Cloning a Thief (?)

Is it wrong to purchase a Microtech Clone?

  • Yes

    Votes: 44 73.3%

  • No

    Votes: 16 26.7%
  • Total voters
    60
Petunia D. Feeble

Petunia D. Feeble

I sharpen things.
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
4,695
Most of us agree that buying clones is bad for the community. Taking someone's hard work and design then making a cheap knock off for your own profit is clearly wrong.

I'm curious though as to how everyone feels about clones of knives from a company who has done the same thing themselves. Companies who clearly don't care about their customer or the IP of others.

So, how do you feel about Microtech clones?
 
Albeit maybe a smidgen less wrong, still feels wrong. No need or desire to stoop to the scumbag's level.
 
My only rule is I don't like when they use the logos. Counterfeits I don't like. But if it just shares a likeness I don't really mind. I'm not saying I haven't owned counterfeits as I have. But it was more of a case study if you will and now that I have learned as much as I think I will be allowed to learn I don't mess with them anymore. I still buy clones on occasion. I will say none of the clones really compare to the real thing. I'm speaking in terms of OTF's. Folders are a whole different ball game as china (lets be honest its where most come from) really hasn't caught up on the OTF game but they are learning quickly. But, even the best have a bit more play than the real thing.

But as a moral or ethical issue I think people should be able to buy and use what makes them happy. I try not to sit in judgment of anyone in regards to what they carry. IMHO if you aren't trying to pass off a fake as the real thing then you should be able to buy and use whatever you want. I'm not saying I wont poke fun at someone for carrying a knife that I think is comical. But that's what it is to me, funny. I just think some take certain issues way too seriously when they really don't have a dog in the fight. And I also believe that the people who get righteous about knives probably have something that others could judge them on. At the end of the day, life is too short to worry about trivial issues I have no stake in. Sure that can be a slippery slope and one might argue where does it end? I guess I just live in a little bubble and don't much care for what others think about what I do or how I do it.
 
Some may argue the that the clones can be of higher quality than the original. That doesn't just go for knives.
 
With Marfione I have little sympathy, but I still wouldn't buy a Microtech clone simply because none of them are any good.
 
madcap_magician said:
With Marfione I have little sympathy, but I still wouldn't buy a Microtech clone simply because none of them are any good.
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That I have to disagree on. While none of them are as good as the originals there are some being made now that are quite capable. A little more play than a genuine M/T but to say none of them are any good has me thinking you haven't seen all that are available.
 
If I found a real one in the street I'd trade it or give it away , so I certainly wouldn't buy a fake one.
 
Why sink to their level? This is a divisive issue that could end up costing you some business just like it surely has for Microtech.
 
^^^I am in agreement with purpledc that there are some really close to MT in quality---what people have against MT is there price in relation to there utterly horrible customer service which is make or break in just about any industry.And I believe MT has done it to themselves--just look on the exchange it is just flooded with people unloading their MT's.Heck I really wanted a stride sng cc but since strider is ? whatever it is they are going to do I wont purchase one at this time due to uncertainty of custom service and for that reason I just purchased a protech/strider PT auto from Bladehq yesterday--protech has excellent CS.
 
dryflytrout said:
Why sink to their level? This is a divisive issue that could end up costing you some business just like it surely has for Microtech.
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If someone wont send him a knife for sharpening because he posed this question for the sake of conversation then its probably someone not worth having as a customer. Here on the forums is where the most contention for clones exist. And my guess is that is to keep knifemakers happy by supporting a forum that has their back and they don't have to worry about counterfeits of their goods being openly discussed in tandem with their genuine products. But there are many dealers who sell clones. Some of them paid dealers of this very forum. Either by opening a sister site to their own or by carrying brands known for ripping other people off. IMHO not using TLE over this would be like a guy not wanting to use a muffler shop because he saw the owner asking about kit cars on an automotive forum.
 
PURPLEDC said:
If someone wont send him a knife for sharpening because he posed this question for the sake of conversation then its probably someone not worth having as a customer. Here on the forums is where the most contention for clones exist. And my guess is that is to keep knifemakers happy by supporting a forum that has their back and they don't have to worry about counterfeits of their goods being openly discussed in tandem with their genuine products. But there are many dealers who sell clones. Some of them paid dealers of this very forum. Either by opening a sister site to their own or by carrying brands known for ripping other people off. IMHO not using TLE over this would be like a guy not wanting to use a muffler shop because he saw the owner asking about kit cars on an automotive forum.
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I see no problem with bringing it up for discussion. I could see problems arise for someone if they did begin to produce clones of a company that clones. If TLE isn't planning on making them, my comment isn't really relevant to him and would be more directed toward a manufacturer that would produce a clone of a clone.
 
dryflytrout said:
I see no problem with bringing it up for discussion. I could see problems arise for someone if they did begin to produce clones of a company that clones. If TLE isn't planning on making them, my comment isn't really relevant to him and would be more directed toward a manufacturer that would produce a clone of a clone.
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Ahh, my mistake. Since his question was about buying a clone or what you think about clones that are made of micros I thought you meant that him bringing up this question would hurt HIS business which seems to be sharpening. Sorry for my misstep.
 
I won't buy clones of anything (except maybe sheep, to send to forum buddies in NZ). I will not buy a microtech either.

Too many legit choices out there. Plus, I do have some modicum of integrity.

A clone of a clone is still a stolen idea. Its just been stolen twice. Two wrongs don't make a right.
 
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I would say yes, it is wrong. Although it might be what he deserves, it doesn't make it right to do the same to him. It just makes us just as bad. Its why Batman never kills the Joker. Joker deserves to die, but its what separates Batman from him.
I really wanted to press no though. Even more now that MT believes its okay to attack someones First Amendment rights. Turns my stomach.
 
Clones or counterfeits, no way. Pieces clearly heavily borrowing from an existing piece? A bit more of a grey area. The others are pretty clear-cut, though.
 
dryflytrout said:
Why sink to their level? This is a divisive issue that could end up costing you some business just like it surely has for Microtech.
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I haven't actually weighed in on the issue. I just thought it would be a neat topic of discussion.

My take on it is that the companies that make counterfeit Microtechs also make counterfeit Spydies, ZTs, CRKs, etc. Which are all companies I respect and care about. As such, I won't buy a counterfeit Microtech in order to support the other maker's affected by those same companies. I've no concern in any lost profit on Microtechs part though.

As an isolated event, I think of it like stealing from Wal-Mart. I'm not going to do it because I don't need that sort of headache, but I'm not going to snitch either.
 
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