If I had easy access to a magic shop, I'd go any day of the week. Recently, I've found a way to get into NYC. (It's about an hour long bus ride.) So I plan on getting some stuff from Tannens next time I go.
SUPPORT YOUR MAGIC SHOPS! In today's economy, stores are closing everywhere because not only is the economy terrible, but sites like Penguin Magic sell products almost at wholesale price. Stores cannot compete with online shops because brick and mortar stores cost more money to manage.
If you have access to a magic shop, do yourself and the rest of the magic community a favor and support them. A small extra cost that you spend (and that everyone else spends) can end up saving the real magic stores.
-Doug
EDIT: I can understand why people prefer to order online. I do too. I love Penguin. I call it the Walmart of magic. I don't plan on ordering through them as much now that I can get into the city. Also, ordering online can be a good thing if you can order directly from the artist. For example, I'd rather buy something like Art of Astonishments from
www.paulharrispresents.com rather than a store or another online shop because if you order from there, you are directly supporting the artist. That's just opinion anyway.
. So, i pretty much have no other choice than to order online. But that's fine with me.
