Are knock offs a good thing?

[aricisom]

I believe that they can be good for us. I think that they will both bring down the price thereby promoting greater use by a larger amount of people. If that happens maybe Dean K's prediction of mass use will come true. What do you think?

[Civicsman]

Competition is generally a good thing.

Sometimes competition causes all the competitors to fail. Four-channel audio from the 1970's comes to mind. Split the market, cause indecision, there are not enough sales for anyone to survive.

With Segs, there is intellectual property in play. Until the patents expire (or are licensed, which I do not think has happened) there should be no Seg-like self-balancers allowed in any country that respects intellectual property.

[KSagal]

Originally Posted by aricisom

I believe that they can be good for us. I think that they will both bring down the price thereby promoting greater use by a larger amount of people. If that happens maybe Dean K's prediction of mass use will come true. What do you think?

Pricing is an important factor, but not the only one.

If the copies have some safety compromises, like the Q scooter did, then it dilutes the brand in a negative way, and can even inspire inappropriate legislation. In that case, knockoffs are very bad.

Of course, the term knock off is a pretty subjective one as well. I often see an Asian car that I believe is a knock off of a European design, as an example. I have seen this in both Japanese cars, and Korean cars, that look similar and appeal to similar markets to German or British cars. Some of these knock-offs are as good or close to the original, and while the some may not like them, they may be good for the market, and for the consumer. Some are even better copies than the original. And often for a better price. In this case, the consumer wins, and as long as it does not drive the competitors out of business, it is good.

So, I have to agree with post 2 above, in general competition can be good, but I do not always see 'knock-offs' as competition.

Does anyone really think a Rolex purchased from a man on a street corner in Time Square is doing the watch market a service? Maybe for the consumer who wants a certain look, and does not care about the function. Not for most however...

[Bob.Kerns]

Originally Posted by KSagal

Does anyone really think a Rolex purchased from a man on a street corner in Time Square is doing the watch market a service? Maybe for the consumer who wants a certain look, and does not care about the function. Not for most however...

From a completely different viewpoint of the matter, I don't think *Rolex* is doing the watch market a service, with outlandish price/value ratios that depend entirely on the sucker factor.

Which is why we have the man on the street corner.

But that's entirely from a different perspective -- one of value-to-the-customer rather than health-of-the-producer. Definitely different viewpoints -- but not entirely in conflict with each other. Something that's bad for one -- say, a product that erodes trust -- is often bad for the other.

[Rolacoy]

Wal-Mart comes to mind, who has killed the Mom & Pop stores on main street in towns all across America. Has that been good competition?

[KSagal]

Originally Posted by Rolacoy

Wal-Mart comes to mind, who has killed the Mom & Pop stores on main street in towns all across America. Has that been good competition?

That is a very good question.

It seems clear that many people are buying things they could not otherwise afford at Walmart, that were out of range at the Mom & Pop stores. I happen to like the olde style, and frequent the Mom & Pops, but there are not so many people there anymore. It costs more to shop there just like it costs more to eat simple wholesome fresh food. The system is stacked against this.

[Civicsman]

I agree.

All we have to do is get everyone to stop shopping at Wal-Mart and this will fix a whole range of woes. Local retail will return and the trade balance with China will even out (Wal-mart is a HUGE percentage of Chinese imports, all by itself).

I have shopped at Wal-Mart exactly twice, although there are two stores not far from me. Both times I have left without a purchase. I also do not approve of the way Wal-Mart treats and compensates its employees, while raking in zillions of dollars. It's not necessary to do this.

Unfortunately, most people favor the immediate sweetness of low price over the long-term sour taste of a declining manufacturing base and local retail.

[PeteInLongBeach]

I've never seen this one before:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200737470348

Ebay user name indicates Segway of New Mexico:

http://stores.ebay.com/Segway-New-Me...id=p4340.l2563

I find it hard to believe it would be legal or authorized for them to sell this knockoff device in the US. I do not see it on their website:

http://segwaynm.com/shop/index.php

[PeteInLongBeach]

I wonder if their ebay account has been hacked. Here's the same photo:

http://enjoycare.en.made-in-china.co...oad-Model.html

[Bob.Kerns]

On the other hand, I don't see actual Segways on their website, either. Tours, apparel, and trailers, yes. But click on Segways, and you're told:

No products found.