I see where AliExpress, Fantastic Magic Factory is selling a "wholesale pack of 5 pcs J Porper" "Metal Poker Holder Deck Protector" for US $18:53. The picture looks like Porper, have his signature along the spine. What do you think? The real deal or is rip-off time? Are not these selling for $30?

Hmm, let me guess....

FAKE!

I think that anytime you see a site that has prices that are significantly lower than elsewhere, red flags should go off immediately. Unfortunately, people buy from these types of sites and then when the apparatus does not perform as expected, the actual creator gets blamed! Relatively speaking, there are not a large number of magicians out there buying apparatus (compared to some others types of things). It's important that we financially support the actual creators and honest dealers or you will see fewer and fewer of them!

Dave

I don't think I've ever seen a legit magic product on AliExpress.

Thanks for the replies. Figured as much, but glad there is agreement.

Dad taught me something when I was young that he was taught at my age. "If it's too good to believe, it's not an original." It's really a no brainer.

It would appear that the Chinese sites including AliExpress have mostly 3 types of magic items.

1) Pirated videos, books and DVDs
2) Knockoffs of marketed effects
3) Legitimate copies of marketed effects. But the prices are so low that what is likely happening is that these effects are manufactured in China. They make extra copies and sell them cheap. None of the money goes to the creator.