Everyone wants to make a quick buck
Let’s say, you have a two dollar item and you can sell it for say, 30 bucks. Isn’t that wonderful? So if you can duplicate to 100 of them, this means you would have a 2,800 bucks profit. So, the word for today is duplicate. With the Internet nowadays, it is so easy to get information and copy stuff. In this Hobby, resin is used extensively for Props, Statues, accurizing model parts and even more. This material is easy to cast. And even easier to re-cast or duplicate. For a company, it is a normal production procedure. For others, it is the fastest method of making a few bucks.
Whiners forcing fence-sitters
I am not going to delve much into that topic and to be honest, I am sick of the same argument. And the same whiny noise. Sure, the product got ‘stolen’ or recast. Sure, they will make a stink about it, get their friends to make the same whiny noises, get eBay to stop the sale, get people to warn others and so on. Which is literally a lynch mob. I get it that being re-cast is painful and ethically, not a nice thing to do. And I do support originals where I can.
However, let’s face it. It is a losing battle. Let’s be honest about that fact. Before the turn of the Century, the recaster can be located very easily because everyone knows everyone. However, in today’s era of 3D printing and Scanning, the deed can be done in minutes. Heck even in at the Far End of the World, recasting is quite normal. So what are you going to do about it? Bitch some more? Viral them? Lawyer up? Call your friends to go to that address? Seriously, no one give a fuck about you.
I did not slave for your Ferrari
On the other side of the coin, I am all for original stuff. Buying more means I am helping to support the Artist. And this will allow the Artist to create even more stuff. For me. To. Buy. (Hey, wait a minute)
What. the. Fuck.
Here I am, working like mad, saving up to buy a stupid chunk of a resin kit that is relatively a big dent on my Salary. Who is helping who here? The normal goody two-shoes train of thought is that if I cannot buy original, I need to just walk away, and work harder. Sadly, YOU have revealed your gold to the whole World and I am interested in it. I realised, I have two methods of getting it depending on the circumstances revealed to me. I mean, who is to tell me that I need to do things the right way? Who is to say that I am not allowed to get them from someone far more cheaper? Who?
The Pricing Dilemma
This is a no-brainer when it comes to pricing. I do not care about the argument where profits are concerned. I understand that the high price is to offset the cost of R&D, the sculpting (even if it’s 3D), the production costs, the marketing, etc. Its all tgrenless you happen to be one of those who just sits and wait for the money to come in. The ROI would have been completed long ago unless they stupidly do not know how to budget and market their stuff. Ethically, it is wrong but there are times I am tempted, not because of the price but out of spite due to those fanboys going around telling people to buy original, reveal the buyer’s identity, and so on. That will push me over the edge and I’ll support re-casters with no hesitation. What are you going to do, then?
Will you lower the price after you have recovered your ROI? Or did you have one in the first place? Will you? Of course everyone knows that answer.
How now, brown cow?
Nowadays, designers are much more realistic on this matter. They cut their losses, just create more and move on. To them, it is just not worth the effort. No one wants to get stuff from a Company who hounds them, and reminding them to do what’s right or even, lawyering up to all over the World. That is like supporting a Bully even if they think they are exercising their rights.
In the end, who cares? I support originals, however expensive they may be but one small little whine, I’ll think about going the other way. You are here to create and share it with everyone. You will be copied, recasted and even stolen from. How you react to that, interests me.
