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Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

19 replies [Last post]
Thu, 07/08/2004 - 20:07
Anonymous

For all the following, assume non-trivial production runs (1000+ units):

What is the approximate cost of adding small painted wooden pieces to a game (1cm cubes, cylinders, simple houses, etc)?

What is the approximate cost of adding wooden 6-sided specialty dice with to a game?

What is the approximate cost of adding a quality full-color 60-card deck?

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Thu, 07/08/2004 - 21:20
#1
Anonymous
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

As far as I know there are no approximate costs for much of anything. your best bet is to get a quote from some manufactures, or look at what other start up companies can put in a box and see how much they charge for it.

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Thu, 07/08/2004 - 23:31
#2
Anonymous
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

Well I would still appreciate anecdotal evidence from anyone who has done it before. For example, if a given game mechanic can be performed with 20 specialty dice or a deck of 60 cards, is one typically cheaper than the other? Or, if I've got 50 houses and 50 bigger houses (Settlers of Catan style), is it cheaper to just get all the same house piece and just use 2 of them to indicate a bigger house?

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Mon, 07/12/2004 - 11:06
#3
simon
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

Kardwell just quoted me the following:

$395 setup for a custom-faced deck (full color)
$150 setup for custom backs
$1.29 per deck.

Total for 1000 decks: $1835.

(I may have the per-deck price wrong. They quoted me a double-deck price, so I'm just cutting it in half for you. That's 56 cards, too... not quite your 60.)

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Mon, 07/12/2004 - 12:17
#4
Dralius
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Joined: 07/26/2008
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

in your quote

Quote:
Kardwell just quoted me the following:

$395 setup for a custom-faced deck (full color)
$150 setup for custom backs
$1.29 per deck.

Total for 1000 decks: $1835.

I noticed that you did not mention any sort of packaging like a tuck box or shrink wrap and no delivery charge. Is any of that included?

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Mon, 07/12/2004 - 15:09
#5
Anonymous
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

simon wrote:
Kardwell just quoted me the following:

I believe it is considered bad form to put specific quotes on this forum.

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Mon, 07/12/2004 - 16:00
#6
Anonymous
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

I don't think it's considered bad form at all. It's just that there may be business reasons for someone not to post quotes, and they should really be sure they want to do so before posting them.

With all due respect, it might be considered bad form (by some, not by me - as long as the original poster's wishes regarding that info is honored) to quote the actual quote in another post, because the original poster may come back and edit the quote out from his own posts, but he can't do so from someone elses ... that was where the contention was the last time (when the admin edited that info out on request of the original poster), but it all worked out very nicely in the end (when the people edited by the admin said they would have done so on their own anyway).

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Mon, 07/12/2004 - 16:26
#7
jwarrend
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Joined: 08/03/2008
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

Goodness gracious, I don't want to have this discussion all over again, but I think we need to come to some sort of an "official" postion on whether posting quotes you've received, with the company's name, is good form or not. I propose that we, the admins, discuss this and disseminate our pronouncement whenever we have one. Until then, carry on as you were...

-Jeff

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Mon, 07/12/2004 - 16:39
#8
GamesOnTheBrain
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Joined: 07/24/2008
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

While posting the quote may or may not be acceptable, I imagine that many people will find it very helpful.

As hobbyist designers, many people on this forum simply have no idea what it costs to produce a game. This at least gives them some idea of the expenses they are facing, without going through the formal (and for some, intimidating) process of receiving a quote.

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Mon, 07/12/2004 - 16:44
#9
jwarrend
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Joined: 08/03/2008
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

Just to clarify, the issue isn't, I don't think, publishing the dollar amount, so much as publishing the dollar amount AND the company name. I wouldn't even mind if someone said "Here's the price I got from a company, PM me if you want the company name." But specifying both in a public forum *may* not be cool. I don't think it is, but let's hear the rest of the admins and maybe an "official" policy will be adopted...

-Jeff

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Tue, 07/13/2004 - 01:04
#10
simon
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

I'm sorry... I should not have used the word "quote". Those are the rough figures they gave me, not a hard-and-fast quote. If I've offended anyone, I'm sorry, but I didn't see how sharing game-creation data would be harmful.

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Tue, 07/13/2004 - 03:57
#11
FastLearner
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

We (the admins) have discussed this a bit, and I've decided that our policy for the time being is: Feel free to post quotes or estimates, with whatever level of detail you wish. We are, for some intents and purposes, a trade group where such information is freely shared.

As I noted previously, there may be very good business reasons why you might not want to post all the details, including but not limited to the possibility of harming a business relationship with the supplier, but it's entirely up to you.

Mind you, if you signed a contract saying that you wouldn't share it and a supplier informs us of such, we would of course remove the information. Nonetheless, the content of any posts on the BGDF are entirely the responsibility of the posters.

That said, I always love these kinds of details, as they help me understand the industry better. Bring 'em on! :)

-- Matthew

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Tue, 07/13/2004 - 08:01
#12
rkalajian
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

I just like to add that having no experience in getting anything proffessionaly manufactured yet, the numbers people give have been a great help in my planning to do so.

I'm glad there is no restriction on the posting of quotes :)

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Tue, 07/13/2004 - 09:36
#13
Anonymous
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

jwarrend wrote:
Goodness gracious, I don't want to have this discussion all over again, but I think we need to come to some sort of an "official" postion on whether posting quotes you've received, with the company's name, is good form or not. I propose that we, the admins, discuss this and disseminate our pronouncement whenever we have one. Until then, carry on as you were...

-Jeff

Come on!! it wasn't _that_ bad :)

But, I'm glad we have a 'policy' now, and I think it's a good one too. This thread should definately be marked for the FAQ or the WIKI or whatever we end up with ...

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Tue, 07/13/2004 - 12:59
#14
Anonymous
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

I'm amazed at the $1.29 per 56-card deck, after startup costs. That's a lot cheaper than I thought. Does anyone have experience with Kardwell? Are they playing card quality (Bicycle)?

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Tue, 07/13/2004 - 15:36
#15
FastLearner
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

One other thing we'll put in the FAQ about this: we want everyone reading them to understand that just because person x receives a certain quote, it doesn't mean that y or z will receive the same quote from the same company. Specifications vary, paper prices (and such) vary constantly, and every company has the right to sell its services at different prices to different people. Y'know, Your Mileage May Vary.

-- Matthew

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Sat, 07/17/2004 - 17:43
#16
Anonymous
Cost of game pieces, dice, and cards

Quote:
Kardwell just quoted me the following:

$395 setup for a custom-faced deck (full color)
$150 setup for custom backs
$1.29 per deck.

Total for 1000 decks: $1835.

Simon, did you contact them at their 1.800.233.0828 number that is on the site or did you use another means? With whom did you speak? I think I speak for many of us, when I say that we would like to contact them and get some of our projects quoted as well. From the site it appears that the minimums of 500 are reasonable and from what you posted (although our own quotes could be different) it seems that this might be a viable option for some of us.

And keep us posted as you move along with your project. We are all encouraged when we read of other's successes!

Michelle

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Tue, 07/20/2004 - 13:01
#17
Anonymous
Card Pricing

Hey everyone,

I'm brand new to the site. I'm currently working on two different card games. I called Kardwell based on this string and I was given a quote of $3.37 per deck with 500 decks (54 faces per deck). This is almost a $400 dollar difference. They told me you could save some money in the setup charges by using less colors on the backs. This price also includes window box packaging for each deck. I recommend anyone interested in these guys call them for a direct quote. Also note that kardwell.com and customplayingcards.com are the same company.

The other point I'll make here is that I've scoured the net for two days now and kardwell really seems like to only game in town that will print custom images on both sides. There are tons of places out there that will print images on the backs of playing cards, but few that do both sides. If anyone finds a better deal please let me know.

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Tue, 07/20/2004 - 13:07
#18
GamesOnTheBrain
GamesOnTheBrain's picture
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Joined: 07/24/2008
Re: Card Pricing

Harlem wrote:
I was given a quote of $3.37 per deck with 500 decks (54 faces per deck).

Does that include setup fees?

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Fri, 07/23/2004 - 20:12
#19
jkopena
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Re: Card Pricing

Harlem wrote:

I'm brand new to the site. I'm currently working on two different card games. I called Kardwell based on this string and I was given a quote of $3.37 per deck with 500 decks (54 faces per deck). This is almost a $400 dollar difference.

That makes sense, though, given that you've requested half the number of decks, right? Also, what size deck are they printing? Simon was printing 56 and you're asking for 54. That could coceivable change things slightly. I wouldn't think so in this case, since you're basically just throwing 2 away, but you never know...

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