Doesn't seem like it. merz is up for the profit again. He sold quite a few decks when the last 4 was at $50. Some collectors out there really don't know how to work around this guy do they...

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #37 on:** February 15, 2012, 06:13:45 PM »

Nathan out of curiosity how much would you pay for these?

John B. · « **Reply #38 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:26:22 PM »

Do not buy, it is not worth it, he took clip art and put it on a deck, even for collectors i would not buy, i would get bikes instead.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #39 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:52:25 PM »

Quote from: sxjy0109 on February 15, 2012, 05:52:05 PM

Quote from: NathanCanadas on February 15, 2012, 05:48:40 PM
Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 15, 2012, 05:43:39 PM
I warned you that you were looking at $300 a set...
And I thought you were exaggerating!

Doesn't seem like it. merz is up for the profit again. He sold quite a few decks when the last 4 was at $50. Some collectors out there really don't know how to work around this guy do they...

We all know what happens to fools and their money... I'm guessing he thought British collectors were more gullible somehow.

Kanped · « **Reply #40 on:** February 15, 2012, 09:07:11 PM »

Walk into a British store that sells cards and you may understand. Standard bikes are WAY better than anything we usually get.

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #41 on:** February 15, 2012, 09:18:18 PM »

We seem to only be able to get plastic coated cardboard over here :/

digipunk · « **Reply #42 on:** February 16, 2012, 04:32:59 PM »

Quote from: sxjy0109 on February 15, 2012, 01:15:58 AM

You're right. But as a collector I'll probably pick them up sooner or later. Probably when they're at $8 a piece or less.

They are limited and exclusive, once they are gone, they are gone. Get them before it's too late.

You can not deny the beauty of owning a piece of American Playing Card history (quoted from someone)

_

Kanped · « **Reply #43 on:** February 16, 2012, 07:07:47 PM »

I'm not sure he sold ANY of the first run of 'trace' decks. They're certainly not popular and nobody seems to be desperate to get them. IMO, they're a massive flop.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #44 on:** February 17, 2012, 11:39:05 AM »

Quote from: Kanped on February 16, 2012, 07:07:47 PM

I'm not sure he sold ANY of the first run of 'trace' decks. They're certainly not popular and nobody seems to be desperate to get them. IMO, they're a massive flop.

I'm sure he roped in a few suckers with more cash than wisdom, but I doubt he made a return on his investment just yet.

dmbaggs · « **Reply #45 on:** February 17, 2012, 02:11:12 PM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on February 17, 2012, 11:39:05 AM

Quote from: Kanped on February 16, 2012, 07:07:47 PM
I'm not sure he sold ANY of the first run of 'trace' decks. They're certainly not popular and nobody seems to be desperate to get them. IMO, they're a massive flop.

I'm sure he roped in a few suckers with more cash than wisdom, but I doubt he made a return on his investment just yet.

Yeah that's true. I was thinking that Merz must be pretty wealthy to be able to make these runs of decks without any backers or whatnot. Either that or he has some people funding him or he just makes fat loans. All in all though that's a lot of money to spend on decks, without a great deal of assistance financially

Don Boyer · « **Reply #46 on:** February 17, 2012, 07:46:49 PM »

Quote from: brown_baggs on February 17, 2012, 02:11:12 PM

Quote from: Don Boyer on February 17, 2012, 11:39:05 AM
Quote from: Kanped on February 16, 2012, 07:07:47 PM
I'm not sure he sold ANY of the first run of 'trace' decks. They're certainly not popular and nobody seems to be desperate to get them. IMO, they're a massive flop.

I'm sure he roped in a few suckers with more cash than wisdom, but I doubt he made a return on his investment just yet.

Yeah that's true. I was thinking that Merz must be pretty wealthy to be able to make these runs of decks without any backers or whatnot. Either that or he has some people funding him or he just makes fat loans. All in all though that's a lot of money to spend on decks, without a great deal of assistance financially

Remember, he has a reasonably successful (by all appearances) web store and eBay business. It's not impossible to think he has the cash coming in to support his own deck projects, and as a past volume customer, USPC is probably working with him on his nearly-identical print runs. He's made over a dozen decks with them by now, getting to be near twenty.

phantom1412 · « **Reply #47 on:** February 17, 2012, 08:45:12 PM »

I just saw the america series of Merz decks sold in Japan and sold out!
6 decks for 170$, Couldn't believe it.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #48 on:** February 18, 2012, 12:00:44 AM »

Quote from: phantom1412 on February 17, 2012, 08:45:12 PM

I just saw the america series of Merz decks sold in Japan and sold out!
6 decks for 170$, Couldn't believe it.

The bigger question is: how many were available in Japan? A "sellout" is easy if you're only selling one set. All you need is one person to be convinced that it's worth that much or more to them. Poor, poor soul...

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #49 on:** February 18, 2012, 09:15:48 PM »

I feel bad for that... Considering he is selling else where at $15 a deck...
Hang on...
Trace v1 - 4 Decks
Trace v2 - 4 Decks
American Series - 6 Decks
Zebra - 1 deck
Tiedye - 1 deck...

16 decks... And I have probably missed a few... Thinking logically he must be right up their in terms of USPCC repeat customers...

digipunk · « **Reply #50 on:** February 18, 2012, 09:51:08 PM »

Why doesn't he produce the zodiac-sign series, at lease I can give them to my friends as gifts.

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #51 on:** February 18, 2012, 10:09:00 PM »

Haha that is something totally up his street. Guaranteed 12 deck series. Next will be countries of the world.

Don Boyer · « **Reply #52 on:** February 18, 2012, 11:33:15 PM »

Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 18, 2012, 10:09:00 PM

Haha that is something totally up his street. Guaranteed 12 deck series. Next will be countries of the world.

When he gets to people of the world, that's when I throw my hands up and stop buying playing cards...

hazofhorsham · « **Reply #53 on:** February 18, 2012, 11:37:42 PM »

7 billion different decks... That would be quite an achievement :L

dmbaggs · « **Reply #54 on:** February 18, 2012, 11:39:24 PM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on February 18, 2012, 11:33:15 PM

Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 18, 2012, 10:09:00 PM
Haha that is something totally up his street. Guaranteed 12 deck series. Next will be countries of the world.

When he gets to people of the world, that's when I throw my hands up and stop buying playing cards...

Haha but not before you buy the deck he makes about you!

K · « **Reply #55 on:** February 19, 2012, 01:56:25 AM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on February 18, 2012, 11:33:15 PM

Quote from: hazofhorsham on February 18, 2012, 10:09:00 PM
Haha that is something totally up his street. Guaranteed 12 deck series. Next will be countries of the world.

When he gets to people of the world, that's when I throw my hands up and stop buying playing cards...

haha I can imagine it, different expressions for different emotions.. that's gonna be an awesome deck! (No, really..its impossible...)

phantom1412 · « **Reply #56 on:** February 19, 2012, 10:36:43 AM »

Quote from: Don Boyer on February 18, 2012, 12:00:44 AM

Quote from: phantom1412 on February 17, 2012, 08:45:12 PM
I just saw the america series of Merz decks sold in Japan and sold out!
6 decks for 170$, Couldn't believe it.

The bigger question is: how many were available in Japan? A "sellout" is easy if you're only selling one set. All you need is one person to be convinced that it's worth that much or more to them. Poor, poor soul...

I don't know, they are sold out when I saw it, but I don't think they were a lot of them.
Also ,they have trade decks for sell too.
Hmmm...

CBJ · « **Reply #57 on:** February 22, 2012, 07:54:18 PM »

Merz has these abominations on his ebay now for $40 per deck!

Yikes

CBJ

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #58 on:** February 22, 2012, 08:04:10 PM »

Quote from: CBJ on February 22, 2012, 07:54:18 PM

Merz has these abominations on his ebay now for $40 per deck!

Yikes

CBJ

At least it's better than 80$!

digipunk · « **Reply #59 on:** February 23, 2012, 03:00:49 AM »

I just checked the Trace series on Taiwan auctions, I thought they might be cheaper here (not so many collectors and no one wants those decks), but I was wrong. The Trace series is 1,450 NTD/deck here, about $48-50 USD. $:-\$ $:-\$ $:-\$

xZEROx · « **Reply #60 on:** February 23, 2012, 03:14:27 AM »

Guess some reseller in TW got hit too then. Now he's trying to unload the burden but he doesn't want to lose money cause of the shipping costs.

NathanCanadas · « **Reply #61 on:** February 23, 2012, 12:30:17 PM »

This guy is crazy... but hey, we all have our own way of making money!! His is by swindling other people!