Steve,

We get a taste of that in our industry, but it is a major problem with the promotional products industry. I have an ASI supplier in my city who wants me to market their products, yet they have a retail operation under a different name that competes directly against me with the same products. Do you think I would stand much of a chance in a potential sale that involved bidding?

Fortunately, they have a pretty narrow product line.

The company owners and management are great people, they just don't recognize that they have business practices that do not sit well with those of us on the outside looking in. I have made them aware of my perception, but they continue to do as they feel fit and I continue to market their competitor's line of products in my community.

David,

Just like CIP who have a beautiful line of of crystal awards but your bumping heads with AITG which appears to be their ASI, PPAI, UPIC,SAGE IMPACT clone. Same goes with RS Owens and on and on. We can compete for the smaller orders, but when you get large volume order you are out of the ballpark.

Dave

Dave,

RS Owens is a great example. I would be a rich man if I could have a nickel for every RS Owens plaque that was brought in by local civic organizations to have a name and date engraved on it. I bet I have not done $200 in business with RS Owens over the past 4 years because of that. I don't even offer their products to my customers.

Stories of R.S. Owens "torpedoing" their wholesale customers, while cultivating retail relationships are in no short supply.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

David,
I heard your RS Owens catalog hit the trash can all the way from Maui.

Chuck
Nameless Awards Inc.

David,

Don't throw it away. It makes a great "idea" book.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

Steve,

The practice of large companies suing online newsgroups isn't a new phenomena.

Fortunately, a legal precedent has been set, in the form of a SLAPP law/ruling. <shrug>

The judge ruled the newsgroups were merely exercising their freedom of speech/expression. Furthermore, the judge found the sarcastic comments, contained within the threads, to be rather humorous.

We're not in Kansas anymore, and Guttenburgh himself, (the father of print media), would be proud to see so many of our modern converations being carried out in print :-)

Wouldn't you say?

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

Steve,

That suit looked like it was filed back in March of 2004. If you know, in what stage is the trial in right now?

Steve,

I read that tidbit in the morning paper a while back.

The paper I read, The Ventura County Star, may be able to point us to the source of the information. I'll check into that.

I understand the group in question is a closed forum, but maybe some of the people, not involved in the litigation, could come here and fill us in on the "trials" and tribulations.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

Steve,

Is there a legal fund for that group of people, that could be contributed to?

If so, I'm in.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

Yes, there is a legal fund set up. I don't know how they would react to an "outsider" but David Takes is now a member and he can ask for you.

As you can understand, they are very touchy about discussing the law suit since it is still in progress.

David,

Being new to the group, I'm not ready to jump on that one yet. I will ask the moderator privately about the legal fund.

I think this case is more complicated than your typical vendor-bashing lawsuit. I think Norwood stands a real good chance of collecting damages on this one.

This case IS a bit more comples than just bashing.... The crux from what I have read over the months is that Norwood has been accused of competing with their distributors... ie, direct to end users. The group was discussing whether anyone should do business with a supplier that competes and sells to the end users.

The most vocal saying that such suppliers should be avoided. Then Norwood claimed, after being named as selling direct, that a boycott was being organized to put them out of business.

Norwood claims they do NOT sell direct and the members in the lawsuit cited Norwood owned companies that do sell direct. I guess Norwood is counting on the fact that owning a company is not the same as being a company.....

I don't really know what the truth is but then the lawsuit started.

Steve,

This will no doubt a defining moment for their forum. Naturally, I'm interested in the outcome, because our industry faces similar issues.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

Steve,

If Norwood is selling to an the end user, that is certainly not illegal, and organizing a formal boycott on those grounds would be problematic in my opinion.

David,

Do personal opinions, stating what a person would personally decide, for the good of their business, or conscience, constitute organizing a boycott?

If so, it could be said that by my deciding to attend the ARA show as a paying non-member, until such time as an "Ethics Committee" (with teeth) is formed, would be organizing a boycott.

That's my personal decision. The fact that my decision is read by hundreds of people, doesn't make it an appeal to boycott.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA