When SMC 1st started, we wanted very much for it to be something that will be popular and welcome by all magic stakeholders locally, including local magic shops.
That's why for the longest time, we have insisted on anti-piracy. Because we DO NOT want to affect the business of local magic shops by encouraging piracy which can happen SO EASILY in the forums.

Due to most unfortunate behaviours by some local establishments, who decided to take the publicity given to them and decided they want to get into the magic piracy business, we have decided on a new rule:

For magic dealers/shop reviews, local shops/dealers are NOT allowed anymore. Their products and services are not to be promoted or mentioned.

When referring others to sources for products only foreign shops are allowed to be mentioned freely.

No mention of any local business establishment is allowed anywhere in the forum, in all sections.

And please don't do some legal loophole thing by saying things like
"A certain shop has this product but I cannot say where. PM me if you want to know"
<_<
Please adhere to the rules in letter and in spirit.


For the time being, the independent dealers in this forum is not affected by this rule. For the time being.

The mods will be deleting all posts related to local business and are discussing a more detailed plan later, including how to be "white-listed" if you are a local magic shop/dealer/business establishment.

We want to support local businesses that while taking care of the bottom line also at least care A LITTLE about magic and it's wellness.

If you have any suggestions, let any of the mods know.

For the time being, can I still run special promotions?

If there is a new magic shop, then are we allow to like tell the others. I think this is kind of just sharing the imformations

just to check.. is it okay to talk about online shops such as murphy's magic, penguin's magic.. etc... ?

Brick and mortar magic shop or virtual magic dealers.

Talk about your fav/worst magic shopping experiences here

Only white-listed local shops allowed.

Erm have u read that? No offence it was quite misleading...... it was under the heading (MAGIC DEALER REVIEWS) so maybe u could change that?

If I wasn't clear in my 1st post, I want to clarify that the dealers in the forum are ALLOWED to be recommended and mentioned and reviewed.
As well as the online shops, as long as they are not having any pirated or questionable practises.

We want to direct people to the sources to get magic items. It's part of the function of the forums. But we just want to support and encourage ethical dealers more.

Erm...Aloy..Contradiction?

Hmm..Hope you could tell us what you CANNOT do instead? Since... You meant to say that the dealers in our forums such as illusionist CAN be mentioned... Just a little lost in this rule of dealers mentioning.

Sorry, didn't realise there are queued posts in here. Anyways, here's to answer your queries.

It's not that we don't want to support local shops. But recently, there was ANOTHER local shop that started to rent magic videos. It's just getting really really sickening. We cannot stop them, but we can at least stop giving them free publicity. Why should we?

Yes, all online shops are fine. That includes all the dealers in this forum.

But if some local shops are selling pirated videos or photocopied booklets or marked up their prices by millions, shouldn't we be allowed to warn others or review them for fellow members? Just a thought.

This (cheap pirated stuff) will actually encourage people to pratronise them rather than steer them away.

But what about marked up prices? I don't know but i really feel like screaming about one shop which conned me~~~~~~~~

Regarding products at "marked up prices". Firstly there are the retailer's costs (fixed, recurring etc like keeping stock, rental, utilities, and such) which they have to recover. Each retail establishment is free to set their own profit margins, no one can say who's right or wrong. If you set your prices high, no one will buy from you, if low, you might get more customers. You can't fault a shop for charging high prices.

It's just like if you buy a can drink at NTUC it'll cost you 60+c/can (in a sixpack) but in Sentosa it'll prolly be close to $2. Does it mean we can write to CASE and complain? Nope. Simple demand and supply.

The exception are shops which are not consistent with their pricing, for example if you walk into a shop and it's obvious you're a newbie, then they quote you exorbitant prices exceeding their regular prices, now this is unethical and these would be rogue retailers. And indeed it would be helpful to the users of this forum if you could provide information pertaining to rogue retailers.

But again it has to be said that customer's duty is to make sure he or she is well informed by comparing prices or by using his or her discernment.

This is exactly why i bring my own drinks to Sentosa.. :unsure: What i mean is that what if the shop is selling can drinks at 10 dollars a can? Before knowing there is 2 bucks drinks and 60 cent drinks, i thought it's roughly there. Plus and minus abit i don't mind, but it's abit crazy..
Yes i know it's my fault too when i didn't go around checking everywhere before making the purchase, but some things are really hard to find online and around.. And they shouldn't make this their advantage to steep up the price..

Okay.. I sound like whining now.. Haha.. Anyways, thanks for the reply. =D
I think i will just stick to the dealers here from now on.
Cheers.