Immoral Knockoff Companies

Why is the industry SOOOO shady? :pat:

[url]http://www.importfactor.com/aftermarket/immoral-knockoff-companies.html[/url]

Cl did a thread on this too

there are way more companies....

[quote=Bippu PxrLex;133361]Cl did a thread on this too[/quote]
Can you link?

[quote=UrbanTacticz;133354]Why is the industry SOOOO shady? :pat:
 
[URL]http://www.importfactor.com/aftermarket/immoral-knockoff-companies.html[/URL][/quote]
 
every industry is shady...can't stop 'em all...

Hey, hey, hey......... not all 350z owners are cheap........ lol.......

but I do agree though....... it's comparative to the Recording Industry and napster/Kazaa, etc..... it'll come back around though...... because of good ppl like urself making the brutal truth known........
 
Keep it up......:biggthumpup:

[IMG]http://www.importfactor.com/blog/wp-content/themes/cutline/images/stop-the-copy.gif[/IMG]

man im sooo tired of this bull shit! this is coming from someone with experience. just like he said about the new guy just getting into the scene, How is he suppose to know?  well that was me when i was 15 i bought a fake widebody kit for $800 of my money that i SAVED up for then to find out he shits fake it doesnt fit, and if i want to make it fit it gonna cost double what i payed for it.  You know and its just like he says hows the new guy gonna know. your not! and then you feel like shit once you realize what youve just bought. I know this is probably just wishful thinking but  We need to come together as a culture and figure out some way to educate the people just getting into this industry so they know better and also find a way to at least slow down the volume of these knock off companies, there's almost more knockoff compaines than legit ones it seems.

 uhhhhhh sorry for the rambling its just this whole issue really gets to me anyways im done venting.......for now.........i think

i'm definitely on board with this one, especially when dealing with vip culture (i know, i know... i drive a maxima). it seems like this, more than anything, could be the destruction.

maxima king, i think i'm going to steal your stop the copy sign and put it in my sig. Is that cool?

lol i think ima have to jump on the stop the copy sig ban wagon hahaha

man its not mine, but i definitely support the movement. if you feel like i feel then rep it.

It's funny because so many people on Zilvia love Shine, because they make kits with shit fitment (ie: SexyStyle) fit properly, for cheaper.

So we have, better fit, equal material quality, same style, cheaper price.

That's a hard offer to refuse.

but getting payed for someone else's work is pretty plain and simple.
 
honestly i'm starting to see it more on the heads of the manufacturers than the consumer. i would never buy a knock off because it is like saying "what you are doing is ok", but i could easily understand somebody getting theirs (just not in vip where "pay to play" should be set in stone).

Thing is, Shine doesn't sell Shine Auto bodykits, they sell SexyStyle (to continue with that example). It's no secret they're re-making SexyStyle kits.

But I agree it's a bit dishonest to use the original company's name and resources to market the kit, even if the kit is actually better than the original.

[url]http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=138791[/url]

i will never in my life rock a fake anything. but i cant knock someone else's hustle. imo, if ppl are dumb enough or too cheap to buy the real deal, then thats their deal. the ONLY thing that gets me...is "jose" telling ppl he got a real deal mugen kit/valve cover/accs when they are indeed not. im a hardcore honda guy, im just now getting into this scene, so i really cant say which companies are knock offs and which are real deal. i do know what i like and once i figure out where to spend my money i most def will. but i dont fake the funk.

take it one step further...what about name brand wheel manufactures using the same design..or at least very very similiar...
 
So works are knockoffs  of Leon  hardritt ??? What about curtains and neck pillows and all this other stuff we use..who were the first to make neck pillows or vip tables etc...then the rest are knock offs. From a marketing eye...its all about getting the market share..most americans will want the same for less if they had the choice..
 
 
IF you look at the Aimgain Euro edition compared to the Mode Parfume you would think they look very very similar (just the front bumper) Now look at the Cygnus kit...that has those rear bumper lights like the Mode PArfume kit..Is Aimgain a knockoff brand now...and is Mode Parfume knocking off BMW..because I think I have seen those rear lights in the BMW first....????
 
 
just food for thought.

Good points Rich, but I think P was referring more to the people who make molds of bodykits then sell the knockoffs using the real deal's image and name.

gotcha^^

Parts have been knocked of in this (and every other) industry since it began. People are what drive these companies to operate this way....
 
There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man's lawful prey

[quote=firelizard;133474]Good points Rich, but I think P was referring more to the people who make molds of bodykits then sell the knockoffs using the real deal's image and name.[/quote]
Bingo!:biggthumpup:

great write up!! :biggthumpup: :biggthumpup: People on s2ki.com love them as well, i'm not so sure why too.
 
I hope the article gets out to the masses.  
 
For me, companies that sell knockoffs will always be apart of the industry.  They're just cowards trying to make a quick buck. It's something that we can't stop. All we can do is expose them.

[quote=zion_97;133473]take it one step further...[/quote]
 
or lets take it one step further than that. i'll go buy a 97 y33, version select kit, and some sportmax 504s and call myself the $6000 vip man. i mean its a platform and all parts are replicas anyway right?

its just like anything else.. i see more chicks carrying replica designer handbags then i do with REAL ones...if people are gonna buy em, theyll still make em... it makes me think Japan does not have any copyright or patent laws. so they could go after these companies...

Japan does have copyrights and patents. The problem is, many of these companies that you know by brand are fairly small operations cranking out high quality products. They do not have the time or resources (financial) to go after everyone. I think larger companies such as Tanabe were out a few years ago (maybe still actively) actually pursuing people who were making knockoffs of their springs and selling them on eBay.

Yeah, copyright laws will punk these mofo's into coughing up dough. Or who know's maybe they'll join together, and then they could at least legally be repping the company. Shoot, that's what I would do if I were them. Make a better version of the exact same kit, then go to the company, " hey, how about we do business together" and cut a profit out of a 3k kit, that will be made for cheaper, fit better, and still be sold because of the name brand. It seems so much easier to just do that, rather than make a copy, sell it under the original name, and risk being taken to court. That's fraud, you could get jail time for that. In prison, he'll be the pie.

Keep it on topic guys, thanks!

The only way is to stop the copy is to support the companies with the original design and try to convince as many as you can to do the same.

Too bad there are so many people trying to save a buck instead of buying quality.  Just look at how Wal-Mart has become so enormous.

Im against knockoffs.  
 
The only way I could see them helping the industry is if the person with the knockoff advertises it as real and that makes someone who would of never known anything about the kit, go out and by the real thing cause they liked what they saw.

[QUOTE=AME_VIP;133690] Just look at how Wal-Mart has become so enormous.[/QUOTE]

(side note: technically Wal-Mart doesn't sell things, they sell shelf space.)

one thing I would like to add is this..Mikey no-othr has been a great pal of mine..This dude has shown us all what he is capable of producing..His black Mode Parfume has been THE best Q45 on any of the VIP sites...and now is looking to do an F50 up again MP or Aimgain..Now he also has a 98Q45 and has his with that Version Select kit...he has said it fit better than an aimgain kit he got for one of his customers..no mods to make it fit like a glove..Now if this BALLER has the funds to buy any kit he wants and went with this VS kit..that must say something about the quality of their knock off kit..if anyone should know quality I would think he would be the first..and I don't hate on him for doing it either..he is so comfortable in his skin that nothing anyone can say will make him change his decision because he mods first for himself...I think this is something we all can learn from...no matter who you are..
 
and walmart sells name brand items as well..not all there products are cheap..infact most of them are name brand....so mr. wallmart is the smart cat in my book!

That's the quandary with some of those 'knockoffs'. As I was mentioning earlier with the Sexy Style example... some fit better than the originals.

That's what makes it hard to say "no way", because all you're left with is a principle, but really you're sticking up for an over-priced low quality part.

:pat: (ME)
You live and learn. For VIP this will always be a big issue since it's an expensive car hobby but with knowledgeable folks like you guys on this forum, the good word will get out there. After my experiences I definitely kicked myself a few times and now know better. 
Then again what about those people who can't get what they want except for through a knock off company. (i.e. A company makes a knock off of a kit that is no longer in production by the original company or is made for a like a zenki but never made for a kouki) Those instances as long as the person doesn't try to pass off a cheap for the real deal but still made it work for them then I wouldn't have a problem with it.:shrug:

I'm kinda getting a little tired of deleting posts in this thread. Keep it civil and on topic please!!!

The only situation where I think a knockoff could be acceptable is if your fabbing it to fit a different car that the original isnt made for.  example being a fabulous a32 on the boards here.  I dont know for sure if his kit is real or not im just using it as an example since I know fabulous does not make a kit for that model.

The thing is, some people still say (and with reason), "well, it doesn't matter, because you gave the knockoff maker your support".

with the fab a32 it was a custom made kit which is a little different imo. they took styling cues from a company and applied it to a platform that isn't available. i probably wouldn't do it and i'm not sure how i feel about that one, but it is not a piece that was bought, molded, and replicated.

Yeah if you ask me, modifying for another car is a little different. I'm not sure where I would stand on this issue but seemingly I wouldn't mind AS MUCH compared to say a 100% rip of the same product.

I say if you buy it and rep it as the real deal than neeeehh,but if you buy it and rep it for what its worth than who cares at least your honest about it..I am opening my eyes and starting to see that there are some who will want the VIP status and costs is not an issue and than there are others that want to be part of the movement but can't afford it and why should they be left out..They won't see it how the guy who has bank they will see it well at least I can afford this and it will look better than just stock. You have to admit if you have to ask if it is the real deal than that company did a hell of a job in replicating it and so did the person who modded his car. IF the overall package is there and they are not saying its the real deal..its on them not you so life goes on...
 
I did not use to feel this way but times change and we grow up..To be honest with you all though I am going aimgain..I think about this..Why spend $3000-$6000 on an aero kit when My car is only worth $5000-$6000 grand in the blue book??? I have modded many cars and the mods exceeding the price of the vehicle..and then I sold it because I was done modding and bored. Who's is the sucker....ME that's who. I never got my money back on any car I have modded..Unless your going to keep it as a show car than eeeeehhhh who cares....

im against knockoffs, but they will always be around and there will always be a demand for them. its just business..

I will get flamed for this, but people need to realize that what really needs to happen is that we need to clown those that buy shi**y product that doesn't fit or look right.
 
 As for the copies, that IS the american way. They are trying to build a better mousetrap ( price is part of the equation). Where the problem lies is that those that buy it are essentially saying that the copy mouse trap is better.....when it isn't. If in fact it REALLY is as good, or better, then the copy is fine because that is what a true supply and demand market is based on. If I can get a quality product for cheaper then I SHOULD, not just can, but should get the lower cost one. But I will NOT sacrifice quality for that price.
 
Again, the reality is that people settle for less since they pay less....and these are the people we need to make sure don't make it in the VIP scene. If you can make a knock off kit that fits perfectly and is of quality material then by all means, do it!!! But like everythiing else in VIP....if you half ass it then it is just BS and you should keep your weak a$$ in tuning hondas....

Burgy, did you read the whole thread? We will, and do, clown those who rock the knockoffs.

going back over this thread, i think it steered away from the issue. the issue isn't fitment, quality, or availability... its supporting someone who robbed somebody elses creative property.
 
you'd be mad if your wheels got stolen and i bought them from the thief and started rockin em like they were mine right?
 
theres 1,000,000 excuses why you COULD rock one, but in the end its a bad business practice that shouldn't be supported.

[quote=BLACKonBLACK98;144980]going back over this thread, i think it steered away from the issue. the issue isn't fitment, quality, or availability... its supporting someone who robbed somebody elses creative property....[/quote]
:biggthumpup: