My Trip to the U.S. Playing Card Company

[orchestrion]

Good evening/morning/afternoon everyone! I just got back from Cincinnati. This week was Spring Break for me so my I drove to Ohio with my parents (sister is at college) to visit the USPCC. This might not excite some of you, but for a kid from southern Indiana where you can only buy Bicycles this was a freaking dream come true. I took some pictures of what I bought. I though I would share them with everyone. The pictures are uploading now but I thought I would go ahead and post.

After I checked out (42 decks for $56.50) my mom bought a few decorative decks she got for about 8 cents a deck. She does art stuff and she bought some cards to cut up and use. She also got some Bees and a book of card game rules for my grandparents. My mom told me the lady working there gave her a bag full of stuff and said "Give this to your son when you get in the car to leave." She gave me the bag and in it was 12 different decks that she just threw in for free. They weren't super rare or anything, but it was really nice of her to give them to me.

After the USPCC we visited the two magic shops in the area, Haines House of Cards and The Magic Shop. At The Magic Shop I got The Card Magic of LePaul. The guy running the shop was really nice. He was really happy that I was buying a book instead of a DVD, it was pretty funny. He said "Well thank God that you read." a bunch of times. I told him I do mostly card magic and he said the three books every card magician should have are The Royal Road, Expert at the Card Table, and Expert Card Technique. He was a really nice guy and he wasn't afraid to poke fun at himself. He said "I specialize in the Stripper deck and the Svengali deck...mostly because I'm lazy. I'm not even going to mention how old I am."

All in all, it was a really fun day trip. We got to Ohio Tuesday night and stayed in a really nice hotel my dad got on PriceLine for really cheap (completely unrelated to the story but I thought I would share). I think everyone should make at least one trip to the USPCC in their life. Kind of like a hajj.

Well now that my essay is finished I'll just wait for the pictures to finish uploading and post 'em.

[orchestrion]

D'oh I forgot to resize the pictures. It's gonna take a little bit longer.

[orchestrion]

The pictures are finished so here they are.

The sign above the main building.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/4434/dscf1287xq5.jpg

Obligatory picture that my mother wanted to have taken. (I look unhappy because it was raining)
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1145/dscf1285ue7.jpg

[orchestrion]

What I Bought.

Everything
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7594/dscf1296xx5.jpg

Great Moguls I got for $.025.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4427/dscf1297gp3.jpg

WPT Bees.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8/dscf1298jz6.jpg


Tragic Royalties.
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/3694/dscf1300du0.jpg

[orchestrion]

Tactical Fields.
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/443/dscf1299ba2.jpg

Safety Backs.
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8375/dscf1301bl2.jpg

Squeezers.
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9896/dscf1302jq4.jpg

Six decks of Steamboats (they were 94 cents a deck)
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1921/dscf1303kn5.jpg

[orchestrion]

I bought two of these at $5.00 apiece. (I wanted all of the Vintage Backs but they were $2.75 a deck as opposed to $5.00 for six)
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/678/dscf1304kh8.jpg

Dominoes!!! (free with my purchase)
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4374/dscf1308mo5.jpg

I also got two decks of Aviators (not special enough for a picture)

You can also see in the "Everything" picture that I got a brick of Fan Back Tally Hoes for 94 cents a deck. At first I couldn't find any so I asked the lady and she went to the back and got them for me. What a surprise!

[orchestrion]

Stuff the Lady Gave Me for Free

Everything.
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7128/dscf1288ao6.jpg

Single Decks.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8931/dscf1289ye4.jpg

Bees. (anyone know if these are like the Wynns?)
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2813/dscf1311gr2.jpg

[orchestrion]

Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2492/dscf1312xs4.jpg

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/3481/dscf1313dp1.jpg

Made in America Cards
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9462/dscf1314tz2.jpg

[orchestrion]

A two-deck set of reproduced Army and Navy decks from 1881. This thing is AWESOME.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9388/dscf1309or2.jpg

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8060/dscf1310jn8.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5682/dscf1294sh3.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9453/dscf1295nd1.jpg

I also got a deck of Twighlight, Bungalow, Flirtatious, Black Tigers, blue Bees w/ white borders, black Rider Backs, a red deck of Thistle Backs, Royale Playing Cards (don't know much about these), and some Texans (not Palmettos). Very nice of the lady to give me all of that free stuff.

[orchestrion]

Just as I was taking these pictures my cat decided to explore inside the bag I brought everything home in.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6595/dscf1306sb7.jpg

Her eye isn't really jacked up. It just looks really weird in the picture.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2676/dscf1315sk8.jpg

[dummyisdumb]

Awesome dude! I gotta go there, cheap decks, wicked!

[Steve Simmons]

Wow dude...I'm pretty jealous of you! :p

Looks like a ton of fun too!!!!! :D

[orchestrion]

It was a blast! I think everyone should go. Even if you don't find anything good, the experience alone will be well worth the trip.


Something funny about the price. I was expecting her to say the total would be somewhere in the area of $75.00 when she got finished ringing everything up. I was pleasantly surprised when she said "$56.50." I got a ton of stuff for a great price. Her finding the brick of Fan Backs for 94 cents a deck was what made the trip.

[orchestrion]

Something else I forgot to mention. While my mom and I were each buying our respective loot, another lady who worked there started talking to me about how just today they had talked to David Blaine. She said he had just got some sample for his "new deck" (she said Split Spades, maybe a new run of them?) and was very excited about it. She also asked me if I was familiar with Ellusionist. After I said yes, she said "Then you probably go to Theory 11, right?" She talked about how they did you lot of work with Theory 11 and that she really liked the cards. I could tell she was enthusiastic about what she did and it was really neat to talk to someone who had heard of Theory 11.

...now if only that lady would have given me some Guardians and Centurions for free too. I was surprised they even had Black Tigers. They probably had them (the Tigers) in the back since I don't think they're allowed to sell them.

[I_KnowMagic]

Yeah the USPCC is awesome! I only live like 10 minutes away and I go whenever I have time! I like Haines house of cards but where is The Magic Shop? Anyway it is great to see you had fun!

[MitchellStafiej]

Awesome story and pictures! I would be lying if I said I wasn't a tad jealous :p.

Mitch

[orchestrion]

The Magic Shop is on Philadelphia in the German area. I think it's called Mainstrassen. It's a tiny little place. There wasn't much there at all but the owner was a really nice guy.

[orchestrion]

There was a guy there that might have been palmer from decknique. I was going to ask him but I thought I would sound a bit goofy if I asked a complete stranger "Hey are you from the Internet?"

[acrogers1]

i want to go to ohio!

i live in CA though...

[majicman92]

Really Nice Dude .... I Bet It Was An Awesome Trip ....... I Thinkin Imma Go This Summer .... I Dont Know ....... Well Congratulations For Ur New Decks ... I Love Them

[Virus]

Lucky. I want to go there!!

Tallys for 94?!?
Steamboats for 94??!?

Thats insanely cheap. If you lived in that area, you could buy tallys and sell them for cheaper than filmart.

EDIT: Lol at the cat pics:
pic 1: I'm in ur bagz stealin ur cardz
pic 2: I'm on ur cardz stealing ur cellophanez

[JPD]

Lucky. I wish I could go there. Plus the US card company has every deck of cards on the world? He got a black tiger. So I'm assuming that.

[orchestrion]

Lucky. I wish I could go there. Plus the US card company has every deck of cards on the world? He got a black tiger. So I'm assuming that.

They don't actually sell the Black Tigers, I don't think they can sell decks from Ellusionist, Theory 11, etc.

It's actually kind of hit or miss what you'll find in the store. It's a lot different than you might think. It's not really like a gift shop at all. It's just one small room where they sell decks for a little bit below retail price (this is where I got most of my stuff). Past that is another larger room that just has tons and tons of decks that they overprinted or couldn't sell. This is where the cheap stuff is but the stock is always changing. I'm actually surprised I found the Tallies. They had literally hundreds of standard Bees and a BUNCH of Mavericks for like $0.25 a deck.

[Virus]

Actually, they can. Its kind of like this:
Ellusionist gets a custom order. But USPC owns these decks pretty much. Ellusionist is the retailer. I've heard that Black Tigers are sold sometimes like like walmart.

[orchestrion]

Oh, from what I heard once the cards were off the press they were property of Ellusionist, Theory 11, etc. I just read that so I'm not sure what the "rules" for that kind of stuff are.

[The Dark Angel]

I am officially jealous of you. Sounds like you had a great time, that's awesome!

Take care,
TDA

[VagueTheory]

Oh my goodness...

You make me want to go even more.

[travis_barker1975]

thats really cool that makes me want to go to that company just wondering how much did you spend in all

[travis_barker1975]

hahaha sorry i saw pictures and was like ooo pictures and forgot to read lol Glad you had fun man ive never been but i would really like to go...im jealous lol....by the way i love the cat

[drorange]

i am soo jealous living in Australia i dunno if i'll make it over there anytime soon. So i was wandering can you take a tour or anything or is it just a shop?

[liamA10]

Sounds like you had a very good trip.

I just wish there was a U.S playing card company here in Australia:(

[Deryn]

Sounds like you had a very good trip.

I just wish there was a U.S playing card company here in Australia:(

Wouldn't it then be called AUPCC? :p

[Dizzi]

if I ever go to ontario I might go to the IPPC (International playing card company) (Foriegn cards! :D)

[dasuprememep]

Damn. I must make a pilgrimage to here.

[joshua barrett]

I see artie gave you the book rather then dvd lecture lol. he really only does do a stripper deck and svengali and hes a full time pro magician. ( he does do other magic things, just not in cards)

isn't the USPCC store grand? bricks of bikes and tallys for 6-10 dollars

[joshua barrett]

They don't actually sell the Black Tigers, I don't think they can sell decks from Ellusionist, Theory 11, etc.

It's actually kind of hit or miss what you'll find in the store. It's a lot different than you might think. It's not really like a gift shop at all. It's just one small room where they sell decks for a little bit below retail price (this is where I got most of my stuff). Past that is another larger room that just has tons and tons of decks that they overprinted or couldn't sell. This is where the cheap stuff is but the stock is always changing. I'm actually surprised I found the Tallies. They had literally hundreds of standard Bees and a BUNCH of Mavericks for like $0.25 a deck.

they do sell the special deck, they print them and own a portion of the rights

they don;t comes a cheap though

[MaryJane]

Wow thats so cool! Instant collection of decks. I'm totally green - especially of your freebies. :)

[Loki]

dude AWSOME !

[arcangeld]

I can relate to the aussies here... damn jealous man. I just got my centurions last week :) awesome stuff.. no magic shop in perth.. garr

[Bao Hoang]

OMG! Thats a dream! I so jealous

[orchestrion]

i am soo jealous living in Australia i dunno if i'll make it over there anytime soon. So i was wandering can you take a tour or anything or is it just a shop?


You can't take tours of the factory itself. There used to be a museum but they closed it down. In the outlet area (where all the cheap cards are) they have four or five displays that used to be in the museum.

[palmer]

There was a guy there that might have been palmer from decknique. I was going to ask him but I thought I would sound a bit goofy if I asked a complete stranger "Hey are you from the Internet?"

Indeed sir. That was me. I just didnt know what forum you were from :)

But Im not from the internet, Im from Cincinnati, lol.

I live just up the road from there. Glad you enjoyed your trip. I bet Helen wouldnt let you take pics from inside :D

[JPD]

Indeed sir. That was me. I just didnt know what forum you were from :)

But Im not from the internet, Im from Cincinnati, lol.

I live just up the road from there. Glad you enjoyed your trip. I bet Helen wouldnt let you take pics from inside :D

Oh my God. Thats sooo funny! How would you know how palmer looked like?

[iq92]

WOOOW :eek:

You can get that many cards for such a low price? Bricks of cards here aren't even discounted, which at first I thought would be so since you're getting them in bulk. But noooo, the price of bricks here are just the same as the price of one deck times 12. And there you are getting cards for less than a buck. (I'm talking about money here)

Anyway, I would really want to be able to go there and bring with me a budget to blow on a lot of decks. Right now, I think my chances of even getting USPCC, much less to Ohio is pretty slim.....
as slim as a thread.... invisible thread... stripped.... thrice.

[orchestrion]

Indeed sir. That was me. I just didnt know what forum you were from :)

But Im not from the internet, Im from Cincinnati, lol.

I live just up the road from there. Glad you enjoyed your trip. I bet Helen wouldnt let you take pics from inside :D

Heh I didn't try to take any pictures inside. I was too busy buying cards. I had a blast, it was a sweet trip.

[Morphweasel]

Damn lucky guy! They don't even sell USPCC's cards in the Netherlands. Everytime I want to buy a deck of bikes, I need to order them from webshops, which means a minimum of 3 euro a deck + 6 euro shipping coasts = aprox. $14.19 for just one freaking deck :P (ehh, that's why I usually buy multiple things in a webshop rather than only one deck xD)

Ah well, nice to know you've got the time of your life :P Enjoy your decks dude!

~Morphweasel

[dejavu05]

I went there too! Unfortunately it was closed when I went. It was still cool to see the outside though. I also went to Haines House of Cards. I didn't really like it though. The people were nice but I ended up getting ripped off by the tricks there. It was kind of frustrating.

[lou52onu]

I live in Cinci and I've never been to any of the 3 places that you listed. How sad is that?

[RichmanMatthew]

How much was the brick of Tally's?

[palmer]

I live in Cinci and I've never been to any of the 3 places that you listed. How sad is that?

Not sad, just really stupid. Sorry, but Im just being honest again.

You live HERE in town, and you have NEVER even been to Haines?

Get off the computer kid.

Im not trying to be mean, just honest. You have the opportunity that others here would kill for. Ring 71 meets there.

Nathan Kranzo will be there in a few weeks and Daryl is also on the schedule. Some great speakers have been there including Burger and Ammar.

email me at palmer@the3c.info or palmer@cards4pros.com

Magicians talking magic in a magic shop............what else do you want?

[Dr.Nick]

Wow, hope I can convince my parents to take me there in the summer. Glad I dont' live too far away from there (about 3 hours away)

[benot]

holy sheet of paper!! lol..im jealous(*drooling*)

[Trick-E]

:eek:Dude, that's so cool! I feel like I want to go there some day. Man, you got the very first edition of the black tiger deck and all the limited editions. I'm really jealous right now!

[m.miller]

my parents i doubt would take me... at least we wouldnt go just for that.
you have all the decks i have ever dreamed of having :D and most of em for less than a dollar?! lol i wanna go really bad