Hi guys and dolls. Firstly I am a newby to the forum, only discovered it yesterday and must say, what a surprise that it has remained hidden for so long. I can see that I have a lot of reading (and learning) to do.
One of the first observations that struck me is that there seems to be a few misguided individuals who use the forum to commercialy promote and advertise ostensibly "grey" or parralel imported fishing tackle, lures and accesories. This is clearly being done without the knowledge, approval and sanction of the official sole importers and distributors of certain brands. In other words, using this forum to advertise their untoward practises, for free.
I am pretty sure that such importers and distributers will not be happy to see their branded ranges undercut in this way by unscrupulous moonlighters, who do not carry the cost of branding, marketing, and after sales services and servicing guarantees of their leading brands.
It should also go without saying that leading retailers such as Mias would not be happy to be undercut by moonlighters advertising on the forum, run out of such moonlighter's garages. The importers and retailers play an important part to firstly bring leading brands to South Africa, and the retailers distributing such tackle accross the country to be within reach of all us enthusiastic anglers. And that while Mias even pays to advertise on the front page of the forum.
In my humble opinion the forum administration and moderators should keep a lookout for such unscrupulous operators, and moderate and delete where they see the infringement of trademarks and sole distributorships before this problem becomes out of hand. I am sure that the intention of the trading posts and opportunities to sell and trade were meant for amateur enthusiasts to swop and trade tackle to step up or expand - and not for pirate traders to hijack the forum and advertise their wares for free.
The option for legal recourse against such transgressors also always remains an option.
I am otherwise very impressed, keep up the good work, sharing advice and experiences, this is a wonderful forum and I hope I will learn much from it and all the members.
One of the first observations that struck me is that there seems to be a few misguided individuals who use the forum to commercialy promote and advertise ostensibly "grey" or parralel imported fishing tackle, lures and accesories. This is clearly being done without the knowledge, approval and sanction of the official sole importers and distributors of certain brands. In other words, using this forum to advertise their untoward practises, for free.
I am pretty sure that such importers and distributers will not be happy to see their branded ranges undercut in this way by unscrupulous moonlighters, who do not carry the cost of branding, marketing, and after sales services and servicing guarantees of their leading brands.
It should also go without saying that leading retailers such as Mias would not be happy to be undercut by moonlighters advertising on the forum, run out of such moonlighter's garages. The importers and retailers play an important part to firstly bring leading brands to South Africa, and the retailers distributing such tackle accross the country to be within reach of all us enthusiastic anglers. And that while Mias even pays to advertise on the front page of the forum.
In my humble opinion the forum administration and moderators should keep a lookout for such unscrupulous operators, and moderate and delete where they see the infringement of trademarks and sole distributorships before this problem becomes out of hand. I am sure that the intention of the trading posts and opportunities to sell and trade were meant for amateur enthusiasts to swop and trade tackle to step up or expand - and not for pirate traders to hijack the forum and advertise their wares for free.
The option for legal recourse against such transgressors also always remains an option.
I am otherwise very impressed, keep up the good work, sharing advice and experiences, this is a wonderful forum and I hope I will learn much from it and all the members.