Black Club 2015 - Every Deck Free, Almost

[jerichoholic]

So E just released the details on next year's membership which you can now get. Basically Brad Christian admits they f'ed up with the club this year and that they were too busy with Prohibition and Pyro to deal with it, so they are trying to make up with it by offering all Black Club members 3 free decks right now, the Inverted Kings, Black Kings, and Mini LTD, you just pay shipping of course.

"Starting in 2015, every NEW deck Ellusionist produces will be offered to Black Club Members at absolutely no charge. You only pay the cost of shipping. This represents an incredible value to all Black Club Members, in addition to the already great deals that members receive.
We've got a stack of Black Club Member Only offers that will make everyone else jealous, a huge array of products set to hit the Black Club Store early this year, a warehouse being packed with Members Only Freebies and countless other benefits that will keep Black Club Members the envy of the rest of the magic world.
When you Renew for 1 year now you'll receive 3 free Rare Ellusionist Decks. The Blue Rounders, Red Arcane and White LTD-- and access to purchase another 2 additional Black Artifice Decks, and 4 MORE Gold Artifice Decks.
The 5% Black Club Discount is not applicable to any Membership Product.
Note: Purchasing multiple renewals will allow you to receive 3 free decks, but each account is limited to purchasing only 4 decks during the renewed membership"

- wait you can buy multiple renewals on one account now?

http://www.ellusionist.com/black-club-m ... 7S+APOLOGY

Here is Brad's official apology to members for anyone interested.

A NOTE FROM BRAD CHRISTIAN

Our intention with the Black Club has always been to offer members a level of access, priority and product deserving of the loyalty and support they've always shown for us.

Over the last twelve months, we've failed to fully live up to that intention. Products we had designed to fill the Black Club Store didn't arrive due to manufacturing issues beyond our control.

We've given away The Bold Project, Uncut Sheets and Black Club Exclusive discounts - but we know you expected more, and to be honest - so did we.

Our attention has been on producing big products like PYRO and Prohibition - projects that have taken all of our focus, and Black Club has borne the brunt of that neglect. For that - we apologize.

We recognize this failing and have taken major steps to rectify it.

First - We want to give you a Free Gift in apology, something in recognition of your loyalty. So, we've put together a pack of our three newest Rare Decks - the LTD Mini, the unreleased Black Kings and the Limited Edition Inverted Kings. They're yours, in your cart, FREE right now. That's number one - and you can get it here, after you've finished reading the rest of this email.

Second - We've sourced a brand new Manufacturer who is already hard at work on our first round of brand new arrivals in the Black Club Store. By this time next year we want our Black Club Members to be overwhelmed for choice in that store, filled with products that make you salivate for your chance to get them. That 's what we're working on for number two.

Third - and this is probably the most exciting part of this email - is a BIG change to Black Club. We're adding a very special feature to your membership, starting with the next deck of cards we release. And continuing with every other deck we release as well. But I'll let Daniel Madison fill you in on those details in this video.

Your Year Three Renewal is also live right now - for purchase, and as a Free Gift in our Giveaway Tiers. When you renew - not only do you get a Full Year of the brand new Black Club, we'll also send you a Red, White and Blue pack of rare decks; the Red Arcane, White LTD and Blue Rounders Deck (while stocks last) FREE - as a Renewal Gift.

When you renew, you'll also be able to purchase ANOTHER 2 Black Club Decks and ANOTHER 4 Gold Artifice Decks, at any stage during your membership - PLUS another 3 FREE Downloads Credits are instantly added to your account.

Lastly, as the President and Founder of Ellusionist, I want to make this personal promise to you: Our Black Club Members will never slip through the cracks again.

2015 is going to bring with it a new focus making Black Club Members our priority, and ensuring that you receive the recognition and rewards you deserve."


Sorry about the long post! At least they admit they screwed up and are trying to make up for it and looks like this year will finally be good for members.

[hikeeba]

They screw up. They apologize. Rinse. Repeat.

(Except when I mentioned this sort of thing last year on their Facebook page I got banned.)

[Cbkimble]

It sounds good but until I see it actually being worth it, I'm going to pass. Especially considering I purchased a club membership from CPC for 1/3 the price, of the black club membership price, and I get membership into their 1000 deck club plus a 15% discount code. CPC 1000 deck club decks don't cost $100 either. The Black Club membership, IMO, is a joke.

[Firthetic]

Victor didn't mention this in his long post, members will receive every new deck for free - except the rare decks.

Sure wish they'd done this for the Prohibition set.

[Gareth]

The other issue of course is that they mention the whole 24 hour window thing, but pretty much the only decks I've been interested from them in the last year - the Prohibition set - had no 24 hour window.

That said, at $125 each they were never going to sell all 3,000 sets anyway. But I guess that brings up that the 24 hour window is only really good/useful for decks that are going to sell out in that timeframe - that is essentially never happening nowadays.

If you'd asked me yesterday whether I was going to renew the Black Club membership I would've said "hell no", with these changes I'm not so sure.... but as hikeeba says, how many opportunities for them to make good (after collecting $150) do we individually allow before giving up?

[vasta41]

They screw up. They apologize. Rinse. Repeat.

(Except when I mentioned this sort of thing last year on their Facebook page I got banned.)

You've got to admit, sure they mess up a lot, but they're pretty good at falling on the sword. It doesn't fully atone for things but it sure helps soften the blows. For the first time in my life I'm debating the membership...

@hikeeba: the FB ban is bogus. That would have pissed me off big time.

[jerichoholic]

Yeah i've been banned on their FB too, apparently you can't speak any kind of truth on their Facebook page, you can only suck up to them, lol.

There was no 24 hour thing on the Prohibition because they wanted to start off the holiday sale and giveaways at the same time for everyone which I guess makes sense but it would have been a nice bonus for club members to get dibs first on the giveaways.

I will say it is pretty damn convenient that they send out these freebies after i'm sure a lot of people had already spent hundreds of dollars to get the exact same decks free!

[Strag]

E is still full of shit on this. Twice now they have screwed up but "trust us, this time we'll do it right" Oh, and charging for shipping? Sorry, that isn't free, especially for International members. Haven't bought anything from them since my year 1 BC membership expired and I see nothing to convince me otherwise.

[hikeeba]

The problem is that there's no need for these screw ups - just pure incompetence (or greed). (Did everyone enjoy Card Wars on Monday? Tues? Wed? Thurs? Or did it actually start Fri?....)
Last year I made a few orders and (if you recall) shipping was massively delayed. I got all of my shipping refunded (after contacting the BBB), but why did it have to come to that?
(You could ask Brad but he'll probably just tell you about how he started on the street of New York - inspiring stuff, you know....)

[rousselle]

Anybody out there get this e-mail and able to send it to me? I need one of the links from the e-mail; in a private convo. with Jen at E, she told me I could use the link, but didn't actually give it to me. I'd like to use it today while I'm placing another order with them. My e-mail address is the word 'magic' at 'rousselle' dot com. Thanks!

[jerichoholic]

Sent you an email.

Yeah I remember last year there was massive delays in getting the Messado Rings and I think the Artifice Gaff System out, well one or the other at least.

[ashe]

Surprisingly, they should have sent the email about the free decks for BC members before the Prohibition launch even. That way, people could actually just bundle it together with whatever they are shipping. Not executed well this apology

[runit]

Surprisingly, they should have sent the email about the free decks for BC members before the Prohibition launch even. That way, people could actually just bundle it together with whatever they are shipping. Not executed well this apology

I think the decision to compensate BC members came after the holiday and prohibition launch. When alot of people started to complain about the BC membership.

[ashe]

Surprisingly, they should have sent the email about the free decks for BC members before the Prohibition launch even. That way, people could actually just bundle it together with whatever they are shipping. Not executed well this apology

I think the decision to compensate BC members came after the holiday and prohibition launch. When alot of people started to complain about the BC membership.

It's either that people were complaining or they realised that none/not many of the BC members were buying

[jerichoholic]

The only reason they didn't do this before is because they wanted to cash in on the sale first. People probably haven't spent so much if they were getting the decks for free. Now E is just trying to make themselves look good by giving free gifts, but only after we've given them a bunch of money to cover the expenses!

[rousselle]

Just got a notice from E about some new products being featured on their site. Didn't get the 24 hour advanced notice that is supposed to go to the black club members. Anybody else get advanced notice on this?

It's a little thing, really, and I understand that this is the busiest time of the year for them. But... really? Didn't they just promise that the black club wouldn't be overlooked?

Also, I see that they've revised the terms of the "free deck of every new release (except for the rare ones)". Now it's limited to 20 decks, max. I wonder... those of us who committed before they posted that there was any limit, will they honor the original promise?

Hmmmm....

[Firthetic]

Just got a notice from E about some new products being featured on their site. Didn't get the 24 hour advanced notice that is supposed to go to the black club members. Anybody else get advanced notice on this?

It's a little thing, really, and I understand that this is the busiest time of the year for them. But... really? Didn't they just promise that the black club wouldn't be overlooked?

Also, I see that they've revised the terms of the "free deck of every new release (except for the rare ones)". Now it's limited to 20 decks, max. I wonder... those of us who committed before they posted that there was any limit, will they honor the original promise?

Hmmmm....

I did get the advanced notice yesterday. Are you subscribed to the Black Club Concierge email?

As for the free decks, Madison mentioned in the video that rare decks are excluded:

http://www.ellusionist.com/black-club-1 ... newal.html

[volantangel]

Are we expecting more than 20 regular decks for 2015 ? I wouldnt really think so

[rousselle]

Are we expecting more than 20 regular decks for 2015 ? I wouldnt really think so

I wouldn't, either, so I found it interesting when they added that new limit as part of their description of the new perks of membership.

Also, interesting that they didn't add me to the "concierge" mailing list. I'll have to follow up with them on that. Hmmm...

[PrincessTrouble]

Got the expiration reminder today: "Black club membership expires in 28 days (at 2015-10-12 00:00:00)." It's gonna stay expired too.

[ashe]

hmm... mine expires in under 14 days... who has renewed this year?

[volantangel]

Remind me again.. How many free decks were there ?

[hikeeba]

Not enough (looks like I've gotten 6). But I'm guessing they're going calendar year, and as long as there's a Madison, there's another deck.

Unless it's a tier level reward that's worth tiering up to I will also be canceling. They are just liars and frauds. To wit: I got some of their "seconds" (using up the rest of my "recognition points" (that program went to pot quick enough). One of the decks was opened and shuffled. I was told this was just QC and still qualified as a "second". Srsly - why bother anymore?

[jerichoholic]

Mines active till next February but I can find a better use for $150!

[Talisman]

Hello everyone. I joined the Black Club late December when they had the membership on sale.
I lost track of the "free" decks after the boring Sleepers deck. So have they fulfilled their promise of I believe 12-20 decks of "free" decks for the year? Let me know what you have to say about this. Thanks.

[Cbkimble]

No, I think they are at 6, maybe seven. I should've listened when everyone said ellusionist were a bunch of crooks.

[Talisman]

Yeah me too. I joined because of the sale. I soooo liked the box and the Black Artifice decks that was offered at the time which I regretted afterwards because now they offer the Gold Artifice decks which was what I really was looking forward to. I could have saved money just buying those decks on eBay and the box too. Sometime in the future I will buy those decks, but not with a new membership. Lastly, I was looking forward to the Prohibition decks to be offered as the V1.

[badpete69]

Merge the new topic with this thread... Thanks

[Talisman]

Thanks, Pierre. Good to see you got your power back on. Was totally confused when I didn't see your message saying "In" as usual.

[badpete69]

hehe no worries... I'm just glad there wasn't a very limited tier that i wanted but all is good in the end