When will folks let it go - Microtech

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Yo Mama

Yo Mama

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I am not a Microtech fanboy....yet, I have just a new utx 85 that works great and I really like.

After the whole Microtech vs. KIA issue, many on this forum seem to have rushed to judgment. The way I see it we know very little, and existing bias towards Microtech is coming out.

What do we know:

1. Microtech threatened to sue Anthony Sculimbrene of Everyday Commentary. Anthony Sculimbrene has made a retraction at: http://www.thetruthaboutknives.com/...es-formal-retraction-of-greatest-knife-piece/

The response here on the forum was that Anthony must have been pressured into doing so,....instead of giving the thought that it was on his own, a decision made as an adult, and having spent time with Anthony Marfione which doesn't strike me as the owner of Microtech trying to be a bully but instead a teacher.

2. Microtech and KAI issues: going back through a few years past it appears that at bladeshow the throw down was given, by both companies. None of us were there, and I'm sorry but KAI's rep in the past on bf has been less than respectful and couldn't handle moderating their own forum. I'm not going to judge Microtech's response, because I think Marfione explained exactly what happened, with KAI threatening to make an otf with Microtech design, and Microtech showing if that's what they wanted they would get the same thing in return.

3. Microtech and Anthony Marfione suing their own family: We again know nothing about this or the people involved. A few posters on bf empathized with family dysfunction, but most seemed to be able to immediately judge Anthony because he is suing his Son. Sorry, but family can sometimes be the first to stab you in the back, so until we know more.....again......we know nothing!

So that we know nothing, in the future when anyone asks or discusses Microtech, keep the bs out. If you have personal feelings against the company than fine, take it somewhere else, like a shrink, because I think a few people here need one.
 
I think we need a new reality TV show...

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I agree very much with what you said, and to be clear I do not own a Microtech and am unlikely to pick one up any time. It seems that this sort of half-informed knee-jerk reaction is common in subcultures, scenes or communities. In hardcore punk music, for example, there were always those who insisted on muddying the water with constant gossip of which band has sold out, which has betrayed another band or musical sub-genre. Same thing in late 80s-early 90s skateboarding. People who had nothing at stake usually seemed to take the strongest stand in any controversy or disagreement and sometimes the parties at the center of a controversy turned out to be friends.
 
He didn't threaten to sue, as far as I understood it, he actually filed suit and as part of the settlement Tony S. had to publish a retraction AND do 700 hours of pro-bono work over the next 4 years. That's a good bit more than printing a retraction after getting to know the guy.

Microtech, as stated above, has admitted to stealing the design, but gave a middle schoolers excuse as to why they did it. They've also stolen Mikov's auto design in the past, claiming it's just a classic European auto design. By that same argument we need to quit complaining about PM2 clones because they're just a classic American folder design.

Their warranty service is absolutely horrendous. If they don't refuse to service it entirely due to basic maintenance being performed by the customer or lose it you'll be waiting for a number of months for it to return.

If Chevrolet made a blatant copy of a Rolls Royce Phantom and a Ferrari Daytona, claiming a dare for one and traditional European design for the other, refused warranty service if you changed the oil or tires yourself and then took 6 months to fix your car if they did decide to warranty the service, would you buy one of their cars?

Play the apologist if you want, but they won't be getting any of my business. I might've been able to overlook the IP issues, but when coupled with the other issues I can't do business with them.
 
Yo Mama said:
See man this is exactly what I'm talking about, just because Microtech played the same game I don't see how it was any more wrong vs. what KAI did.
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The difference is that KAI (a) didn't create a blatant ripoff of a Microtech (see photo below—some people have accused this of being a "ripoff" of the Microtech Scarab, but it's hardly close enough to even merit serious consideration), and (b) never released the knife they did make to the general public.

Meanwhile, Microtech/Marfione (a) did in fact create a blatant ripoff of a KAI (see photo below), and (b) are continuing to make and sell that blatant ripoff in all different manner of styles and types.

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All of this was explained back in 2011 by Thomas Welk, KAI's director of marketing and sales, and it has been corroborated by Microtech's own statement which I linked to in a comment above. Here is Welk's statement: http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-original-0777.901807/#post-10219157.

KAI didn't do anything wrong. Microtech, on the other hand, was blatantly in the wrong and continues to be so.
 
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I'll likely never buy a Microtech after seeing the way the present themselves on social media. Threatening violence on Facebook is too far out of bounds for me. That isn't the type of company I wish to support. I would be embarrassed to be seen with a Microtech by someone who knew they handled themselves in such in a manner publicly. It also makes me question their maturity and how they would handle a problem if one were to arise. If I was unhappy with one of their products and informed them of that, would I have to worry about them coming to my home to beat me up like I saw someone representing them say they were going to do to someone else who had a complaint about their company?
 
brancron said:
The difference is that KAI (a) didn't create a blatant ripoff of a Microtech (see photo below—some people have accused this of being a "ripoff" of the Microtech Scarab, but it's hardly close enough to even merit serious consideration), and (b) never released the knife they did make to the general public.

Meanwhile, Microtech/Marfione (a) did in fact create a blatant ripoff of a KAI (see photo below), and (b) are continuing to make and sell that blatant ripoff in all different manner of styles and types.

Bz83WEn.jpg

WaVoS.png


All of this was explained back in 2011 by Thomas Welk, KAI's director of marketing and sales, and it has been corroborated by Microtech's own statement which I linked to in a comment above. Here is Welk's statement: http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-original-0777.901807/#post-10219157.

KAI didn't do anything wrong. Microtech, on the other hand, was blatantly in the wrong and continues to be so.
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Wait, the same Thomas that left bf. The same KAI that threatened to copy Microtech Out The Front Knife? And only then did it result in ugliness between companies? See that's what I'm saying man there's just enough blame to go around I don't understand why it getsslumped on Microtech?
 
Yo Mama said:
The same KAI that threatened to copy Microtech Out The Front Knife? And only then did it result in ugliness between companies? See that's what I'm saying man there's just enough blame to go around I don't understand why it getsslumped on Microtech?
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KAI's "threats" directed towards Microtech are the epitome of a "he said, she said" situation, with Microtech telling one story and KAI (through Welk) telling a completely different story. It doesn't matter though, because even assuming, for the sake of argument, that Microtech's side of the story is true, it's indisputable that Microtech ripped off the ZT 0777 (and continues to do so), while KAI didn't rip off anything.

KAI telling Microtech that they're going to build an OTF that will put Microtech out of business (assuming that's true) does not give Microtech the right to blatantly rip off the ZT 0777. If you can't agree to that, then there's no point in discussing this any further.
 
gzb said:
Congratulations. You just quoted someone who managed to get banned from here by the Moderators...
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What does that have to do with anything? I have no idea why he was banned [edit: according to users below, he was not in fact banned], but does it have any bearing on the truthfulness of his description of KAI's interaction with Microtech at Blade Show 2011? If so, please explain. While you're at it, please explain the connection between Welk's being supposedly banned here and Microtech's admission that the Matrix was a "response" to the ZT 0777.
 
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gzb said:
That's great man. Glad to hear it, though many folks don't really care...
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Then why post at all? I don't care what the Kardashians are up to and you won't find me posting on a Kardashian fan forum(hopefully that doesn't exist).

I don't have any emotional investment in the issue and I don't mind at all of someone else buys one, but I will continue to openly discuss my opinion of the company in threads where that opinion seems relevant.
 
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