I have the good fortune to have been involved with The Wildwood Tarot since it was published back in 2011 and still maintain and run the Wildwood Tarot website as well as administering their official Facebook page.
I noticed in the past few years that the number of emails I was receiving from the website had increased and it wasn’t anything to do with the decks that I had posted out, but the decks that people had purchased elsewhere. It seemed that people had been buying decks (think Amazon, Etsy, TEMU etc) that did not have the large (excellent!) companion book, just an online link that was supposed to supply the guidebook as a download. And guess what? The links didn’t work.
These emails come in at sometimes 3 or more per week. Sometimes they are polite requests for me to send the guidebook pdf, but not always.
So let’s take the opportunity to restate what traits a fake tarot deck is likely to have – and these apply not just to the Wildwood Tarot, so that YOU are better prepared for when you see that unmissable Tarot bargain on the big sales platforms:
- It comes in a ‘pocket size’, ‘handbag-size’ or ‘travel-size’. Do your due diligence – does the publisher offer the deck in this size? If not, it’s a fake.
- It is not only smaller than the legit version, but it doesn’t come with the companion book. If there is a link to download a pdf version of the companion book then it’s a fake.
- If it costs a fraction of the price of the legit version (the RRP of The Wildwood Tarot is over £20), say £5.00 then it’s a fake. Although – pay attention – I’ve seen fake decks being sold for as much as £60!
- If it’s from a seller on the sales platform that is just a random bunch of letters and numbers ‘leg5056’ there is a good chance that it’s a fake. Click through to the seller’s details – if there is not a legit looking bricks and mortar address for your country there, there’s a good chance that it’s a fake. If it’s from a warehouse at Heathrow, it is definitely a fake.
- If the seller seems to have unlimited numbers of the cheap decks for sale and offers a wide selection of Tarot decks, not just the Wildwood, it’s a good chance that ALL the decks are fake.
- If the publishers ISBN number and logo is missing from the box, it’s a fake.
The real Wildwood Tarot is only ever sold WITH ITS COMPANION BOOK in a large presentation box (see the feature photo to this post)
Now you might be one of those people who say ‘Alison, £24.99 is far too expensive for a tarot deck and book, I can’t afford that and I’m going with the fake version, thanks all the same.’
Well here are a couple of things to think about. If you think that your £5 will not be missed by the deck’s creators, think again. All the artists and authors and everyone else involved in the process who work diligently to create, distribute and stock the cards and companion books that you love so much (all of them, I’m not just talking about The Wildwood Tarot here) need to be paid for their skills. Otherwise, what’s the point in those talented people spending years creating something? I already see people quitting the industry and preparing to quit by moving into other areas.
Counterfeiting tarot decks might not seem like a big crime, but the people who are raking in the money (and they ARE making a LOT of money) are not just one or two independently minded little people. This is organised crime and your money is going towards criminal enterprises that I reckon most tarotists would not want to be funding – drugs, trafficking, extortion … the usual suspects.
So, dear tarot friend, if £24.99 feels like a lot of money (and god knows we are in a tight spot with the cost of living crisis) please save up for a legitimate copy or add it to your Wish List.
Can you guess what kind of email I had in my inbox today?!
So if you have been sold a counterfeit tarot deck, what can you do about it?
Firstly, contact the seller and get your money back. Usually mentioning the word ‘counterfeit’ is good enough to get your cash back.
Secondly, report the seller for selling counterfeit goods, to the sales platform.
Thirdly, dispose of your counterfeit deck. Do not post it back, do not give it away, do not sell it on. If you do, then you too are part of the counterfeiting chain.
Fourthly, if you see counterfeits being sold on line or in shops, I hope that you will have the courage to sing out and report the sellers. No bricks and mortar shop wants a visit from Trading Standards officers and a big fine.
Help the artists and authors whose work you love by supporting them whenever you can – either by buying their work or at least not buying the counterfeited goods.
Be part of the solution, not the problem <3
