Counterfeit Decks

[Raggydoll]

8 minutes ago, Troll said:

Wanted to ask  is it ok to buy counterfeit deck if you own the original? Why ?Because if the original costs 200  -300 bucks .I wouldn`t be ok using it and doing spreads with it. What do you guys think?

No. 

[ilweran]

No it's not ok.

 

Two ethical alternatives spring to mind -

 

Use a cheaper deck to shuffle & pick the cards and then lay out the expensive cards. Would significantly reduce wear and tear.

 

Alternatively, contact the artist and ask if they would be ok with you scanning and printing a copy for personal use. A bit of a longshot, but they might agree.

[Troll]

3 minutes ago, ilweran said:

No it's not ok.

 

Two ethical alternatives spring to mind -

 

Use a cheaper deck to shuffle & pick the cards and then lay out the expensive cards. Would significantly reduce wear and tear.

 

Alternatively, contact the artist and ask if they would be ok with you scanning and printing a copy for personal use. A bit of a longshot, but they might agree.

But why ?I already paid for original deck .Why I can use`t counterfeit for my personal use

[geoxena]

30 minutes ago, Troll said:

But why ?I already paid for original deck .Why I can use`t counterfeit for my personal use

 

If you purposely buy a counterfeit deck, you'd be sending your money to thieves instead of the creator/artist, thereby knowingly participating in the theft of their creative work.  Copyright laws exist for a reason.

Edited May 7, 2025 by geoxena

[Ferrea]

1 hour ago, Troll said:

Wanted to ask  is it ok to buy counterfeit deck if you own the original? Why ?Because if the original costs 200  -300 bucks .I wouldn`t be ok using it and doing spreads with it. What do you guys think?

 

If your price estimation of that deck stems from an eBay listing, I'd say its actual value is 20–25% of that price. 

Use your precious cards. Just avoid chewing on them.

[Troll]

29 minutes ago, geoxena said:

 

If you purposely buy a counterfeit deck, you'd be sending your money to thieves instead of the creator/artist, thereby knowingly participating in the theft of their creative work.  Copyright laws exist for a reason.

But in this case I would have a deck from author. But I couldn`t use it because it is too valuable  .It like buying expensive sneakers for few grands for your collection .But going out for run in the 30 $ replica

[Troll]

26 minutes ago, Ferrea said:

 

If your price estimation of that deck stems from an eBay listing, I'd say its actual value is 20–25% of that price. 

Use your precious cards. Just avoid chewing on them.

I don`t have any but maybe you are right we live only once and my family isn`t in to collecting .So if I ever buy expensive set I will use it and won`t buy replica for reading

[geoxena]

40 minutes ago, Troll said:

But in this case I would have a deck from author. But I couldn`t use it because it is too valuable  .It like buying expensive sneakers for few grands for your collection .But going out for run in the 30 $ replica

 

Your argument doesn't hold water.  Replica sneakers that present themselves as the actual brand are also counterfeit and theft.  No matter what excuse someone uses to justify wearing replicas, they are condoning and participating in the theft of the brand's original design.  It's different if a pair of sneakers or a handbag only looks similar to but not exactly like the brand they are knocking off and has a different logo or brand name on it.  I once bought a handbag that I thought was authentic, but it wasn't.  The seller knowingly presented it as the actual brand and I was stuck with a fake.

 

The people who make and sell counterfeit tarot cards don't present the deck as a similar copy; they present themselves as selling the actual deck, which is totally dishonest and undeniably theft.  Whether you want to put the deck away to keep it in pristine condition or use it for readings is irrelevant.  Theft is theft.  The creators and artists are still missing out on sales and royalties of their work, as well as control of the quality and who has the rights.

Edited May 7, 2025 by geoxena

[Troll]

25 minutes ago, geoxena said:

 

Your argument doesn't hold water.  Replica sneakers that present themselves as the actual brand are also counterfeit and theft.  No matter what excuse someone uses to justify wearing replicas, they are condoning and participating in the theft of the brand's original design.  It's different if a pair of sneakers or a handbag only looks similar to but not exactly like the brand they are knocking off and has a different logo or brand name on it.  I once bought a handbag that I thought was authentic, but it wasn't.  The seller knowingly presented it as the actual brand and I was stuck with a fake.

 

The people who make and sell counterfeit tarot cards don't present the deck as a similar copy; they present themselves as selling the actual deck, which is totally dishonest and undeniably theft.  Whether you want to put the deck away to keep it in pristine condition or use it for readings is irrelevant.  Theft is theft.  The creators and artists are still missing out on sales and royalties of their work, as well as control of the quality and who has the rights.

I see sounds like a valid argument. Good I only own one deck   

[katrinka]

6 hours ago, Troll said:

Wanted to ask  is it ok to buy counterfeit deck if you own the original? Why ?Because if the original costs 200  -300 bucks .I wouldn`t be ok using it and doing spreads with it. What do you guys think?

That would still be supporting counterfeiters, so no.

I've heard it's OK to make a PERSONAL copy of a deck you already own. You might scan it and have it printed up for yourself (NOT to sell.)

[Troll]

17 minutes ago, katrinka said:

That would still be supporting counterfeiters, so no.

I've heard it's OK to make a PERSONAL copy of a deck you already own. You might scan it and have it printed up for yourself (NOT to sell.)

Yes this seems like a fantastic idea ,that has no downside.

[Raggydoll]

If one prints a deck with a company such as Printerstudio, right before placing the order, you will have to tick a box to ensure that you have the complete copyright of the product you are about to print. I do know that Printerstudio has in the past, reached out to certain customers and made them provide evidence that they had the rights to print the deck that they had uploaded. There is a reason for that. You can’t claim fair use if you do something like that. 
 

In my personal opinion, just use the deck you have. If you compare it to a car, a home or even a couch, the value is significantly less. Yet you do not hesitate to use those other things, I presume? Sometimes it helps to get some perspective on these things. That’s just my two cents. 

[katrinka]

51 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

n my personal opinion, just use the deck you have.

Yes, there's that. You'll never get your money's worth if you don't use the thing!

[Raggydoll]

16 minutes ago, katrinka said:

Yes, there's that. You'll never get your money's worth if you don't use the thing!

Yeah. I gratefully use the things that I’m privileged to own. If it’s a fragile and/or antique deck, I’ll shuffle it more carefully. But I’ll still enjoy it and use it when I feel like doing so. 

[FindYourSovereignty]

1 hour ago, Raggydoll said:

In my personal opinion, just use the deck you have. If you compare it to a car, a home or even a couch, the value is significantly less. Yet you do not hesitate to use those other things, I presume? Sometimes it helps to get some perspective on these things.

 

Exactly. 

[Troll]

Can you please tell are this deck real or fake 

[KiMo]

Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but as a rule counterfeit decks don't have an ISBN and corresponding barcode on the packaging. Legitimate decks will have that barcode and a unique ISBN number, like books do. Counterfeit decks usually only have QR codes on the packaging that link to a digital 'guidebook'. Have you opened the box? Is there a deck specific guidebook? That's another indicator of a legitimate deck. Plus, counterfeit copies of Lo Scarabeo decks usually don't have their official branded sticker as a seal. Hope that helps.

[Troll]

23 minutes ago, KiMo said:

Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but as a rule counterfeit decks don't have an ISBN and corresponding barcode on the packaging. Legitimate decks will have that barcode and a unique ISBN number, like books do. Counterfeit decks usually only have QR codes on the packaging that link to a digital 'guidebook'. Have you opened the box? Is there a deck specific guidebook? That's another indicator of a legitimate deck. Plus, counterfeit copies of Lo Scarabeo decks usually don't have their official branded sticker as a seal. Hope that helps.

Thanks !!! this is all the proof I need for my personal piece of mind .I am happy that I got a steal for 18 euros 

[gregory]

Looks legit. If I could face it I would go match up the ISBN with mine - but it has one, and it LOOKS right. I imagine you will open it ? In which case, you should find two extra cards, one title card and one  advertising Tarotprofessionals....

[fire cat pickles]

It looks legit. I would look it up for you but I can't read the ISBN too clearly, Here's the ISBN site: ISBN Search

[Troll]

17 minutes ago, fire cat pickles said:

It looks legit. I would look it up for you but I can't read the ISBN too clearly, Here's the ISBN site: ISBN Search

Thanks I put numbers in site you gave it looks legit .Thanks

[Troll]

24 minutes ago, gregory said:

Looks legit. If I could face it I would go match up the ISBN with mine - but it has one, and it LOOKS right. I imagine you will open it ? In which case, you should find two extra cards, one title card and one  advertising Tarotprofessionals....

Thanks I don`t plan to open it but if I someday do I will check cards you talked about ,but ISBN matches so I am confident it is legit 

[Raggydoll]

Certain decks, depending on cardstock, can warp if they are left in their plastic wrapping for several years. I have one deck that another person kept unopened several years, and I have a hard time using it now because it is so warped. Just saying. And you won’t know if the deck is complete or not. I know someone who sold a vintage, unused deck but received complaints because it turned out to not be complete 😕
 

 

Edited February 15 by Raggydoll

[gregory]

If you don't open it - what is the point of having it ?

[Chariot]

13 minutes ago, gregory said:

If you don't open it - what is the point of having it ?

Just a guess ...possibly keeping it in pristine condition for re-sale?  Nothing wrong with that—perhaps @Troll is planning to pass it on, but wants to be sure it's legitimate, first.