Post by Cats (Doom) on Apr 16, 2015 12:10:57 GMT -5
If you plan to sell your airsoft items on Ebay, PLEASE READ THIS.
It seems like most airsofters know and understand what I'm about to recap, but I figured a reminder for the others among us couldn’t hurt.
> If you are selling airsoft replica optics, laser units, rail accessories, and other branded items on Ebay or other non-airsoft sites YOU MUST clearly label them using the word “Replica” or “Airsoft” to avoid headaches for you and the buyer. The words “style” and “clone” are subversive and not frequently recognized by non-airsofters. You wouldn’t want an officer getting hurt or killed because he bought what he thought was a real Aimpoint and it failed in a critical moment, would you?
> If you are selling a “replica” optic with branding on it, unless that branding was legally authorized by the original company, IT IS A COUNTERFIT. As far as I know neither ACOG, Aimpoint, Elcan, EOTech, Etc. has ever authorized a replica company to sell products with their trademark. If you are selling these items on Ebay, be aware that you are both in violation of Ebay policy and United States law; Ebay is within their rights to remove your listing from their site. I highly recommend that you refrain from using trademarked and registered names in your Ebay sales listings (ie: Aimpoint) and instead use generic terms like “red dot”, “optic”, or “scope”. I also highly suggest that you sell such branded items through airsoft forums and other places where it will not draw attention from the government or people who need to buy the real item. EOTech and other companies are ACTIVELY FIGHTING COUNTERFITS, they are working with the US government to find people selling counterfeits and prosecute them.
Why should we care?
In short, people selling airsoft items either claiming they are the real thing or not clearly labeling them as airsoft MAKE THE COMMUNITY LOOK BAD. I know airsoft retailers are largely at fault due to the common use of real names followed by the word “style”, but this should not stop us from doing our part to stop confusion. Many officers, soldiers, and other people who rely on real gear do not have experience with the differences in replica and real equipment that airsofters do, so they may not easily identify a replica item before it matters. If this sounds weird to some of you, then you must understand that many officers and soldiers are not intrigued by guns and gear like we are, many simply see it as a job and therefore don't actively spend time understanding the differences between real and replica equipment.
Why am I posting this?
I know many many many “real steel” guys, the vast majority of which outright HATE AIRSOFTERS. It's not because they have experience with airsoft or airsofters but largely because of the stigma that airsoft is a kids game, airsofters support Chinese counterfeiters, and airsofters don't have respect for real weapons/war/etc. This is reenforced everytime one of them buys an item thinking its real and receives a counterfeit. Recently a friend of mine in law enforcement bought an optic off Ebay that was subversively labeled to be a replica; when he found this out he was pissed and ofcourse I had to hear all about it because he knows I play airsoft. His experience of course was circulated amongst our mutual friends and we all quickly realized one thing, ALL OF US at one time or MORE have been duped by counterfeit airsoft gear. Even I a few months ago purchased a Magpul item online from a US seller, it was sold as the real deal, and when it arrived it was a PTS plastic knockoff. PLEASE for the love of your country NEVER sell an airsoft item as real; if you are not 100% sure it is real then sell it as a replica. If you are selling replicas, please label them accordingly.
Thanks all!
It seems like most airsofters know and understand what I'm about to recap, but I figured a reminder for the others among us couldn’t hurt.
> If you are selling airsoft replica optics, laser units, rail accessories, and other branded items on Ebay or other non-airsoft sites YOU MUST clearly label them using the word “Replica” or “Airsoft” to avoid headaches for you and the buyer. The words “style” and “clone” are subversive and not frequently recognized by non-airsofters. You wouldn’t want an officer getting hurt or killed because he bought what he thought was a real Aimpoint and it failed in a critical moment, would you?
> If you are selling a “replica” optic with branding on it, unless that branding was legally authorized by the original company, IT IS A COUNTERFIT. As far as I know neither ACOG, Aimpoint, Elcan, EOTech, Etc. has ever authorized a replica company to sell products with their trademark. If you are selling these items on Ebay, be aware that you are both in violation of Ebay policy and United States law; Ebay is within their rights to remove your listing from their site. I highly recommend that you refrain from using trademarked and registered names in your Ebay sales listings (ie: Aimpoint) and instead use generic terms like “red dot”, “optic”, or “scope”. I also highly suggest that you sell such branded items through airsoft forums and other places where it will not draw attention from the government or people who need to buy the real item. EOTech and other companies are ACTIVELY FIGHTING COUNTERFITS, they are working with the US government to find people selling counterfeits and prosecute them.
Why should we care?
In short, people selling airsoft items either claiming they are the real thing or not clearly labeling them as airsoft MAKE THE COMMUNITY LOOK BAD. I know airsoft retailers are largely at fault due to the common use of real names followed by the word “style”, but this should not stop us from doing our part to stop confusion. Many officers, soldiers, and other people who rely on real gear do not have experience with the differences in replica and real equipment that airsofters do, so they may not easily identify a replica item before it matters. If this sounds weird to some of you, then you must understand that many officers and soldiers are not intrigued by guns and gear like we are, many simply see it as a job and therefore don't actively spend time understanding the differences between real and replica equipment.
Why am I posting this?
I know many many many “real steel” guys, the vast majority of which outright HATE AIRSOFTERS. It's not because they have experience with airsoft or airsofters but largely because of the stigma that airsoft is a kids game, airsofters support Chinese counterfeiters, and airsofters don't have respect for real weapons/war/etc. This is reenforced everytime one of them buys an item thinking its real and receives a counterfeit. Recently a friend of mine in law enforcement bought an optic off Ebay that was subversively labeled to be a replica; when he found this out he was pissed and ofcourse I had to hear all about it because he knows I play airsoft. His experience of course was circulated amongst our mutual friends and we all quickly realized one thing, ALL OF US at one time or MORE have been duped by counterfeit airsoft gear. Even I a few months ago purchased a Magpul item online from a US seller, it was sold as the real deal, and when it arrived it was a PTS plastic knockoff. PLEASE for the love of your country NEVER sell an airsoft item as real; if you are not 100% sure it is real then sell it as a replica. If you are selling replicas, please label them accordingly.
Thanks all!