Creativity Is Dead

[Steve Chryssos]

Here's a little "behind the scenes" snapshot from the SEMA show: Creativity is dead.
It never ceases to amaze me: Competitors actually come over and ASK how to reverse engineer my parts. I.D. badges are always turned around or tucked in a pocket--like that isn't pathetically obvious. "....Umm hi. I'm a monkey. And I'm gonna copy your idea. Can you tell me how to make this?..." Of course, the owners of competing businesses don't visit. They're way too cowardly for that. Instead they send their machinists over.



Now, I understand that competition is good. But ripping off ideas is not competitive. It's greedy and lazy. Turn your freakin' brain on. There are lots of good ideas out there. I have at least a dozen products waiting for time, money, or legal clearance. Innovation requires ingenuity and risk. Here's how it works:
1) An idea is conceived.
2) Money is invested in its development. (Risk)
3) Problems are resolved.
4) Prototypes are tested.
5) Market feasibility studies estimate popularity, profitability, and ROI.
6) Where possible, Intellectual Property protection is secured.
7) An initial production run is made PRIOR to market introduction. (more risk)
8) As a new idea, marketing dollars are required to educate the market.

The Rip-off monkeys don't employ ingenuity or take risk. They simply purchase existing parts, measure them, and spit out copies. They almost always dump the price (because they're monkeys.) And monkeys don't exactly understand how the parts work. But as long as they don't cut too many corners, the copied part should be marketable. If the rip-offs sell, they spit out some more copies. They pretend to have inventory, but the truth usually comes out AFTER they take your money.

Research and Development becomes Rip Off and Duplication. R&D. The internet makes it easier for the monkeys to B.S. the consumer. Shoot a few 400x300 pixel photos and presto! You're a manufacturer. But the photos never show true product quality or actual inventory status.

What does this mean to you, the end consumer? Not much really. If the rip-off company stays true to the original, you should be alright. And it doesn't matter much to me either. This is a free capitalist society. Go ahead and buy whatever you want from whomever you want. I just think it's funny. Pathetic. Informed consumers can tell the difference between the copy and the original.

[T_Raven]

i know what you mean. i have a friend who is a pharmesutical rep and she says the same things about perscription drugs. i never thought of it before that but now i don't like buying the generics because they are basically ripping off the companies that worked so hard to develope the drugs.

i see cheap knock offs of all kinds of different products but i prefer quality so i usually stick to the real thing

[BMF Machine]

WoW Steve'O! You sound like you been taking HorsE RoidS? SimmeR down cowboy! No'body on this sight or planet for that fact.........would buy something if they knew they could get it from you. Not that I know of, you make some sick shizle fer rizzle!

Don'T let a buttwad, ruin your perfectly gooD times!

[surreyboy]

i know what you mean. i have a friend who is a pharmesutical rep and she says the same things about perscription drugs. i never thought of it before that but now i don't like buying the generics because they are basically ripping off the companies that worked so hard to develope the drugs.

i see cheap knock offs of all kinds of different products but i prefer quality so i usually stick to the real thing

i wouldnt say the same about them, because alot of the big name drug companies sell the exact same drugs for 80% less up here in canada.They dont have ethics themselves.

[protour_chevelle]

Nature of the beast. I deal in the oilfield industry for a living and we have the same issue. Fittings that are supposed to handle 10,000psi are being duplicated over seas and sold as genuine. They have been pressure tested and blow at 6,000psi. Same with smaller stuff but VERY common parts like clevis', hooks, etc.

[hdesign]

Excellent points Steve. Just walking the show I couldn't believe the idea rip offs and how common it was. I remember people blatantly walking up to Nemesis with measuring tapes and cameras for details last year, most of which were over-seas companies. I asked 3-4 people to leave the booth because of it. Sad....

[surreyboy]

its pretty bad because big names like ford are sending their own products which used to be made in america to the same companies in china that duplicate other peoples work.i still to this day dont get why people buy those edelbrock rip off intakes. their quality is terrible.

[BMF Machine]

Excellent points, yes. Gonna happen no matter what? Yes. Lets di-fuse Steve'Os Bomb. Not soak the wick in gas so we hear the bang faster?lolol

I would love to see Steve'O right now, I bet that hair is stand'n up like on a rooster!lolol

C'mon laugh with me Steve, life is Too Short!

To the copying haters........:bsjerk: Get an idea ya buttwads....more like, them brownlittletoiletpaperwadsthatyoufindinanouthouse!

Now Steve'O please send me your cad drawing for the cowl induction trim piece, I want to see if I can make it? It's an emergency?

Just kidding man, I hope you already know that!

[BMF Machine]

its pretty bad because big names like ford are sending their own products which used to be made in america to the same companies in china that duplicate other peoples work.i still to this day dont get why people buy those edelbrock rip off intakes. their quality is terrible.

Exactly, the tolerences in China are as follows.......

If it almost looks like it could fit, Production run 10 million of them.

Nothing from over there is flat, so nothing will seal....they make billions of tons of CRAP!

[1969CamaroRS]

Sorry to hear that Steve. Well they do say "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" for a reason, you have great ideas and products! Hang in there, because you are right those of us that our informed will look to the quality original.

Case in point, I cheaped out on my valve covers and bought a set of orange powder valve covers that were made in China. They wouldn't even bolt up to my heads I had to make the bolt holes bigger. Yet alone would they actually hold a oil seal. Doesn't take too many times like that to stay clear of crappy knock offs.

[Spiffav8]

Sounds like one of Fesslers goons came over to visit. LOL

[zbugger]

It's this new world concept called "Trying to make the quick buck". It sucks and it's stupid, but it's rampant. I could get some of my parts cheaper, but I'd rather get the original and pay more because I know it's usually the better part.

[Jim Nilsen]

Hey Steevo, just want to let you know that since I got cancer I have a whole new philosophy about things like this.

Do away with them people however you please. I will call their dimise natural causes or an act of god when put on the jury. This way when you are the only one left and you are the creator you won't have to put up with them anymore. We all have cars and people get accidentally run over all the time. A kid just got run over by the school bus in my town and the parents say the kid was smart and always safe and the bus driver wasn't driving in the dark but nothing happened and no blame placed to anyone. So to me it is open game on the road. So go ahead and run them over , you have my blessing and aquital. Hey it is just an accident and gods will.

I'm not bitter mind you I am just tired of corporate greed destroying us at our own expenses. What money and time I have left is going to the good guys and you can relax because I know you are one of the good guy's.

Hold on cause the bump in the road just may be your competitor.

Is that creative enough to help?

[SatisTraction]

as a consumer i can see it both ways.

if someone made cheap gas that works would you buy it or keep padding exon?

if someone made a car as well as chevy but cheaper would you buy it?

i dont own any knock of stuff that i know of but i did buy hooker headers over ATS and i did buy speed tech arms over DSE. I dislike buying a name as bad as i dislike a knock off.

[Rhino]

Usually if an organization lacks the creativity to introduce a unique product they'll usually lack the product knowledge and insight for good customer support.
It's that support a company offers that creates repeat customers. In many cases it is just as, or more important, than the component itself.

[Chicken Coupe]

Dead, maybe. Copies, oh yea.

Which is why I really appreciate those who bring creativity and new products to market.

[rjsjea]

Companies have copied the paddle shifter several times now......are you surprised this time?

Keep up the new product design......

[hotrdblder]

Companies have copied the paddle shifter several times now......are you surprised this time?

Keep up the new product design......

How do you know he was talking about the paddle shifter this time? i don't believe he said what product it was.

[Steve Chryssos]

Companies have copied the paddle shifter several times now......are you surprised this time?

Keep up the new product design......

Oh, I'm not surprised at the copies. I'm in the CNC business. It is by far the easiest and least expensive manufacturing segment to reverse engineer.
No, I'm surprised by the arrogance and the laziness of ASKING how to make my parts. The monkeys should have the decency to figure it out on their own or at least buy a sample for retail plus shipping.

[rjsjea]

How do you know he was talking about the paddle shifter this time? i don't believe he said what product it was.

I dont think he is talking about the paddle shifter.....since it has been out for years and already copied. Steve had his new gauge bezels at SEMA.......I assume this is what he is referring to