Really? Dan and other dealers are doing NOTHING WRONG other than fostering competition. It's a TSO issue as to what they want to do. If that was the case everyone here would buy nothing but a QWAS dogs and we know darn well that's not the case and the companies selling knock offs would not be here instead of actually being leaders here.
Qwas was playing with these things YEARS before anyone else, yet tons of guys here praise the other companies products that we all know knocked him off. And still no one but Qwas Dogs even fit right. he pretty much isn't even here anymore and it's a shame. So this is nothing new.
Its either fair game for everyone or not. SO please dont call out anyone trying to make money, it's business and it's not always nice nor perfect.
So many of my so called competition over the years have taken my pictures from my site and actually used them on their own site, even stolen my designs to the point they didn't even redraw them, but took a picture of designs I made for a client and just posted it on their site! And it's a larger company too. I dint cry over it, I worked around it.
I don't cry like a baby, I foster relationships with clients and it overrides anyone efforts to intentionally or unintentionally hurt me. I dont think anyone is intentionally trying to hurt TSO, they are trying to make a living.
If you put a good idea out there some will use it. So don't share ideas or start a business unless you expect copies and have a plan. TSO is in business and they know what happens and I am betting anything they wont let it bother their bottom line. With TSO quick changes to products based on feedback the others trying to copy will most likely fail.
I have seen many in 15 years laugh at me say making those inlays is easy, start up a business and now they are gone. I even get calls from people that purchased from the big guys saying they were unhappy and I get their new business. If I let some of those early copy cats get to me I would have stopped 14 years ago and I am glad I didn't. I am here the others are gone and I am betting if TSO focuses on niche stuff they will be fine as well. With a product like this a person usually gets what they pay for, if it's cheaper it's almost certainly not as good. I know TSO cant be making much as it is so anything as good can't possibly cost much less. The margins just arn't there. I am not sure how TSO even sells their stuff in the first place. Trying to undercut them can't last long.
We dont have to dis others selling or promoting similar items. Heck it may induce TSO to make improvements to their products yet again. I use one of their items every single day and no knock off that is cheaper will cause me to bail on them when I go to make my next purchase.