I purchased Switch One from another retailer (sorry), but I am so incensed with the massive gulf
between what I was expecting and what I actually got that I feel frankly deceived and need to share
my experiences with you so you know what you are getting for your $75. It's going to be a bit
tricky to do without giving too much away, but here goes:
The promo videos would have you
believe you are purchasing a device that will help you accomplish a visual transposition in front of
the spectator. There's much made in the promos that you're getting an unfiltered performance, and
everything is laser focused on the change itself.
That's not what you're getting. The
technique you see in the video is a basic technique available in several magic books. Wanna make it
a dollar bill instead of a card? That's fine... it's immaterial, really, because you're not using
any gimmick in the hands. Instead, what you're paying for is just a storage device that has nothing
to do with the switch itself.
Heck, I'm just going to say it, because YOU NEED TO KNOW what
you are paying for. It's a wallet. It's just a damn wallet. It does none of the work for you. It
is just a filing cabinet for your pocket.
You are paying $75 for a wallet. Did you ever
see a wallet in the unbroken performance? Ever see a gesture to a pocket? I mean, that's how it's
taught.
This is just deceptive advertising all around. The switch shouldn't be happening
between what is advertised and what is actually on offer. This is not how you should be fooling
magicians. This is shameful. Do not buy.
Take it from me, this review is SPOT on. I was fooled and now I'm $75 in the hole. I would have much rather bought another effect. I'm just so disappointed in myself for not doing my research first and getting roped in by the marketing trickery.
really helpful. this thing looked fishy from a mile away.
if you love this, (i am passing) get vision box by miranda.
Thanks , that was really informative ,saved me some bucks...
I purchased it from another site, and feel the same, should’ve been called the switch wallet.
Thank you for your review. I was bummed this was sold out until I read your review. I had a feeling something was up with this but I was hoping for a new gimmick to allow a switch but now I'm just happy I have 75 bucks.
Thanks...saved me money...sadly this is a slimy industry...in the last six months I have really eased my magic buying because of the feeling I got after buying products like this
The frustrating thing is that the effect itself is fine. The sleight—if you didn’t already know a version of it—would be worth a $10-20 download to learn the move. My beef is that it’s a Trojan horse for a wallet I don’t want or need to do an effect I was already able to do!
It looks like Vanishing has added some clarification text on their site, but the videos are purpose-built to obfuscate completely what they are selling.
Sorry, but I 100% do not understand this review. How much practice have you put in this? I bought this already 1.5 years ago at Blackpool and it is amazing.
If you have seen this move in a book, please name the book, cause to me this is definitely a new sleight and Vanishing Inc would not release it like that, if it would be someone elses work.
You get exactly what you need in order to achieve the effect in the video. A sleight and something to retrieve the desired card. If you say this is not true, then in my opinion you have not really viewed the tutorial at all.
See my response to the other comment. You are missing the point of why people are upset. It's a fine effect, but you are paying for an unnecessary accessory that does not help you to accomplish the effect and which is 100% not necessary to perform the effect. But, I'm done arguing this. You are happy with your purchase, that's great. I'm sure when you saw it at Blackpool, you knew you were paying for a wallet. We did not have the benefit of that from the promo materials. This felt to me like purposeful deception about what was being sold, and what was commanding the $75 price. This is actually the second time I've been burned by Vanishing Inc's promotional videos. They pulled some of the same stuff with Deep Clear a year or so ago.
Mark you are a bully and if I see you at a convention, I will come and tell it to your face. Unbelievable, the guy is allowed to share a review. And many people seem to agree with him.
Patrick Torres
Patrick Torres I can’t wait
Mark, thank you for putting your true colors on display for everyone to see. Who exactly do you think you are to be calling people the "c" word and telling them to quit magic for having an opinion that doesn't agree with yours? Is this how you want to represent yourself in this profession? I would never call you a bad or lazy magician, because I've never seen you perform. But, your comments here to the OP and to the other OPs on here virtually assures that I will never make the effort.
Let's take a step back, though, and look at what the issue is. Not being happy about being misled does not make you a bad or lazy magician. Again, obfuscation is a necessary part of advertising effects on a site accessible to the public, but people here have a valid point about the contents of the box not being consistent with expectations which are informed by prior experience. I have purchased hundreds of effects over the years. I've occasionally been disappointed, but I have never felt deceived in the manner I did with this.
None of that makes anyone anathema to magic as a hobby or profession. Did I personally think, as others did, that I would be getting a gimmick more closely integrated into the effect being advertised? Yes, and given that many people have been vocal about feeling deceived, it looks like I am far from the only one. That feeling of being burned is unfortunate, because it taints what is otherwise a very nice switch technique that is taught well, and within the abilities of most magicians.
I don't think anyone was looking for something effortless that doesn't require practice, and I think any attempts to demean people on that account are misguided. It is also not wrong for someone to state that they felt misled by advertising, when it comes to a product that is $75.
Magic is largely about deception, but that does not mean that deception is permissible throughout. We deceive our audiences because they are asking to be deceived, and they ultimately can trust that we will not abuse that power differential. The spectator knows on some level, that when he hands you the watch that's been in his family for generations, that you will return it to him in pristine condition after you've feigned smashing it with a sledgehammer. But, when it comes to separating magicians and hobbyists from their money, we should expect a little more truth in advertising.
By all accounts, Christian Grace is a good dude, and I do feel badly that he offered to share a secret with the community, and that is being sullied by bad blood over the manner in which Vanishing chose to advertise it. To their credit, Vanishing is taking steps to make this right for some people, it sounds, and I am glad for it.
If you want to learn how to do this switch, which is a very good sleight, and you feel like that is worth your $75, then by all means, you will get what you want. Thanks to those of us who ordered this on the merits of the advertising, you now know what you are actually getting. If you need an index, then this is also a decent index. But, that's not what I thought I was paying for, and a lot of other people felt that way, too.
There is no need to tell people to quit magic over this, especially since it's not even your effect, man. All I can say is that while you may not agree with everyone here, you do not have the right to be treating other people this way.
Mark, your most recent post on Facebook was a warning to people who make certain comments that you want to screencap them, tell their mother how horrible they are and "make them want to delete their accounts." Where does calling someone the C-word and telling them to quit their hobby/profession over an honest opinion fall on that spectrum? You want me to send a screencap of your comments on here to your mom? Because you'd better believe I screencapped it. All of it.
That’s very well put zsciaeount.
I don’t know what his deal is. I don’t know the guy. But I was shocked by his comment. On a another review he told a guy he doesn’t know « I guarantee I know magic more than you ». Wow, what overinflated ego!!!
But someone reacting like this to what appears to be an honest review, must be having some sort of troubles.
As for Christian that I met in several occasions, he’s a cool guy indeed. I feel bad for him. I guess there was a problem in the marketing angle of the release.
Mark, I give you zero stars as a human being. I hope the vitriol you've posted on here comes back to bite you in the ass. Keep digging this hole for yourself. I'm loving it.
Heart broken.
For those who don’t want to waste their time reading this all I’ll give you the bullet points.
People are idiots.
I called them out for being idiots
Idiot defends other idiots.
I stand by my opinion.
Also buy switch one and don’t listen to lazy magicians
Whose the bigger idiot? A person who felt misled by ad copy and finds himself in good company, or a supposed professional comporting himself in the manner you have, on a public forum frequented by his peers?
The guy who watches a magic demo and buys a trick thinking they just bought real magic and are disappointed when they open the box and learn that they actually have to practice to accomplish the effect.
Mark i can confirm that it’s you.
You can’t debate politely without name calling and using abusive language.
I have been showing your messages to friends in magic and they all agree that you are an idiot, and I’m being polite as I don’t want to lower myself to your level.
Also they’ve all decided to boycott any good release from you.
Which should not be difficult as it hasn’t happened yet and chances are we won’t be missing out on anything good.
However I’m looking forward to your reply. You are very entertaining, I’ll give you that.
I’m here for the popcorn !
I’m here for the popcorn !
Mark is just upset that his Penguin Live sucked.
he's a troll with no life
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Not how I want to be fooled
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