Zenith -- by Encarded

[Paul Middleton]

I think 6 is a perfect number. Enough to satisfy those that want a few more to open over time. Considering the amount available I think it's generous to be honest.

[Mike Ratledge]

I think 6 is a perfect number. Enough to satisfy those that want a few more to open over time. Considering the amount available I think it's generous to be honest.

My point was that I consider it too generous and I would love to have 3 to sell on eBay for an outrageous price, but as he noted - 500 likely for sale at first, divide by 6 and you can only have 83 customers. That's not going to work well. Sold out in 5 minutes? I know some few will buy less but I bet not many... Then he has another 450 left (keeping 50 for personal and replacements), that is only 75 more and 158 total. He'll have to have a lottery and nobody wants that!

2 would hurt my feelings but 3 seems reasonable. Besides, someone will make 2 or 3 accounts and end up with 18 let's say. Greedy people always spoil these beautiful things.

[sms69x]

I think 6 is a perfect number. Enough to satisfy those that want a few more to open over time. Considering the amount available I think it's generous to be honest.

My point was that I consider it too generous and I would love to have 3 to sell on eBay for an outrageous price, but as he noted - 500 likely for sale at first, divide by 6 and you can only have 83 customers. That's not going to work well. Sold out in 5 minutes? I know some few will buy less but I bet not many... Then he has another 450 left (keeping 50 for personal and replacements), that is only 75 more and 158 total. He'll have to have a lottery and nobody wants that!

2 would hurt my feelings but 3 seems reasonable. Besides, someone will make 2 or 3 accounts and end up with 18 let's say. Greedy people always spoil these beautiful things.

Thats a good point! Paul should lower the max amount per costumer, I personally prefer 4, don't know why but is usually the amount I buy!

[PrincessTrouble]

Any update Paul?

[Encarded]

Any update Paul?

They are on their way to the US and are planned to hit the port in New York on April 11th. It will take some amount of time to be collected and make their way to me in Florida, so I hope that in a few more weeks I'll have a more definitive timeline. At that point I'll know when the pre-order will begin!

In the meantime I'll be sharing little bits about the deck, and I have a nice article in progress that looks at the design and philosophy.

[Eoghann]

My point was that I consider it too generous and I would love to have 3 to sell on eBay for an outrageous price...

Haha, nope. Not taking the bait.

That does raise a good point. Perhaps three tiers: 1,2 and 3 decks. Maybe even just two tiers. If anyone wants more he will have to create multiple accounts.

[Sher]

My point was that I consider it too generous and I would love to have 3 to sell on eBay for an outrageous price...

Haha, nope. Not taking the bait.

That does raise a good point. Perhaps three tiers: 1,2 and 3 decks. Maybe even just two tiers. If anyone wants more he will have to create multiple accounts.

This deck isn't going to be on KS. Orders will be through Encarded's website.

[rousselle]

My point was that I consider it too generous and I would love to have 3 to sell on eBay for an outrageous price...

Haha, nope. Not taking the bait.

That does raise a good point. Perhaps three tiers: 1,2 and 3 decks. Maybe even just two tiers. If anyone wants more he will have to create multiple accounts.

This deck isn't going to be on KS. Orders will be through Encarded's website.

And thus, like Johnson's Baby Shampoo, no more tiers.

[Mike Ratledge]

LOL - exactly! "No more tears", either...

[Eoghann]

Haha whoops! I was under the impression we were talking about a KS campaign.

Either way, the 2/3 deck limit should stand. But would there be a way to IP track users or make it harder for users to purchase more than their fair share?

[Encarded]

Haha whoops! I was under the impression we were talking about a KS campaign.

Either way, the 2/3 deck limit should stand. But would there be a way to IP track users or make it harder for users to purchase more than their fair share?

I cannot restrict to that level. I looked around and Shopify doesn't seem to have built in or plugin capability to limit to one order per IP.

So, other than manually reviewing every order and comparing, and then canceling extras if they exist, we'll just have to hope that most people won't bother going to such extremes and will be kind to their fellow collectors.

[Mike Ratledge]

Haha whoops! I was under the impression we were talking about a KS campaign.

Either way, the 2/3 deck limit should stand. But would there be a way to IP track users or make it harder for users to purchase more than their fair share?

I cannot restrict to that level. I looked around and Shopify doesn't seem to have built in or plugin capability to limit to one order per IP.

So, other than manually reviewing every order and comparing, and then canceling extras if they exist, we'll just have to hope that most people won't bother going to such extremes and will be kind to their fellow collectors.

I can easily see how it would be a bookkeeping nightmare for sure! Best to just ignore it and depend on people being honest. Yeah, I know...

[UtterFool]

"Depend on People Being Honest"!!

So I guess that means most of us won't be getting one.

[Mike Ratledge]

"Depend on People Being Honest"!!

So I guess that means most of us won't be getting one.

Which is why I don't foresee him being able to do much about it. There is bound to be at least one or two people that setup multiple accounts no matter what limit he makes it.

[nECr0MaNCeD]

Ok, I will just need an address to mail my debit card to.

[Norbie]

If I'm able to time it right I hope to get three decks.

[Encarded]

FYI, I am going to release these in a few batches, with the assumption a fair number of people will be looking to get some, and if I see any really blatant abuse I'll be doing something about it. I am a collector too and I know how disappointing it is to get shut out of a nice release only to see them all on eBay later. That drives me nuts and I'll do what I can to give everyone a fair chance.

[nECr0MaNCeD]

FYI, I am going to release these in a few batches, with the assumption a fair number of people will be looking to get some, and if I see any really blatant abuse I'll be doing something about it. I am a collector too and I know how disappointing it is to get shut out of a nice release only to see them all on eBay later. That drives me nuts and I'll do what I can to give everyone a fair chance.

I can't thank you enough Paul. I am a new collector with a limited budget and would hate to miss out on these. I just ordered a First 100 Deco set from your site. They'll be here Monday. Sadly, the only place I can get the regular Deco decks is eBay or resellers at marked up prices. I'll get them because they are far too beautiful to not have a deck of each opened. The First 100 set is for the collection.

I for one am glad to see a designer who really cares about the community. I know a business needs to profit and I don't begrudge them profits but what some don't see is that if you take care of your fan base the profits will take care of themselves.

PS I would be glad to trade computer repair services for cards.... Just kidding. Keep up the great work and keep those decks coming!

[Mike Ratledge]

FYI, I am going to release these in a few batches, with the assumption a fair number of people will be looking to get some, and if I see any really blatant abuse I'll be doing something about it. I am a collector too and I know how disappointing it is to get shut out of a nice release only to see them all on eBay later. That drives me nuts and I'll do what I can to give everyone a fair chance.

Very good, Paul! That's the best possible thing we could ask, I think. It's a pain in the rump to have to even think about it, and I'm sure that your e-commerce software isn't likely going to help (if at all), but controlled releases and reasonable oversight should make it more than fair, and eliminate those decks showing up on eBay for the most part. Of course, somebody will sell a few no matter what you do. We had one person that order the "1 of 60" unit Signature Edition for Grotesque insist that he got a blank 'dedication' card, i.e. no name on it. Are these pre-numbered on the tucks or is it something you have to serialize yourself?

[th4mo]

FYI, I am going to release these in a few batches, with the assumption a fair number of people will be looking to get some, and if I see any really blatant abuse I'll be doing something about it. I am a collector too and I know how disappointing it is to get shut out of a nice release only to see them all on eBay later. That drives me nuts and I'll do what I can to give everyone a fair chance.

...eliminate those decks showing up on eBay for the most part. Of course, somebody will sell a few no matter what you do...

I am all in favor of Paul doing everything he can to help get his decks into as many collectors's hands as possible... But do we really need to vilify ebay resellers?

C'mon, Ratman, there have been at least a few times where you yourself have bragged about the tidy profits you've made on your own ebay sales of newly released decks, uncuts, etc.

And while i've never sold any decks there, I wouldn't even have a fair number of the decks in my collection if it wasn't for Ebay.

So, let's not get too self-righteous here...

[Eoghann]

I've bought a ton of decks on eBay. But we're talking about the scalpers. Who buy as much as they can and sell them for ridiculous prices. Often forcing collectors to pony up the crazy sum because they simply can't be found anywhere else. Nothing against honest, conscious resellers.

[nECr0MaNCeD]

I've bought a ton of decks on eBay. But we're talking about the scalpers. Who buy as much as they can and sell them for ridiculous prices. Often forcing collectors to pony up the crazy sum because they simply can't be found anywhere else. Nothing against honest, conscious resellers.

I couldn't have said it better. In my travels trying to complete my Federal 52 set I saw a guy selling one of each branded decks for $250. That's $50 per. Never mind that at that time Jackson still had Silver brandeds for $25 and Reserve notes for $20. Thankfully I got the reserves at that price. I won't even go into the guy selling Grid 2.0s for $50.

[Norbie]

Maybe he has a wife and seven children to feed?

[Mike Ratledge]

I've bought a ton of decks on eBay. But we're talking about the scalpers. Who buy as much as they can and sell them for ridiculous prices. Often forcing collectors to pony up the crazy sum because they simply can't be found anywhere else. Nothing against honest, conscious resellers.

Well stated. The selling on eBay isn't the problem, taking 2 or 3 times what anyone else gets just to punt them for absurd prices is - regardless of where they are sold.

[lolo]

Maybe he has a wife and seven children to feed?

I know him ! It's the Prince charming.

His spouse is Snow White (a lazy ass sleeping all the day) and she has seven children from a previous marriage. The neighbourhood calls the children "the dwarves" because they look very uggly especially the one named "grumpy" (yerk !).

Prince Charming was forced to marry to Snow White by "the dwarves" after a simple kiss... Poor Boy... Have mercy, bid on ebay to help him !

[Encarded]

Are these pre-numbered on the tucks or is it something you have to serialize yourself?

Zenith has the serial number machine printed on the seal, which is under the cellophane.

[Paul Middleton]

"Depend on People Being Honest"!!

So I guess that means most of us won't be getting one.

Which is why I don't foresee him being able to do much about it. There is bound to be at least one or two people that setup multiple accounts no matter what limit he makes it.

Technically you could monitor IP addresses for accounts also, if Paul really wanted to check these things. I did that for Legends V2 when we did a limited release, though I think one slipped through the net even then!

[nECr0MaNCeD]

"Depend on People Being Honest"!!

So I guess that means most of us won't be getting one.

Which is why I don't foresee him being able to do much about it. There is bound to be at least one or two people that setup multiple accounts no matter what limit he makes it.

Technically you could monitor IP addresses for accounts also, if Paul really wanted to check these things. I did that for Legends V2 when we did a limited release, though I think one slipped through the net even then!

A lot of work and very easy to get around with a little understanding and very little effort. Don't get me wrong. I applaud the effort but I want to share what I know.

[Paul Middleton]

"Depend on People Being Honest"!!

So I guess that means most of us won't be getting one.

Which is why I don't foresee him being able to do much about it. There is bound to be at least one or two people that setup multiple accounts no matter what limit he makes it.

Technically you could monitor IP addresses for accounts also, if Paul really wanted to check these things. I did that for Legends V2 when we did a limited release, though I think one slipped through the net even then!

A lot of work and very easy to get around with a little understanding and very little effort. Don't get me wrong. I applaud the effort but I want to share what I know.

True, but adding an extra layer does discourage those that are not in the know, it's pretty much impossible to prevent across the board.

[nECr0MaNCeD]

Very true Paul and I agree 100%. It's just good to know the limitations of any security you put in place. Thanks for pointing it out.

PS I wish I could afford the shipping, I would love to get some of your decks.