On Fri, 2014-03-21 at 12:33 +0530, RussellMc wrote:
> I'm (genuinely) not sure how that is "weak"
>=20
> I don't like their "orange is the new yellow" (my words) BUT their
>=20
> " ... Earlier today we contacted SparkFun and offered to provide a shipme=
nt
> of genuine Fluke equipment, free of charge for them to sell on their site
> or donate. The value of the equipment exceeds the value of the Customs-he=
ld
> shipment. SparkFun can resell the Fluke gear, recouping the cost of their
> impounded shipment, or donate it into the Maker community. ..."
>=20
> Sounds bearable albeit less than what I'd consider ideal.

How is that bearable?

1) Fluke equipment is 10X the price of the typical meter Sparkfun sells.
So who's going to buy these meters from Sparkfun? No doubt Fluke will
base their "donation" on the retail price of the meters, so Sparkfun
won't even be able to discount them much.

It's like walking into a McDonalds and they have one addition to their
menu: $500 caviar. Who's going to buy it?

2) Point #1 is moot anyways since Sparkfun CAN'T sell the meters. Fluke
themselves suggested they might be "donated". If Sparkfun even TRIED to
sell them people would bitch and complain and call them sell outs and
accuse them of stealing a donation to the community.

3) This is free positive advertising for Fluke, and either neutral of
negative advertising for Sparkfun.


Make no mistake, this is a VERY well calculated and executed move which
still ends up screwing Sparkfun, for something that should NEVER have
happened to begin with.

Can I REALLY blame Fluke? No. They are simply doing what the law allows
them to get away with. Does that make it right? Of course not. There is
the letter of the law, and the spirit of the law, and they don't always
mesh.

The laws in question are there to prevent imitation Coach purses being
sold, confusing people into thinking they are buying a genuine article.

This is a situation where a $20 meter is coloured the same as so many
other meters out there. They aren't trying to fool people into thinking
these are Fluke meters.

For shame Fluke, for shame.

--=20
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