The Ultimate Guide to Buying Tarot & Oracle Decks on eBay (Without Getting Scammed!)
Whether you are looking for a rare out-of-print gem, searching for a budget-friendly secondhand deck, or hoping to score an indie masterpiece for a fraction of the cost, eBay is a goldmine.
But shopping for tarot online can also feel like navigating a minefield of counterfeits and overpriced listings. To help you build your dream collection safely, here is the ultimate checklist for shopping on eBay like a pro.
1. Master Your Search Terms
Don't just search for "Tarot cards." Because sellers use varied terminology, you will miss out on the best deals. To find hidden listings, use a mix of specific and broad terms:
For bargains: Use terms like "Tarot deck lot," "used tarot cards," "open box," or "destash" (a term witches and collectors use when they are cleaning out their collections!).
For specific styles: Search by publisher (e.g., "U.S. Games," "Llewellyn," "Lo Scarabeo," "Hay House") or by artist.
2. Run a Triple Price Check (The "Big Three" Compare)
Before you hit "Buy It Now," always run a quick tab-check. Compare the eBay listing's total price (including shipping costs) against:
Amazon
Walmart
The official publisher or creator's site
Pro-Tip: Sometimes, what looks like a "cheap" deck on eBay actually has $8 shipping tacked on, making it more expensive than getting it brand new with free prime shipping elsewhere!
3. Spot and Avoid Counterfeit Decks (The Golden Rules)
Bootleg decks are incredibly common on resale platforms. Buying them hurts the original artists, and you end up with low-quality, paper-thin cards. Even worse, scammers often sell these fakes at genuine prices.
The QR Code Red Flag: If any photo of the box shows a QR code printed on it (usually with text like "scan for e-book" or "guidebook"), it is 100% fake. Legitimate publishers almost always include a physical booklet.
Watch the Box Style: Most modern legitimate decks come in sturdy, rigid two-part boxes or magnetic clasp boxes. Fake decks are almost always shrunk down and stuffed into cheap, thin paper "tuck boxes" to save on shipping.
The "Pocket-Size" Trap: If a deck is listed as "pocket-size" or "travel-size" but the original artist never made a pocket version, it is a counterfeit.
Spammy Listing Titles: If the listing title is packed with random keywords like "Mysterious Future Telling Board Game Tarot Cards" instead of just the actual name of the deck, run away!
4. When in Doubt, Ask for More Photos
Don't be shy! If a listing only has one blurry stock photo or doesn't show the condition of the card edges, click "Contact Seller."
Ask: "Could you send a quick photo of the actual cards and the side of the box?"
Legitimate sellers who genuinely want to make a sale are almost always happy to snap a couple of quick smartphone pictures for you. If a seller ignores you or refuses, consider it a red flag and move on.
5. Play Smart with Indie Decks
Indie (self-published) decks are gorgeous, high-quality, and expensive for a reason—the artist funded and created them independently.
The Good News: You can find incredible deals on gently used, "like-new" indie decks from collectors who just didn't bond with them.
The Bad News: Some eBay sellers try to gouge prices on indie decks, claiming they are "rare" or "out of print" when they are actually still actively for sale on the creator's original website! Always visit the artist's official shop first to check the actual retail price before buying on eBay.
6. Source from Mega Used Bookstores
Some of the absolute best deals on eBay come from massive secondhand book retailers (like * ThriftBooks, Better World Books, or HPB*).
These shops get massive bulk shipments of books and media, including tarot and oracle decks.
Because they price things to move quickly, you can often grab barely used mass-market decks for incredibly low prices. Add these sellers to your "saved sellers" list!
7. Patience is Your Best Tool
The golden rule of eBay shopping is never buy on impulse. If you see a deck you love but the price is high, add it to your Watchlist.
Many sellers will automatically send a discounted offer to people watching their items.
Wait a few days and compare with other sellers. Since eBay inventory changes hourly, the exact deck you want might pop up tomorrow for half the price!
- On Amazon, $34.99 is the original price. Not a bad price, honestly, but for me, I wanted to cut some of that price off, so I bought a like-new, used one on eBay for $22. That was with shipping. I'll share a screenshot below.
- These, for example. These are original copies. The problem is they want way more than the creator is selling it for + $5.00 for shipping on one of them. I do believe this one was like-new, but used. Skip these types of sales on eBay and keep looking. They are not worth what they are asking since this deck is not sold out, or out of print for good, and the creator of the deck sells them for way less new!
- eBay: Solace Oracle was brand new, never opened. I paid $25.00. Amazon now $35.00, was $40+
- Amazon: Modern Goddess Oracle was $15 on sale from the creator. She was having a close-out sale. Sold-Out
- Amazon: The Awakened Soul Oracle was $13 on sale from the creator. She was having a close-out sale. Sold-Out
- eBay: Moon Witch Tarot was $25 used on eBay. This one was a massive score for me! You can read my blog post HERE about it. Amazon $65.00
- Etsy: The Mystic Soul Combo tarot & oracle was on sale half off from the creator's Etsy shop HERE. She is having a close-out sale. $42.00 for combo set.
- eBay: Shine from the inside out oracle for $22.83, used, like new. Amazon $35.00
- eBay: The Moon Deck for $25.92, used, like new. Amazon on sale for $32.00 was $44.00
- eBay Cosmic Guidance Oracle $23.24 on eBay. Used, like new. $52.95 from the creator's website HERE.
- Other decks I have ordered from eBay. I just wanted to share the prices with you so you can get an idea of what I have been paying for them. Most of these are used and so far have come in really good condition. The healing crystals oracle, I thought I was buying used, but it was new and came in sealed, never opened. The shadow work deck was also new, never used. I never bought Indie decks until the end of last year. I also recently started buying used decks to save money.
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