Vendor Drama! or Hey Look I'm famous!!

[GypsyScot]

Last spring I sat for 3 months and photographed every damn item Absolute sells, this morning while conducting my usual Wednesday morning corporate espionage, I found this Coach's Jacket:
http://www.fencingstar.com/Beginner-...cket-p/c04.htm

Now compare to this:
http://www.absolutefencinggear.com/s...93df34c0a20f54

*sigh* Oh yeah I'm the dude in the picture....

[Mr Epee]

So you feel the proper way forward is placing your complaint on the website of a third vendor complete with links to your own competing website? Really?

How does this play out in your mind?

[Purple Fencer]

It's called venting...especially to contemporaries.

Rich...have you had the chance to talk to the about the usage yet? I'm used pics from other vendors before, but I asked first (at least I HOPE I have!)

At least I now have a face -- er -- hand to go with the voice on the phone!

[GypsyScot]

So you feel the proper way forward is placing your complaint on the website of a third vendor complete with links to your own competing website? Really?

How does this play out in your mind?

Oh I really don't mind, I just thought it was funny, I've found some triplette photos in there too.

[Purple Fencer]

Oh I really don't mind, I just thought it was funny, I've found some triplette photos in there too.

Let me know if you find an H.O.M. pic....that way I'll really know I've "made it" as a vendor!

[Craig]

Last spring I sat for 3 months and photographed every damn item Absolute sells, this morning while conducting my usual Wednesday morning corporate espionage, I found this Coach's Jacket:
http://www.fencingstar.com/Beginner-...cket-p/c04.htm

Now compare to this:
http://www.absolutefencinggear.com/s...93df34c0a20f54

*sigh* Oh yeah I'm the dude in the picture....

So, is FencingStar selling Absolute products (and this is one), or should there be a DMCA takedown done?

Personally, I get permission to use photos and/or text from my various suppliers when I don't have time to get all of my own photos done but I wouldn't snag photos for the shopping site w/out permission. (I can't afford to shell out the $10 grand per offense.)

Mr.Epee - I don't mind those links since it was part and parcel to telling the story at hand.

Craig

[GypsyScot]

So, is FencingStar selling Absolute products (and this is one), or should there be a DMCA takedown done?

Personally, I get permission to use photos and/or text from my various suppliers when I don't have time to get all of my own photos done but I wouldn't snag photos for the shopping site w/out permission. (I can't afford to shell out the $10 grand per offense.)

Mr.Epee - I don't mind those links since it was part and parcel to telling the story at hand.

Craig

I've never sold to them, I know who they are, it took me a couple minutes as soon as I saw the address. DCMA sounds a little harsh, maybe just a sarcastic email?

[Rick Shellhouse]

Did ya ever sell to ELI??? aka Escrime Limited International ??


R

[Mr Epee]

Mr.Epee - I don't mind those links since it was part and parcel to telling the story at hand.

Craig

I'm just surprised at the confidence that competing vendors have in using this site for product promotion, customer service assurances, website linking, and the like...

It's a lazy practice at best. Ultimately, it's tacky.

[Mr Epee]

maybe just a sarcastic email?

No.

If you have a problem with someone using your photos without permission, the correct step is to send them a professional letter asking them to stop. If they are remotely aware of the consequences, then I'm sure they'll find a different photograph.

You have a situation between two commercial organizations.... behave professionally.

Life is pretty simple.

[GypsyScot]

No.

If you have a problem with someone using your photos without permission, the correct step is to send them a professional letter asking them to stop. If they are remotely aware of the consequences, then I'm sure they'll find a different photograph.

You have a situation between two commercial organizations.... behave professionally.

Life is pretty simple.

You'll notice if you read anything between Rick Shellhouse, Craig, or Sam and I; we're pretty laid back, we're all friendly. I'd never undercut Craig on his own website and every once and again I'll drop ship something to one of his customers, they sometimes call me looking to exchange or order something and every time I give them Craig's number, I'd never take his business, bad blood is bad business. I don't think Rick and I have ever done a transaction, but everytime we see each other we'll bulls***, joke, back when he smoked he'd bum a cigarette, and I'd blow a call while directing his student (Still feel horrible about that Rick). Fencing vendors between each other like fencers themselves have a different culture, however I don't have that kind of relationship with this person, and logically I will send a polite letter requesting a take-down, I just needed to spend a few hours going through discs look for the original un-cropped image in case there is a dispute and this is a fun way to kill time while I beat my head against the desk.

[Mr Epee]

“People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.”

So as member of the fencing community.... we're supposed to feel better about the chummy relationships between fencing vendors?

[GypsyScot]

So as member of the fencing community.... we're supposed to feel better about the chummy relationships between fencing vendors?

Oh crap guys, the jig is up, time to lower prices, Alex and Barry you guys first...

[Purple Fencer]

I'm just surprised at the confidence that competing vendors have in using this site for product promotion, customer service assurances, website linking, and the like...

It's a lazy practice at best. Ultimately, it's tacky.

Do you have any idea how small the vendor community is??? We all deal with each other at various levels...I buy from Craig, Rich, Post, and American, American and Craig buy from me...it's too small of a group to get all worked up over it.

It's called working together....being a total hard-ass burns bridges...and we might NEED those bridges at some point.

Start your own company and live on our side of the table before you come down all high & mighty on those of us who actually WORK in this field.

I don't steal from Craig re my gloves....as a matter of fact, the last person who posted about them ended up buying from Craig...this after my response that I had some, as well as Craig and American.

[Mr Epee]

Purp,

I know exactly how small the fencing vendor world is... so with that in mind.

This link is for you, bub.

[Purple Fencer]

Purp,

I know exactly how small the fencing vendor world is... so with that in mind.

This link is for you, bub.

You realize you linked back to THIS thread, right??

[Fencergrl]

Mr. E... be nice to the vendors, or else they might put itching powder in the next set of knickers you buy.

[Mr Epee]

You realize you linked back to THIS thread, right??

Yes... from what you wrote... I assumed you hadn't read it.

At least not the post that I linked to...

[Purple Fencer]

Mr. E... be nice to the vendors, or else they might put itching powder in the next set of knickers you buy.

*writes that one down*

[Purple Fencer]

Yes... from what you wrote... I assumed you hadn't read it.

At least not the post that I linked to...

I read it....but frankly, if we vendors aren't getting bent out of shape, you shouldn't either.