Let the shopping cart inform me if an item I am trying to purchase is not in stock.

A couple of things give an online dealer the edge for me:
(besides the obvious, good service, prices, etc.)

1) A good search engine for the site
2) Instant download means instant download, not , "we'll send you an email with a link tomrorow". Don't use the term "instant" if it's not instant. 'nuff said there.
3) A minor pet peeve of mine: when using forms, the cursor should autmatically be placed inside the first field to fill out. Most forms are like this. It's extremely annoying to have to manually place the cursor in the first field of a form, when obviously that's where it should be already.

These are a few of my favourite things:

* a perpetual shopping basket (or wish list), so I can tag things for purchase and come back to them days or weeks later
* an indication of the shipping cost for each item
* knowing whether or not I can use Paypal (a logo or mention in the terms and conditions)
* good site search function (allowing boolean operators) + a 'site map' with a quick text listing in alphabetical order
* being able to navigate easily to page X of a section, also some indication of what might be on that page (eg: Card tricks, Page 11: Twisted Sisters to Svengali Decks)
* being able to see availabilty
* feedback and/or links to feedback (i.e. links to topic threads in the Magic Café
* being able to list areas in various orders (most popular, by author, by trick, by price, by weight)

Definitely demo videos and also more competant reviews.If you are going to buy something by a sellers description you don't always get what you want.

Are any dealers reading this ?

Yes Sir........
We do and we try to improve ourself as the way customers want.
We are here to serve our customers and we MUST listen to them even if I can not agree in everything they say.

Best regards
maxello

I would be willing to subscribe to a site that didn't sell tricks but that did honest reviews AND linked to Demos that were accurate and did some kind of backward comparison to similar or better versions . This I would gladly pay for .If trick creators didn't want to appear on this site I would assume they had something to hide.
Would this be of value to anyone else ?

I magic shops such as Penguin magic that offer when you purchase a secret room to chat with others that purchased the effect and that give a video instructionals with a purchase other than that they are all mostly the same.

I think a honest description is really nice. sometimes they hype up the trick and it is a really bad trick.

I think that free shipping is a big thing. I was about to place an order for $5 the other day, but when I saw the shipping price was another $5, I didn't place an order.
Another thing I like is owners who care about their customers. This is also true about brick and mortar magic shops. Before I buy something from an on-line shop that I haven't bought from before, I often send them an e-mail and see who they are. If I don't get a response within 1 or 2 days, I will move on. It is also good when they get in special items that they don't carry as soon as they can.

I've noticed that a lot of comments we're about 'Free Shipping'. I know this won't happen, but do yourself a favor, Pull up UPS, USPS, FED-X and check the rates! I know, you don't have time! A Trick that weighs 5 oz., must be put in a shipping container (which is not Cheap) and packed (by Someone, who gets paid) a final weight is determined and priced by destination. It either has to be physically taken to a drop off point, or a pick up service is used (there is a charge for that)! Oh, I forgot the 'Fuel' surcharge that is added by the Carrier.
You know come to think of it "Free Shipping" Yeah Baby. I for it!!!
I think the dealers will only tack on a "Fair" amount for free shipping. don't you?
It is what it is!!!
Wizzard

1. Demos of the trick being performed.
2. Quality items and not cheap imitations made in India.
3. Variety... New and Old Clasics.
4. Great Customer Service... including fast shipping, and a knowledgable friendly sales team.

1. E-mail when the item(s) are being mailed with shipping number.
2. That when a item is ordered it is automatically removed from the catalog therefore when a person orders the same item later it will automaticlly give you a sold out notice instead of placing the order and later finding out it is sold out or never recieving the item and finding out way later.

Just my 2% of $1.00

Video demo's are nice, but if you buy "holy moly" from Penguin you can access the instructional video taught by Jay Sankey himself. Much better than reading the instructions. A great service for a $15 trick.
Al

Some how for the site to have the good old local magic shop feeling.

What do you guys think about other resources Online Magic shops could offer besides just selling products. Obviously a magic forum of some sort could be something of value, but what other ways can magic shops online provide value to magicians?

Ellusionist does free shipping on some of their items, they also give you a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number and dependinging on what you buy, they give out a lot of free stuff especially during tis holiday season.


they also have a feature called live assisance in which you can istant message a customer service rep instantly with all your questions.

they are prompt about correcting errors (which are rare) I once ordered an ultra smoke system and M5 kit from them and they forgot the smoke system, they sent me the smoke system free of shipping withing the next 5 days and threw in a refill kit for it.

although ive heard a lot of people here on the forums including myself say ellusionist's stuff is overpriced, I must say that their customer service is exeptional, the best ive seen on the net