Some people just don't get it..

[Sherl]

Got an email yesterday asking if I use this or that in one of my products and after tracing the ip address to nowhere I've done business, I replied that was like asking Yank@@ what they use for wax. The reply I got today to that made some crack about me being offended and I was the only 'not nice' person she emailed, matter of fact I was rude. She said it was like asking if I prefered Tide or Cheer. Are people that dense?? I told her is was like wanting to make Tide and asking the company for the ingredients. Don't get me wrong.. I love people and love 'talking shop' at the shows with other candle or soap people and I don't mind helping others. But we never give 'trade secrets' so to speak. Where do people get off thinking anyone will just give them company business, especially with no relationship, then say the business owner is rude if they refuse? To top is off this person then says they will remember my bad attitiude when they go to place their 'large' Christmas order. Give me a break. Sorry about the vent but I know ya'll know how anoying people like that are.

[smart tart]

As I read your post I wondered if perhaps someone was asking about ingredients to a B&B product as opposed to candle? Might be checking for ingredients which may cause allergies? Or perhaps the person is vegan and prefers 100% soy or???? You didn't say the question was so specific as to be wanting to know 'how to make a candle'....or?

I may be off base here but imo it is just a question and you have the right to answer or not but I am not so sure I understand why you are offended??

[dpowell]

Smart tart. I was thinking the same thing. From the original post, "Got an email yesterday asking if I use this or that in one of my products" sounds to me that they were checking for a specific ingredient.

I could be wrong, but the way it was worded makes me think the same way as you.

[Sherl]

I make a non scented product - potato bag - and they sell well for me. Like my other products, it took time and money to figure out what worked and what didn't and they basically asked what material I prefered to make them out of and why, so there was no confusion there. Its a lot cheaper to just buy one than to buy the materials to make one.. because of what you have to buy and the size it comes. Makes no sense to tell me it was for just one so I can trust her with the info. And the thing is.. she is not the first.

I had a woman in my hometown last year that I had to serve a c&d letter. Too many people know me and that product around here and her materials we not as nice as mine.. didn't want anyone slamming my product if hers fell apart. If it was a hobby it would be one thing.. but I sell these and I have no desire to impart what works best to someone I don't know. I see that info the same as my wax formula or soap recepies. She can google just as easily as email me.

[HeavenScentU]

If I had allergies or didn't like a certain ingredient in a product that I was thinking about buying than I would ask, but I wouldn't ask for every ingredient just what I had a problem with. I don't know if you post the ingredients on your website, but that might be something you can add or just let the consumer know this product may contain coconut or shea butter for people with nut allergies.

[Sherl]

The product is made from fabric and the woman was not interested in purchasing anything.. she was looking to make one [so she said] for herself and as such does not need to know what went into mine. She was very clear all she wanted was info, not product.

[elleah]

Hey Sheryl - I just had to go to your website to see this potatoe bag - very cool! It takes all kind.... At least you replied to her, I wouldn't have even wasted my time!

Lori

[Shadowbox]

I had a woman in my hometown last year that I had to serve a c&d letter.

I'm just curious, how were you able to serve her a C&D? Do you have Potato Bag trademarked? I ask because I've seen the same term for this kind of product on other sites (tutorials, as well as selling them).

[Sherl]

There are many versions of this bag.. and ways of making them. My local woman duplicated the exact way I made them right down to copying the card I inserted inside. Its been worked out.. she makes a different style and we are both happy. No one mistakes hers for mine.

And yes, these are on the web, how to and so forth.. to email me and ask specifically how I do mine was uncalled for. Just like info on making soap or candles is out there on the web. You just don't email a business with a product you like and say I want to make one, what is your recipe? I origionally bought one, liked it and wanted to make some gifts. I lived half way accross the country from where I bought is so was not in a place to compete with the person I got it from. So I looked on the web to get a general sense of what was out there, bought different things and kinda did my own design with them, purposly trying to be different from what I had seen. Some worked, some did not. Got a few scorched ones in the process. When I got one I liked I used it alot. Then made gifts. Had interest in more so now they are added to my product line.

[Shadowbox]

There are many versions of this bag.. and ways of making them. My local woman duplicated the exact way I made them right down to copying the card I inserted inside. Its been worked out.. she makes a different style and we are both happy. No one mistakes hers for mine.

Ahh, okay, that's definitely not right.

Thanks for the reply, I'm always intrigued by legal entanglements over products.

[doris]

People do that sort of thing to us on occasion, wanting a pattern or specific directions "so they can make one cheaper". I've even caught them practically tearing things apart to see how they are made.

[pinetreecandles]

Got an email yesterday asking if I use this or that in one of my products and after tracing the ip address to nowhere I've done business.

Just wanted to say that tracing someones IP address isn't very accurate. If you were to trace mine, it would say I live in Texas and if you were to check mine through the IP mapping to see a visual location, it would say North Carolina, both of which are wrong. I check my server logs also to see where IP's are from, just to get an idea, but don't use that info for any business decisions since I know only a small percentage is actually correct.

[hometowncandles]

I'm not trying to start anything here, but if I were in your shoes, I don't think I would post on a public forum some of the tactics I have taken to avoid people stealing my ideas or products.

I mean seriously,tracing somebody's IP address because they wanted to know how you make a product, and having somebody served with a C&D because they copied your product. BTW-I don't agree with copying anybody's stuff, but if it's not trademarked or something, I wouldn't think there would much legal recourse anyway.

Believe me, I can understand how frustrating it is when you put lots of hard work and lots of money into creating a quality product and then someone comes along and wants to take the easy way out and copy what you have done so they don't have to invest in the time and cost of trial and error. But that sounds a little obsessed to me. JMOT

I guess what I'm getting at is, if I were a potential customer and I read on here that you went to such lengths to keep people from "stealing" your ideas, I'm not sure I would purchase anything. I'd be afraid you would be lurking over my shoulder watching for me to duplicate that item and try to market it. BTW-wouldn't do that. But, can you see my point?

Again not trying to be sarcastic or start anything, but from my viewpoint a rant such as this shouldn't be put into writing, especially on a public forum.

[Candybee]

What's wrong with simply stating that you do not give out specific information regarding the making of your product?

I would make a simple statement up front that you will not divulge how you make your product as it is a trade secret. Then suggest that you would be happy to answer some questions in general about it.

They can then either take the hint or you have just established a reason for ending the questions right then and there if they become insistent.

Hope that makes sense.

[Candle Makin Momma]

I've had people e-mail asking where I get my supplies and I tell them that it is a trade secret.

[Monica]

I've had people e-mail asking where I get my supplies and I tell them that it is a trade secret.

I say the UPS man brings them to me

[KristineG]

I've read through this a few times. Did I miss the ferry?

Why even respond if it offended you so much? You seem a bit touchy. What's the big deal? Why would you track her IP address? Ya know, some people are just like that. They might not think there's anything wrong with asking. I would take it as a compliment, respond politely, and apologize for not being able to divulge a trade secret. It's really no different than when you bought someone elses and tore it apart, played around with it and tweaked it to your perfection. In a way, back then you bought that product without any intention of doing anything but trying to figure it out so you could make one. She just wasn't slick enough to do it that way or too lazy to research and just asked. Oh, and by the way, if you sell on the internet, it doesn't matter that the person whose idea you used is across country. The internet has no boundries or state lines.