I completely agree with you on this. Now that tarot has become so popular, it really feels like some publishers are rushing production and quality control is slipping as a result. It’s honestly pretty frustrating.
I actually still own an original 1990s print of the Universal Waite, and it’s held up incredibly well. It’s been passed down through my best friend’s family before I got it, and I’ve had it for over 15 years myself. It’s still in great condition despite all that use, which really shows how durable older print runs can be.
As for the decks you mentioned, I do own both the Light Seer’s Tarot and the Everyday Witch Tarot. The Everyday Witch does have thinner card stock, but in my experience it still holds up surprisingly well. It’s slightly laminated, shuffles easily, and feels very usable in practice. The box is also really well made, and the guidebook is genuinely excellent. It’s one of my favorite decks, and I’d compare the card stock to something like Tarot in Wonderland, which I also really enjoy.
The Light Seer’s Tarot, on the other hand, matches a lot of what you’ve heard. The artwork is beautiful and honestly some of my favorite tarot art, but the physical production feels inconsistent. My copy wasn’t bent in the middle, but the edges looked like they were punched out roughly, leaving noticeable inward bends. After only a few uses, it already feels like it’s wearing down. The cards also aren’t uniform in size, which makes shuffling awkward and visually noticeable when they’re held together. Even the box feels a bit like a printed wrap over a sturdier base rather than a fully integrated print design. The book, though, is small but nicely done.
The one positive is that both Amazon and Hay House have at least been responsive in terms of customer support. I was able to get a partial refund through Amazon, and Hay House offered a replacement once they reprint. It does feel like some of these issues come from rushed production schedules, especially around high-demand releases. Hopefully that improves over time, but right now it really does feel like Kickstarter or smaller indie runs sometimes deliver more consistent quality. In the meantime, it probably helps to keep giving feedback when quality drops so publishers actually address it.
