So I've posted on here about my lamp business on Etsy and have heard back from a few folks, even sold a lamp to a member! I've had a couple members inquire about how I connect my insulators to the lamps. Normally, I would never give out that information since it has cost me hundreds of dollars in parts and countless hours to figure out the perfect combo. That being said, the advice and help I've gotten on this site has helped me to the point where I
was willing to trust the members here with my ideas.
That being said, I was contacted by a long-time board member asking for a how-to so they could build a lamp for their son. Sounded like a great project, and I love the idea of any kind of engineering project with a kid, so I was more than willing to share my design with them. I provided instructions and some photos of how I set stuff up.
Well this week I find another new shop on Etsy that has direct ripoffs of one of my lamp designs as well as my business card holders. It only took a tiny bit of research to figure out it was the wife of said member that was building these. Pretty messed up. I get that my designs aren't patented or copyrighted, but the fact that a member of SMC would deceive me and copy my designs really floors me.
I won't hold back, I'm pissed off and more than that it hurts that I would be wronged by someone who I thought I could trust. Important business lesson learned though.
