OK, so perhaps this question could be asked and answered better somewhere else, but I know that we do have a number of SB Dopers here. Also, the question could be generalized to other cities with similar situations.
Basically, “Madam Rosinka” is a palm reader/fortune teller that has (AFAIK) 3 locations here in town. The odd thing is that all three locations are pretty much about as “prime” as prime real estate goes in Santa Barbara (we’re talking commercially). One is out at the end of Stearn’s Wharf, which is the ridiculously touristy pier that’s pretty much endemic to central and southern California cities. Another location is right on the roundabout at the bottom of Milpas St. where a huge amount of people pass through every day, and another is right on the corner of Fairview and Hollister, a likewise highly visible and commercially desirable intersection.
Now, I know there are a lot of rubes out there these days, but how in the name of Sweet Zombie Jesus can these places survive? I can somewhat see the one on the pier since idiot tourists might stop in there for a reading on a lark. I’ve otherwise pretty much assumed that it’s got to be a drug front.
Does your city have one of these enigmas? What’s the deal?
…I mean, seriously, a fortune teller? :smack:
Cold reading is a gold mine. I mean, c’mon, people on those streets will pay $1000 for an ugly-ass Coach wallet, what makes you think they won’t give somebody $1000 who seems to already know everything about them, like for example that they have or had parents, have a favorite color or two and drive a car?
I have worked in Goleta for sixteen years and have driven by the Fairview location thousands of times. I have never seen anyone go into that place. Come to think of it, I have never seen anyone in the parking lot at the Milpas location. They must make a lot of money off of a very few people.
Do you recall the Nancy Reagan/Jeanne Dixon connection? Unless you believe that was an extremely rare anomaly, it shouldn’t be a surprise that these charlotans can command large fees. They are also likely to do a phone and/or internet business, as well as possibly making house calls.
We have a few very public ones here in Fresno, Ca too. One facing a walmart driveway, one on Shaw/Fruit that prolly sees 100,000 cars a day easily. I have never seen anyone coming or going from one of these places either. I have a customer that is one of them as well. Next time she calls I will have to ask her about the business plan behind how they operate. Usually i just stick to rhe specifics of their PC problem.
Philly has plenty of these. We’ve also got OTTOMH Hand Of Ares, Harry’s Occult Shop, Morgana’s Cauldron, and Garland Of Letters. Garland is on very prime commercial real estate. Legally, much of what these places sell is protected by the first ammendment. The crystals, herbs etc are religious items.
Palmistry, tarot, etc require standard disclaimers and the cops watch for certain scams (You must bury the bundle of money at …). I’m not sure how cops could prove fraud in most cases. The ‘psychics’ don’t tend to confess to faking it, and some genuinely believe they can see the future.
I had to go into work this morning so I stopped by the Fairview Rosinka’s on the way home for a little recon mission. It was sort of a mess over there because they are getting their roof redone. This is probably a $10,000 repair so they must be doing well.
I rang the bell and a middle aged woman in a house coat answered the door. She apologized for the mess and told me that her mother was the one who does the readings. I could only see into the entryway but it was decorated about how you would expect, kind of like Disney’s Haunted House. I was told that a ten to fifteen minute reading would cost $40. Oh yeah, no checks or credit cards, cash only. I told her that I would go to the ATM and be right back and then went home.
I suspect that any psychic with a high enough volume accepts credit cards. But, each card company (AmEx, Visa, etc) charges the merchant a fee. If you want instant verification, you need to buy a computerized card reader and attach it to a phone line.
Nope. Entertainer. Didn’t you see those signs that say “Entertainment Only” around her place? The “fortune tellers” I’ve seen operating in Sacrament, Davis, Monterey, and a few other cities in California all had those signs.
