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Tom Fenton Inner circle Leeds, UK (but I'm Scottish) 1477 Posts |
I have been looking through the postings in this section and I have lost count of the times people have said, "Go to your local bricks & mortar shop and check the material out by flicking through the book".
Most of the shops that I have been in, both here in the UK and in the USA, books are just about always sealed in plastic. I understand that this helps keep them clean etc but surely shops can have one unwrapped so that prospective buyers can peruse the contents and make an informed buyers choice. I have seen this practice in a couple of shops but not many. Anyone else have views on this? Tom
"But there isn't a door"
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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Have you tried asking them to remove the wrap? They did it for me . . .
Cards never lie
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leapinglizards Inner circle 1263 Posts |
I think that assuming they know you, and are reasonably certain you would buy it if it looked like what you wanted, they will probably unwrap it often.... On the other hand, if they do NOT, you should respect their decision.
Unlike a lot of books, magic books are typically not returnable. Ie- book stores usually have the ability to return any book for any reason, and the wholesale distributors have the ability to in turn return that book to the publisher. Real-world books are usually returnable in ANY condition and after ANY length of time. Most magic dealers are unable to return what they buy wholesale, unless it proves defective, so there is a tendency to seal books to keep them saleable. Books typically only have a 15- 20% mark-up on them (Sometimes more depending but it's a good rule of thumb) so their profit margin is tight. We usually offer 20 or so page free samples of most of our books as PDF's and an approach more shops MIGHT try is seeing if other publishers might offer something similar, even if a portion of the text was blocked out with the word "Sample" or some such, as that would satisfy the curiosity of those who want to "Flip through" before buying. On the other hand, I don't think magic shops, or even real world book stores should be used as libraries. Technical manuals, and that is what magic books are, are usually higher priced that a general release book, and kept for a somewhat exclusive crowd.
Leaping Lizards!!! Who knew it was possible.
<BR> <BR>www.LeapingLizardsMagic.com |
Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Full agreement on the misuse of a book shop as librabry. Here the shop owner should adress this. ("Young man, you have been staring at that book for ages, shall I wrap it up for you now?")
Not permitting a potential buyer to scoop through the book is also not a good way to promote sales. I am sure, that is not done widely.
Cards never lie
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tupawk New user 87 Posts |
I can understand not wanting to unwrap a book for resale value as well as not wanting to let people use the shop like a library. However, if I really don't know much about the book I would at least like to see the table of contents. I think having a printout of the table of contents either on the shelf with the book or available by asking would be very helpful. That way I don't have to remember all the books I am interested in and go home, get on my computer, look up the information, go back to the shop, and eventually buy one of them...
Just my $.02 |
Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Question - are there magic shops that do not permit you to look into the book prior purchase?
Cards never lie
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leapinglizards Inner circle 1263 Posts |
I have been to several that would not, at least not until they know you.
Leaping Lizards!!! Who knew it was possible.
<BR> <BR>www.LeapingLizardsMagic.com |
landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
An annoying, but understandable practice . . . however, in the long run I suspect it's a lousy business practice and discourages some otherwise possible sales.
Jack Shalom
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
Tom Fenton Inner circle Leeds, UK (but I'm Scottish) 1477 Posts |
I too agree that a shop should not be used as a "library", after all one of the things you pay for when buying magic is "the secret". I like the idea of a list of contents on display.
I have bought a couple of books on the advice of sales staff only to find that what they said the books contained and what the books actually contained differed. Tom
"But there isn't a door"
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mormonyoyoman Inner circle I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only 2440 Posts |
On the other hand, I can remember when a retailer couldn't remember what was in this one book, and I was hoping that a certain business card effect was in it -- so I took a chance and bought the Magic of Michael Ammar. It did not have what I wanted, but I've never regretted the purchase. By now, you'd have to tear the book out of my hands with great force.
*jeep! --Granpa Chet
#ShareGoodness #ldsconf
--Grandpa Chet |
Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
I guess, if they judge you as a respectable potential buyer, they will unwrap the book. Of course, you should avoid looking through it for hours . . .
And if you like it - buy it. Do not run home to order it online to save a couple of bucks.
Cards never lie
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Xiqual Inner circle Upper left quadrant 4935 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-06-09 08:30, mormonyoyoman wrote: I'm with Chet on this. the Magic of Michael Ammar is an incredible book. I learned crazy man's handcuffs from it and was hooked. The section on negotiating higher fees is solid gold. Paid for the book several times over. James
Still with the Chinese circus
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Lukenp Special user 560 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-06-10 03:25, Xiqual wrote: I concur!
"Be natural"
-Dai Vernon |
ChristopherM Special user UK 844 Posts |
Me too!
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Motor City Special user Metro Detroit Area 587 Posts |
From the seller's perspective, having a book shrink wrapped serves more than one purpose. Yes, it keeps the book clean for the person who eventually purchases it. Shrink wrapping also really helps when shipping the book. It keeps it tight thus preventing pages from getting bent. It also protects it from possible water damage if delivered during a rainy period especially when the package is placed outside and not taken in for a while.
Have you ever noticed, for example, at a dealer table when books are NOT shrink wrapped, that an individual will look through a book and then decide to purchase it. However, he replaces the book he has just looked through and takes one from the bottom of the pile? Just a point of view from a different perspective. BTW printers charge more to shrink wrap a book. Getting back to Coachman's original remarks. I agree with him. Although my books are shrink wrapped I do have an un-wrapped one available for perusal. I have also printed the table of contents on the outside back cover. This way, if you are in a magic store and see my book, "Uncovered," and if it is shrink wrapped just turn it over and look at the table of contents. John Luka |
SeaDawg Special user The Lunatic Fringe 718 Posts |
I understand the dilemna of the B & M and not wanting to have people poach stuff out of books that some people have no intention of buying.
I also understand the buyers point of not wanting to buy something that has no relevance to my act. But the one thing I trly do like is the significant previews allowed by Leaping Lizards on their site. I can make very informed decisions from their previews. I highly reccomend that you check out their site and see what "great" samples they have. Just don't blame me if ya blow yer budget.....
Crazy people take the psycho-path thru the forest...
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