Secret Shop: Difference between revisions

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'''Marth:''' ''"But... how do they stay in business?"''<br />
'''Marth:''' ''"But... how do they stay in business?"''<br />
'''Jake:''' ''"Who knows! Last I heard, they were desperate for customers."''<br />
'''Jake:''' ''"Who knows! Last I heard, they were desperate for customers."''<br />
'''Marth:''' ''"Then maybe they should reopen as a “tell your friends” shop..."''|'''Jake''' and '''Marth''', ''[[Fire Emblem Akaneia (Video Game)|Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon]]''}}
'''Marth:''' ''"Then maybe they should reopen as a “tell your friends” shop..."''|'''Jake''' and '''Marth''', ''[[Fire Emblem Akaneia|Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon]]''}}


Most businesses follow a pattern: you need something to sell, you need people to buy it, and you need to make more money than you spent every time someone DOES buy it. This is pretty simple to understand.
Most businesses follow a pattern: you need something to sell, you need people to buy it, and you need to make more money than you spent every time someone DOES buy it. This is pretty simple to understand.
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== [[Anime and Manga]] ==
== [[Anime and Manga]] ==
* In ''[[XXX Holic]]'', the shop can only be seen by those who need it, and sells wishes for something of equal value.
* In ''[[XxxHolic]]'', the shop can only be seen by those who need it, and sells wishes for something of equal value.
* The eponymous [[Pet Shop of Horrors]] doubles as [[The Little Shop That Wasn't There Yesterday]].
* The eponymous [[Pet Shop of Horrors]] doubles as [[The Little Shop That Wasn't There Yesterday]].


== Film ==
== Film ==
* ''[[Men in Black (Film)|Men in Black]]'' had Jeeb's shop for special "imported merchandise"
* ''[[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]]'' had Jeeb's shop for special "imported merchandise"
{{quote| '''Kay''': "You sold a reverberating carbonizer with mutate capacity to an unlicensed cephalopoid, Jeebs, you piece of shit..."<br />
{{quote| '''Kay''': "You sold a reverberating carbonizer with mutate capacity to an unlicensed cephalopoid, Jeebs, you piece of shit..."<br />
'''Jeebs''': "He looked all right to me. " }}
'''Jeebs''': "He looked all right to me. " }}
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== Literature ==
== Literature ==
* Diagon Alley in ''[[Harry Potter]]''. To even see the front of the store that leads into the back alley that has one brick which must be tapped to get there, you need to be a witch or wizard. Or maybe a squib.
* Diagon Alley in ''[[Harry Potter]]''. To even see the front of the store that leads into the back alley that has one brick which must be tapped to get there, you need to be a witch or wizard. Or maybe a squib.
* Subverted in [[Discworld|Terry Prattchet's]] [[Discworld (Literature)/Soul Music|Soul Music]].
* Subverted in [[Discworld|Terry Prattchet's]] [[Discworld/Soul Music|Soul Music]].
* The Merchants MacDoig in the ''[[Lonely Werewolf Girl]]'' books operate like this, if you don't where they are then you don't need to buy anything from them.
* The Merchants MacDoig in the ''[[Lonely Werewolf Girl]]'' books operate like this, if you don't where they are then you don't need to buy anything from them.


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* ''[[The Unusuals]]'': the squad comes across a "Murder Store," where you can buy everything you need to kill someone. They decide to run it themselves as a sting operation.
* ''[[The Unusuals]]'': the squad comes across a "Murder Store," where you can buy everything you need to kill someone. They decide to run it themselves as a sting operation.
* ''[[Dollhouse]]''
* ''[[Dollhouse]]''
* ''[[Class of 3000]]'' had a gift shop where you had to pass through an ''[[Indiana Jones (Franchise)|Indiana Jones]]'' style [[Death Course]] in order to enter. It turns out they did most of their business on-line.
* ''[[Class of 3000]]'' had a gift shop where you had to pass through an ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' style [[Death Course]] in order to enter. It turns out they did most of their business on-line.


== [[Video Game]] ==
== [[Video Game]] ==
* The Mirage Village in ''[[Final Fantasy V (Video Game)|Final Fantasy V]]''. {{spoiler|You encounter it as a random battle in a specific place}}.
* The Mirage Village in ''[[Final Fantasy V]]''. {{spoiler|You encounter it as a random battle in a specific place}}.
** ''[[Final Fantasy VI (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VI]]'' has a [[Playing With a Trope|strangely inverted]] example. {{spoiler|The weapon shop in Narshe... nothing can be bought there, and Narshe is the first town you see in the game. Plus, the town is otherwise deserted, and the door is locked. However, the weaponsmith will offer to either give you a piece of magicite or forge it into a weapon.}}
** ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' has a [[Playing with a Trope|strangely inverted]] example. {{spoiler|The weapon shop in Narshe... nothing can be bought there, and Narshe is the first town you see in the game. Plus, the town is otherwise deserted, and the door is locked. However, the weaponsmith will offer to either give you a piece of magicite or forge it into a weapon.}}
** ''[[Final Fantasy IX (Video Game)|Final Fantasy IX]]'' has a secret synthesis shop, which you access by defeating Hades... who is, in addition to being tough to beat, also {{spoiler|hidden in the [[Very Definitely Final Dungeon]]}}. Plus, you'll need the ingredients for whatever you want him to make... a few of which are unique.
** ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]'' has a secret synthesis shop, which you access by defeating Hades... who is, in addition to being tough to beat, also {{spoiler|hidden in the [[Very Definitely Final Dungeon]]}}. Plus, you'll need the ingredients for whatever you want him to make... a few of which are unique.
** In the secret dungeon of ''[[Final Fantasy XII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XII]]'', there is an ''invisible'' shop in a room that looks just all the other rooms; you have to get within a few feet of it to see the interaction icon.
** In the secret dungeon of ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'', there is an ''invisible'' shop in a room that looks just all the other rooms; you have to get within a few feet of it to see the interaction icon.
* Some ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' games have secret shops, which are slightly-different-looking tiles of floor in out-of-the-way locations, all run by the unofficial [[Series Mascot]] Anna. You require a member's card to get in, which can only be obtained by stealing one from enemies, and the prices can be downright exorbitant. Discussed in ''Shadow Dragon'', as quoted above - Jake, Anna's boyfriend, admits that business isn't looking so good for them ''because'' they're a secret shop.
* Some ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' games have secret shops, which are slightly-different-looking tiles of floor in out-of-the-way locations, all run by the unofficial [[Series Mascot]] Anna. You require a member's card to get in, which can only be obtained by stealing one from enemies, and the prices can be downright exorbitant. Discussed in ''Shadow Dragon'', as quoted above - Jake, Anna's boyfriend, admits that business isn't looking so good for them ''because'' they're a secret shop.
* ''[[Tactics Ogre the Knight of Lodis]]'' has a secret shop in one of the early towns, which you can access when you recruit {{spoiler|Deneb}}.
* ''[[Tactics Ogre the Knight of Lodis]]'' has a secret shop in one of the early towns, which you can access when you recruit {{spoiler|Deneb}}.
* Wallace has a not-so-incredibly secret shop in the ''[[Scott Pilgrim (Video Game)|Scott Pilgrim vs. the World]]'' game. {{spoiler|It's marked with a star near the end of the first level}}.
* Wallace has a not-so-incredibly secret shop in the ''[[Scott Pilgrim (video game)|Scott Pilgrim vs. the World]]'' game. {{spoiler|It's marked with a star near the end of the first level}}.
* ''[[Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia]]'' has a rather devious one in {{spoiler|Luin, which you must pay to have rebuilt along with the rest of the town}}. There, you can purchase the best weapons that money can buy for each character, and each one is a [[Lethal Joke Item]].
* ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'' has a rather devious one in {{spoiler|Luin, which you must pay to have rebuilt along with the rest of the town}}. There, you can purchase the best weapons that money can buy for each character, and each one is a [[Lethal Joke Item]].
* The Black Market in ''[[Wild Arms 3 (Video Game)|Wild Arms 3]]'' sells some pricy stuff, and you need a Black Card to get in.
* The Black Market in ''[[Wild Arms 3]]'' sells some pricy stuff, and you need a Black Card to get in.
* The Knife Guy's casino in ''[[Super Mario RPG (Video Game)|Super Mario RPG]]''.
* The Knife Guy's casino in ''[[Super Mario RPG]]''.
* The [[DLC]] location Black Emporium in ''[[Dragon Age II]]''. Sells some of the best items in the game.
* The [[DLC]] location Black Emporium in ''[[Dragon Age II]]''. Sells some of the best items in the game.
* Crazy Redd's store in ''[[Animal Crossing]]:City Folk''. You need to have one of your neighbors mail an invitation to you, and in order to do that, you need to randomly talk to them. If you don't have an invite, he'll casually shoo you away, and drops the not-so-subtle hint of how you're supposed to get in. Other than that, it's actually pretty easy to find. Only place with an iron-looking door.
* Crazy Redd's store in ''[[Animal Crossing]]:City Folk''. You need to have one of your neighbors mail an invitation to you, and in order to do that, you need to randomly talk to them. If you don't have an invite, he'll casually shoo you away, and drops the not-so-subtle hint of how you're supposed to get in. Other than that, it's actually pretty easy to find. Only place with an iron-looking door.
* ''[[Maple Story]]'' has a shop on the far side of Leafre, which you can't get into until you complete a high-level quest.
* ''[[Maple Story]]'' has a shop on the far side of Leafre, which you can't get into until you complete a high-level quest.
* In ''[[Mabinogi]]'', several of the regular stores have "secret shop" tabs, which can only be accessed when you become friends with the owner, or some such; these shops typically have costlier, more useful items. Plus, there are 2 [[NPC|NPCs]] who wander from town to town; finding them requires either luck, stakeout and patience, or a guide.
* In ''[[Mabinogi]]'', several of the regular stores have "secret shop" tabs, which can only be accessed when you become friends with the owner, or some such; these shops typically have costlier, more useful items. Plus, there are 2 [[NPC|NPCs]] who wander from town to town; finding them requires either luck, stakeout and patience, or a guide.
* Some shops in ''[[The Legend of Zelda (Franchise)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' series are hidden under bushes, which must be chopped down.
* Some shops in ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' series are hidden under bushes, which must be chopped down.
* ''[[River City Ransom]]'' has Merlin's Mystery Shop, which is hidden in the Armstrong Thru-Way Tunnel. It sells expensive fantasy items with names like "Excaliber" and "Zeus Wand" that provide enormous stat boosts.
* ''[[River City Ransom]]'' has Merlin's Mystery Shop, which is hidden in the Armstrong Thru-Way Tunnel. It sells expensive fantasy items with names like "Excaliber" and "Zeus Wand" that provide enormous stat boosts.
* ''[[Runescape]]'' has several of these (usually involving the completion of a quest), but the prime example is the Ape Atoll; you can't shop anywhere on the island until you're done two (moderately long) quests, you will be attacked if you show up in the vicinity without turning yourself into a monkey of some kind, and you can't communicate with the monkeys unless you're wearing a monkeyspeak amulet. Also, the island itself is right on the southwest edge of the world, and can only be reached by gnome hang glider. The most commonly-bought item on the island is a Dragon Scimitar, which is a good weapon for medium-high level fighters, and cannot be purchased (from [[NPC|NPCs]]) anywhere else.
* ''[[Runescape]]'' has several of these (usually involving the completion of a quest), but the prime example is the Ape Atoll; you can't shop anywhere on the island until you're done two (moderately long) quests, you will be attacked if you show up in the vicinity without turning yourself into a monkey of some kind, and you can't communicate with the monkeys unless you're wearing a monkeyspeak amulet. Also, the island itself is right on the southwest edge of the world, and can only be reached by gnome hang glider. The most commonly-bought item on the island is a Dragon Scimitar, which is a good weapon for medium-high level fighters, and cannot be purchased (from [[NPC|NPCs]]) anywhere else.
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