This is a warning about a magic/juggling store that tries to screw over their customers! Please do not do business with this company: Dr. Bob's Magic Shop.

I dropped my 4" and scratched it up pretty bad. I was talking to my mom on the phone after it happened and told her about it and she felt it necessary to buy me a new one and have it shipped to me. She paid for the higher quality ball, not one of the "factory seconds" that they offer."

When I recieved the ball a couple days latter, what I found was a ball in poor condition, one I would assume to be a "factory second." There were quite a few swirl marks from when the ball was made, there were numerous and very visible blemishes and bubles inside of the ball. I called my mom to let her know this since she was the one paying for the ball. She called Bob and he said that we had actually ordered a "factory second" and that's what we got.

That's when I stepped in. I had the sales invoice that he had included with the ball, the price on that invoice was for a higher quality ball, not a "factory second" which was over $15 cheaper than what my mom paid for.

At that time he said that I could return the ball and he would exchange it for a better quality ball. So I did.

Now, keep in mind that the only time I touched this ball was the first day I got it and that was just to take it out of the box, unwrap it from the cellophane, notice the poor quality of the ball, wrap it back up and place it back in the box. I taped the box back up and sent it to Bob. Today I got an e-mail it reads:

"Hello again David,

We received the ball back yesterday.

Have a little problem with the return

The ball received has been used extensively, and dropped.

We NEVER will allow a ball to leave in the condition this was returned
in. Factory seconds are buffed
to determine the exact reason we reject the ball as a "second" - and
new balls are all inspected before they are shipped - to locate the
possible flaws in the shipments received.

We will buff this ball for you - and return it to you.

Customer Service"

My Reply:

"That ball was never once used. I unwrapped it from the cellophane the day I got it, saw the flaws instantly, wrapped it back up and put it in the box and didn't touch it again. I will not except a ball in that kind of condition when I paid for one that was of higher quality! I have done business with your shop three times, the first two transactions were flawless and because of that I have defended your company when others from the juggling community have had issues with your services and have refered numerous people, both jugglers and those looking to start juggling to your store. If I recieve the same ball that I sent back to you, I will take my business elsewhere and make sure to tell everyone else to do the same. On top of that, I still have the receipet, sent by you, showing that the ball I was supposed to receive was of a higher quality and if needed will you that to take legal action to ensure that I either 1) get my money back or 2) get a ball of the quality I originally purchased.

David"

Now, going to the website I see that it says that 4" balls(not the factory seconds) are out of stock. It seems to me that he's got himself in a bind and is trying to get out of a jam by accusing me of messing up the ball. I'm not only frustrated, I'm pissed off about this. 1) Because Dr. Bob is trying to scam the s**t out of me and 2) Because here is a business that I defended and refered people to and now they're screwing me over!

I was e-mailed merely moments later with this:

“Look Kid

I do not react well to threats

You tried to pull a fast switch and got caught

And no other people have had issues with our service - so don't try to

bluff your way thru this

I know what we send - and we never sent the ball out in the condition
received back”

Is this the sign of a professional business? No. Whatever you do, DO NOT do business with this company.