I see where everyone’s coming from with supporting indie creators directly, but Amazon has been fine for me when buying from established publishers like U. S. Games or Llewellyn. Those are legitimate decks, not counterfeits, and sometimes their prices are better than going direct.
The counterfeit issue is real with indie decks for sure, but I’ve gotten some decent deals on mass-market decks there that were authentic.
If you’re looking to support creators directly, Instagram is where I’ve found most of my favorite indie decks. Artists usually post their shop links in their bio, and you can browse their work before buying.
There was a thread about deck artwork that might give you some ideas:
https://forum.thetarot. guru/t/name-the-most-beautiful-tarot-decks/572
Once you figure out what art styles you like, it’s easier to search for specific creators.
Have you checked out metaphysical shops in nearby towns? Yeah, it’s a bit of a drive for me, but you can actually handle the decks before buying, which is nice, and I like supporting small businesses, and you can meet some interesting local people with similar views and interests. Barnes & Noble has a decent selection these days too. Their spiritual section has gotten bigger and they usually have the popular mass-market decks. You can look through the display copies at least.
Not the same as having a local shop, but at least you can see the decks in person and know you’re getting legit copies where the artists get paid.
Since you mentioned missing the in-person experience, have you tried Half Price Books? I’ve found some good tarot decks in their metaphysical sections for cheap. You’re not supporting creators directly obviously, but it’s something to do while looking for better online sources.
I get them from here since I can see real opinions not just fake reviews from bots.
My readings are way more accurate when using real decks. There’s something about knowing the energy the original artist put into their work that comes through.
I compared a genuine indie deck I bought from the creator’s website to a cheap knockoff a friend had. The difference was big, not just in card quality, but in how connected I felt during readings. Supporting the actual artists, especially smaller independent creators, feels like respecting the craft. I only buy originals now.
I’ve actually found some of my favorite decks at random bookstores and garage sales. Everyone’s always looking for the perfect authentic source, but sometimes just stumbling across something works out better.
If you do want to buy directly from artists, a lot of them sell through their own websites. You can usually find the links in their Instagram bios. They often have payment plans through Sezzle or Afterpay which helps with the pricier indie decks. Honestly, some of my best reading decks came from Barnes & Noble clearance racks. No idea why, but they just work better than the ones I spent forever researching.