Stampin' Up! images on our stamps are copyright protected. Sadly, not everyone abides by our laws and there are many who are taking advantage of the hard work of our designers and the hard work of those of us who share inspiration for using our products.
Authentic Stampin' Up! products are only available from a demonstrator or from stampinup.com directly. If you've been with me for any length of time, you know that my business is all about sharing what I love, and not about the money I earn. If it were about the money, I would not offer everything to you for free. Many demonstrators charge their customers for their ideas and inspiration. They only do live videos in a group that you pay to belong to, or they sell their ideas in the form of classes. I don't do that, for now.
Did you know that it is illegal to purchase counterfeit products? I found that information on the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website here. Luckily copycats of our products will not be life threatening as pharmaceuticals and pet products could be. And, no, I don't think you will receive criminal or civil penalties, but I do have more information about the harm of counterfeit products.
This is how one online company advertised our Cheerful Daisy stamp set. Notice in this photo they have removed the stamp set name? But hopefully you recognize the stamp set case as Stampin' Up!
Personally, I am offended by people who purchase fake Stampin' Up! products. I feel unappreciated and taken advantage of. This is the 'how to' I found on one of the online websites selling fake Stampin' Up! products.
Do you appreciate that I offer you more information than this?
Here is the 'inspiration' from one of the sites. Please compare this to page 110 in our 2023-2024 annual catalog. This company can't even create inspiration for you. They stole our inspiration, too!
Do they show you many ideas for using a product? (See the video series I have started on my YouTUbe channel, Technique Tuesday.) Do they want you using what you purchase? Do they teach you Anything? Do they educate you on stamping techniques and unique ways to use your products? NO! That's the job of a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. That is why our products are more expensive than others. You are getting much more than the product. You get me.
This is what I found about the harm purchasing counterfeit products and what it does to all of us, not just me your demonstrator.
FROM RED POINTS:
What are the biggest impacts of counterfeits on brands?
Counterfeiters create serious problems for authentic businesses, but too many people are unaware of the full extent of the impact of counterfeit goods on brands. Red Points details the five most harmful consequences of counterfeiting.
Key impacts of counterfeiting
- Stealing sales by undercutting prices
- Damaging authentic brands’ reputation
- Leaving companies to deal with the fallout of counterfeits
- Harming the long-term trust built with business partners
- Forcing brands to spend time and money fighting fakes
(More information about each of these points can be found on the website linked below.)
Source: What are the biggest impacts of counterfeits on brands? - Red Points
And, finally, from Sue again:
I am grateful to be associated with a company that looks out for me. They educate me in all things about my business and have my best interest in mind with everything they do. Our home office has asked us to report any and all counterfeit products we find. I have been taking time away from my crafting and sharing with you to do just that. I pray that some day I won't have to and our copyrights will be honored.
Thank you for reading this and letting me share what I have learned.
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