"TimeCast - ebay pirate alert!" Topic

Once again the eBay pirates have sailed into view…

An eBAy user is selling a number of "used" 6mm items on ebay, some of which are copies of TimeCast models.

We have reported the eBay seller to eBay for IP and Copyright infringement.

We also have evidence that he is also copying items from another UK manufacturer and have passed the details on to them as well.

More details to follow as this develops – we expect to name and shame the seller shortly.

Barrie
TimeCast

Are the items listed as TimeCast?
Good luck on shutting down the bastard!

They are not listed as TimeCast but:

1.We recognise our own designs
2. We know where he bought them
3. We know that he bought one of each
4. We know is selling multiple items of them
5. We know he has been buying casting materials

More fun to follow – pull up a chair and grab some popcorn!

Barrie

If you ever get bored of selling models a promising career as a private detective surely beckons!

Is he cheap ?

I'm kidding – good luck in your endevours.

They should know by now. Don't mess with the Shrewsbury massive!

If someone is doing something illegal, can you name and shame them? Or does that potentially compromise a trial should it get that far?

Just asking.

Jaz
revolutionaryroads.com

I hate this sort of thing, it is just theft plain and simple. I know that things are tough financially for most of us but that is no excuse to rip off small traders who, themselves, are struggling to make a living and who, unlike Amazon and Google, have no option but to pay tax in full!

'We know he has been buying casting materials'

Wait! Let me guess. The criminal genius is buying the materials by eBay and giving feedback – 'Perfect for recasting'.

I ran into several over the years using Ebay. Several of them were out of one city in the Middle US. Don't know what it was about that area at the time but turned me off buying from anyone in the area bare metal. I have seen recasts at time at the Flea Market at HMGS conventions from time to time and to the credit of the organization they shut down several who were hawking pirated figures, mostly resin recasts over the years.

VR
James Mattes

I'd be interested to know who you think the Trader is, so we can keep an eye out.

what amazes me is that these guys don't seem to follow the hobby much
- I mean its not like they are picking bland and unrecognisable property
- they seem to go for stuff that is easily recognisable to anyone in the hobby (Timecast, Peter Pig), which means its only a matter of time before they get recognised.

its a bit like hijacking a truck en-route to the apple store, and then setting up a shop selling discount ipads a week later.

You know, I think that TMP has "grown up" in the past few years.
I hardly ever see anyone defending such blackguards any more.
"But I WANT IT!" doesn't get much respect lately.

Keel-hauling is too good for them!

We are waiting for the eBay seller to respond to a communication. If we have no reply by tomorrow morning we will publish his eBay user name on TMP as a warning to potential buyers.

Barrie

..is too good for 'em.

@Vojvoda – that's a terrible thing to say; I can't think which KC you might mean…. ;-)

Well at least it proves that your stuff is so dammed good its worth copying. Personally I d break his fingers one by one over a period of weeks……….'oh sorry had I done that one already? Never mind you can get it 'recast'…….
L

Leon, you're a riot :-)))))

Dom, I hear they have some crazy little women there.

And I´m gonna get me one!

I run across a LOT of recasters where I live. The guys here just recast GW (mostly Forge World), or stuff that you can't even buy (like FF's Starcraft minis). But recasting small-time manufacturers is just rotten. How is there even any profit in it?

Then I have to remember that just because a business scheme is doomed, doesn't mean someone won't go all-in on it.

Good luck hastening their failure!

This morning we had an email in our inbox from keith260248 apologizing and stating he would remove the offending items and would not be listing them on eBay again, which he has done. Result.