I get a lot of emails since becoming the PL US/Can Rep.

so i figure its time to get this out and down the line so new-comers and oldtimers see the difference between copy / manufacturing / etc etc.

Yes, there is a lot of copies out there. just like anything its going to be copied because everyone wants to make a dime.

Many of the top brands work with the factory or own their own factory for producing products.
If you want quality over price, buy brand name only.

Ebay Sellers, unless you know them, dont buy from them as they are probably not even close to the real thing. For kicks I purchased a so-call brand name kite based on the picture. what I got was the design (not the branding or the same materials used) as if you purchased a "real" one.
if you're trying to save a penny buy used.
some tips is that you should always ask for a real picture of the product (outside of the bag).
Buyer Beware.

Now factories selling similar items for example:
http://worldkite.en.alibaba.com/product/324296439-200082260/...

Sure they look like the real thing but its actually not. It may a factory that a Brand Name uses but the quality and material is different. Also you're buying an older model kite and not to mention if you contact them they normally ask you how many you want. Unless you want to purchase 50-100 units of crap, this is not a way of saving $$$.

What sets everything apart?
- R&D by the brand name
- all manufactures / designers pick out there material to be used, and most of the time they also have a stock pile of material ready to use on their kites only. yes there is different types of ripstop out there (chikara, chikara pro, mirai, tejin, torray, etc etc).
- aside for material, bridles make up a lot for the kite, so getting a knock off probably means knotted over sewn and un-equal lengths.

Why produce in China if everything is going to get copied?
- price
- labour force

so in closing buy Brand New, or get USED.

Quote:

Now factories selling similar items for example: http://worldkite.en.alibaba.com/product/324296439-200082260/...

lol... brand name = i'm a bird

yes... yes you are.

I like used brand names!!

Wow, that's pretty blatant. Would have thought that there was a case to sue.

So Rip, with minimum order of 100, you did manage to buy just one? Just out of curiosity, how did it fly and was it any good at all?

It was a little hard to tell from the photos, but it looked like they had actually taken photos of the PL and the Blade for advertising purposes. Or have they actually copied the logo's as well?

Cheeky buggers!!

You can't really sue these guys... All they did was "accidentally put the wrong picture up" if you do. The link above has a PL Twister II picture, but claims nowhere that you're actually buying a Twister. In fact, it clearly says it's another brand.

some good looking copies....:wee:

:evil: Haven't seen any Pansh copies yet, though...

Quote:

Originally posted by bobalooie57 :evil: Haven't seen any Pansh copies yet, though...

sadly, yes : http://worldkite.en.alibaba.com/product/452389557-200082260/...

they will copy anything or should I say manufacture anything.

yes, when you deal with factories you can order up samples.

if you live in china, you can get one or two for purchase and this is how they end up on EBay. same thing with Adidas shoes from the factory.

:wow: I really didn't look too hard for the Pansh copies, I just figured how can ya undercut dirt cheap! Go figure!

my cousins will copy anything and everything

we need more RICE!!!

Sad when I'd rather buy a copy that might have higher standards than an original Pansh.... But since I'm not in the market for a buggy cleaning rag... I'll stick with buying (like new) Used Chargers At least I know they will perform exactly as advertised each and every time wether tomorrow or five years from now.

hahahahah, I got some free rice for you Rip


ah, the Pansh haters are out or should I say the PL sheep are grazing...meeeeeeeeehhhhhh :wee:

This is really starting to get off topic here. So I will continue the trend!

As far as Pansh kites go only have flown one. You can see from my sig what I fly on a regular basis. The one and only Pansh I've flown was at NABX this past year.

I got to meet this really crazy Canadian/South African/etc (this guy can't decide where he wants to live!) kiteboyza. Wind was really weird that day, gusty, and shifty.

As I stood there scratching my head debating wether the 3.5, or 5.5 RII's or the HQ 5m Apex would be the better choice, kiteboyza walks over and says "Here, fly this, and I don't want you to come back in till there is a smile on your face!"

Think it was a 5m blaze, can't remember, but had a blast with this kite that I had been bashing if for no other reason because that's what everyone else was doing. Had I flown one before? Nope. Kite flew great! Had a blast with it. Now with that said will I sell off my RII's? Nope. Love the kites and the build quality (these things fit my beach perfectly.

The only question I had and never got a chance to ask "Is this the build quality coming out of the factory now? Can we expect all of the Pansh kites to fly like this right out of the bag?"

I hope the answer to those questions is yes. I was having a crappy day and kiteboyza turned it around with a kite I had been bashing.

Kiteboyza, thanks again. Still like my RII's better though

Well, I wasn't hating on Pansh, just thinking our Asian brothers wouldn't bother to copy kites they are already giving away. I flew the 4M Flux that WELDNGOD passed. I flew it on the ice with my buggy and barrow tires. I thought it flew well, was put together well, and looked great!(It was bright green!) I also have a friend with a 10M Blaze and he loves it, and I've always liked the Blaze graphics.

I know there are lots of other threads on Pansh... but as a beginner with limited budget... they are tempting. It would be nice to know the answer to this question:

Quote:

"Is this the build quality coming out of the factory now? Can we expect all of the Pansh kites to fly like this right out of the bag?"

That question should be.
What is the build quality coming out of the factories?

Night shift will make one type faster then their brain can engage!

Pansh can be very proud of this.

Getting copied means you have made it !

I have always said Pansh can make a good kite. My $99 dollar 5m Ace intro special was a great kite. 4 panels are off colour and bridel is freyed but it's tough as nuts and flies well still. Build quality has only gone up from there . I think ?

On the other hand. I have a 3m Pansh Blaze you can buy off of me cheap Sean. It just needs some tweeking.

This is my issue with Pansh. The will sell any kite to anybody without even basic instructions. No technical back up. + what they have done to their own sellers ( undercut ) is bad business to get behind.

Why do you always point at PL when it comes to folks with opinions about Pansh? I don't see a tie betwee Bobalooie and PL ?

build quality is tops, if you are in the know you will know they built kites for PKD a few years ago :D

My Pansh Blaze/Beast has found a very comfortable home in my stable. Launches , lands , cruises well.

I agree with Rip. I've done well buying name brand used and dealer overstock. The price , quality and flying characteristics match where I'm at and the fun:money ratio is high.
Some early purchases of older obsolete kites did'nt work out as planned but I was new, and had'nt discovered PKF at the time, what the heh did I know.