talkmagic.co.uk

I can clear this up as Mr Grue and Mandrake has touched on the correct answer. Wholesalers of magic, where dealers get their goods from, encourage dealers to use all the stock on their websites. In effect the dealer does 'stock' the item as they can get it from their wholesalers, but it is residing in a warehouse, normally in the States. They don't physically have the items to hand.

Most online stores if the truth is known are run from residential properties and carry little stock.

The problem with the delays is caused because a dealer who advertises he has 'stock' (but in reality has to order it in) has to wait until a minimum order can be placed with his wholesaler. Once he has this amount, only then does he place the order.

So imagine, you place the order, the dealer has to wait for other orders to come in, only then does he place his order, it then takes a few days to arrive from overseas, the dealer receives it and then posts it to you.

This is why you can experience delays of weeks.

Not all shops (online or bricks and mortar) do this. I don't. What I have on my website is what I have on my shelves. In a way though I have shot myself in the foot by being honest. It seems I have very little stock compared to other online stores. Whereas in reality I have stock and some 'stores' have virtually none but they seem too, but customers receive items quickly from myself.

This is why you can click on an online store and sometimes see they have items of stock numbering into there tens of thousands! Logically how could anyone have this much stock?

There are many reputable dealers in the UK who provide a quick delivery service. Alakazam for example was mentioned and they do have an excellent postage system. This is because they produce a lot of their own products. They don't have to order anything in. They can quickly send it to you.

So there we go, hope that's all of some help.

Just to add to this, I ordered something yesterday, and again my typical technique is to choose the cheapest online magic shop that offers Paypal, and this one seems less well known. But again, the email said that my order will be dispatched on 21 April 2011, some 7 days later. Bit annoying, but still I guess having some communication from them was informative.