I Got Robbed.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- StoryTIME June 2020, and how I was ripped off, and how the 4WD accessory industry is ripped off by itself, every day.
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4xOverland is the world's largest global 4WD adventure off-road motoring channel. Established in 1996, it is hosted by well known 4x4 writer, explorer and filmmaker, Andrew St Pierre White.
Quick Pitch privacy tents... being ripped off and sold by Kick Ass, Wild Dog, Drifta to name but a few. China as usual now flooding the market... and people buy because regardless of doing the right thing or not... times are hard and $$$ talks.
What I’m seeing in the Middle East (and probably where you are also) is zero dignity for innovators...I want to see more innovators and less impersonators. And while I sympathise with those who’re trying to make a living I’d rather they focused their energy/resources into developing new products that would bring them real acclaim... right now I’m just labelling them as fraudsters with no imagination.How can these people say that they are serving the 4x4 community when all they’re doing is lining their own pockets while promoting the closure of the innovators???
Travel buddy another one getting smashed by copies. I’ve made sure all my family and friends by the original Aussie made one.
Don't add drifta in the mix of it they've come up with their own way and if you think that's been ripped off who rips of who in the 1000000s of 4wd parts bull bars lights awnings
Drifta copied the ensuite and RTT from quickpitch...I think Ronnys falling out with drifta was because he was at an event on the east coast with some grab me gear clear top bags drifta saw them stole the idea and started making them the next week....
Drifter definitely like to copy others one of the worst for it
You have just described the entire Chinese business model
No it describes the western approach of supply and demand. If people in the west didn’t make buying decisions based primarily on price rather than quality do you think the Chinese would be able to sell their copies? Keep in mind virtually no Chinese companies sell direct. It’s actually the companies in your own country that are perpetuating the problem by buying from China to sell to you.
Harvey Smith I was born in China. Sadly it’s true, and the victims of the IP infringement would hardly have a way to protect themselves against such theft in China.
*_ And now MAKRO is going Under!! _*
@@paulbarnard5267 This is true - people go for cheaper because they can't see that the cheaper one is worse, or don't care (or even that the cheaper one isn't worse at all). On top of that, though, is the supremely cheap labor market (half a step to the left of slavery in many cases) in China means that the cost of producing the same component locally compared to in China can't possibly stack up. So companies manufacture in or buy from China.
@Ham Yai No they made their own milk poison and poor Chinese babies died. So now Chinese parents source baby formula from OS
G'day Andrew, would strongly recommend doing your videos in a closed garage away from your residence. Mighty car mods had the same issue when people found out where they lived and doxed them. They shoot videos closed doors in a gated garage nowadays.
I too immediately thought of the MCM boys getting stuff nicked because of their videos..
Here in Norway , and Norsk Land Rover Klubb, we have a `standing order` that we buy local so often we can. Domestic or abroad .
When we have a big or small club-meeting , or just a group `on the run` a weekend or a month on the road, we buy at the locals :-)
It means : camping , food , fuel , local private roads, mountain roads etc.etc.
We are guests in their community . We all have to remember that !
And it is not so good for us here in the north , to know what product made in the south ,that is the `original` !
I live in a small house and so I used to rent a workshop nearby, which was broken into a couple of times.
The most infuriating thing, for me, was knowing that it's likely that all your stuff got sold for peanuts regardless of it's true value.
It's ridiculous, of course, but I felt like putting an envelope in plain sight with a couple of hundred quid inside it and a note saying "Look, just take the cash, leave all my stuff alone and save yourself the effort".
On one occasion, for example, I had a racing motorbike in my workshop, in the process of being rebuilt.
The workshop was broken into and they stole the wheels/tyres/brake disks, the ECU, part of a custom exhaust and a bunch of specialist tools.
The wheels had non-standard axles so they couldn't be fitted to a standard road-bike, the tyres were slicks and the brake disks were carbon fibre and woudln't work with standard calipers.
Anybody with half a brain would understand there's NO "black-market" for that kind of stuff.
The only place it might've turned-up would be on another racing bike, where the original owner would have spotted it all.
Regarding "IP theft", I don't think customers are always to blame for allowing knock-offs to prosper because I suspect that a lot of the time people simply don't know an item IS a knock-off of an existing product.
People just browse sites like Amazon or eBay, see things for sale and buy them without realising that they're a copy of something made by a specialist company.
Also, it's worth bearing in mind that companies are often victims of their own penny-pinching.
It is LEGAL in China for a Chinese company to manufacture/sell an OEM version of any item that they've been contracted to manufacture for a foreign company.
If you're an American or European company and you choose to reduce costs by contracting a Chinese company to manufacture your products, you only have yourself to blame when a Chinese knock-off appears on the market.
Everybody seems to criticise China for being a "knock-off nation" without realising Western companies are complicit in this by choosing to have their products manufactured in China.
If companies chose to have their products manufactured domestically they would, at least, have a stronger legal case for preventing any Chinese knock-offs from being sold in Western countries.
Robbers are Pathetic low life’s. Steve 🇦🇺
*_ And the Panga will be used to kill some farmer _*
His whole story sounds suspicious to me.
You think he doesn't have security cams installed with all that expensive gear in the garage? Talk about fake insurance claims!
@@OOOUZNah it sounds sad. Another Aussie lost in the 80's. It just isn't like that anymore and there's no way back (especially if you live in the city)! Only to be robbed again when you buy all that expensive security equipment in the false hope of getting some piece of mind. A very expensive lesson is vigilance is the only security, not some fancy piece of security equipment, people are brazen especially when they are on drugs and security equip only just slows them down and it won't stop them.
@@OOOUZ Security cameras don't stop people from stealing, at best they can show the insurance company (and the owner) that somebody was there. Black hoodies / caps and dark glasses are a thief's best friend..... Fake insurance claims - usually most people's excess makes it prohibitive to claim on smaller items.
@@PeterKnagge Yep, had a mate of mine got his shed knocked off 3 times, same stuff stolen each time - insurance company won't cover his shed and tools anymore, even though he did what they asked each time.... better locks, alarms, etc.
Pretty sad that happened. I got robbed once as well. My MTB got stolen from the back seat of my Hilux... It wasnt about the money, its about the fact somebody violates your space and takes sentimental items.
@Leopold believe it or not we'd rather go through the loss of replacing what are 99% of the time replaceable items than have a shoot out over a couple car parts. You get a gun to defend yourself? Great, the other bloke gets one to rob you with. Pointless.
@Mr407Mike This specific MTB helped me quit smoking after 10 years and also handle and overcome a few personal challenges I was facing. It was tough. I bought one triple the price after, it just isnt the same though.
@Leopold I was away from the vehicle when it was stolen, sadly. We have guns here too, my work mate owns like 15 - a combination of bolt and pump rifles and shotguns as well as pistols ... Wouldnt change anything though, as most thieves are opportunists and not aggressive criminals.
@Leopold We don't need or want guns in Australia like you have in the States, all they lead to is needless deaths, you can keep them over there.
@@zaneh6224 we do have guns, not hard to get one
I've had my own business for 40 years.. my pet hate? when someone says "Is this your best price?" My answer is always "No.. MY best price is double this, what I just quoted you is your best price, but I'm happy to charge you mine"
Love that response. cheers
you mustn't be very successful then...
@@HoldFastCC beter somethimes be not than fkd
U must be from s africa...best price bit 🤔
They are not very good at negotiating if they give you an easy open and closed question like "Is this your best price?"
Your shovel story sorta sounds a bit like what’s happening to ‘Travel Buddy’ here in Aus.
Phil McAvity absolutely
Spot on mate, I've owned a Travel Buddy for years, I also live in Bendigo where they're made, the business was originally Crystalair Rangehoods, I had a good chat to the owner when I bought my Travel Buddy off him, he told me that his business got hammered when all the cheap Chinese rangehoods started flooding onto the Australian market and he came up with the idea of the Travel Buddy and changed his business model, and now it's all happening to him again. I hope people support him and buy the original Travel Buddy, it's a great product and he's a nice fella.
The Travel Buddy Oven is a good example of a small Australian company being ripped off at the moment with Kickasses Travel Oven and Road Chef Oven copies being sold for a little less.
I'm buying the original this week. When you know a bit about the story of the people behind the product, it's helps promote some loyalty.
I bought a travel budy for $20 more
Travel buddy is a perfect example of not adapting your product design to the market. They have taken no feedback on design flaws. Eg. Insert trays . Lockable door. Better latch et.c
@@joshuacox26 easy to adapt the door. For the majority of applications, the current lock is perfectly adequate. A decent magnet would likely sort it out.
I deliberately bought a Travel Buddy after doing my research. I knew it was a bit more expensive but chose it because it’s made here and is the original design. It’s also a bloody good product that works.
Keepsakes, mementos and gifts are always the worst things to have stolen or too lose. Sorry for your loss Andrew. Hopefully somethings make their way back to you. Cheers from Canada.
It is shocking that people in the 4wd community would rob another, scumbags are the nicest word I can use on a public forum
Agree, though I wouldn't be particularly surprised if they actually aren't in the 4wd community, but rather people who trawl youtube looking for "vulnerable" people. Using videos like ASPW's to case potential locations etc. Exactly the same as hijacking data by Facebook stalking. Bastards!
l love this video. i absolutely support you Andrew on this topic, it becomes hard to find quality thanks to these copy cats
100% Andrew. Please anyone who is considering a Travel Buddy buy that brand. Please don't buy the coppies available and don't support other country's that profit by manufacturing other peoples ideas.
Ozyrob2 I’ve had shouting arguments with mates that have bought the “travel mate” instead, they aren’t even any cheaper!
@@fatchunk3678 - that's what blew my mind. Travel Buddy... Made in Australia $299 www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/travel-buddy-12v-oven-marine-large
Road Chef... made in China $289 www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/road-chef-12v-oven
The Travel Buddy is manufactured/assembled in Bendigo Australia, the Road Chef is produced and packaged in China. for a $10 saving? i know what I'm buying...
I try to make sure that what I bolt on to my 4wd is made here in Australia, it might cost more but the quality and after market service is well worth it.
Kudos James, I hope people rethink their buying habits and start to do the same. Australians need jobs now more than ever.
May i suggest making a list of good recommended products and their original designers/manufacturers so all of us interested in spending our money where it counts can do so at the right place and on the right product instead of unknowlingly buying some lower quality ripoff!?
Hi andrew - need to take down any videos that show your street to protect yourself. Im loving your recent driving chat content however people are opportunist and resourceful.
I take my hat off to you sir for advocating for the inventor/developers of innovative products
Having worked at large companies I can tell you that it is the lower level employees that make and design things but the upper level take credit for it. After I heard a VP person on a company presentation take credit for a design I made to save time and used for a couple years before he saw it, I just stopped designing things for them. The business world is full of pirates and politicians.
Your taking being robbed a lot better than me. Both times it's happened to me I would have been out for blood if I could have found them lol!
The punishment for theft is too light. They should be executed.
Yeah but you gotta be careful though or you could end up in jail. What if I came home and found them in the act? I have bear spray I could incapacitate them with. Then do you further take them down after that? Break their knees? Then I'd be worried the rest of my life they'd come back for revenge. Then what?
@Viktor Sligo Probably the best advice and all that you can do.
@@GOcgyFLAMESgo bit full on dude. You should see someone
@@nosignal88 Said a thief
You Sir are a true gentleman. Handling your frustration with finesse and standing up for what you know is right. Finally somebody speaking up and voicing out the ugly truth of some ruthless businesses profiting from hardworking honest people. Sigh. Support original only!
In light of recent global events, I now go out of my way to buy Australian made products, and anything else that isn't made in China (I know that can be hard at times). I've just decked out my new Ranger with as much non-Chinese gear as possible such as a GME radio, RSI canopy, Front Runner roof racks, Quick Pitch awning, SupaFit car seat covers, Decked drawer system etc. I'd rather spend that little bit extra on quality gear and support local businesses, than give my hard earned $$ to communist copycats who peddle sub standard garbage. Buy cheap, buy twice, no thanks.
Never sell your best ideas all at once. The dumb bastards will copy the first one but then you put up your full design. They usually over commit to their first batch.
You sell a better product at a good price.
Good message. It needs to be said. Keep up the great content! Cheers from Canada. 🇨🇦
This is a huge problem in the automotive tool business. You can clearly see a "new manufacture" start selling a copied tool/s. Unfortunately, the buying public is at fault. They"ll buy the less expensive one. Crapy and good quality made at that. In the States, we complain that China/Taiwan are "stealing" from us. These are the same people that are buying these overseas junk/copied tools. There's more to the story but I'll stop there.
Jonathan Ward of ICON 4x4 has had his designs ripped off and says the same thing about product protection in USA
I feel your pain sick of being copied x3
Phew! My initial thought was that you've just now been robbed, mugged or carjacked in your beautiful new Dream Tourer! Sorry for your losses; but they haven't stopped you being an innovative pioneer...keep doing what you do.
Amazon does it every day to small businesses AND they have the analytics from your product sold on their website.
AND... Bozos doesn't even make profit!! He is subsidised by central bank money printing aka "quantitative easing" and his company lives off the inflows from the stock market and all the new excess money sloshing around that funnels into the darling stocks. Because He is the Chosen One. He will destroy small business using an unfair advantage.
@Bob Carruthers I think it's worse than you think. The conspiracy theorists are even suggesting that the lockdowns are primarily designed to destroy small business. I agree. I suggest going to the Peak Prosperity website which has been following the virus since the very beginning and we are coming to very interesting and sinister conclusions. His TH-cam videos are now starting to get deleted.
My Hubby has a lead injector and some large waterproof bags. He says never know when you will need these.
He may need them soon. The world is about to cave in on itself.
A shovel might also help
I am sorry but I am not sure I agree. At least with a few of the examples, the demands of the market place encourage efficient product production. Some of them found that they could get someone else to produce the idea at a more competitive price. Now before everyone hates me. This is not cut and dry. If there where patentable designs that would be an infringement on IP (Intellectual Property) rights. Something I feel is deplorable. But in this case I don’t know that you could have argued that you had a significantly distinct design. Also I hate to see an idea outright taken without some kind of compensation (legally required by IP issues or not) given for ethnical consideration. You site two products. The shovel. And the repair kit. The shovel may have been subject to unique design but it doesn’t sound like it. It seems that one failed on marketing issues compared to the competition. If your’s was recognized as better by some, the problem seems that the message didn’t get out to the buying public so not knowing the differences or values of the differences they bought frugally. The second product is the puncture kit for which It seems to just be a packaging product and you made a good run with it but couldn’t become more efficient and compete with the lower cost alternative that was out there. You said you had developed a tool which was copied though I don’t know if IP concerns would have come up with that. You may have had a better kit but where not able to market to the public so that they would demand your brand even at a slightly higher price. By the way this process not only happens to small developers and producers it is constant on a large scale. This is the demand market that generates such good products at prices that all can start to enjoy them. In these cases you don’t appear to have been robbed but beaten by a competitive marketplace. Those despicable people whom robbed your home should be,.. well, lets say turned in to justice by those peers they have. Some people are around them and aware that they are thieves, and should turn them in. Don’t tolerate bad behavior amongst those around you, ever, don’t protect foul people.
100% agree. We need to buy from the small guy. Australia / USA have sold out to big corporations/China.
I don't know how thieves live with themselves and their ill-gotten gains.
Either themselves or others who knowingly purchase (even likely) stolen property.
What do they think every time they see or use that stolen gear.
shitheads whose minds we can't comprehend. They're the worst humanity has to offer
Maxxtraxx comes to mind immediately. So many copy cats but I hope we all know the original is best 😉
Yep. Ronny Dahl even has a video where he proves it.
MaxTrax is a prime example, but copied by some of the big brands too.
@@4xoverland And, MaxTrax - "improved on an existing standard.... That is the competitive world we live in.
(Sand / mud mats are nothing new. (MT, have great market penetration but they are playing the "Price versus quality" wars a little too hard - ie the markup on their "new and improved" - as good as double the price for a set of "cleats" - now that the base version are ~$250AUD (Supercheap / BCF club price etc.. .) )
No innovation exists in a vacuum, we just wait for someone to "make a better MaxTrac (Singular?) lol... Even the original "safari ladders
- Ok Mike Patey analyse that.. jk.... (Andrew you have to Admire him as another Great TH-cam contributor given your love of aviation and the "back country")
That was smart of you to give a detail and play footage of the items stolen. They are one of a kind. They will be found by a good fan of the show.
As a Chinese businessman I would've handled the Makro situation a little differently. The product was the leverage, by immediately saying no deprives you of the opportunity to make a counter-offer. Say for example you'll agree to the price they want, but in return they have to double their monthly purchase. They said they needed 400 monthly, I propose 800-1000 pieces. A binding contract also helps in this situation. If they're not budging on the 400 quantity, say you'll agree, but they have to purchase something else you're making along with it, or in the near future.
Same story that happened to Maxtrax, there are some real crap copies of the Maxtrax out there now. I was at a manufacturing plant a few weeks ago doing some marketing photography for some other products that they were making and they had made some plastic tracks that looked similar to the Maxtrax. I made a comment about the quality and their answer was " But ours are just as good and ours are cheaper." Strange coincidence that a few weeks later these same crap copy tracks were tested by Ronny Dahl and they failed miserably.
Frustrating how lowest common denominator economics works to the detriment of quality in ripping off IP. How often we buy an impressive looking tool in shiny packaging and it falls apart. I'm also finding out presently what a pain global trademarking is for something as apparently simple as a coffee brand.
Dear Andrew
Watching your video and story reminded me some of my own.
1. I'm also a small business owner that operates in 4 different continents and has to struggle against the big multinational corporations. Tough and not a fair game. Nonetheless, we are always ahead of them, although is a very tiresome and daunted mission.
2. I'm an inventor with patented high-end robotic equipmen. A few years ago a chinese corporation tried to seduced me with a so called "joint-venture" where I would bring all our expertise. I quickly realized that they were trying to get from nothing our product. When visited them in Shanghai they became very angry when I sad "NO" to their deal conditions. Interesting enough they weren't able to manufacture a decent version of my invention, and they gave up.
3. When I was in my early twenties I was a photojournalist, I got robbed when visiting mom's for a quick tea. The thiefs stole all my photographic equipment, i.e. that day I became jobless as I couldn't afford to buy another set of cameras and lenses. But it turned to be a blessing: I had to do something else that driven to the stage where I am right now.
Your work is amazing. Carry on, I'm a big fan of yours!
Cheers!
pedro
Yes!
You mush be careful of your privacy!
Out of curiosity, I looked back through your old videos. And was able to find your place of residence very quickly, using Google Earth and street view.
I hope when you move. That you are better in the future not to reveal too much person location data.
And lock your shit!
Kind of a sad story, but then again, aren't you driving a Toyota who stole the idea of a horseless carriage from Daimler Benz? Anyway, I'm up for buying the best product, but you have to market it right to convince me.
that sucks andrew. i cant stand thieves. my family and i have always been very careful about everything when it comes to thieves. even though we live in a relatively safe neighborhood, we have always locked our doors and windows and cars. never want to be taken advantage of so we never trust anyone with our belongings. we also have a motion detector that makes a dog barking sound which we keep on the front porch
I love your videos. The age old saying you get what you pay for doesn't apply to people who have never had to pay for things... they don't care. Which in turn hurts the rest of us, the small business and the customers who want a quality product. Look at craftsman, yes they were a big company, but for the longest time they created quality tools that took a beating and lasted, then some snot nosed little shite came in and convinced people that since they have their reputation high enough and to bank on it for a while and create an inferior product using the good name.
In my opinion, an enthusiast (A true customer) that wants a truly quality product will do their proper research and pay the little bit extra for the product that will do right by them. A hobbyist (A false customer) will not as they just don't care. They either do it on the side or for the kicks or popularity points as is so prevalent these days.
That being said there are exceptions, always but the norm seems to be, from my point of view, what i've said here.
I restore vintage axes, id love to make you an axe 👍🏻
It's not just the 4WD industry. The entire patent system needs to be entirely replaced. The patent system has become the opposite of what it is intended to be.
Wow. i'm actually moved by this video. Good on you mate.
When I started work in 1976 I bought a tool kit from my mother’s catalogue. Many vehicle rebuilds and Enginerring projects later it was still in daily use. It went to Germany, Canada and U.K. as I moved about. Then in 2005 I was doing an oil change on my car and saw someone walk up my driveway. I called out from under the car “hang on a moment” as I crawled out only to see the ‘visitor’ pick up my tool box and run and jump back into his car and accelerate away. My insurance replaced the tools but I have never built the same relationship with the replacements. It’s the stollen memories that hurts more than the things.
Andrew, unfortunately you are spot on about copying. I tend to buy the product that came out first as it will have the most amount of thought built into it and the copiers will not realise they are leaving out something important. Built to a price is often built for a profit and probably not going to stand up to the purpose the buyer bought it for.
When Protecting IP, it is handy to leave out something Critical - hold it as "Trade Secret" - Or even put misleading material Properties in the filed Documents (Helpful, nonessential Misdirection..) It ensures "Cheap Copies" WILL FAIL (at least in design intent) , and the Manufacturer / Distributor will hopefully leave the industry "alone".
@4xoverland Can you do a response video to the Ineos Grenadier first look?
I will.
Even though I’ve never seen, or heard of this guy before. But when I hear someone has been robbed, I feel terrible for them, I hope you have a good day.
I’ve been self employed and have experienced first hand others stealing ideas, people asking for the “best price”, and others looking for a free handout. I refuse to shop at Walmart due to how they treat small businesses, whenever it’s possible I try to avoid products manufactured in China and enjoy building relationships with local businesses. The worse thing about being robbed is the fact you generally lose items that are relatively inexpensive but contain a great of memories. Truly enjoyed this video!
Cheap isn't everything...especially when it breaks right as you need it. Buy once, cry once.
Sad about your knife. I bought a new Mauser marked knife, such as was issued to the German Wehrmacht, with only the basics...a Victorianox clip point blade, a Mauser branded blade, a screwdriver/can-/bottle-opener/saw on top, awl and cork screw on the bottom. I've had it 25 years now and carry it daily. I feel your pain, sir.
Very good story. I always try to buy local or from the original designer/maker. By the time the product hits the big stores, it's usually compromised in some way to reduce costs. Very informative from your own experience.
Left South Africa because of the crime rate?
@pm Nah, then he would have been stabbed or burned!
It’s a pain, two nights ago I forgot to lock my 80 series. And I came out the next day and my wallet had been gone through but they only took 3 $10 notes. And the garden shed had been opened but I don’t keep anything valuable in there.
Same thing happened with Travel Buddy
Yes. Its a good example.
I drive rotting, dented D40 right now. Sometimes when I lock it my friends or family asks me if I think someone will steal it. I don't care about the car, I care about the things that are inside. I feel your pain, although thankfully nothing been stolen from me so far.
The David Attenborough of the 4x4 world is now a super sleuth Sherlock Holmes of the 4x4 world !!!
This video has struck a nerve with me because after being in business for 30 years with my father in Melbourne Australia we had to close down as well because of all the Asian copy cat Imports.
That's shit mate, hope you and your Dad are doing ok.
I also moved from South Africa to Australia, and shortly after got the house broken into.......oh the irony
Are you saying there are no house break-ins in SAF?
Ein Felder I think he is saying he moved here for safety only to be broken into - that’s what irony means...
The main difference is you can talk about it afterwards, here is SA lots of people are killed for low value items.
@craig There are now far more of our whites looking for "drug money" than our natives.....
@@ Rest assured we are watching. These are unique items and they will be seen. I try to buy local first always, but its dam hard to discern original sometimes.
You're an inspiration. Love the content.
I feel your pain Andrew. I had a Victorinox multi-tool stolen from me. It was a keepsake from my time in the Army and I'd had it about 18 years. That really irked me as you can't buy that model.
Should you find your way to Victoria sometime, I've a great shop to take you too that sells some fantastic bespoke knives, hatchets and axes.
15:30 Welcome to the business practices of Walmart. Sam Walton, the founder, was all about "Made in America". His heirs are all about how much money can we make. When I was in the USMC, and working on my business degree we covered Walmart's business practices. Keep in mind in business this practice is treated as a success to be celebrated and a business practice to copy if you want to be successful. Anyway, the practice at hand. Walmart commands so much of the market they would call up suppliers and say, "We want you to sell your product to us for $x.xx or we aren't going to sell your product." And Walmart, being so big, would be a significant proportion of the supplier's sales, say 50% or more, may 80%. So imagine, as a business facing losing 80% of your business overnight. Walmart would do this repeatedly to its suppliers and eventually the supplier would protest because the price Walmart was offering was below the supplier's cost to make the item. And when the supplier would protest that the price Walmart offered was below their cost to make it Walmart would say well we won't carry your item then, and 80% of the suppliers business evaporates. I imagine some of you can relate to this loss of business from the current pandemic. Anyway, this is why so much of U.S. manufacturing has gone overseas. Companies facing loss of business, loss of market, inability to pay debts incurred to expand production, layoffs, etc. would chose the layoffs, close their U.S. manufacturing plants and open ones in China, Mexico, Pakistan, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, etc. all so they could meet the price of Walmart. I learned of this in 2004. I've done my best to not shop at Walmart ever since and have only been in a Walmart maybe 5 times since then (sometimes you need RV anti-freeze at 3 in the morning because you are traveling from a 70 degree climate to somewhere that is going to be below freezing and snowing the next day). Amazon is doing something similar, except they aren't telling their sellers a price. Amazon is just taking the item that is selling the best and copying it and because they are copying something being sold on Amazon they already know what it is selling for, where it is selling, who it is selling to, all of it. I don't shop at Amazon either.
Ever heard of Bunnings? Same thing. Ever claimed on their "we'll beat it by 10%" slogan? I managed to once, on a product that isn't exclusively branded to them, but it was like drawing blood from a Jehovah's Witness. Product was Earthwool Batts - saved a fair bit of money on the house lot :)
@@einfelder8262 Only heard of Bunnings from Australia based overlanders on TH-cam. I'm in "the states" and we don't have Bunnings here. From what I can gather it is similar to our Lowe's Home Improvement or Home Depot.
@@einfelder8262 So just showing exactly why the small guys get squashed or can't make any sort of a living then?
Congratulations nice work.
@@oldbloke204 Yep!
18:00 Keep producing and selling the superior product, The people that know will buy from you.
I smiled like a kid when i saw "2001 Northern Namibia" my home...
Hey mate i tried waving out to you on the ocean reef/wanneroo bridge but you were too focused on the peak hour traffic. Jump on channel 9 and give us a shout out next time you drive past
That Hultsbrook is a beautiful tool.
One of the things that has always worried me about doing videos containing 'interesting' gear is that there are a ton of thieving scum in the world that have no morals and no conscience. As a result we have video monitoring systems EVERYWHERE around where we keep our vehicles. We have even provided footage to the police when crooks who broke into a neighbour's place.
Thanks for sharing. I’m going to secure my house more seriously as a result when on trips.
Andrew, a US mechanical engineer and a toyota enthusiast designed an awesome tool to press out and install rear axle bearings on 3rd gen 4runner(J90 prado), 1st gen tacomas, Tundra,s Sequoias etc. Guess what... just in a month or two Chinese started making it and selling it on ebay for dirt cheap!
@Viktor Sligo Not true. Even 20 years ago I could email a CAD drawing for a part to China, and have a rapid prototype back in a few days (to the UK)
Just be thankful they didn’t take the trucks lol
So at the time of writing this there are about 9K views on this video. That should be enough enough people on TH-cam, Facebook and Gumtree to make sure these guys never get to sell this stuff. Keep your eyes out, i know i will.
OLight come give him a hand 👍🏽
The biggest one i see copied is maxtrax and some i have seen over the years are a joke. I will only buy the maxtrax brand after seen a copy set sit on a 4wds roof for a year then smashed to bits the first use because the sun had made them brittle. People need to support aussie made now more then ever.
but do you really think a piece of molded plastic is worth the much
@@stephenpwilks it is when your 60k 4wd is stuck in the low tide line and the tides coming in.
@@Michael-yt8wj Exactly what I was thinking. like the old saying.... You don't need it, until you do.
I can feel your loss, I'm sorry that happened to you. You're a 4wheel drive overlanding Guru of the open plains, no one will ever steal that from you sir. I must admit, the entire time you stood in front of that glorious rig, all I could think about was my desire for it. But alas, I live in the states, no 70 series for us.. I'm far to poor to ever have a beautiful ride like one of yours though! Keep on trucking friend, happy trails!
I appreciate your openness and you great stories. Blessed
I'm very sorry that happened to you. I hope who did it watches this, and feels like dirt.
Not likely
What a fantastic message at the end. I Always try to support family owned businesses especially restaurants here in Las Vegas. With the Covid lockdowns it’s been really tough on most who had to survive by offering curbside pick up or delivery. Thankfully many did and were able to open their doors when restrictions were lifted. Thanks for this video. Cheers.
Truly sorry for this incident..
My dad always told me, ‘buy cheap buy twice’. Advice I carry to this day.
I can not stand thieves. CCTV, alarm and locks are my passion and my old business. I had issues at my parents home with an ex so I alarmed and put up cameras, no further problems.
Theft is a sign of a broken society. How often do we hear about the old times when no one was closing doors/
@@kyocerakitten1162 Or people that think everything should be handed to them, not understanding that you have to work hard for some things. "Entitlement" comes to mind.
I HATE thieves!! This happened to me only a few months ago early 2020 , we had been building up a Ranger Raptor for overlanding and filming this on our TH-cam channel. We had packed the Raptor ready to do a family shakedown trip prior to our big trip to Cape York. The thieves broke in to our house and stole the entire car fully loaded. We got a replacement vehicle a few moths later but were left over $20K out of pocket on equipment and accessories...we have started to slowly rebuild (on a much smaller budget now) so we can still complete our family trip to Cape York this year. I feel your pain of how it feels looking for those little items to pack that just aren't there anymore, gifts and sentimental items that would always come on every trip, each item could tell its own story.
Like you Andrew but that was the most ridiculous argument I’ve ever heard! Welcome to the world of business and economics. If you want to protect an idea take out a patent or JV with someone who can. Being first with an idea gives you no right to a monopoly. Often the invention is the easy part the business execution is the hard part. Love your work Andrew with 4wd touring and film making but videos on commerce may be outside your wheelhouse!
OMG. How on Earth is this a video about commerce? I am telling a story of what happens to me, and others. Simple as that.
Dear Andrew, what you say happens in all market fields... I suffered the same in introducing in my Country a special horizontal directional drilling equipment, made by a friend of mine in the UK: somebody got the idea from a main contractor who came to see a demonstration in Rome and got a public financing for doing a little different equipment but based on the same principle: down the hole air hammer. We started a legal action that brought us to spend a fortune while "competitors" making money... that's the way it is! Thank you for your videos! All the best from Italy
Love this show.
That has been a concern of mine for years now people pay good money for rubbish and small business die
rioters and looters in Australia now too?
Everyone just copies the USA. No culture of their own
Huge problem with joggers there
Country was founded with Convicts
@@HAHA.GoodMeme Incorrect sir! In the 4wd industry, Australia is the country most copied. BY FAR! USA exports very few 4WD and overland products.
4xoverland they do export to me as I own a Jeep, I’ve got no choice but it’s good stuff.
For a moment there i thought they stole your mate Jeremy 4:56
Bloody good video Andrew, a message that unfortunately often needs repeating :(
what do you think of the new Ineos Grenadier Aka the real need defender remake
video on its way.
I just realized that its quite some time that we have seen one of your over land expedition videos, understandibly because of covid 19. But I must tell that all your work is amazing. I love the way you narrate a story. I am a fan of Sir David Attenborough. You are quite like him when you are telling a story.
While I get what you are saying, what I feel people need to understand is what China's strength is. Cheap labour. If an Aussie company wants to startup and produce something here it will cost a heck of a lot more than if the same thing was made in China and shipped here. If we pride ourselves in being creative and can problem solve with unique products, then good, go ahead and design away, just get it made over there. Focus on quality control and you will be fine. We are not a manufacturing economy, we couldn't even keep our local carmakers in business because the cars were making were too expensive and too inefficient compared to imports.
Use the Chinese and let them do what they do best. We can't beat them at manufacturing, but we can use that to our advantage. They will boost our economy by importing more raw materials from us, and Aussie's can buy more stuff cos the products we want are at a lower price.
Back to what you were saying about family business'. In principle, I agree with supporting local family's etc. New products and start/up business' need to start somewhere. We should absolutely try and support them where possible. But if they try to keep going for decades charging whatever is profitable to them, without getting smarter with manufacturing, or evolving the product to be more specialised/unique/effective then of course they will get outdone by someone else. Ideally, they would come up with the idea and be the first to fully exploit the bottom line so nobody else can.
My biggest gripe is large Aussie brands selling what we are told to believe as Aust made top notch products, when they actually are not. They are getting stuff made in China but selling here at high prices. Nothing wrong with that I guess until some one comes along and does not hide the fact their similar (sometimes identical) product IS made in China and charge significantly less. All of a sudden we see the profit margin and realise we were getting taken for a ride.
I personally have been to China for business and met manufacturers of certain 4wd brands and their products. Awnings are a great example. 8 years ago I met with a Chinese businessman who had factories making awnings for a certain 3 letter Aust brand. Back then these awnings (standard 2x2m pullout type) were being sold here in Aust for around $600 AUD. The Chinese businessman was very proud of the contract he had with this highly recognised brand, told me how much I could buy the same awning for from him, the profit margin absolutely blew me away. Aussies were getting ripped on these items. Not long after that I started to see other new unknown (at the time) Aussie brands popping up around the place selling basically the same awnings (just different colours etc) for $200 AUD. Fair enough I thought. It was just a matter of time.
As business owners we always want the largest profit margin, but we can't complain if someone else comes along and does exactly the same thing and undercuts us. Either we weren't smart enough to tighten up our bottom line or we were being too greedy. I don't feel sorry for these large companies who don't offer anything unique but charge high prices for their secretly made in China products. If your stuff is made in China, own up to it, invest in good quality control, offer a relative warranty, tell customers what they're getting, and charge fairly. People will see the value buy from you.
Well said Andrew. Ronny and I have discussed this at length and while we have had some great ideas for products, we haven't really bothered releasing them because we know we'll only manage to get a few hundred out the door before they are copied, and that will hardly pay for the R&D. I know you can patent things, but the hard thing is the legal fees defending them, especially when the other side has millions of $$ they can use to drown you.
I've had to deal with this myself for over 20 years But what you could do, is attach your name to your products. People who know and respect you will buy your products because you are backing it. Confidence is the center of this project.
@4xoverland waiting for 4WDSuperCentre to release a TH-cam video on their products being copied by other companies
I see what you did there :D
Ahh, civilisation,I'm English living in west Belfast, just wouldn't happen, nobody has that amount of kit,and they wouldn't have use of their knees after the event.
@Viktor Sligo what a response ;) To both of you...take care, cheers from OZ
I can't stand a thief. Folks like us work hard for what little we have. It's a shame that people have abandoned good moral character. Looking at the world today it's no surprise. People want more and more stuff but don't want to earn. They try to claim entitlement. They have a, "right," to it, but they don't want to take responsibility to EARN it.
The counterfeit Travel Buddy Ovens is a particularly disgusting episode in 4x4 industry malpractice!
First with Road Chef (Road Cheat) and then with Kick Ass, both of which are the exact same item, constructed from the same components.
The effects to the original company will have been devastating!
But the 'industry couldn't care less about them, only about making money, irrespective of the underhand business practices.
Getting a Travel Buddy to the UK more than doubles the cost, but as its what I want, it's what will happen.
"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" but outright plagarism is an insult.