Quick Pitch privacy tents... being ripped off and sold by Kick Ass, Wild Dog, Drifta to name but a few. China as usual now flooding the market... and people buy because regardless of doing the right thing or not... times are hard and $$$ talks.
What I’m seeing in the Middle East (and probably where you are also) is zero dignity for innovators...I want to see more innovators and less impersonators. And while I sympathise with those who’re trying to make a living I’d rather they focused their energy/resources into developing new products that would bring them real acclaim... right now I’m just labelling them as fraudsters with no imagination.How can these people say that they are serving the 4x4 community when all they’re doing is lining their own pockets while promoting the closure of the innovators???
Don't add drifta in the mix of it they've come up with their own way and if you think that's been ripped off who rips of who in the 1000000s of 4wd parts bull bars lights awnings
Drifta copied the ensuite and RTT from quickpitch...I think Ronnys falling out with drifta was because he was at an event on the east coast with some grab me gear clear top bags drifta saw them stole the idea and started making them the next week....
No it describes the western approach of supply and demand. If people in the west didn’t make buying decisions based primarily on price rather than quality do you think the Chinese would be able to sell their copies? Keep in mind virtually no Chinese companies sell direct. It’s actually the companies in your own country that are perpetuating the problem by buying from China to sell to you.
Harvey Smith I was born in China. Sadly it’s true, and the victims of the IP infringement would hardly have a way to protect themselves against such theft in China.
@@paulbarnard5267 This is true - people go for cheaper because they can't see that the cheaper one is worse, or don't care (or even that the cheaper one isn't worse at all). On top of that, though, is the supremely cheap labor market (half a step to the left of slavery in many cases) in China means that the cost of producing the same component locally compared to in China can't possibly stack up. So companies manufacture in or buy from China.
Here in Norway , and Norsk Land Rover Klubb, we have a `standing order` that we buy local so often we can. Domestic or abroad . When we have a big or small club-meeting , or just a group `on the run` a weekend or a month on the road, we buy at the locals :-) It means : camping , food , fuel , local private roads, mountain roads etc.etc. We are guests in their community . We all have to remember that ! And it is not so good for us here in the north , to know what product made in the south ,that is the `original` !
I live in a small house and so I used to rent a workshop nearby, which was broken into a couple of times. The most infuriating thing, for me, was knowing that it's likely that all your stuff got sold for peanuts regardless of it's true value. It's ridiculous, of course, but I felt like putting an envelope in plain sight with a couple of hundred quid inside it and a note saying "Look, just take the cash, leave all my stuff alone and save yourself the effort". On one occasion, for example, I had a racing motorbike in my workshop, in the process of being rebuilt. The workshop was broken into and they stole the wheels/tyres/brake disks, the ECU, part of a custom exhaust and a bunch of specialist tools. The wheels had non-standard axles so they couldn't be fitted to a standard road-bike, the tyres were slicks and the brake disks were carbon fibre and woudln't work with standard calipers. Anybody with half a brain would understand there's NO "black-market" for that kind of stuff. The only place it might've turned-up would be on another racing bike, where the original owner would have spotted it all. Regarding "IP theft", I don't think customers are always to blame for allowing knock-offs to prosper because I suspect that a lot of the time people simply don't know an item IS a knock-off of an existing product. People just browse sites like Amazon or eBay, see things for sale and buy them without realising that they're a copy of something made by a specialist company. Also, it's worth bearing in mind that companies are often victims of their own penny-pinching. It is LEGAL in China for a Chinese company to manufacture/sell an OEM version of any item that they've been contracted to manufacture for a foreign company. If you're an American or European company and you choose to reduce costs by contracting a Chinese company to manufacture your products, you only have yourself to blame when a Chinese knock-off appears on the market. Everybody seems to criticise China for being a "knock-off nation" without realising Western companies are complicit in this by choosing to have their products manufactured in China. If companies chose to have their products manufactured domestically they would, at least, have a stronger legal case for preventing any Chinese knock-offs from being sold in Western countries.
G'day Andrew, would strongly recommend doing your videos in a closed garage away from your residence. Mighty car mods had the same issue when people found out where they lived and doxed them. They shoot videos closed doors in a gated garage nowadays.
I've had my own business for 40 years.. my pet hate? when someone says "Is this your best price?" My answer is always "No.. MY best price is double this, what I just quoted you is your best price, but I'm happy to charge you mine"
When I started work in 1976 I bought a tool kit from my mother’s catalogue. Many vehicle rebuilds and Enginerring projects later it was still in daily use. It went to Germany, Canada and U.K. as I moved about. Then in 2005 I was doing an oil change on my car and saw someone walk up my driveway. I called out from under the car “hang on a moment” as I crawled out only to see the ‘visitor’ pick up my tool box and run and jump back into his car and accelerate away. My insurance replaced the tools but I have never built the same relationship with the replacements. It’s the stollen memories that hurts more than the things.
His whole story sounds suspicious to me. You think he doesn't have security cams installed with all that expensive gear in the garage? Talk about fake insurance claims!
@@OOOUZNah it sounds sad. Another Aussie lost in the 80's. It just isn't like that anymore and there's no way back (especially if you live in the city)! Only to be robbed again when you buy all that expensive security equipment in the false hope of getting some piece of mind. A very expensive lesson is vigilance is the only security, not some fancy piece of security equipment, people are brazen especially when they are on drugs and security equip only just slows them down and it won't stop them.
@@OOOUZ Security cameras don't stop people from stealing, at best they can show the insurance company (and the owner) that somebody was there. Black hoodies / caps and dark glasses are a thief's best friend..... Fake insurance claims - usually most people's excess makes it prohibitive to claim on smaller items.
@@PeterKnagge Yep, had a mate of mine got his shed knocked off 3 times, same stuff stolen each time - insurance company won't cover his shed and tools anymore, even though he did what they asked each time.... better locks, alarms, etc.
The Travel Buddy Oven is a good example of a small Australian company being ripped off at the moment with Kickasses Travel Oven and Road Chef Oven copies being sold for a little less.
Travel buddy is a perfect example of not adapting your product design to the market. They have taken no feedback on design flaws. Eg. Insert trays . Lockable door. Better latch et.c
@@joshuacox26 easy to adapt the door. For the majority of applications, the current lock is perfectly adequate. A decent magnet would likely sort it out.
I deliberately bought a Travel Buddy after doing my research. I knew it was a bit more expensive but chose it because it’s made here and is the original design. It’s also a bloody good product that works.
I try to make sure that what I bolt on to my 4wd is made here in Australia, it might cost more but the quality and after market service is well worth it.
I’ve been self employed and have experienced first hand others stealing ideas, people asking for the “best price”, and others looking for a free handout. I refuse to shop at Walmart due to how they treat small businesses, whenever it’s possible I try to avoid products manufactured in China and enjoy building relationships with local businesses. The worse thing about being robbed is the fact you generally lose items that are relatively inexpensive but contain a great of memories. Truly enjoyed this video!
Having worked at large companies I can tell you that it is the lower level employees that make and design things but the upper level take credit for it. After I heard a VP person on a company presentation take credit for a design I made to save time and used for a couple years before he saw it, I just stopped designing things for them. The business world is full of pirates and politicians.
I HATE thieves!! This happened to me only a few months ago early 2020 , we had been building up a Ranger Raptor for overlanding and filming this on our RUclips channel. We had packed the Raptor ready to do a family shakedown trip prior to our big trip to Cape York. The thieves broke in to our house and stole the entire car fully loaded. We got a replacement vehicle a few moths later but were left over $20K out of pocket on equipment and accessories...we have started to slowly rebuild (on a much smaller budget now) so we can still complete our family trip to Cape York this year. I feel your pain of how it feels looking for those little items to pack that just aren't there anymore, gifts and sentimental items that would always come on every trip, each item could tell its own story.
Keepsakes, mementos and gifts are always the worst things to have stolen or too lose. Sorry for your loss Andrew. Hopefully somethings make their way back to you. Cheers from Canada.
Even though I’ve never seen, or heard of this guy before. But when I hear someone has been robbed, I feel terrible for them, I hope you have a good day.
You Sir are a true gentleman. Handling your frustration with finesse and standing up for what you know is right. Finally somebody speaking up and voicing out the ugly truth of some ruthless businesses profiting from hardworking honest people. Sigh. Support original only!
What a fantastic message at the end. I Always try to support family owned businesses especially restaurants here in Las Vegas. With the Covid lockdowns it’s been really tough on most who had to survive by offering curbside pick up or delivery. Thankfully many did and were able to open their doors when restrictions were lifted. Thanks for this video. Cheers.
Spot on mate, I've owned a Travel Buddy for years, I also live in Bendigo where they're made, the business was originally Crystalair Rangehoods, I had a good chat to the owner when I bought my Travel Buddy off him, he told me that his business got hammered when all the cheap Chinese rangehoods started flooding onto the Australian market and he came up with the idea of the Travel Buddy and changed his business model, and now it's all happening to him again. I hope people support him and buy the original Travel Buddy, it's a great product and he's a nice fella.
Agree, though I wouldn't be particularly surprised if they actually aren't in the 4wd community, but rather people who trawl youtube looking for "vulnerable" people. Using videos like ASPW's to case potential locations etc. Exactly the same as hijacking data by Facebook stalking. Bastards!
100% Andrew. Please anyone who is considering a Travel Buddy buy that brand. Please don't buy the coppies available and don't support other country's that profit by manufacturing other peoples ideas.
@@fatchunk3678 - that's what blew my mind. Travel Buddy... Made in Australia $299 www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/travel-buddy-12v-oven-marine-large Road Chef... made in China $289 www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/road-chef-12v-oven The Travel Buddy is manufactured/assembled in Bendigo Australia, the Road Chef is produced and packaged in China. for a $10 saving? i know what I'm buying...
I have had my Ute broken into, the truck I used to drive interstate for a company and a Unit I used to rent many years ago, luckily each time not many things were taken but it is still enough to make you think twice about things. It isn't a nice feeling and these days make me a little more hesitant to lend things or have strangers around my place or show too much of my place on my tube video's I make which shows them what I have here. I love the orange idea of the shovel so much I am going to paint mine orange. You just show exactly how big businesses and companies work on smaller companies and put the pressure on them to reduce costs/profit margins to suit them so they can make the bigger profit and thus put smaller companies and businesses out of business, it still happens today in so many ways.
May i suggest making a list of good recommended products and their original designers/manufacturers so all of us interested in spending our money where it counts can do so at the right place and on the right product instead of unknowlingly buying some lower quality ripoff!?
It’s a pain, two nights ago I forgot to lock my 80 series. And I came out the next day and my wallet had been gone through but they only took 3 $10 notes. And the garden shed had been opened but I don’t keep anything valuable in there.
As a Chinese businessman I would've handled the Makro situation a little differently. The product was the leverage, by immediately saying no deprives you of the opportunity to make a counter-offer. Say for example you'll agree to the price they want, but in return they have to double their monthly purchase. They said they needed 400 monthly, I propose 800-1000 pieces. A binding contract also helps in this situation. If they're not budging on the 400 quantity, say you'll agree, but they have to purchase something else you're making along with it, or in the near future.
AND... Bozos doesn't even make profit!! He is subsidised by central bank money printing aka "quantitative easing" and his company lives off the inflows from the stock market and all the new excess money sloshing around that funnels into the darling stocks. Because He is the Chosen One. He will destroy small business using an unfair advantage.
@Bob Carruthers I think it's worse than you think. The conspiracy theorists are even suggesting that the lockdowns are primarily designed to destroy small business. I agree. I suggest going to the Peak Prosperity website which has been following the virus since the very beginning and we are coming to very interesting and sinister conclusions. His RUclips videos are now starting to get deleted.
Cheap isn't everything...especially when it breaks right as you need it. Buy once, cry once. Sad about your knife. I bought a new Mauser marked knife, such as was issued to the German Wehrmacht, with only the basics...a Victorianox clip point blade, a Mauser branded blade, a screwdriver/can-/bottle-opener/saw on top, awl and cork screw on the bottom. I've had it 25 years now and carry it daily. I feel your pain, sir.
Dear Andrew Watching your video and story reminded me some of my own. 1. I'm also a small business owner that operates in 4 different continents and has to struggle against the big multinational corporations. Tough and not a fair game. Nonetheless, we are always ahead of them, although is a very tiresome and daunted mission. 2. I'm an inventor with patented high-end robotic equipmen. A few years ago a chinese corporation tried to seduced me with a so called "joint-venture" where I would bring all our expertise. I quickly realized that they were trying to get from nothing our product. When visited them in Shanghai they became very angry when I sad "NO" to their deal conditions. Interesting enough they weren't able to manufacture a decent version of my invention, and they gave up. 3. When I was in my early twenties I was a photojournalist, I got robbed when visiting mom's for a quick tea. The thiefs stole all my photographic equipment, i.e. that day I became jobless as I couldn't afford to buy another set of cameras and lenses. But it turned to be a blessing: I had to do something else that driven to the stage where I am right now. Your work is amazing. Carry on, I'm a big fan of yours! Cheers! pedro
I drive rotting, dented D40 right now. Sometimes when I lock it my friends or family asks me if I think someone will steal it. I don't care about the car, I care about the things that are inside. I feel your pain, although thankfully nothing been stolen from me so far.
Andrew, a US mechanical engineer and a toyota enthusiast designed an awesome tool to press out and install rear axle bearings on 3rd gen 4runner(J90 prado), 1st gen tacomas, Tundra,s Sequoias etc. Guess what... just in a month or two Chinese started making it and selling it on ebay for dirt cheap!
that sucks andrew. i cant stand thieves. my family and i have always been very careful about everything when it comes to thieves. even though we live in a relatively safe neighborhood, we have always locked our doors and windows and cars. never want to be taken advantage of so we never trust anyone with our belongings. we also have a motion detector that makes a dog barking sound which we keep on the front porch
I've had to deal with this myself for over 20 years But what you could do, is attach your name to your products. People who know and respect you will buy your products because you are backing it. Confidence is the center of this project.
Phew! My initial thought was that you've just now been robbed, mugged or carjacked in your beautiful new Dream Tourer! Sorry for your losses; but they haven't stopped you being an innovative pioneer...keep doing what you do.
I don't know how thieves live with themselves and their ill-gotten gains. Either themselves or others who knowingly purchase (even likely) stolen property. What do they think every time they see or use that stolen gear.
Frustrating how lowest common denominator economics works to the detriment of quality in ripping off IP. How often we buy an impressive looking tool in shiny packaging and it falls apart. I'm also finding out presently what a pain global trademarking is for something as apparently simple as a coffee brand.
Best story ever. I really appreciate your message here. This is exactly the reason I don’t shop with amazon, quite often called ridiculous for my views.
Hi andrew - need to take down any videos that show your street to protect yourself. Im loving your recent driving chat content however people are opportunist and resourceful.
Very good story. I always try to buy local or from the original designer/maker. By the time the product hits the big stores, it's usually compromised in some way to reduce costs. Very informative from your own experience.
I feel your pain Andrew. I had a Victorinox multi-tool stolen from me. It was a keepsake from my time in the Army and I'd had it about 18 years. That really irked me as you can't buy that model. Should you find your way to Victoria sometime, I've a great shop to take you too that sells some fantastic bespoke knives, hatchets and axes.
Yeah but you gotta be careful though or you could end up in jail. What if I came home and found them in the act? I have bear spray I could incapacitate them with. Then do you further take them down after that? Break their knees? Then I'd be worried the rest of my life they'd come back for revenge. Then what?
Its so hard to deal with the anger after being robbed. We had an ATV and dirt bike ripped off years ago. Turn out it was by somebody I knew that knew how to get in. We were able to track the ATV right to his garage... it had unique tires. We got it all back and came to realize very few thieves are smart enough to not get caught if you look long enough. Best of luck and thanks for the videos
In light of recent global events, I now go out of my way to buy Australian made products, and anything else that isn't made in China (I know that can be hard at times). I've just decked out my new Ranger with as much non-Chinese gear as possible such as a GME radio, RSI canopy, Front Runner roof racks, Quick Pitch awning, SupaFit car seat covers, Decked drawer system etc. I'd rather spend that little bit extra on quality gear and support local businesses, than give my hard earned $$ to communist copycats who peddle sub standard garbage. Buy cheap, buy twice, no thanks.
My grandfather invented the snomobile hoist for us grandkids to help lift the track off the ground during summer, before he could get it on the market someone stole it and made a bundle. I long to see the fall of supermarkets and the regeneration of local small businesses. I've always rather supported them whenever possible. Great video, never a nice feeling getting robbed.
I am a small business owner and I understand the sentiment expressed here. Here's the thing though unless something is patented (and not all ideas can be patented nor the potential exp to defend it), it's just inevitable. As consumers, its not necessarily a bad idea - some make better copies arguably and cheaper- ask any samsung phone fans, ask anyone who drive a vehicle other than Ford, ask all the facebook users (copied from ConnectU) , ask anyone who drives with an ARB bullbar (not sure who came up with the idea but it sure isnt ARB) - you get my point! --- Yes there are a lot of cheap and not so good copies too and it has its place - I tested out a $700 Kings RTT before buying a Hannibal RTT at over 5 times the price. I saw the quality difference, but i wasnt sure RTT suits us and dont want to commit $4k to "try things out". --- The thing is if you dont innovate/ change manufacturing methods to make it cheaper, the innovation advantage will be short-lived - who would have thought Ninebot did so well it earn enough to buy out the originator Seqway. Yes this means in this global world, its really hard to be a small business. ----- BTW, dont blame the chinese for cheap stuff - iphone is made in china, so is Snomaster Fridge Andrew loves - China is the mass manufacturing hub of the world, and someone here sees an opportunity and organise a copycat to be made over there. Yes it is true the chinese contacts will often ask business people here if they see a popular product they can send it over there to be copied, and they will come back to you with a price and a sample - The person here makes a decision on how many copies they want and at what price - that often indicate the quality expected.
I can feel your loss, I'm sorry that happened to you. You're a 4wheel drive overlanding Guru of the open plains, no one will ever steal that from you sir. I must admit, the entire time you stood in front of that glorious rig, all I could think about was my desire for it. But alas, I live in the states, no 70 series for us.. I'm far to poor to ever have a beautiful ride like one of yours though! Keep on trucking friend, happy trails!
@@4xoverland And, MaxTrax - "improved on an existing standard.... That is the competitive world we live in. (Sand / mud mats are nothing new. (MT, have great market penetration but they are playing the "Price versus quality" wars a little too hard - ie the markup on their "new and improved" - as good as double the price for a set of "cleats" - now that the base version are ~$250AUD (Supercheap / BCF club price etc.. .) ) No innovation exists in a vacuum, we just wait for someone to "make a better MaxTrac (Singular?) lol... Even the original "safari ladders - Ok Mike Patey analyse that.. jk.... (Andrew you have to Admire him as another Great RUclips contributor given your love of aviation and the "back country")
Same story that happened to Maxtrax, there are some real crap copies of the Maxtrax out there now. I was at a manufacturing plant a few weeks ago doing some marketing photography for some other products that they were making and they had made some plastic tracks that looked similar to the Maxtrax. I made a comment about the quality and their answer was " But ours are just as good and ours are cheaper." Strange coincidence that a few weeks later these same crap copy tracks were tested by Ronny Dahl and they failed miserably.
So true Andrew not just in the four wheel drive world but in so many small family businesses . I would urge everyone to shop local support businesses in your community particularly in these difficult times .
Andrew, unfortunately you are spot on about copying. I tend to buy the product that came out first as it will have the most amount of thought built into it and the copiers will not realise they are leaving out something important. Built to a price is often built for a profit and probably not going to stand up to the purpose the buyer bought it for.
When Protecting IP, it is handy to leave out something Critical - hold it as "Trade Secret" - Or even put misleading material Properties in the filed Documents (Helpful, nonessential Misdirection..) It ensures "Cheap Copies" WILL FAIL (at least in design intent) , and the Manufacturer / Distributor will hopefully leave the industry "alone".
This is a huge problem in the automotive tool business. You can clearly see a "new manufacture" start selling a copied tool/s. Unfortunately, the buying public is at fault. They"ll buy the less expensive one. Crapy and good quality made at that. In the States, we complain that China/Taiwan are "stealing" from us. These are the same people that are buying these overseas junk/copied tools. There's more to the story but I'll stop there.
Dear Andrew, what you say happens in all market fields... I suffered the same in introducing in my Country a special horizontal directional drilling equipment, made by a friend of mine in the UK: somebody got the idea from a main contractor who came to see a demonstration in Rome and got a public financing for doing a little different equipment but based on the same principle: down the hole air hammer. We started a legal action that brought us to spend a fortune while "competitors" making money... that's the way it is! Thank you for your videos! All the best from Italy
Well said Andrew. Ronny and I have discussed this at length and while we have had some great ideas for products, we haven't really bothered releasing them because we know we'll only manage to get a few hundred out the door before they are copied, and that will hardly pay for the R&D. I know you can patent things, but the hard thing is the legal fees defending them, especially when the other side has millions of $$ they can use to drown you.
Never sell your best ideas all at once. The dumb bastards will copy the first one but then you put up your full design. They usually over commit to their first batch. You sell a better product at a good price.
My parents drilled it into me to lock everything, then double-check that everything is locked. Even if you're at home and within a stone's throw distance, it's always closed and locked if you're walking away. They're the only homeowners in the street to have never been robbed and I eventually realized that having a ridiculous number of locks is actually a good idea.
Even inside my garage which is locked and alarmed, I cable lock my generator, mounain bike, etc. I have seen double garage doors jimmy'd with crowbar. If you add a second slide lock to other side of garage door, its much harder to pry up. For these small time thieves its a way of life for them. Best to just stay one step ahead.
I'm sorry for hearing that you got robbed, and that you had a previous robbery occurring in Mozambique. As a Mozambican, I hope we can do better and be better. Inequalities exist, but robbing someone else of their possessions will never solve anything.
I just realized that its quite some time that we have seen one of your over land expedition videos, understandibly because of covid 19. But I must tell that all your work is amazing. I love the way you narrate a story. I am a fan of Sir David Attenborough. You are quite like him when you are telling a story.
Andrew, you artfully described two forms of theft. The first will get you into trouble with the law. The second is treated as "standard business practice " and Joe public don't really care too much - all they seem to care about is rock bottom prices and not so much about the fact that the product they are buying is ripped off from someone else's hard effort.
I see heaps of this in my industry, everybody wants to sell us the cheaper version of any product, but without telling us, and the price is often slightly higher ... We have to force suppliers to prove the origins of their product ... This is the biggest pitfall of the "open sourcing agencies" which sell procurement services to large global companies ...
15:30 Welcome to the business practices of Walmart. Sam Walton, the founder, was all about "Made in America". His heirs are all about how much money can we make. When I was in the USMC, and working on my business degree we covered Walmart's business practices. Keep in mind in business this practice is treated as a success to be celebrated and a business practice to copy if you want to be successful. Anyway, the practice at hand. Walmart commands so much of the market they would call up suppliers and say, "We want you to sell your product to us for $x.xx or we aren't going to sell your product." And Walmart, being so big, would be a significant proportion of the supplier's sales, say 50% or more, may 80%. So imagine, as a business facing losing 80% of your business overnight. Walmart would do this repeatedly to its suppliers and eventually the supplier would protest because the price Walmart was offering was below the supplier's cost to make the item. And when the supplier would protest that the price Walmart offered was below their cost to make it Walmart would say well we won't carry your item then, and 80% of the suppliers business evaporates. I imagine some of you can relate to this loss of business from the current pandemic. Anyway, this is why so much of U.S. manufacturing has gone overseas. Companies facing loss of business, loss of market, inability to pay debts incurred to expand production, layoffs, etc. would chose the layoffs, close their U.S. manufacturing plants and open ones in China, Mexico, Pakistan, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, etc. all so they could meet the price of Walmart. I learned of this in 2004. I've done my best to not shop at Walmart ever since and have only been in a Walmart maybe 5 times since then (sometimes you need RV anti-freeze at 3 in the morning because you are traveling from a 70 degree climate to somewhere that is going to be below freezing and snowing the next day). Amazon is doing something similar, except they aren't telling their sellers a price. Amazon is just taking the item that is selling the best and copying it and because they are copying something being sold on Amazon they already know what it is selling for, where it is selling, who it is selling to, all of it. I don't shop at Amazon either.
Ever heard of Bunnings? Same thing. Ever claimed on their "we'll beat it by 10%" slogan? I managed to once, on a product that isn't exclusively branded to them, but it was like drawing blood from a Jehovah's Witness. Product was Earthwool Batts - saved a fair bit of money on the house lot :)
@@einfelder8262 Only heard of Bunnings from Australia based overlanders on RUclips. I'm in "the states" and we don't have Bunnings here. From what I can gather it is similar to our Lowe's Home Improvement or Home Depot.
Having stuff stolen, especially from your own home makes you feel violated. Things can be replaced, but that feeling doesn't go away. When I was 11, our home was broken into. It scared me and gave me nightmares for months. That left a lasting impression in my mind. Because of that experience I vowed to always keep my stuff secure as possible, yet it still happened again and again. My final solution. A German Shepherd. Have not had anything stolen since, except my heart from my lovely wife.
I can not stand thieves. CCTV, alarm and locks are my passion and my old business. I had issues at my parents home with an ex so I alarmed and put up cameras, no further problems.
@@kyocerakitten1162 Or people that think everything should be handed to them, not understanding that you have to work hard for some things. "Entitlement" comes to mind.
It's not just the 4WD industry. The entire patent system needs to be entirely replaced. The patent system has become the opposite of what it is intended to be.
Yes! You mush be careful of your privacy! Out of curiosity, I looked back through your old videos. And was able to find your place of residence very quickly, using Google Earth and street view. I hope when you move. That you are better in the future not to reveal too much person location data. And lock your shit!
Andrew it’s a sad world we live in, it all boils down to the bottom line, retailers want to make a profit and consumers want it cheep. Unfortunately cheep isn’t always better as someone had to develop the product thru trial and error and then market it. Others observe and make it cheeper without the development cost or time involvement. And it continues until China takes notice and we’re all left with an inferior product. When you see a superior product support that person or small business by purchasing from them. Also spread the word about the product to others. I remember seeing your review of the first aid kits recently. Yes they’re made in Australia and not sold on the retail market here in the US but I plan on purchasing as your review convinced me that this is a good product. Thank you for everything you share, it’s really appreciated.
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Quick Pitch privacy tents... being ripped off and sold by Kick Ass, Wild Dog, Drifta to name but a few. China as usual now flooding the market... and people buy because regardless of doing the right thing or not... times are hard and $$$ talks.
What I’m seeing in the Middle East (and probably where you are also) is zero dignity for innovators...I want to see more innovators and less impersonators. And while I sympathise with those who’re trying to make a living I’d rather they focused their energy/resources into developing new products that would bring them real acclaim... right now I’m just labelling them as fraudsters with no imagination.How can these people say that they are serving the 4x4 community when all they’re doing is lining their own pockets while promoting the closure of the innovators???
Travel buddy another one getting smashed by copies. I’ve made sure all my family and friends by the original Aussie made one.
Don't add drifta in the mix of it they've come up with their own way and if you think that's been ripped off who rips of who in the 1000000s of 4wd parts bull bars lights awnings
Drifta copied the ensuite and RTT from quickpitch...I think Ronnys falling out with drifta was because he was at an event on the east coast with some grab me gear clear top bags drifta saw them stole the idea and started making them the next week....
Drifter definitely like to copy others one of the worst for it
You have just described the entire Chinese business model
No it describes the western approach of supply and demand. If people in the west didn’t make buying decisions based primarily on price rather than quality do you think the Chinese would be able to sell their copies? Keep in mind virtually no Chinese companies sell direct. It’s actually the companies in your own country that are perpetuating the problem by buying from China to sell to you.
Harvey Smith I was born in China. Sadly it’s true, and the victims of the IP infringement would hardly have a way to protect themselves against such theft in China.
*_ And now MAKRO is going Under!! _*
@@paulbarnard5267 This is true - people go for cheaper because they can't see that the cheaper one is worse, or don't care (or even that the cheaper one isn't worse at all). On top of that, though, is the supremely cheap labor market (half a step to the left of slavery in many cases) in China means that the cost of producing the same component locally compared to in China can't possibly stack up. So companies manufacture in or buy from China.
@Ham Yai No they made their own milk poison and poor Chinese babies died. So now Chinese parents source baby formula from OS
Here in Norway , and Norsk Land Rover Klubb, we have a `standing order` that we buy local so often we can. Domestic or abroad .
When we have a big or small club-meeting , or just a group `on the run` a weekend or a month on the road, we buy at the locals :-)
It means : camping , food , fuel , local private roads, mountain roads etc.etc.
We are guests in their community . We all have to remember that !
And it is not so good for us here in the north , to know what product made in the south ,that is the `original` !
I live in a small house and so I used to rent a workshop nearby, which was broken into a couple of times.
The most infuriating thing, for me, was knowing that it's likely that all your stuff got sold for peanuts regardless of it's true value.
It's ridiculous, of course, but I felt like putting an envelope in plain sight with a couple of hundred quid inside it and a note saying "Look, just take the cash, leave all my stuff alone and save yourself the effort".
On one occasion, for example, I had a racing motorbike in my workshop, in the process of being rebuilt.
The workshop was broken into and they stole the wheels/tyres/brake disks, the ECU, part of a custom exhaust and a bunch of specialist tools.
The wheels had non-standard axles so they couldn't be fitted to a standard road-bike, the tyres were slicks and the brake disks were carbon fibre and woudln't work with standard calipers.
Anybody with half a brain would understand there's NO "black-market" for that kind of stuff.
The only place it might've turned-up would be on another racing bike, where the original owner would have spotted it all.
Regarding "IP theft", I don't think customers are always to blame for allowing knock-offs to prosper because I suspect that a lot of the time people simply don't know an item IS a knock-off of an existing product.
People just browse sites like Amazon or eBay, see things for sale and buy them without realising that they're a copy of something made by a specialist company.
Also, it's worth bearing in mind that companies are often victims of their own penny-pinching.
It is LEGAL in China for a Chinese company to manufacture/sell an OEM version of any item that they've been contracted to manufacture for a foreign company.
If you're an American or European company and you choose to reduce costs by contracting a Chinese company to manufacture your products, you only have yourself to blame when a Chinese knock-off appears on the market.
Everybody seems to criticise China for being a "knock-off nation" without realising Western companies are complicit in this by choosing to have their products manufactured in China.
If companies chose to have their products manufactured domestically they would, at least, have a stronger legal case for preventing any Chinese knock-offs from being sold in Western countries.
G'day Andrew, would strongly recommend doing your videos in a closed garage away from your residence. Mighty car mods had the same issue when people found out where they lived and doxed them. They shoot videos closed doors in a gated garage nowadays.
I too immediately thought of the MCM boys getting stuff nicked because of their videos..
I've had my own business for 40 years.. my pet hate? when someone says "Is this your best price?" My answer is always "No.. MY best price is double this, what I just quoted you is your best price, but I'm happy to charge you mine"
Love that response. cheers
you mustn't be very successful then...
@@HoldFastCC beter somethimes be not than fkd
U must be from s africa...best price bit 🤔
They are not very good at negotiating if they give you an easy open and closed question like "Is this your best price?"
When I started work in 1976 I bought a tool kit from my mother’s catalogue. Many vehicle rebuilds and Enginerring projects later it was still in daily use. It went to Germany, Canada and U.K. as I moved about. Then in 2005 I was doing an oil change on my car and saw someone walk up my driveway. I called out from under the car “hang on a moment” as I crawled out only to see the ‘visitor’ pick up my tool box and run and jump back into his car and accelerate away. My insurance replaced the tools but I have never built the same relationship with the replacements. It’s the stollen memories that hurts more than the things.
Robbers are Pathetic low life’s. Steve 🇦🇺
*_ And the Panga will be used to kill some farmer _*
His whole story sounds suspicious to me.
You think he doesn't have security cams installed with all that expensive gear in the garage? Talk about fake insurance claims!
@@OOOUZNah it sounds sad. Another Aussie lost in the 80's. It just isn't like that anymore and there's no way back (especially if you live in the city)! Only to be robbed again when you buy all that expensive security equipment in the false hope of getting some piece of mind. A very expensive lesson is vigilance is the only security, not some fancy piece of security equipment, people are brazen especially when they are on drugs and security equip only just slows them down and it won't stop them.
@@OOOUZ Security cameras don't stop people from stealing, at best they can show the insurance company (and the owner) that somebody was there. Black hoodies / caps and dark glasses are a thief's best friend..... Fake insurance claims - usually most people's excess makes it prohibitive to claim on smaller items.
@@PeterKnagge Yep, had a mate of mine got his shed knocked off 3 times, same stuff stolen each time - insurance company won't cover his shed and tools anymore, even though he did what they asked each time.... better locks, alarms, etc.
The Travel Buddy Oven is a good example of a small Australian company being ripped off at the moment with Kickasses Travel Oven and Road Chef Oven copies being sold for a little less.
I'm buying the original this week. When you know a bit about the story of the people behind the product, it's helps promote some loyalty.
I bought a travel budy for $20 more
Travel buddy is a perfect example of not adapting your product design to the market. They have taken no feedback on design flaws. Eg. Insert trays . Lockable door. Better latch et.c
@@joshuacox26 easy to adapt the door. For the majority of applications, the current lock is perfectly adequate. A decent magnet would likely sort it out.
I deliberately bought a Travel Buddy after doing my research. I knew it was a bit more expensive but chose it because it’s made here and is the original design. It’s also a bloody good product that works.
I try to make sure that what I bolt on to my 4wd is made here in Australia, it might cost more but the quality and after market service is well worth it.
Kudos James, I hope people rethink their buying habits and start to do the same. Australians need jobs now more than ever.
I’ve been self employed and have experienced first hand others stealing ideas, people asking for the “best price”, and others looking for a free handout. I refuse to shop at Walmart due to how they treat small businesses, whenever it’s possible I try to avoid products manufactured in China and enjoy building relationships with local businesses. The worse thing about being robbed is the fact you generally lose items that are relatively inexpensive but contain a great of memories. Truly enjoyed this video!
Having worked at large companies I can tell you that it is the lower level employees that make and design things but the upper level take credit for it. After I heard a VP person on a company presentation take credit for a design I made to save time and used for a couple years before he saw it, I just stopped designing things for them. The business world is full of pirates and politicians.
I HATE thieves!! This happened to me only a few months ago early 2020 , we had been building up a Ranger Raptor for overlanding and filming this on our RUclips channel. We had packed the Raptor ready to do a family shakedown trip prior to our big trip to Cape York. The thieves broke in to our house and stole the entire car fully loaded. We got a replacement vehicle a few moths later but were left over $20K out of pocket on equipment and accessories...we have started to slowly rebuild (on a much smaller budget now) so we can still complete our family trip to Cape York this year. I feel your pain of how it feels looking for those little items to pack that just aren't there anymore, gifts and sentimental items that would always come on every trip, each item could tell its own story.
Keepsakes, mementos and gifts are always the worst things to have stolen or too lose. Sorry for your loss Andrew. Hopefully somethings make their way back to you. Cheers from Canada.
Even though I’ve never seen, or heard of this guy before. But when I hear someone has been robbed, I feel terrible for them, I hope you have a good day.
You Sir are a true gentleman. Handling your frustration with finesse and standing up for what you know is right. Finally somebody speaking up and voicing out the ugly truth of some ruthless businesses profiting from hardworking honest people. Sigh. Support original only!
What a fantastic message at the end. I Always try to support family owned businesses especially restaurants here in Las Vegas. With the Covid lockdowns it’s been really tough on most who had to survive by offering curbside pick up or delivery. Thankfully many did and were able to open their doors when restrictions were lifted. Thanks for this video. Cheers.
I take my hat off to you sir for advocating for the inventor/developers of innovative products
That was smart of you to give a detail and play footage of the items stolen. They are one of a kind. They will be found by a good fan of the show.
Your shovel story sorta sounds a bit like what’s happening to ‘Travel Buddy’ here in Aus.
Phil McAvity absolutely
Spot on mate, I've owned a Travel Buddy for years, I also live in Bendigo where they're made, the business was originally Crystalair Rangehoods, I had a good chat to the owner when I bought my Travel Buddy off him, he told me that his business got hammered when all the cheap Chinese rangehoods started flooding onto the Australian market and he came up with the idea of the Travel Buddy and changed his business model, and now it's all happening to him again. I hope people support him and buy the original Travel Buddy, it's a great product and he's a nice fella.
It is shocking that people in the 4wd community would rob another, scumbags are the nicest word I can use on a public forum
Agree, though I wouldn't be particularly surprised if they actually aren't in the 4wd community, but rather people who trawl youtube looking for "vulnerable" people. Using videos like ASPW's to case potential locations etc. Exactly the same as hijacking data by Facebook stalking. Bastards!
100% Andrew. Please anyone who is considering a Travel Buddy buy that brand. Please don't buy the coppies available and don't support other country's that profit by manufacturing other peoples ideas.
Ozyrob2 I’ve had shouting arguments with mates that have bought the “travel mate” instead, they aren’t even any cheaper!
@@fatchunk3678 - that's what blew my mind. Travel Buddy... Made in Australia $299 www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/travel-buddy-12v-oven-marine-large
Road Chef... made in China $289 www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/road-chef-12v-oven
The Travel Buddy is manufactured/assembled in Bendigo Australia, the Road Chef is produced and packaged in China. for a $10 saving? i know what I'm buying...
I have had my Ute broken into, the truck I used to drive interstate for a company and a Unit I used to rent many years ago, luckily each time not many things were taken but it is still enough to make you think twice about things. It isn't a nice feeling and these days make me a little more hesitant to lend things or have strangers around my place or show too much of my place on my tube video's I make which shows them what I have here. I love the orange idea of the shovel so much I am going to paint mine orange. You just show exactly how big businesses and companies work on smaller companies and put the pressure on them to reduce costs/profit margins to suit them so they can make the bigger profit and thus put smaller companies and businesses out of business, it still happens today in so many ways.
May i suggest making a list of good recommended products and their original designers/manufacturers so all of us interested in spending our money where it counts can do so at the right place and on the right product instead of unknowlingly buying some lower quality ripoff!?
It’s a pain, two nights ago I forgot to lock my 80 series. And I came out the next day and my wallet had been gone through but they only took 3 $10 notes. And the garden shed had been opened but I don’t keep anything valuable in there.
As a Chinese businessman I would've handled the Makro situation a little differently. The product was the leverage, by immediately saying no deprives you of the opportunity to make a counter-offer. Say for example you'll agree to the price they want, but in return they have to double their monthly purchase. They said they needed 400 monthly, I propose 800-1000 pieces. A binding contract also helps in this situation. If they're not budging on the 400 quantity, say you'll agree, but they have to purchase something else you're making along with it, or in the near future.
Amazon does it every day to small businesses AND they have the analytics from your product sold on their website.
AND... Bozos doesn't even make profit!! He is subsidised by central bank money printing aka "quantitative easing" and his company lives off the inflows from the stock market and all the new excess money sloshing around that funnels into the darling stocks. Because He is the Chosen One. He will destroy small business using an unfair advantage.
@Bob Carruthers I think it's worse than you think. The conspiracy theorists are even suggesting that the lockdowns are primarily designed to destroy small business. I agree. I suggest going to the Peak Prosperity website which has been following the virus since the very beginning and we are coming to very interesting and sinister conclusions. His RUclips videos are now starting to get deleted.
Cheap isn't everything...especially when it breaks right as you need it. Buy once, cry once.
Sad about your knife. I bought a new Mauser marked knife, such as was issued to the German Wehrmacht, with only the basics...a Victorianox clip point blade, a Mauser branded blade, a screwdriver/can-/bottle-opener/saw on top, awl and cork screw on the bottom. I've had it 25 years now and carry it daily. I feel your pain, sir.
Dear Andrew
Watching your video and story reminded me some of my own.
1. I'm also a small business owner that operates in 4 different continents and has to struggle against the big multinational corporations. Tough and not a fair game. Nonetheless, we are always ahead of them, although is a very tiresome and daunted mission.
2. I'm an inventor with patented high-end robotic equipmen. A few years ago a chinese corporation tried to seduced me with a so called "joint-venture" where I would bring all our expertise. I quickly realized that they were trying to get from nothing our product. When visited them in Shanghai they became very angry when I sad "NO" to their deal conditions. Interesting enough they weren't able to manufacture a decent version of my invention, and they gave up.
3. When I was in my early twenties I was a photojournalist, I got robbed when visiting mom's for a quick tea. The thiefs stole all my photographic equipment, i.e. that day I became jobless as I couldn't afford to buy another set of cameras and lenses. But it turned to be a blessing: I had to do something else that driven to the stage where I am right now.
Your work is amazing. Carry on, I'm a big fan of yours!
Cheers!
pedro
My Hubby has a lead injector and some large waterproof bags. He says never know when you will need these.
He may need them soon. The world is about to cave in on itself.
A shovel might also help
I drive rotting, dented D40 right now. Sometimes when I lock it my friends or family asks me if I think someone will steal it. I don't care about the car, I care about the things that are inside. I feel your pain, although thankfully nothing been stolen from me so far.
Good message. It needs to be said. Keep up the great content! Cheers from Canada. 🇨🇦
Andrew, a US mechanical engineer and a toyota enthusiast designed an awesome tool to press out and install rear axle bearings on 3rd gen 4runner(J90 prado), 1st gen tacomas, Tundra,s Sequoias etc. Guess what... just in a month or two Chinese started making it and selling it on ebay for dirt cheap!
@Viktor Sligo Not true. Even 20 years ago I could email a CAD drawing for a part to China, and have a rapid prototype back in a few days (to the UK)
I also moved from South Africa to Australia, and shortly after got the house broken into.......oh the irony
Are you saying there are no house break-ins in SAF?
Ein Felder I think he is saying he moved here for safety only to be broken into - that’s what irony means...
The main difference is you can talk about it afterwards, here is SA lots of people are killed for low value items.
@craig There are now far more of our whites looking for "drug money" than our natives.....
Finally going to sub to your patreon, Andrew. Have been enjoying your excellent content for a couple of years now. The production value is unmatched.
Awesome, thank you!
that sucks andrew. i cant stand thieves. my family and i have always been very careful about everything when it comes to thieves. even though we live in a relatively safe neighborhood, we have always locked our doors and windows and cars. never want to be taken advantage of so we never trust anyone with our belongings. we also have a motion detector that makes a dog barking sound which we keep on the front porch
I've had to deal with this myself for over 20 years But what you could do, is attach your name to your products. People who know and respect you will buy your products because you are backing it. Confidence is the center of this project.
Phew! My initial thought was that you've just now been robbed, mugged or carjacked in your beautiful new Dream Tourer! Sorry for your losses; but they haven't stopped you being an innovative pioneer...keep doing what you do.
Thank you for your years of contributions to the 4x4 community. I can’t of anyone who comes close to all you have done. Thank you!
I don't know how thieves live with themselves and their ill-gotten gains.
Either themselves or others who knowingly purchase (even likely) stolen property.
What do they think every time they see or use that stolen gear.
shitheads whose minds we can't comprehend. They're the worst humanity has to offer
My dad always told me, ‘buy cheap buy twice’. Advice I carry to this day.
Frustrating how lowest common denominator economics works to the detriment of quality in ripping off IP. How often we buy an impressive looking tool in shiny packaging and it falls apart. I'm also finding out presently what a pain global trademarking is for something as apparently simple as a coffee brand.
Best story ever. I really appreciate your message here. This is exactly the reason I don’t shop with amazon, quite often called ridiculous for my views.
Hi andrew - need to take down any videos that show your street to protect yourself. Im loving your recent driving chat content however people are opportunist and resourceful.
Very good story. I always try to buy local or from the original designer/maker. By the time the product hits the big stores, it's usually compromised in some way to reduce costs. Very informative from your own experience.
I smiled like a kid when i saw "2001 Northern Namibia" my home...
I feel your pain Andrew. I had a Victorinox multi-tool stolen from me. It was a keepsake from my time in the Army and I'd had it about 18 years. That really irked me as you can't buy that model.
Should you find your way to Victoria sometime, I've a great shop to take you too that sells some fantastic bespoke knives, hatchets and axes.
The David Attenborough of the 4x4 world is now a super sleuth Sherlock Holmes of the 4x4 world !!!
Great video and really appreciate your comments re small business and people innovating being ripped off. Fantastic channel, keep up the great work!
Your taking being robbed a lot better than me. Both times it's happened to me I would have been out for blood if I could have found them lol!
The punishment for theft is too light. They should be executed.
Yeah but you gotta be careful though or you could end up in jail. What if I came home and found them in the act? I have bear spray I could incapacitate them with. Then do you further take them down after that? Break their knees? Then I'd be worried the rest of my life they'd come back for revenge. Then what?
@Viktor Sligo Probably the best advice and all that you can do.
@@GOcgyFLAMESgo bit full on dude. You should see someone
@@nosignal88 Said a thief
Its so hard to deal with the anger after being robbed. We had an ATV and dirt bike ripped off years ago. Turn out it was by somebody I knew that knew how to get in. We were able to track the ATV right to his garage... it had unique tires.
We got it all back and came to realize very few thieves are smart enough to not get caught if you look long enough.
Best of luck and thanks for the videos
In light of recent global events, I now go out of my way to buy Australian made products, and anything else that isn't made in China (I know that can be hard at times). I've just decked out my new Ranger with as much non-Chinese gear as possible such as a GME radio, RSI canopy, Front Runner roof racks, Quick Pitch awning, SupaFit car seat covers, Decked drawer system etc. I'd rather spend that little bit extra on quality gear and support local businesses, than give my hard earned $$ to communist copycats who peddle sub standard garbage. Buy cheap, buy twice, no thanks.
My grandfather invented the snomobile hoist for us grandkids to help lift the track off the ground during summer, before he could get it on the market someone stole it and made a bundle. I long to see the fall of supermarkets and the regeneration of local small businesses. I've always rather supported them whenever possible. Great video, never a nice feeling getting robbed.
I feel your pain sick of being copied x3
I am a small business owner and I understand the sentiment expressed here. Here's the thing though unless something is patented (and not all ideas can be patented nor the potential exp to defend it), it's just inevitable. As consumers, its not necessarily a bad idea - some make better copies arguably and cheaper- ask any samsung phone fans, ask anyone who drive a vehicle other than Ford, ask all the facebook users (copied from ConnectU) , ask anyone who drives with an ARB bullbar (not sure who came up with the idea but it sure isnt ARB) - you get my point!
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Yes there are a lot of cheap and not so good copies too and it has its place - I tested out a $700 Kings RTT before buying a Hannibal RTT at over 5 times the price. I saw the quality difference, but i wasnt sure RTT suits us and dont want to commit $4k to "try things out".
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The thing is if you dont innovate/ change manufacturing methods to make it cheaper, the innovation advantage will be short-lived - who would have thought Ninebot did so well it earn enough to buy out the originator Seqway. Yes this means in this global world, its really hard to be a small business.
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BTW, dont blame the chinese for cheap stuff - iphone is made in china, so is Snomaster Fridge Andrew loves - China is the mass manufacturing hub of the world, and someone here sees an opportunity and organise a copycat to be made over there. Yes it is true the chinese contacts will often ask business people here if they see a popular product they can send it over there to be copied, and they will come back to you with a price and a sample - The person here makes a decision on how many copies they want and at what price - that often indicate the quality expected.
I can feel your loss, I'm sorry that happened to you. You're a 4wheel drive overlanding Guru of the open plains, no one will ever steal that from you sir. I must admit, the entire time you stood in front of that glorious rig, all I could think about was my desire for it. But alas, I live in the states, no 70 series for us.. I'm far to poor to ever have a beautiful ride like one of yours though! Keep on trucking friend, happy trails!
I appreciate your openness and you great stories. Blessed
Maxxtraxx comes to mind immediately. So many copy cats but I hope we all know the original is best 😉
Yep. Ronny Dahl even has a video where he proves it.
MaxTrax is a prime example, but copied by some of the big brands too.
@@4xoverland And, MaxTrax - "improved on an existing standard.... That is the competitive world we live in.
(Sand / mud mats are nothing new. (MT, have great market penetration but they are playing the "Price versus quality" wars a little too hard - ie the markup on their "new and improved" - as good as double the price for a set of "cleats" - now that the base version are ~$250AUD (Supercheap / BCF club price etc.. .) )
No innovation exists in a vacuum, we just wait for someone to "make a better MaxTrac (Singular?) lol... Even the original "safari ladders
- Ok Mike Patey analyse that.. jk.... (Andrew you have to Admire him as another Great RUclips contributor given your love of aviation and the "back country")
Same story that happened to Maxtrax, there are some real crap copies of the Maxtrax out there now. I was at a manufacturing plant a few weeks ago doing some marketing photography for some other products that they were making and they had made some plastic tracks that looked similar to the Maxtrax. I made a comment about the quality and their answer was " But ours are just as good and ours are cheaper." Strange coincidence that a few weeks later these same crap copy tracks were tested by Ronny Dahl and they failed miserably.
Jonathan Ward of ICON 4x4 has had his designs ripped off and says the same thing about product protection in USA
So true Andrew not just in the four wheel drive world but in so many small family businesses . I would urge everyone to shop local support businesses in your community particularly in these difficult times .
Andrew, unfortunately you are spot on about copying. I tend to buy the product that came out first as it will have the most amount of thought built into it and the copiers will not realise they are leaving out something important. Built to a price is often built for a profit and probably not going to stand up to the purpose the buyer bought it for.
When Protecting IP, it is handy to leave out something Critical - hold it as "Trade Secret" - Or even put misleading material Properties in the filed Documents (Helpful, nonessential Misdirection..) It ensures "Cheap Copies" WILL FAIL (at least in design intent) , and the Manufacturer / Distributor will hopefully leave the industry "alone".
Always happy to listen to your stories and your thoughts about things.
Thanks for sharing.
This is a huge problem in the automotive tool business. You can clearly see a "new manufacture" start selling a copied tool/s. Unfortunately, the buying public is at fault. They"ll buy the less expensive one. Crapy and good quality made at that. In the States, we complain that China/Taiwan are "stealing" from us. These are the same people that are buying these overseas junk/copied tools. There's more to the story but I'll stop there.
Dear Andrew, what you say happens in all market fields... I suffered the same in introducing in my Country a special horizontal directional drilling equipment, made by a friend of mine in the UK: somebody got the idea from a main contractor who came to see a demonstration in Rome and got a public financing for doing a little different equipment but based on the same principle: down the hole air hammer. We started a legal action that brought us to spend a fortune while "competitors" making money... that's the way it is! Thank you for your videos! All the best from Italy
Thanks for sharing. I’m going to secure my house more seriously as a result when on trips.
Well said Andrew. Ronny and I have discussed this at length and while we have had some great ideas for products, we haven't really bothered releasing them because we know we'll only manage to get a few hundred out the door before they are copied, and that will hardly pay for the R&D. I know you can patent things, but the hard thing is the legal fees defending them, especially when the other side has millions of $$ they can use to drown you.
Never sell your best ideas all at once. The dumb bastards will copy the first one but then you put up your full design. They usually over commit to their first batch.
You sell a better product at a good price.
My parents drilled it into me to lock everything, then double-check that everything is locked. Even if you're at home and within a stone's throw distance, it's always closed and locked if you're walking away. They're the only homeowners in the street to have never been robbed and I eventually realized that having a ridiculous number of locks is actually a good idea.
Even inside my garage which is locked and alarmed, I cable lock my generator, mounain bike, etc. I have seen double garage doors jimmy'd with crowbar. If you add a second slide lock to other side of garage door, its much harder to pry up. For these small time thieves its a way of life for them. Best to just stay one step ahead.
l love this video. i absolutely support you Andrew on this topic, it becomes hard to find quality thanks to these copy cats
I'm sorry for hearing that you got robbed, and that you had a previous robbery occurring in Mozambique.
As a Mozambican, I hope we can do better and be better.
Inequalities exist, but robbing someone else of their possessions will never solve anything.
Left South Africa because of the crime rate?
@pm Nah, then he would have been stabbed or burned!
I just realized that its quite some time that we have seen one of your over land expedition videos, understandibly because of covid 19. But I must tell that all your work is amazing. I love the way you narrate a story. I am a fan of Sir David Attenborough. You are quite like him when you are telling a story.
Wow. i'm actually moved by this video. Good on you mate.
Excellent video, very informative and I really appreciate you taking the time to make it.
Truly sorry for this incident..
I've been doing so for a while and it's just amazing to buy something you really like and to know where it comes from. Thanks again!
You're an inspiration. Love the content.
Andrew, you artfully described two forms of theft.
The first will get you into trouble with the law.
The second is treated as "standard business practice " and Joe public don't really care too much - all they seem to care about is rock bottom prices and not so much about the fact that the product they are buying is ripped off from someone else's hard effort.
Same thing happened with Travel Buddy
Yes. Its a good example.
Simply heart felt thank you. Thank you for sticking up for small business owners.
That Hultsbrook is a beautiful tool.
I see heaps of this in my industry, everybody wants to sell us the cheaper version of any product, but without telling us, and the price is often slightly higher ...
We have to force suppliers to prove the origins of their product ...
This is the biggest pitfall of the "open sourcing agencies" which sell procurement services to large global companies ...
100% agree. We need to buy from the small guy. Australia / USA have sold out to big corporations/China.
Bloody good video Andrew, a message that unfortunately often needs repeating :(
15:30 Welcome to the business practices of Walmart. Sam Walton, the founder, was all about "Made in America". His heirs are all about how much money can we make. When I was in the USMC, and working on my business degree we covered Walmart's business practices. Keep in mind in business this practice is treated as a success to be celebrated and a business practice to copy if you want to be successful. Anyway, the practice at hand. Walmart commands so much of the market they would call up suppliers and say, "We want you to sell your product to us for $x.xx or we aren't going to sell your product." And Walmart, being so big, would be a significant proportion of the supplier's sales, say 50% or more, may 80%. So imagine, as a business facing losing 80% of your business overnight. Walmart would do this repeatedly to its suppliers and eventually the supplier would protest because the price Walmart was offering was below the supplier's cost to make the item. And when the supplier would protest that the price Walmart offered was below their cost to make it Walmart would say well we won't carry your item then, and 80% of the suppliers business evaporates. I imagine some of you can relate to this loss of business from the current pandemic. Anyway, this is why so much of U.S. manufacturing has gone overseas. Companies facing loss of business, loss of market, inability to pay debts incurred to expand production, layoffs, etc. would chose the layoffs, close their U.S. manufacturing plants and open ones in China, Mexico, Pakistan, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, etc. all so they could meet the price of Walmart. I learned of this in 2004. I've done my best to not shop at Walmart ever since and have only been in a Walmart maybe 5 times since then (sometimes you need RV anti-freeze at 3 in the morning because you are traveling from a 70 degree climate to somewhere that is going to be below freezing and snowing the next day). Amazon is doing something similar, except they aren't telling their sellers a price. Amazon is just taking the item that is selling the best and copying it and because they are copying something being sold on Amazon they already know what it is selling for, where it is selling, who it is selling to, all of it. I don't shop at Amazon either.
Ever heard of Bunnings? Same thing. Ever claimed on their "we'll beat it by 10%" slogan? I managed to once, on a product that isn't exclusively branded to them, but it was like drawing blood from a Jehovah's Witness. Product was Earthwool Batts - saved a fair bit of money on the house lot :)
@@einfelder8262 Only heard of Bunnings from Australia based overlanders on RUclips. I'm in "the states" and we don't have Bunnings here. From what I can gather it is similar to our Lowe's Home Improvement or Home Depot.
@@einfelder8262 So just showing exactly why the small guys get squashed or can't make any sort of a living then?
Congratulations nice work.
@@oldbloke204 Yep!
Having stuff stolen, especially from your own home makes you feel violated. Things can be replaced, but that feeling doesn't go away. When I was 11, our home was broken into. It scared me and gave me nightmares for months. That left a lasting impression in my mind. Because of that experience I vowed to always keep my stuff secure as possible, yet it still happened again and again. My final solution. A German Shepherd. Have not had anything stolen since, except my heart from my lovely wife.
I can not stand thieves. CCTV, alarm and locks are my passion and my old business. I had issues at my parents home with an ex so I alarmed and put up cameras, no further problems.
Theft is a sign of a broken society. How often do we hear about the old times when no one was closing doors/
@@kyocerakitten1162 Or people that think everything should be handed to them, not understanding that you have to work hard for some things. "Entitlement" comes to mind.
Hi Andrew - I still have one of your original tyre repair kits - still in my vehicle wherever I go - and saved many a trip for us
I'm very sorry that happened to you. I hope who did it watches this, and feels like dirt.
Not likely
It's not just the 4WD industry. The entire patent system needs to be entirely replaced. The patent system has become the opposite of what it is intended to be.
Yes!
You mush be careful of your privacy!
Out of curiosity, I looked back through your old videos. And was able to find your place of residence very quickly, using Google Earth and street view.
I hope when you move. That you are better in the future not to reveal too much person location data.
And lock your shit!
I've got exactly the same tyre pressure gauge passed on to me from my Dad...love it.
I restore vintage axes, id love to make you an axe 👍🏻
Probably one of the best videos Andrew has released in a year.
Just be thankful they didn’t take the trucks lol
Sorry for your loss. Moved to Ireland from SA. Two cars (Lexus and VW Golf) stolen- in Ireland. Yep! The irony...
Two parents, two siblings and my wife. We ALL had cars stolen when we lived in SA. In total, six cars stolen inside 10 years.
OLight come give him a hand 👍🏽
Andrew it’s a sad world we live in, it all boils down to the bottom line, retailers want to make a profit and consumers want it cheep. Unfortunately cheep isn’t always better as someone had to develop the product thru trial and error and then market it. Others observe and make it cheeper without the development cost or time involvement. And it continues until China takes notice and we’re all left with an inferior product. When you see a superior product support that person or small business by purchasing from them. Also spread the word about the product to others. I remember seeing your review of the first aid kits recently. Yes they’re made in Australia and not sold on the retail market here in the US but I plan on purchasing as your review convinced me that this is a good product. Thank you for everything you share, it’s really appreciated.
Love this show.