I have said it before - modifying is a bit more than a hobby to me. It is a passion. As is the ongoing campaign against knock-offs and replicas. A common tactic among those companies that steal and undermine the legitimate Japanese parts innovators is the employment of the false proposition that they have the best interest of the consumer at heart. Supplying knock-off and replica parts at a fraction of the cost of the original, they would have us all believe that they are the automotive parts saviors of every enthusiast out there.
[Enter BAUS Auto.]
I know very little about this company except what I have seen on the Z forums and, most recently, what I have read in the haughty thread created on the G boards advertising their Zele replica body kit for the G37. A post filled with hubris, this company boasts that this body kit will be available for purchase within the next few weeks. Below are the 'test-fit' pictures they originally posted where they claim "perfect" fitment while, at the same time, acknowledging that they have not secured every bolt and screw of the kit (a rather bold claim, if you ask me...). However, the thread was deleted after forum members, such as myself, expressed displeasure with the production of this kit.
If you happen to own a G37 and find yourself interested in outfitting your G with this body kit, I strongly urge you to reconsider. If you can call yourself even a moderate enthusiast of the JDM parts culture, in putting a single dime in the pocket of this company, you, like them, will become a contributing factor to the ravaging destruction of JDM in the United States. Zele is not the first JDM company BAUS Auto has ripped off. Impul, INGS+1, Amuse, Nismo, C-West, Chargespeed, Veilside, Vertex... These are just a few of the legitimate Japanese tuning companies BAUS has undermined before they decided to steal the Zele G37 aero design. An aftermarket parts savior, BAUS Auto is not. Make no mistake, they are not out to serve the consumer. They, like every other company producing and/or selling replica and knock-off parts, are out for themselves. BAUS Auto has blatantly stolen the G37 body kit design of Zele Performance, a proven, in-demand product from a proven leader of the Japanese Domestic Market, to put a dollar in their pocket. Though purchasing this kit at a fraction of the cost of the original may be tempting for those individuals struggling financially to modify their G's, please try to keep in mind that, in the long run, this only hurts the consumer, and the true JDM enthusiasts.
Shame on you, BAUS Auto...
Well put. I just did a quick Google search and it seems like the thread is back up on the forum. It also seems that these guys are selling quite a few other replicas on other forums, using copyrighted photos of the real kits. I have made an effort to report them and I will continue to do so as I see them.
ReplyDeleteWhat people don't realize is that many of the JDM companies are on the verge of insolvency due to the knock-off trade. These replica companies come in and claim that they are doing "favors" for the community, however what they are really doing is killing the future of innovation and ruining it for every future consumer.
The premise of a "knock-off" is direct replacement for the same product (they have the same intended look and function). Knock-offs exist to steal a design, add no value and transfer wealth from the innovator to the thieves. This point is what the community as a whole tends to overlook.
Anyway, keep fighting the good fight!
Thanks for the comment, Kris. I could not agree more with that you are saying. I think it is safe to say that many people become involved in this industry because they maintain an interest, an enthusiasm, and a passion for modifying. To me, there is no passion or enthusiasm when a company comes along looking to make a dollar the quickest and easiest way possible: by stealing the hard work of a person or company who is, undeniably, more talented and more innovative. It is theft, unequivocally. There is no place for it. I wish more of the "enthusiasts" who modify with knock-off parts would realize this. As stressed, in the long run, it only hurts the consumer.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure all of this BAUS Auto stuff is coming from China. The pricing is very inline with replica parts from China. The fact that they're offering free replacement for parts that fit poorly is another good indicator. I expect that most of their pieces are going to fit quite badly if this is the case.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of time the body shops will charge to repair and fit these shoddy pieces will make up the difference in cost between the authentic part and the replica. I believe that's the only way most people will learn....