The Genii Forum

This from Hank Lee:

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Greetings from all of us at Hank Lees Magic Factory.

We here at Hank Lees all knew it was coming. Despite Herculean efforts by Steve and Aron and Don, the handwriting was on the wall. As Steve put it, this is such a nuanced business; it is impossible for a person to learn every phase in a short time. I want to personally thank both of them for trying so hard to make it work.

Its been a long and wonderful road; nearly four decades in business. But, we have made the difficult decision to close Hank Lees Magic Factory. Sunday, October 28th will be our last day of operation.

I want to thank all of our customers and friends for their support over the past 37 years. There are no better people than you, anywhere.

I want to assure you that this closure is not forever. We will reorganize and we will be back.

If you have Gift Certificates or Reward Points, hold onto them. When we re-open, we will honor all of them.

If you have items on back order, be assured that we are working feverishly to get them out to you.

Of course, it wouldnt be Friday without our weekly Excitement. So, for the last time, check it out.

Hank

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Too bad, but he brought it on himself.

Matt Field

I'm not a businessman, so please pardon this ignorant question: what would be the advantage of closing and then reopening?

Is he talking about declaring bankruptcy to get protection from his creditors?

Also, here's a dated, but interesting layperson's (well, actually a magicians parent's) take on the crime. http://dover.patch.com/blog_posts/is-this-an-illusion

He won't be re-opening unless they set up a gift shop in jail.

Please use common sense and DO NOT order from this guy. There is barely any inventory and he WILL charge your card and chances are, he WON'T send you the items.

So you can see how a reputable dealer works, This weekend ONLY, The Magic Apple is offering 20% off the ENTIRE website! Enter the code "genii" in the coupon box from today until Sunday.
www.themagicapple.com

There's nothing remotely surprising about this.

I've never ordered from Hank Lee nor ever commented on the news of his theft and conviction. But this final posting, which implies that the reason HL is closing is because his existing staff can't pick up the "nuances" of the business, is disgraceful. For him not to acknowledge his own culpability in destroying the store's reputation and dissuading anyone from shopping there is stunning.

There surely does seem to be a lot of denial in Hank's statement. As I've received those weekly email newsletters recently, which sound as though everything is normal, I've wondered why there was so little talk about the cataclysmic mistake Hank made.

I'd agree that it's probably not the best idea to place an order from Hank Lee this weekend. On the other hand, I'm not sure I would have used this thread to try to guide folks to my own business as an alternative.

Just sayin'.

Here's my advice (keeping in mind the 75 MILLION dollars worth of worthless gift cards that people got stuck with when Sharper Image went out of business):

Hank writes: "If you have Gift Certificates or Reward Points, hold onto them."

B*[censored]! This business is NEVER going to reopen. SPEND THOSE GIVE CERTIFICATES AND REWARD POINTS TODAY AND TOMORROW since they are going to close on Sunday or you will probably never see a penny of their value.

Any advice for folks who have paid for items "on back order"?

I can tell you this.. I bought something a week ago and this is the rudest man I have ever met. There cutomer service is horrible. Shipped me the wrong stuff. What I loser ... I hope they through the entire book at him ... Cannot STAND THE MAN!!!!

If you have an item on "back order" and the business is closing Sunday, call your credit card company or PayPal IMMEDIATELY and get the charge reversed.

Magicman468: Hank Lee is in jail. Whoever you were in contact with was not Hank Lee.

What Richard says goes for any business where you have gift cards, unrefunded tickets with airlines, etc. Typically the end user is the last creditor to be considered when it comes to paying everyone back.

Personally, I use gift certificates as soon as I receive them, as you never know these days who is going to suddenly close up shop. (I'm spending Best Buy and Barnes and Noble gift cards as we speak).

What happens if you have streaming video thru Hanks web site?

I don't have any but was wondering what happens to these when a store goes under.

Best
Leo Jr

Leo Jr wrote:What happens if you have streaming video thru Hanks web site?

I don't have any but was wondering what happens to these when a store goes under.

Best
Leo Jr

[censored]/paddle etc

I have just heard that Hank is not in jail yet. He was scheduled to take his state-paid holiday on Oct.29, but it has been delayed and will most likely happen within the next 30 days. And, the rumor is that he is not closing shop voluntarily.

And that's the real weakness with many of the streaming video merchants where you can't download your own copy (or dig it out of your cache)

If they go under--your investment is lost.

Yay, books!

If you are in the area I would wait to see what the liquidators decide to do with the stuff.

You're assuming there's anything to actually liquidate.

mrgoat wrote:
[censored]/paddle etc

Hank's remake of the paddle trick?

I guess it's the special on Monday...

No, Richard, unless something changed Hank Lee was scheduled to not report to Jail till 10/29

I found this old photo (apparently from the 1994 Cape Cod Conclave) interesting:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 8989_n.jpg

"Hank Lee Headline Prediction"

Effect: You predict your future.

Method: You ensure accuracy with your own actions.

Satisfaction guaranteed or Hank will apologize.

Richard's right; use gift cards, negate credit card transactions, etc. now, before Sunday. After that, the entity that was Hank Lee's Magic Factory will cease to exist in an eerily absolute way.

Sunday October 28th, Hank Lee's stated last day of operation, has already passed.

The Magic Factory website is still up.

Of course Hank Lee's website has a long tradition of offering goods for sale that aren't really available.

Situation normal.

Scott M. wrote:the reason HL is closing is because his existing staff can't pick up the "nuances" of the business

Good thing, as its those "nuances" that landed HL in jail.

I found this old photo (apparently from the 1994 Cape Cod Conclave) interesting:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 8989_n.jpg
_________________________

Richard,
I might be wrong, but I don't think that's Hank
I could swear that's local NOLA pro Joe Harrison
(that's his trademark photo pose)

Hank's friend Chuck Kirchner (also in the photo) posted it on facebook in October 2009 and identified the poser as Hank:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

Doug, Richard, do you mean to tell us that Hank stole another person's pose? That pose is soooo good that others might be tempted to steal it too since you posted the photo. Is nothing sacred? Would Hank steal?
Jim

I expect Jim to post detailed instructions, using precise machinery and exotic materials, on how to build your own pose.

$5 for the PDF, Bill ;-)

I just clicked to the old Hank Lee site, which is gone, and was re-directed to tricksupply.com. The information is that the site will open on 12/5 (updated from 12/1).

Is tricksupply.com an existing magic company?

The URL is owned by Wolfgang Wollet (Wonder Warehouse), who currently sells through various retailers. Perhaps he purchased whatever was left of Hank's stock.

Sounds like he bought something from Hank.

Maybe the site opening was delayed due to his goods from Hank being "on back order"...

Ted M wrote:Paying for something from Hank and actually successfully buying something from Hank can be different things.

I hope what he thinks he bought isn't "on backorder"...

He'll find out backorder has a different meaning inside...

Yikes!

I hate that when it happens!

Richard Hatch wrote:I found this old photo (apparently from the 1994 Cape Cod Conclave) interesting:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 8989_n.jpg

This one from Stevens Magic is also pretty interesting:

[img:center]http://www.stevensmagic.com/personallyspeaking/aug05/Hank%20Lee%20picks%20Joe%27s%20pocket%20-%20again!.jpg[/img]

http://www.stevensmagic.com/personallys ... 05/ps2.htm

^^^
:D