Stevens Magic Emporium
Phone: 316-683-9582
Company Description:
It’s been a great ride – and it’s still going! Stevens Magic Emporium (SME) is a brick and mortar magic distributor serving professionals and enthusiast for 40 years. SME was created by Joe Stevens who remains chief advisor, while Mark Stevens runs the marketing. Stevens Magic focuses on exclusive, high-quality and unique products from all over the world, for the discriminating professional and enthusiast. SME remains committed to providing its customers with these specialty products through long term relationships with high quality magic manufactures worldwide. The SME Team! Boy are we lucky! SME is fortunate to have a great staff of ten members – most of whom have been with us for twenty years. They are exceptionally knowledgeable, friendly and service minded focused on providing you with information to help in the decision making process. The philosophy at SME is focused on building long-term mutually beneficial relationships with our clients; this is achieved in many ways including referring our clients to other dealers when necessary. What about service? SME prides itself on spending time to learn the needs of our clients. This allows us to guide them on which products would be good, and even more importantly which products we have that are “not” for them. At SME you won’t hear the automatic broken record response “Yes, it’s a great effect, you’ll love it, it’s perfect for you,” you often hear with some dealers. Candid honesty is in harmony with our desire to build long-term relationships. How does SME reach their clients? We are a major mail order company and distribute about 4 major (mag-a-logs), which feature articles, interviews and world travels and 4 product supplements per year. We are frequently honored when clients compliment us and say that our catalog is almost like a Magic Magazine due to the feature stories, articles and interviews in addition to the unique and exclusive products. Another aspect that our clients enjoy is the fact that we provide actual product photos; in sequence shots to help you better understand how the effects play out. Accessibility & Accountability We have a great staff, however, if you require speaking to one of the owners and/or principles – for any reason – we are available to you. Our service code demands that Joe or Mark be accessible. If they are out of town or out of the country, they will get back to you when possible. Open Invitation: We welcome your comments, suggestions and valuable input. Our service code understands and respects the value of feedback. We encourage you to contact us. The most important asset in this business is “you.” You are our stockholders per sea – let us know what we can do to serve you better. If you’re looking for products that are unique, exclusive or hard to find elsewhere, we’ve got you covered. With a 40-year history of success, we look forward to working with you in the future.
Shipping Info:
Ordering Process at SME All prices include shipping costs. You can call, fax, e-mail, snail mail, or order online. Most of the items we sale include shipping cost in the price. However, we offer expedited services with a choice of companies too. Fed Ex, UPS, DHL, US Mail. If you need it fast, we can usually ship it out immediately. Additional cost for expedited shipping varies depending on weight, size, etc.
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I have always found the staff (usually Shawn Reida, but also Joe and Mark and the others) very friendly and very knowledgeable about the items they sell. There were a few times that I ordered something off of the site and they did not have it listed as out-of-stock, but it was. When filling the rest of the order, they called me rather than e-mailing me to see what I wanted to do about that item.
Their pricing is always good - even if some of it is MSRP. As I have stated in another dealer review, I will happily pay full-price for my magic items when a dealer is reputable and knowledgeable about the things they sell. Another cool feature about their website that many do not know: Their listed prices all include the cost of shipping for that particular item. On the rare occasion when the shipping is not included in the listed price for a particular item (due to size/weight restrictions, etc.), it says so right on the product page.
If they were ever unable to obtain an item, they have always been able to point me in the right direction. It is because of all this that SME is one of my three go-to shops. Unless something drastic ever happens to change my mind, I will always be loyal to this shop.
In this day and age when the brick-and-mortar magic shop is a dying breed, SME stands out among the best of the best and as long as they keep doing what they are doing, they will be around indefinitely.
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His customer service is top notch.
He runs a 5 star business
But why is he only 2nd best?
Because Stevens Magic is in Kansas! Too far to travel for go and buy him a drink and chat magic face to face.
I am in the SF bay area so, he is as close as a phone call and never too busy to chat on the phone.
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However, Stevens Magic will work with you and are not in a hurry to get to the next call, but will try to answer all of your questions and make sure you are satisfied with your order.
Also, the usually have a deal where if you spend $150.00 they give you $20 off your order.
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Once I received an order, and inside was a handwritten note from Joe: he felt that one of the items I'd asked for (a publication) wasn't worth the money, so he didn't include it. Another time, when I called in an order, I asked if they could scare up a replacement part for a product I probably didn't even buy from them in the first place. They sent it along, at no charge.
I have quite a few of their VHS tapes, too--as I said, I've been buying from them for a long time.
I'll continue to buy from them as long as they're around.
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Joe and Mark spend a lot... I mean a lot... of time searching for, and creating new and different effects that you won't find anywhere else. I would say they are not street magic, not underground, not trendy, (although they will carry these types of effects) but rather... refined. They cater to those who are looking to up the ante, and present a classier, more elegant sophisticated type of magic.
Maybe I'm completely off base here. But I mean it as a compliment.
As for prices, they're right down the middle. They have specials and sales like other retailers. Nothing crazy.
As for service...they call you back. They deliver when they say they will. If you ask if they have something in stock...they tell you. If something is broken. They stand by it.
I guess they actually have a brick-and-mortar shop out there somewhere. And some day, I'm gonna get there.
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They are fast, polite, and seem to sell only the best magic around!
Recently my wife ordered some magic for my birthday and one of the items was out of stock. They were so apologetic, replied promptly to all emails and kept us up todate on the progress.
Sadly the item was out of stock for some time (no fault of theirs) however because of the long delay they sent a gift to say sorry! Now that's what I call service!
Occasionally things do go wrong and it is so nice when a company looks after their customers like Steves magic does.
I have dealt with them on and off for many years and have never had a problem with them.
Here is to the next 40 years!!!