Agreed.... VA is very PROUD of their AFC caps. I can't believe the cyclone/AFC hasn't been cloned yet. The Plume was out less than a month before clones were out.
Personally I think there should be a set time before a clone can be released. With the speed of evolution I would think 3 months would be fair. It would also entice the Authentic Manufacturer to have a large quantity before releasing making those of us that will gladly buy authentics able to do so without the price gouging that occurs on the manufacturer end of the chain. With my new found knowledge of how the supply/manufacturer end of authentics works it actually makes doing what I do MORE bewildering, not less as one would assume. In most businesses there is a 100% mark-up from wholesale to retail for luxury items. If I adopted that approach you guys would shake your heads and walk away. Even a certain retailer in Indianapolis doesn't get to this level. All said and done if I see a 25% profit before counting labor, shipping, supplies I am having a banner week. If you read my initial mission statement (first post page 1) I didn't get into this to make a Career out of it, I have a career that for the most part I love this will never replace that. At the same time indentured servitude was abolished some years back. I want to be fair at all costs, there is just too much greed in this industry but with some very simple ground rules we could all get a fair deal.