Recruitment in my country - Modified starter decks

[Yanko Markovic]

So, as an initiative inspired by Kenddrick to gather more Lotr player in Santiago, I thought it would be a nice and easy start to use modified starter decks (from ALL sets available, with the new site system), using the starter with a little tweak, but still having them balanced and relatively cheap.

Right now my player group is four (yes, FOUR ), but I've got six peolpe interested. However the main problem is WHERE can I actually find these decks. Yeah, I know about Ebay, but I just wanted you to tell me some other online shops or any other source where the shipping cost to Chile is a little lower.

Any ideas? 

[Kenddrick]

Well, shipping costs are always idiotic, so what you might want to try to do is this:

Create PDF starters of the decks you want to demo, then print them out and slip them into sleeves with card backings.

Or you can order just one set of each deck you want to demo, and also create the PDFs at the same time. Then this way you demo with the real deck, and if they are interested, give them the PDFs on printed paper.

Hope this helps.

[Yanko Markovic]

Well, I actually managed to find some relatively low costs on some starters, and I decided that it's better to start in Movie Block, so I'm gonna get 2 starters of each block, and then I'll modify them a bit.

[Kenddrick]

There you go! Bring more players to LotR TCG ok?

[Jerba]

http://www.wholesalegaming.com/lotr/lotr10deckpacklot/

This is a great deal on starters. No clue on foreign shipping. But a great way to get people interested and have a variety of decks to choos from.

[chompers]

Whoa - i just checked postage rate from Australia to Chile. $34.10 AUD to send a parcel regardless of weight (up to a max of 20kg) - I guess we don't deliver to South America too often. It looks like you might need to buy in bulk to get decent prices on cards from international sellers.

At those prices it might be worth looking into alternative ways of getting into the game - such as the method Kenddrick mentioned above.

As for this company:
http://www.wholesalegaming.com/lotr/lotr10deckpacklot/
The cost for postage to Australia is $60 USD for the cheapest postage option. Again, I would like to point out that it does not cost that much to post - but why not make a small (erm LARGE) profit on postage if you are the seller.

The cost to post ONE starter to Australia from USA is ... ready for it ... $30 USD !!!!!!!!

Incidently - I can send a box of starters from Australia to USA for $16 USD.

[Jerba]

Would it be cheaper if a US player got sent them to you?

[Yanko Markovic]

Would it be cheaper if a US player got sent them to you?

I don't really understand what you said. Do you mean I ship them to the US and then soemaone here ships it here? Cuz if it's that I don't really know.

Now as I said, I actually managed to find some decks, including Pippin from SoG, Eomer from ROTK, Faramir from EoF, and Boromir from RoteL. I want to know what do you think about those. I think it might be worth buying Merry from SOG instead of Pippin, to have Rohan and Gondor balanced. Boromir and Faramir proved irresistible to buy. We're starting with RANGERS here!

EDIT: I have others though, like Gandalf and Aragorn from FOTR, Sam from MD, and Witch-king from EoF, and Gimli from MoM. Sorry, no elves. Legolas from Rotel would've been awesome.

[Witchkingx5]

Would it be cheaper if a US player got sent them to you?

I don't really understand what you said. Do you mean I ship them to the US and then soemaone here ships it here? Cuz if it's that I don't really know.

That's exactly what he meant, and I agree that this IS a good idea.

[Yanko Markovic]

It's good, though I don't know anyone here willing to send me a box of starters... and I don't know of the cost.

[Jerba]

Sorry I wasn't too clear. But WitchKing is right. I meant to ask if it would be cheaper for a US player to ship them to you. For example, you bought them online and had them shipped to me and I would forward them along to you for (hopefully) less than the store would charge for foreign shipping.

Just a thought. Some Americans may be willing to help with this service.

[chompers]

It would be a generous offer for someone to use their time to aid in packing products for international customers.  But using this method you are double shipping in an attempt to get a postage discount - sounds crazy to me.

Two years ago I bought most of my collection from WildThingGames. They shipped boxes of cards to Australia for $12 USD. Now they want $24-30 USD. I find it hard to believe that US international prices have increased by 100% in two years. I also find it hard to believe because I can send the same thing to America for around $15 USD.

These sellers are losing potential customers because of greed. Maybe there is a market out there for an online store in USA to sell products are a fair price, and charge 'real' postage rates. And better still, the store should operate away from the rules of Ebay who are partly responsible for driving the postage rates up (as sellers do it as an attempt to circumvent their fees).

[Yanko Markovic]

Totally agree with chompers. And jerba, I really appreciate your help, but I'm already talking to some guy to actually lower a bit the shipping cost to a reasonable price. And I'm going away on vacation the day after tomorrow, I'm not taking the laptop, so I'm really busy. I just want to get ready this thing soon, so I don't want to bother you by having you waiting or anything. Thanks a lot though.

[Kenddrick]

Or, a cheaper alternative would be to use the printable PDF starters! I know they cannot compare with real life decks, but hey, at least you can keep them interested while you decide whether to buy the real thing or not!

Here's the link:
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/topic,3968.msg46476.html#msg46476