This is a good trick when properly performed but the cards are hard to handle in a realistic way. if you are not careful you will get caught turning the cards.....I also had some difficulty spreading the cards evenly, even on a pro close up pad.......this is not for beginners...

his is a bonus routine that comes with Diminishing Returns.

Effect- In The Defective Deck, the magician fixes a variety of "defective cards" in increasingly visual ways. The trick ends with Doug Conn's incredible PIP TRIP in which pips are slid around the card to different locations.

Method- The method is just some color changes and some easy sleight of hand.

Gimmicks- This comes with four really cool gimmick cards. If you don't like the routine you can use the Pip Trip trick like E does in its Gaff Deck.
The other gimmicks you can't do much with.

Setup- You have to setup this trick after every performance. Most people will probable be able to complete the setup in less than a minute if the remember the order of the cards.

Reset- After the trick, you can end clean. All you have to do is put the Joker away inside your pocket and if people want to examine it, you can take it out again cleanly.

Pros-
End clean
Bonus effect
Normal deck of cards
Cards are examinal
Easy sleight of hand

Cons-
Gimmicked cards

Overall- I love this trick. I will do it all of the time after I master it. I will use it with David Regal's color changing deck which is also great.

I give it a 10/10

The effect is good and the gaffs are well-made. The written instructions and the video are done well and easy to understand. The handling's not really that tricky. The cards I received were standard Bicycle "Rider-Back", and the bonus effect you receive with it ("Defective Deck") is very nice.

What's missing is one card that helps out quite a bit with the trick (easy to find, though), a box for the cards to go in (mine are currently in a Zip-Lock bag), the teaching video for "Defective Deck" (of course, it's covered in the printed instructions), and a prop needed for the "amBIGuous Card Trick" (a bonus included in the written instructions).

Overall, not bad, though.

Initially, the cards out of the box were rough, clumpy, and didn't spread well unless you prepare them like the video says. Well that did work for about a day or less. But I've been playing with this deck for a year now and even after preparing them numerous times by rubbing them on a silk or close up mat and the video says to do, they revert back to their rough nature in days and therefore they do not spread well at all. They may have bicycle backs, but they are in no way using the standard bicycle stock.
This would be a stellar trick if these cards would spread well. I hope Mike Powers will re-release this on normal Bicycle stock that actually spreads.

Bought the original years ago from Penguin and was very happy with the quality of the Bicycle style deck. Received this and extremely disappointed. The cards won't even spread properly. So rough. Avoid

I was all excited from reading the reviews thinking I was getting the Defective deck as the bonus trick along with the Diminishing Returns, which to be honest was the only reason I ordered it to begin with. instead it came with the trick in the description so that's my fault, so please read it thoroughly. my search continues for the defective deck!

The Diminishing Returns is a nice little gimmick and easily done, you do need to break the cards in a bit as they clump together at first. Overall I'm not disappointed in the trick, the price could be a little bit better.

This trick is great. The cards quality is top notch. The learning curve is almost non-existant. And the public reaction is just unforgettable! GET IT NOW. GET IT NOW. GET IT NOW. And, oh, my God, the bonuses! Please, please, don't miss this deck!

I dont know WHHHHHHHAAAAAAT those people above me are talking about DIMINISHING RETURNS is an INCREDIBLY EASY trick to do!!! It does take a little practice!!! I got it in like 5 minutes. IT'S INCREDIBLY easy to do. :) :D

Discovered this through a Patrick Kun video (Magic or Camera Trick) that combined with a Shrinking Card Case for a natural multi-phase effect.
Has an extremely strong visual punch.
Works very well over Zoom/video settings. Maybe in a controlled table / close-up setting, but don't think I'd risk this in a casual in-person setting where spectators might start getting grabby.
The basic moves are fairly easy to learn (though I hadn't learned a proper thumb fan before so I just did a crude spread fan that still worked), though still requires practice, as it's very easy to fool yourself with the illusion and lose track of where things are and how to contain the illusion without flashing.

Mike Powers is a great magician, super magic thinker and all those years of writing the “Card Corner” column for “The Linking Ring” has helped him refine his writing and teaching skills. All are on display here with this fabulous effect.

The entire deck is gaffed and dirty, but you will use it for this trick and easily be able to ring in and out a regular deck for tricks before and after. Simple... you can open with this trick, put the gaffed deck in your pocket, perform a coin or mental effect, then reach back in the same pocket and extract (a clean deck) for another card trick.

Tricks that you can believe in become your faves. And your faves usually become your audiences’ faves. Diminishing Returns will not disappoint.

Easy to perform and amazing to watch... it is a classic.