For the better part of 2018, one hot-button issue that keeps coming back up is whether we, as FPV pilots, should buy cheaper, cloned FPV\u00a0products rather than pricier genuine products. All the industry titans like Trappy, Bardwell, Chad Kapper, and our own Tim Nilson have chimed in on the matter during one video\/interview or another, and yet the issue still persists. If anything, the issue has grown even hotter now that GetFPV adds tariff surcharges to customers\u2019 order to help cover the cost of nauseating new tariffs. After all, tariffs are the current US administration’s weapon of choice to combat China\u2019s theft of intellectual property.<\/p>\n
So yeah, the subject is more sensitive than Mr. Steel\u2019s rates (seriously, 1200\u00b0\/sec is insane), and I\u2019m totally out on a limb writing this article. But that\u2019s what we do as pilots. We push limits and test new ideas. I won\u2019t get political or comment on tariff surcharges, but as a business and marketing consultant, I can certainly bring a fresh perspective to the issue and help you find an answer to the question of whether you should buy cloned FPV products. So grab a beer and some popcorn, cuz I\u2019m about to send it.<\/p>\n
Before we dig into this, it\u2019s important we\u2019re all speaking the same language. Much of the heat surrounding the issue of whether or not pilots should buy \u201ccloned\u201d products is simply due to differences in the definition of the word, and confusion surrounding related terms like \u201cre-branded\u201d and \u201cme-too\u201d products. So let\u2019s clear that up and get it out of the way.<\/p>\n
Cloned FPV Products:<\/strong> I refer to cloned FPV products strictly as products that look virtually identical to the original product and are marketed as such with the intention of deceiving consumers. In short, I refer to cloned FPV products counterfeits in the truest sense. An example of this is Bangood\u2019s PUDA Rooster (the clone) and the Armataan Rooster (the original.) Bangood deceptively lists the product as a \u201cFrame Kit For Armattan Rooster RC Drone.\u201d The PUDA\u2019s product description even rips off Armattan\u2019s description verbatim. The only way the PUDA isn\u2019t a clone is if it\u2019s actually a white-labeled product.<\/p>\n White-Labeled Products:<\/strong> These products are manufactured by one company, but sold under another company\u2019s brand. You see this most often with motor manufacturers that produce branded motors for local and online retailers. The products generally look identical, with the exception of logomarks. Although not technically correct, white-labeled products are sometimes referred to as re-branded products. Re-branded products, however, generally refer to original products that a manufacturing company has re-branded to serve a different market segment of its own customer base, so don\u2019t get them confused.<\/p>\n Me-Too Products:<\/strong> These are products that might copy one or more features of the original, but are not marketed as the original product. As a whole, me-too products are generally originals in their own right and are the natural consequence of free-market competition. One could argue that virtually every canopy-style racing frame fits in the me-too category, but I think the best example is the TBS Crossfire and FrSky R9M. Me-too products are a sign of healthy competition and in the absence of frivolous patent lawsuits (I\u2019m looking at you and your \u201crectangles with round corners,\u201d Apple), my general stance is the more the merrier.<\/p>\n Cool. So now that we\u2019re all on the same page, I can make a bold and controversial statement. We as pilots, regardless of nationality or geographic location, should avoid buying cloned FPV products as a matter of principal. For one, cloned and counterfeit products are an illegal global scourge that costs authentic, innovative businesses billions (with a capital B) of dollars every year. The IP Commission Report estimates \u201cthat the annual cost to the U.S. economy continues to exceed $225 billion in counterfeit goods, pirated software, and theft of trade secrets and could be as high as $600 billion.\u201d That\u2019s a ton of money being stolen, and I for one have no desire to be complicit in that theft. More importantly, though, buying cloned FPV products facilitates a slow death of our beloved hobby.<\/p>\n It\u2019s kind of like death from a thousand cuts. Every sale of a cloned FPV product takes money away from the innovative company that created the original – money the company needs in order to continuously innovate and provides great customer experiences. Cut a company\u2019s R&D budget enough times and innovation will stop completely, forcing the company to compete solely on price. And when enough companies are forced to join the rat race to the bottom of the barrel, we the FPV community lose. Sure everything might be affordable, but without innovation and great customer experiences, I guarantee all that will be left of the sport by then is a graveyard of youtube videos from \u201cback when drone racing freestyle was fun and cool.\u201d<\/p>\n We also owe it to ourselves to be good stewards of our hobby and sport. Whether you race competitively or pump out wicked freestyle videos, the one thing we all have in common is a solid crew that supports us. That\u2019s part of what makes FPV so great! There is no shortage of great people in the FPV community willing to help out another pilot. Some of those people go above and beyond to help out the community by taking a calculated risk and starting a business. These people are pushing the envelope with new frames and 3D prints, and keeping us supplied locally when convenience and time matter most. They\u2019re designing new flight controllers and writing thousands of lines of code, and they\u2019re doing because they\u2019re passionate about our sport and sincerely want to improve upon it. So when some cheap knockoff of their innovation hits the market and starts threatening their personal livelihood, we as a community have an obligation to shut that shit down by not giving counterfeit products any credence. So yeah. Don\u2019t buy cloned FPV products.<\/p>\n Look. I get it. Community and camaraderie are great, but sometimes budgets are tight. Really tight. Bills need to be paid and adulting is hard when your inner child is itching to rip some packs at your favorite spot. Sometimes that $100 frame isn\u2019t an option, and getting back in the air is critical to maintaining your sanity and keeping the ball that is life rolling. In those cases, I say do what you need to do, bro. We\u2019ve all been there before. Nobody should judge a pilot for sticking to a budget and being financially responsible. The industry, and we as an FPV community can take a few cuts for the team from time to time.<\/p>\n But with that in mind, I would also encourage anyone considering the purchase of a cloned FPV product to reach out to any FPV community first and see if someone has a used original in good condition for sale. It might take some time and soliciting more than a few groups, but if you\u2019re lucky, you might even get it for free! Numerous times I\u2019ve seen people give away entire quads in great condition to a complete stranger, not out of a sense of charity, but rather out of a sense of camaraderie. As I said, the FPV community has no shortage of good people. It\u2019s important we all do our part to keep that culture vibrant and healthy as best we can.<\/p>\n I\u2019d also like to take a moment to acknowledge there are times when it\u2019s virtually impossible to spot a cloned FPV product. Not only are cloned FPV products deceptive by definition, sometimes a pilot\u2019s first experience with a product is with the clone, not the original. In the mind of the pilot, the clone is the authentic product since it was the first\/original brand experience. In this case, the obligation to be good stewards of our hobby falls on the authentic brand, not the pilot. And that brings me to my next point.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019m going to switch gears here for a moment and talk to the authentic brands in our industry. Companies large and small have complained about competing with China\u2019s cheap prices, so there are a few things I think they need to hear.<\/p>\n Huh hemm. Guys. I hear you. I see you. I know all too well a patent isn\u2019t going to stop China from copying your product overnight. I know defending a patent either isn\u2019t an option financially or is such a lengthy and hellish game of patent infringement whack-a-mole, it\u2019s simply not worth your time and energy. More importantly, I know that when you see a clone or a me-too product hit the market, your first instinct is to drop your price to \u201cstay competitive.\u201d So I\u2019m here to remind you that you don\u2019t have to do that. Don\u2019t get sucked into the rat race to the bottom of the barrel. There are no winners down there.<\/p>\n Price isn\u2019t king. Convenience is. Plus, at the end of the day, people don\u2019t buy products. They buy solutions, experiences, and relationships. That means you can stay out of the rat race by ensuring the solutions you sell are accessible, foster phenomenal customer experiences and build great relationships. For the most part, authentic brands in the industry are doing pretty well in that regard. Sending stickers and battery straps with each order, employing great customer service and same-day shipping…retailers are off to a great start. But there\u2019s so much more manufacturers and retailers large and small could be doing. Customer-focused businesses have great CS teams and processes in place to facilitate transactions and turn poor experiences into good experiences, but customer-centric businesses see great customer service as a given – a prerequisite to doing business. Rather than chasing sales and transactions, customer-centric businesses cultivate relationships. Not just strong relationships, but deep multi-level relationships that proactively drive insight, innovation and customer support. In short, it\u2019s the difference between serving customers well and being so in sync with them, a company can proactively respond to customers\u2019 needs across every touch-point.<\/p>\n I say this not to be preachy or to sling a bunch of buzzwords around and sound smart. I say this because I went out on a limb and decried cloned FPV products as a matter of principal and sense of stewardship for our sport. But the reality is that we, as humans, are a fickle bunch, and buying a cheap clone is a completely rational choice in and of itself. I honestly can\u2019t blame anyone for doing it. It is only when the irrationality of human emotion is put into the mix – the sense of justice, pride, camaraderie, community, and love – that the purchase of cloned FPV products becomes an \u201cirrational\u201d behavior. Therein lies the quid pro quo.<\/p>\n If we as a community of FPV pilots are to denounce cloned FPV products as a matter of principal and sense of stewardship for our community, then the businesses that wish to serve that community need to show us more love. Getting out of the rat race to the bottom means companies need to stop chasing transactions and start building relationships with pilots. If a business exec believes there\u2019s no ROI in sponsoring a race, I promise them they\u2019re wrong. Just because it\u2019s hard to track doesn\u2019t mean the ROI isn\u2019t there. Support and sponsor events, not with intention of seeing a direct bump in sales, but rather with the intention of building real relationships. Instead of printing a logo on gates and pilots\u2019 shirts, send a rep to get to know us and support us. Rather than leaving a \u201ccontact us\u201d form on the company\u2019s website, make the entire organization convenient and accessible with live chat and social media. Don\u2019t email us surveys asking for feedback and reviews, host an event (online or offline) and collect insights casually over a few packs and\/or pints. And if you notice a customer has launched a product or service of their own, give them a boost on social media to show them some love.<\/p>\n Conversely, pilots, if a company is working hard to support you and the community at large, reciprocate to show them their efforts are worth it. If you win a prize on race day, show the sponsor a little love by thanking them publicly and sharing a photo on social media. If you think a company made a mistake on your order or a component was faulty, given them the benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to make it right before hosing them on social media. Lastly, remember that customer-centric companies can\u2019t support you if they can\u2019t hear you. So if you need help with something you care about, whether it\u2019s creating buzz for a drone education program you\u2019re starting or just a little help troubleshooting your build, don\u2019t be afraid to ask. Make an effort to have a real (non-transactional) relationship with your favorite brands. Companies and brands aren\u2019t faceless entities. They are made up of real people, so find out who they are and get to know them.<\/p>\n If we as pilots, retailers, manufacturers, and a community can stick to that quid pro quo, then the question of whether to buy cloned FPV products becomes moot. It\u2019s kind of like a random stranger asking you if your mini quad can fly without the camera. The answer will always be \u201cwhy would anyone want to do that?\u201d Once pilots and companies have both experienced what it\u2019s like to be customer-centric, there\u2019s no desire from either party to experience anything less.<\/p>\n [ultimate_spacer height=”32″][dt_default_button link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.getfpv.com%2F||target:%20_blank|” size=”big” btn_width=”btn_full_width” button_alignment=”btn_center” default_btn_bg_color=”#ffcd32″ bg_hover_color=”#ffbf00″]CLICK HERE TO BUY GENUINE FPV PRODUCTS[\/dt_default_button]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For the better part of 2018, one hot-button issue that keeps coming back up is whether we, as FPV pilots, should buy cheaper, cloned FPV\u00a0products rather than pricier genuine products. All the industry titans like Trappy, Bardwell, Chad Kapper, and our own Tim Nilson have chimed in on the matter during one video\/interview or another, … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[136,133,137],"tags":[4194,4181,4182,4195,4183,4196],"class_list":["post-3445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fpv-buying-guides","category-fpv-essentials","category-fpv-in-depth-and-technical","tag-cloned-fpv","tag-clones","tag-genuine","tag-genuine-fpv","tag-mini-quads","tag-products","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3445"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3445\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3461,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3445\/revisions\/3461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Consume on Principle…<\/h2>\n
…except when you can\u2019t<\/h2>\n
Attention All Authentic Brands<\/h2>\n
\nHaving great customer service and high-quality products might be good enough today, but if sales are slipping, it\u2019s a sign a company needs to be more than a customer-focused company. To be a market leader in this industry, a business needs to be customer-centric. The difference between the two might seem subtle, but they are really two completely different mindsets.<\/p>\nLet\u2019s Make A Deal on Cloned FPV Products<\/h2>\n