Hello Fellow Stampers ~
How is everyone today? It's a gorgeous week here in Colorado . . . and we're certainly enjoying these unexpected warm days, as I'm sure Winter is right around the corner.
Today I want to address a topic (and a question that was posed to me over the weekend) that EXPLODED on the scene last week. It became such a hot topic so fast, that Stampin' Up! addressed it head on in the Demonstrator weekly bulletin. It has to do with fake's or knock-offs. Specifically, Stampin' Up! stamps, dies, and other items that have been replicated and copied and are being sold for pennies compared to the real thing. "So what do Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Stampin' Up! all have in common? They make quality products that some not-so-nice people want to replicate (poorly) and sell for their own benefit."
Some of you may be familiar with the logo I posted above. I had not been familiar with this until last week when this conversation first began in one of the private forums I'm a member of. I have done a bit of research since and am shocked at what I have found. Some of you may be familiar with e-commerce sites such as e-Bay, AliExpress, and Alibaba. I have not been happy with e-Bay tactics for several years now; but I was not aware of the other sites. Guess I don't get out much -- LOL The names alone should give you some insight as to where these sites originate from. In fact, most of the knockoffs out there are coming straight from China. They are poorly made and very inferior products that you would not want.
Does everyone recognize this stamp set? We know it as Beautiful You and it was introduced by Stampin' Up! in the 2017 Spring Occasions catalog and is currently being sold in our 2017-2018 Annual Catalog.
Buuuuuuut . . . did you know that the image I posted above is NOT Beautiful You? In fact, the image I posted above is straight off the Aliexpress online site. Here is their listing . . .
Are you as shocked as I am? Let's take a moment and analyze what we see here --
1. The name has been changed - Aliexpress calls their set "Dancing Girl"
2. The set is advertised as "transparent clear silicone"
3. The item sells for $2.30 - FROM CHINA
O M G!!! First - what a blatant copyright infringement. Changing the name does not change the fact that they have copied Stampin' Up! artwork, and stolen their privileged property.
Secondly, let's talk about "transparent clear silicone." Silicone is an ingredient in a lot of the products we use every day - lubricants, the seal caulking you put around your windows and doors, other types of adhesives, molds, rubber products, etc. Does that sound like something that would make a good high quality stamp - much less one you'd like to have in your stamp room?
On the other hand . . . Stampin' Up! perfected the use of "photopolymer" in making its line of photopolymer stamps. I won't go into the science of it, but basically photopolymer is "a light-activated resin that changes its properties when exposed to light. Photopolymerization is a widely used technology, used in applications ranging from imaging to biomedical uses." You will find photopolymers used in dentistry, in medical products such as hearing aids and surgical masks, and it is widely used now in the 3D-Printing world (you will find this product in our labs here at Lockheed Martin). It is much safer, stronger, lasts longer, and as we all know, creates an incredible "sharp image" stamp.
Now, tell me , what would you rather have? A $2.30 silicone stamp from China that will most likely have cancer-causing carcinogens? Or do you want the high quality $28.00/$39.00 stamp set made by Stampin' Up! right here in their own factory in Utah, United States of America [by the way - Beautiful You is actually a red rubber set that you can buy in clear mount or wood mount]? Remember, you get what you pay for!!!
Yes, Hey Chick! has also been "knocked off." Here is what Stampin' Up! shared with us yesterday . . .
"It's unfortunate, it's illegal, and it's something we'd like to see stopped. As some of you are already aware, a few low-quality knockoffs of Stampin' Up! products have been surfacing on e-commerce sites like e-Bay, AliExpress, and Alibaba. We wanted to say thank you to those of you who have already reached out to us about this issue and let you know we're currently working to resolve it. Please help us put an end to this problem, and continue watching out for—and notifying us of—any fake Stampin' Up! products. You can send all comments related to this issue to [email protected]."
Yup, even our beautiful new Birthday Delivery has been copied.
Folks, I would ask you to stay vigilant! Do not frequent these sites; do not buy from them. These are not the only products Aliexpress is selling; they sell lots and lots of other "fake" Junk (as I call it), including dies, embossing folders, poor quality yarns, clothing, cell phones, computers, etc., etc., etc. I am sure you understand that if it's being made in China and sold on this site for a few dollars, you're wasting your money. Even $2 for something that will break or be worthless upon its arrival is a waste of money.
Support your local and "Made In America" businesses. NEVER buy from these "fake" sites; and when you see a blatant "knock off" report it immediately to the originating company -- I can tell you I saw knock offs for My Favorite Things and several other US stamping companies that I follow online. I was appalled and saddened.
I hope I have answered the question posed to me over the weekend, and that I have brought a serious matter to light for all of my followers. Just Ask Wendy is YOUR forum -- and I'm pleased to address or answer any question I can regarding our little craft world. Talk to you soon! and Happy Hump Day!
Until Next Time . . .
