RECASTERS !!!

[Blue Thunder]

This topic should be pinned!!!

I saw just now on ebay an american seller with this for sale:

(Steve, Carl: I placed the link before someone would not believe!)

What a ****** is this?!? The original Andrea miniature is made of white metal! This thing just looks like melted resin!

 

[housecarl]

Link removed, not that it's hard to find them for yourself, should you be so inclined.

 

[waterloo1815]

FUNNY thing - I sent the pirate in Hungary an email on Ebay asking if his offerings were originals or cheap pirated stuff - NEVER received a response!! Now that I see he is posting again - I tried to send another email But, it won't go through!! He must have blocked me!! Oh NO what will I ever do??LOL I would encourage the membership and supporters to bombard him with question about his products!! Dave

 

[Nap]

FUNNY thing - I sent the pirate in Hungary an email on Ebay asking if his offerings were originals or cheap pirated stuff - NEVER received a response!! Now that I see he is posting again - I tried to send another email But, it won't go through!! He must have blocked me!! Oh NO what will I ever do??LOL I would encourage the membership and supporters to bombard him with question about his products!! Dave

That's strange I did the same ..and guess what he won't answer either ..I am in shock ..the thief .....

Nap

 

[Blue Thunder]

​

I predicted this just about eight months ago, great people: eBay opening such a wide gate would generate a parallel market!​

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In this short period of time, we passed from one single recaster to a ton of them: From one in Hungary (at least the first one I spotted) now we have at least two in Poland, one in the UK, one in Russia, one in Thailand, one in the USA and another in Italy... And furthermore, busts from Young and Nuts released just three four weeks ago are being marketed by these people. I saw similar events in other markets and the outcome is devastating to original owners.​

​

What is even more annoying is that these people are using highly visible names to generate more searches. Since they do nothing in creativity to develop new products ... all available time can be invested in marketing! Same happened in every damn place my memories can remember.​

​

I spotted a counterfeit of a Steve Kirtley miniature just early this morning. Another gem I have ... and what a $#%&$# to see it marketed on eBay as a counterfeit!​

 

[stu]

Hi

Just checked on 3 of my european recasters....138 positive feedback between the 3 of them. One person even says excellent recasts !!!!

The sale of recasts is increasing it would seam....long live the future of our hobby.

Stuart

 

[Tommys War]

That's fine if that's what punters want Stu, but when we're all out of business I don't want to read any online comments bemoaning a lack of new releases or innovation

 

[stu]

Too true darren.

I must admit the trend seams to be growing unfortunately....i think we are heading for uncertain times. Survival of the fittest !!

Stuart

 

[kagemusha]

From a customer loyalty aspect Stu....IMHO...that won't change....what is in danger is the market of newcomers to the hobby...who are ill informed as to what they are buying...this would appear to be the area the re-casters are attacking.
I may only buy a few bits....but rest assured...from a personal perspective....I for one know where I would rather my money went

Regards

Ron

 

[Nap]

From a customer loyalty aspect Stu....IMHO...that won't change....what is in danger is the market of newcomers to the hobby...who are ill informed as to what they are buying...this would appear to be the area the re-casters are attacking.
I may only buy a few bits....but rest assured...from a personal perspective....I for one know where I would rather my money went

Regards

Ron

Totally agree with Ron's comments

Loyalty

Nap

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I think we are sensitive to this issue as our mates are getting hurt and health of the hobby is at risk. I have downloaded music and youtube films that were copyright and which I have not paid for and I expect everyone reading this has as well. So I can't cast the first stone as its the same issue, but focused towards another medium. While those who download entertainment product or who buy counterfeit sports jerseys may tell themselves that they are not really hurting mega corporations that own the copyrights and trademarks, the issue is identical. Is theft from a millionaire better than theft from someone who is only making ends meet? Only if you are Robin Hood IMO.

Colin

 

[Tommys War]

I think we are sensitive to this issue as our mates are getting hurt and health of the hobby is at risk. I have downloaded music and youtube films that were copyright and which I have not paid for and I expet everyone reading this has as well. So I can't cast the first stone as its the same issue, but focused towards another medium. While those who download entertainment product or who buy counterfeit sports jerseys may tell themselves that they are not really hurting mega corporations that own the copyrights and trademarks, the issue is identical. Is theft from a millionaire better than theft from someone who is only making ends meet? Only if you are Robin Hood IMO.

I agree Colin, I had a massive issue with my daughters primary school. She came home and was telling me about a film she had watched during a lesson. The film was still at the cinema so I phoned the school and asked how she could have seen the film when it wasn't on general release. It was a pirate copy, I got nowhere the school didn't see it as a problem, but it shows how endemic the problem is.

But I guess the big problem is here that we're in a small hobby, it isn't the Hollywood film industry. I don't know the proportion of sales that are going to recasters, but as a producer I know how hard I have to work to just break-even. The margins are small and if that's chipped away then that's the end of it.

This isn't simply a case of producers complaining or moaning about losing a small proportion of large profits, this is potentially game-changing, and that's not me being melodramatic.

 

[kagemusha]

You are of course right Colin.....but the 'Mega Corporations/Millionaires' have the power/money/lawyers to take care of themselves....
Those just 'making ends meet' are far more vulnerable to long lasting damage from these attacks on their livelihood....
And yes....guilty as charged regarding media downloads....
No theft is 'right'.....but...to a degree...is dictated by means/life/peer pressure....which of course is no defence in the real world....
And your most valid point...we see our friends hurting...which in turn hurts us.....again...no defence....but a point well made.

Ron

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Actually I disagree. I think we are going to get less original music from new bands, less good independent cinema and we will never see some great TV due to forecast revenue reductions due to piracy. It may take longer but some of these other outputs will suffer as well as our hobby. Not every form of electronic entertainment is controlled by a big label or studio. The big difference is that they can create alternative distribution channels like iTunes and they can build some copy safeguards into their products. I wish there was a way to build some sort of copy safe guard into our products.

Colin

 

[Waterman]

There is a lot of figure manufacturing work out there, and I quote the model railway hobby for one,who cry out for realistic figures of the quality we enjoy. I am not talking about the Hornby oo / ho people here, but those in the larger scales, 1/32 Gauge 1 , 16 mm , G Scale, 2-1/2 inch scale, even 5 inch and 7-1/4 Scale. Of engineering live steam,and battery electric, the market is huge and very poorly provided for. Indeed I have taken along some figures to a meet and have been swamped by people asking where they can get them from. My point is, that recasters could, I don't think that they will, but if they did start to have the effect of deterring military sculptors and manufacturers away from the hobby, then they will just turn their hands to something else such as I have shown. I don't think that the foreign recasters would be quite so willing then to copy these products.

 

[kagemusha]

Again...some valid points...but....I will disagree with the 'new bands' arena....for years now they have been created to order...purely with the intent of making quick money for the industry/labels etc.
Also...where TV is concerned...it has always been the ratings that govern whether a new series/season gets made.
iTunes is not free from piracy issues...but...again..is part of a multi billion pound corporation....who don't even get involved in anti piracy situations...because they refuse to accept it as a genuine concern for them...
All this being said Colin....I respect your viewpoint....and enjoy the tone of your arguments/points.

Ron

 

[stu]

The difference now is these recasters are closer !!! But more importantly they recast current new releases and not old hard to find products.

This is game changing. !!!

Recasters have always been around...we all new it but they copied older products so its not a problem. When somebody recasts new stuff you can kiss goodbye to any sales. I have 2 kits in particular that were doing well ....now they are dead !!!

I have to move fast..cast fast and sell fast or my product is finished if it is chosen to be recast. Take falling sales ...less modellers and recasting and the margins are tight.

They are herd to stay only peoples habits can change the way things are going. Ironically recasting will put the costs up of original items i think...less volumes ...increased retail is needed to break even

Its not good

Stuart

 

[Waterman]

I can see this hobby going the way of very limited production runs,which will only proceed ,when set against the number or firm orders placed, and at much higher prices then is being charged now. There will be plenty of old recast stuff to buy, but if you want new subjects of quality it will cost a lot more and you will have to give notice of intent. Hobbyists have only themselves to blame, because what seemed to be a cheap bargain in the end wasn't.

 

[theBaron]

...It was a pirate copy, I got nowhere the school didn't see it as a problem, but it shows how endemic the problem is...

That's pretty bad. I don't think that would happen here, that is, a teacher might certainly use a bootleg in a class, but I don't think the school administrators would back him up, if called on it. Not out of any moral position, though, but more out of fear of legal action. American school districts (the basic administrative unit in our school system) are notoriously bureaucratically limited in their thinking. They fear lawsuits and bad publicity.

 

[DaddyO]

Count on my support dude - just been crying over what I thought was a lovely figure (54mm French Guardsman carrying a wounded drummer boy on his back) No box, but a nice photo. Trouble is when you look at the casting, the detail is poor and there are clear waves in the 'metal' big waste of time and money . . .