Ian, I don't want to be unsympathetic as believe me I am and have expressed my views privately to Stu, but it is a bold "assumption" that the people who are buying these are likely to be customers of the bonafide producers. I think there is an underclass of modeller out there and an underclass of recaster satisfying the demand, they are not going to go away.
There was a recent press article discussing the Chinese Goverments concern at the number of fakes being sold on Alibaba! it is happening everywhere and if there is a buck to be made then someone will do it.
Unless international laws change it will keep happening as one closes another will spring up.
Stu seems to be having some success by taking positive action, you have made a new move to bring an expensive product to market with some surety of success, another positive step.
I think it is time to stop beating yourselves over the head about something you can't stop (at the moment) and continue the good work in developing more positive approaches to bringing figures to market. We have never had more choice or better quality figures than we have today so the support (buyers) are there otherwise it wouldn't be happening.
I also think there is a danger in blaming everything on the recaster, with new producers on the scene there is also more competition so that also impacts on established producers. We live in uncertain times and no business is immune from competition from which ever direction it comes.
Success comes from new ideas, innovation and satisfying your customers needs, the business has always been pretty good at the latter and the signs are that there is a growing awareness of the former.
Keith
