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Original poster

Phoenix Trading Cards - Nice, or not really?

41 replies

CardsWorth · 02/10/2004 15:47

It's that time of year, lots of parties for DS (who has his own, and lots of his friends' birthdays this term) and as usual, I am already swamped with remembering cards/ invites/ thank yous gift wrap etc...

Then I got a copy of a Phonenix catalogue from a friend and thought perhaps I should just bite the bullet and order a mass quantity of things to see me through the whole year.

However there is just a little niggle that stops me, and I think it is that when we or DS has ever received a Phoenix card (and it happens quite often these days...) I secretly feel it's a bit of a cop out. Somehow they are never quite as nice as 'real' cards,not quite a 'personal', not chosen specially (e.g. Nemo for a disney fanatic, Bob for a budding builder etc) and I sort of feel it would perhaps have been better not to bother at all, rather than simply opt for the 'generic'. (Actually I feel a bit like this about cards in general!)
I always imagine a Mum pulling it out of a dusty pile in a drawer thinking "oh, this one will 'do'!"

Also, as I say, there are SO MANY phoenix traders around now, we always seem to get 2 or 3 of exactly the same ones for a birthday, or party etc.

Anyone else feel like this?

OP posts:

JanH · 02/10/2004 15:52

Nope!

Pisses me off paying so much for eg Nemo. Phoenix cards are good quality and have nice designs...and as far as "personal, chosen specially" cards are concerned, on DS2's 7th birthday guess how many identical Pokemon cards he got? About 10!

I keep a dusty pile from various sources (not dusty really) and there is almost always one which is fine - if there really isn't then I will actually go out and buy one (and then be pissed off at how much it cost!

mrsflowerpot · 02/10/2004 15:54

no, have to admit I'm a bulk buyer of cards (do get some from Phoenix as I have a hard-to-dodge acquaintance who's a rep! - actually I quite like them). Saves the regular panic whenever a birthday sneaks up on me.

Original poster

CardsWorth · 02/10/2004 15:56

JanH - mmmm - I know what you mean about the cost etc of 'high street' cards - seems stupid to be spending nearly £2 on a card if you're only spending £8 on a present...

Not sure I feel the same about the designs - don't really find then that inspiring - sort of remind me of the 'notelet' things my Mum always used to have for if we forgot a birthday - and blank inside was a sure sign it wasn't a 'proper' card!

Does anyone else do nicer 'bulk buy' cards??

OP posts:

JanH · 02/10/2004 15:59

Not bulk buy, but the Oxfam shop has a nice selection for (I think) £1 each. Several charity shops have some general greetings cards, not just Christmas ones. And our local supermarket (Booths) sells Abacus cards, they are usually £1.50 I think but they often have them on 3 for 2 so I get 6 or 9 when they are.

btw I actually took a picture of the line-up of Pokemon cards, with DS2 stood in front wearing the matching badges!

lulupop · 02/10/2004 18:01

I think {hoenix cards are great to have in the cupboard, as you always get caught short (or maybe I;m just forgetful), but I know what you mean about the designs. I have bulk bought in the past and find the blank ones really handy for those quite thank yous and so on, though for birthdays I tend to buy individually.

One thing I would say is good though is their wrapping paper. It is very good quality and a good price, definitely worth buying in before Christmas

Miriam2 · 02/10/2004 18:25

Have to put a word in for M&S cards, lots of theirs are only a pound and good quality too. I keep thinking they'll put the price up!

MrsCoddyClooney · 02/10/2004 18:29

no really nice IMo

hana · 02/10/2004 18:29

dd and I have made most of her 3year old birthday cards for friends in the last month. We've been doing the first letter of the birthday girl/boy's name and decorating with whatever we've got. The cards generally get thrown out and I hate paying more than a pound for a card. That said, we've only just started making them and only for her little friends, I still buy for my onw!

MrsCoddyClooney · 02/10/2004 18:29

and the xmas thank yous ar e great

hana · 02/10/2004 18:30

dd and I have made most of her 3year old birthday cards for friends in the last month. We've been doing the first letter of the birthday girl/boy's name and decorating with whatever we've got. Birthday cards generally get thrown out (don't they?) and I hate paying more than a pound for a card. That said, we've only just started making them and only for her little friends, I still buy for my own!

Next also do nice ones for £1

hana · 02/10/2004 18:30

oops didn't think that posted

JJ · 02/10/2004 18:33

I always thought it was what was written in them? I generally dismiss as unthoughtful any card that doesn't have something personal written in it.

Hence my lack of sending Christmas cards...

JJ · 02/10/2004 18:35

Hana, personally made would be amazing and save-worthy.

MrsCoddyClooney · 03/10/2004 17:43

I was thinking about his int he night and I think its really rude to say that a certain sort of card is a "cop out".

the fact someone bothers to send you one ( imo far more tasteful thatn overpriced Disney tat) is the point and that your post of 3 47 pm sounds really materialistic

Mo2 · 03/10/2004 17:54

at Cods - "thinking about it in the night" - you REALLY need to get out more my dear....

Personally I think all cards are a bit of a waste of money if all that's written in them is "Dear Cod, Happy xth Birthday, Love Mo2"

I've started buying the packs of 10 tiny ones from M&S (they're only about 2 inches square, but have envelopes etc) and then using them as a combined gift tag/ card - sellotape them onto the present for post-kids-party-chaos identification later.

Personally I don't particulary like Phoenix though - there just seem to be so many around these days, and they all seem a bit 'samey'

Beccarollover · 03/10/2004 18:00

Im a phoenix trader :D Some I LOVE but some Im not that keen on and again lots of my customers arent keen on the ones I like etc etc - its just a matter of taste like anything really.

So....those of you that dont hate them! If you would like to be some I'd be happy to oblige

Rowlers · 03/10/2004 18:02

Never heard of them.

spook · 03/10/2004 18:22

I have bought some fab cards from a certain Phoenix trader around here and I really really like them. The party invitations I've just given out for DS2's party next week (aagghh) have drawn comments on how lovely they are.

Kayleigh · 03/10/2004 18:41

I have a friend who is a Phonenix trader and I have bought most of this years cards from her. I really like them and usually can find something reasonably personal. I think shop bought cards are extortionate prices and i really begrudge buying them.

marthamoo · 03/10/2004 18:45

I have heard of Phoenix (on MN I think) but have never seen one of their cards. I like M&S cards too - they are very reasonable.

Chinchilla · 03/10/2004 19:20

I have seen the Phoenix brochure, and I thought that they were really nice. I don't ever buy any though, because I make my own. Everyone appreciates getting a hand-made card IME.

lulupop · 03/10/2004 19:59

Beccarollover: can you tell me how to get in touch with a Phoenix trader near to me? I bought loads of stuff last yr from a friend of my mum's who did it. but she's stopped now, and I want to buy some more stuff for this Christmas.

Chinchilla: making your own cards - how do you find the time? Isn't it al bit of a faff? What sorts of things do you use? I ask because I love to receive a home made card, and have seen all the stuff in Lakeland, but don't really want to spend lots of money buying it without knowing I'd actually DO it. What are your tips, please?

Dingle · 03/10/2004 20:00

Like Chincilla, I also make my cards-that way I try to make them personalised to suit. It is lovely to hear people reactions and often there are more appreciated than a gift-I suppose knowing the time & thought that goes into them.
Before my card making days I always used to have a small selection at hand ready for those birthdays that crept up on you unexpectedly!! I have seen the Phoenix once, about 6 months ago. I didn't think that they were a bad price, compared to the high street anyway,and I liked some of their designs-probably because they were so different to what I make and also because they were new to me.(Don't seem to see them much here)

SueW · 04/10/2004 00:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Chinchilla · 04/10/2004 19:52

Lulupop - Yes, it IS a bit of a faff, but I love crafty things, and REALLY enjoy making them. Ds is in bed by 7pm, so I usually spend an hour doing them every other night. I started small, with a pack of 50 blank cards and envelopes and a few sheets of gold/silver/red/green card. You only really need glue and/or double-sided sticky tape, a pair of scissors and a few glitzy bits. I wouldn't go to the trouble of ordering loads of stuff from a web-site until you know that you enjoy doing it!

I now have about £1k worth of stuff, but it has all been paid for by my earnings. My 'business' is never more than a few pounds in profit, because I am always buying things! It's addictive...

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