talkmagic.co.uk

I visited London recently and made a special effort to visit International Magic and Davenports, being my first visit to a magic shop I was really excited about it, looking forward to chatting to like minded people, viewing some magic history, being introduced to something new, maybe even bumping in to a familiar face or name - but most importantly for the traders I was prepared to spend a fair bit of hard earned cash. However after my visit I wish I hadn't bothered...

First up was IM, as I walked in the guy behind the counter was making idle chat with another customer so I just glanced through the display cabinets and browsed the shelves and racks. The sales person asked if I was OK and I did just say I was just looking but I thought this would be an invitation for him to try and sell me something (that's his job!) or at least ask what I was after, ask what I'm in to but the sales guy seemed to prefer idle chat with another customer who wasn't buying anything. After a few minutes of no engagement and a couple of questions of my own (which got short and closed replies) I did try to invite a sales pitch by picking things up and showing interest, but still - nothing. After another couple of minutes I left empty handed, dissapointed and with all my cash.

Later in the day I visited Davenports, they were even worse in that they didn't even return my "Hello" as I entered the shop! I had a brief look around and with no engagement from the assistant I thought, stuff this - and left shortly afterwards. I just couldn't justify spending any cash there, I'll get what I want off a cheaper online shop. If the service was great I'd have paid top prices, but not based on that service. Davenports certainly wasn't worth trying to find the underground almost abandoned shopping centre.

The ironic thing is the guy working at IM was moaning that the internet sellers were stealing the trade with cheaper prices, to which I thought, well try selling something, provide a good service and you might actually make some money!

Really dissapointed by those experiences. I ended up spending a good few quid at Old Sweet Shoppe, at least they were chatting to me, even if it was about just cola cubes and fudge!

Has anyone else had bad experiences at these shops? (IM and Davenports not Old Sweet Shoppe!)

Odd....Magic shops are by nature unlike just about every other kind of shop on the face of the planet. Did you ask to see anything?
If they have it, they will show you. Internationals in particular will.

No, I would have done if they'd bothered to ask how I was/mention they'd not seen me before/had I practised any magic before/what effects did I like etc - simple stuff really. The guy at IM was too busy making idle chat with a customer who clearly wasn't going to buy anything at at Davenports it all went quiet as I entered, the assistant and customer may as well have said "oi, wait outside we're trying to talk about something private" - its a shop not their own living room I'd just walked in to. I know they'll be worried about exposure, that's fine, but shops should have a little side room if they want to talk amongst themselves.

mongo wrote:The sales person asked if I was OK and I did just say I was just looking

To me, that sounds like you're saying you're having a look around, and you don't want to be bothered

'cos I'm a geek and apple nerd, I regularly play around with the new phones in the o2 store and drool over whatever shiny thing Apple has recently came up with. Whenever someone comes up to me asking if I'm ok, my response is exactly the same as yours - because I'm just looking (or breaking the laptop with my saliva, one of the two). I'm not interested in buying

When I bought my last phone I did the same thing. I wanted to look at the phones without being pestered about how the new Nokia Wotsit has a 100 Gigathingy processor. I later went to the guy who asked if I was ok when I was ready then asked questions. He knew then I was interested in buying

But that's just me


(Edit: Surprised you got short answers and barely anything from the other shop though... I'll agree with you on that!)

Very strange. I visited both shops last year, the Davenports guy was busy demoing an item to one other customer but, after a moment or two said 'Hi, are you looking for anything in particular?' or words to that effect. I said I was just browsing and he replied, 'OK. let me know if you need any help'. I didn't need any so, once I'd scanned the shelves etc I said 'Cheers!' and left the shop.

IM were very busy when I called, two guys in attendance, one on the phone taking what was obviously a long distance call and the other was moving boxes around but stopped to ask if I needed any help. In that case I was there for a purpose so we dealt with that and it was all sorted straight away.

I agree with Kolm, that when I say I'm just looking, it means that I don't want to be disturbed or approached. However, the treatment you got at Davensport does sound impolite.

I visit Davenports regularly as I work in Charing x and must say they can be a bit 'hit or miss' - depends on who is working behind the counter.

I will say that I find them generally not the most motivated to demo and when they do very often its not done well due to lack of practice.

I'm going back several years, when I first found them, and they had a South African guy working there (called Andrew I think) and he seemed capable of demoing anything - it was actually him that really sparked my interest. If something didn't appeal he immediately got something else out and was off (his enthusiasm for the art was infectious which seems lacking these days).

With IM I think it must have been a bad day - Marco is always good for a laugh and willing to help.

However, to be honest I try and visit Alakazam in Ashford (bit of a trek but...) if I want to see something new.

I generally find International worth a visit. Although they don't know me, they always make me welcome, and five minutes has often turned into an enjoyable hour.

Davenports on the other hand is more like visiting a shop; put down your money, get your product, and go.

Tony. Is Paddy Clancy still going in Limerick? He had the only magic shop in the country when I lived there.

I find that in most magic shops, the guys behind the counter don't demo too well (a few do, but few), but are generally enthuastic enough to push the latest products your way, even if you make it clear your're not one for following the latest fads.

I do like it however when a creator walks in to World Magic Store.. never forget when Craig Petty walked in. 30 mins of demo'ing and I walked away with 3 of his products in addition to what I went for, some great advice from Craig and his number!!

I was in London twice last year and on both accessions visited Davenports and IM, I will never go to Davenports again because of the attitude of the staff. At IM on my first visit my son-in-law and I were offered a cup of tea and had a long and interesting talk with the staff, on the second occasion I was there with my wife, just to show her the shop, so I told them I wasn't buying anything, but again we were offered a brew and a chat.

I too went to the smoke last month to go to these two shops for the first time and I found Davenports the slicker of the two premises (it looked less dusty! ) but youngster behind the counter wasn't especially animated so I headed off to IM.

First time I went in the place was packed with kids, so had a scount around and went and got a coffee, went back a while later and the place had emptied out. Wound up getting the item I wanted (they had a great selection of different Coin Uniques), had a great chat with the two guys behind the desk then got some great advice from the guy who does the magic lessons there.

The feeling I got was pick your moment with IM and it's the friendliest place, pick the wrong moment and it's a little 'grumpy'.

Another good shop to stop and chat is Magic in Brighton, very friendly folks in there.

Mark, Paddy Clancy is still going strong. He recently moved into a bigger and more modern premises, and is still the only magic shop in the country. I am dropping by tomorrow morning.

Paddy must have been around for decades in that case. Quite a feat nowadays when magic shops are going under right, left and centre mainly becauase of the pervasive internet. Anyway, he will no doubt remember me since I seem to stick in the mind for some people. Give him my regards.

When a shop assistant asks politely: Can I help you?
The perfect “brush-off-reply” is to say: No thank you, I'm just looking.

That means, rephrased: No thank you, I'll ask you if I need help, at the moment I would like to be left alone.

Of course the person in the shop doesn't insist on assisting you after being told no thank you. That would be rude.

I have been many times at International Magic and I have nothing but good things to say about Barry and Martin. Marco is extremely knowledgable about magic and likes to tease. I've once been there when Jerry Sadowitz was behind the counter and that was an experience I will not forget.

Mongo, I can just say, if you want the sales person to talk to you, don't start the conversation brushing him off by saying that you're just looking. He can't possibly read your mind (or can he? ) and imagine what your field is or your main interest. Shopping in a shop is a two person interaction.