Knockoff Roti's?

[Kielan]

Im not too sure... To be honest a lot of us dont go looking for these things, but when we come across them the world as we know it implodes haha...

A thread like this was started a few months ago.. Kielan lost his shit... as did a few of us haha.. E-bitching ftw!

Yeah I did lose it in that thread... I was not pleased.

I could be totally wrong, but the Rotiform BLQ hasnt been around THAT long and that style of wheel has been around for ever soooo...........

Rotiform just took it to a whole new level of awesomeness and quality is all

There are companies that are making direct reps of the BLQ, and even have the nerve to sell them with rotiform centercaps and call them "Rotiform Style BLQ Wheel".

But yes the Rotiform guys have even said themselves that the BLQ was inspired by the Gallardo wheel, yes there weren't many difference, but now the BLQ line has developed so much, you would be hard pressed to call them reps.

[4DGS]

Not gonna lie but none of Rotiforms designs are really all that ground breaking. Sure they are adding some concavity to them but the basket weave style wheels have been around since the 70s and 80s.

I don't care if the spokes are slightly thinner or or flatter or the degree of the spoke is changed, they are still wheels that have been made in the past.

[Kielan]

The mesh wheel design has been around for a long time yes... But by your logic (not trying to be a douche, but this is how I interpret your post), all wheels produced today are copies in someway. 5 Spokes, 6 spokes, full face monoblocks, etc.

[4DGS]

No douchebaggery detected. That is what I am saying lol

Everything in one way or another has been done before. Sure their are companies that do dead reps like Rota, Varrtsoen, Linea Corsa etc. But even big companies or custom wheel companies share face designs with companies that have been at it for years.

[Kielan]

No douchebaggery detected. That is what I am saying lol

Everything in one way or another has been done before. Sure their are companies that do dead reps like Rota, Varrtsoen, Linea Corsa etc. But even big companies or custom wheel companies share face designs with companies that have been at it for years.

Oh there is no doubt about that, 100% original designs pretty much stopped 40 years ago. No denying that. But like you said, there is a difference between replica's and "sharing" a design, because there will always be similarities.

[Francois Dillinger]

the nue is also very similar to another wheel design, however the wheel company/model is slipping my mind at the time.

[KarlSpackler]

But yes the Rotiform guys have even said themselves that the BLQ was inspired by the Gallardo wheel, yes there weren't many difference, but now the BLQ line has developed so much, you would be hard pressed to call them reps.

Listen dude, what do you do for a living? I do high end sales. In sales, whether it is wheels, construction materials, cars, etc etc etc there is ALWAYS a high road and a low road and you dont want to be in-between.

So that being said, "copies" happen in ever single kind of market. Someone comes out with a steel product/design and sells it for $x,xxx.xx per ln/ft with a heavier gauge. Said someone has sucess selling this product and it gains attention across the market. Then, a diffrent company comes out with something VERY similar that is a lighter gauge steel but claim it does the job just as well because it is a higher tensile strength. They sell this steel at x% less than the original.

There is 1 example, there are litteraly MILLIONS of the same examples. This is how competition is started. Supply and demand.

So, if Rotiform is a good company they will embrace their high prices, original designs, and high quality and use THOSE POINTS to sell their product.

If they dwell on the bottom feeders of the market because they are making a similar product, that has sucky quality, for cheap then they will not last.

2 things:

1. There IS a reason Rotiform is more expensive, they need to embrace this fact and use it.
2. They will not sell everyone a set of their wheels. Not everyone can afford the best so dont be offended by that. Focus on customer service and make sure your advertising works to give the people that do have the money a reason to buy the real thing instead of a knock off.

Basic sales 101 is the price DOESNT MATTER ! The customer will buy value and there is a huge difference.

[Jedidiah]

Thank God there is someone else that gets basic macro sales principles lol.

[Kielan]

No I know that.. I love Roti.. I have only supported them, and I will continue to. I am not one of those kids who loves replica wheels, I **** them with a passion. Rotiform is not a replica company. I was just merely saying they were inspired by Gallardo wheels, not reps or anything. I think we are both saying the same thing lol.

[OG patina]

hey spackler, if i remember correctly you live in rapid i recognized your shoot location (bmw in art alley) from awhile back. do you autocross by any chance?

[KarlSpackler]

Oh there is no doubt about that, 100% original designs pretty much stopped 40 years ago. No denying that. But like you said, there is a difference between replica's and "sharing" a design, because there will always be similarities.

You cant say that, maybe in the wheel industry, but there are THOUSANDS of new ideas/inovations coming out everyday. Yes, with wheels there are only so many ways you can shape a mesh wheel before they all start looking the same.

But new products are designed everyday, your comment was ignorant, no denying that.

[Kielan]

I was only referring to wheels though.. Not referring to anything else.. There are a ton of awesome wheels out there, and tons of new awesome wheels being made, a ton of them share characteristics is all I am saying.. I'm not saying no one can make original wheels. I'm just saying that based on the post by the other guy he is "technically" correct... I don't understand where I am being ignorant?

[4DGS]

Yea Karl, I think you're misunderstanding something here...

[KarlSpackler]

No I know that.. I love Roti.. I have only supported them, and I will continue to. I am not one of those kids who loves replica wheels, I **** them with a passion. Rotiform is not a replica company. I was just merely saying they were inspired by Gallardo wheels, not reps or anything. I think we are both saying the same thing lol.

We probably are, but explain to me if Rotiform took "inspiration" from Gallardo wheels, how are they not replicas of them?

They took a design, changed it slightly, and called it their own. Started a company, started making wheels, and now are technically a competitor to that wheel maker with damn near the exact same product.

They also produced them in a cast model instead of the forged that the Gallardo wheels are making them "cheaper"

Now take Rota Grids (which I have) they took "inspiration" from Volk TE37's and changed them up a little (more concave, slightly wider spokes) They also produced them in a less quality/less expensive way becoming the "cheap" side of the sales model.

Tell me how this is any different than what Roti did?

For the record, I dont give a rats' ass if Roti copied whomever they got their inspiration from. I think the craziness about copy wheels is the most rediculous fight going right now.

It is crazy because this type of stuff happens in every market, thousands and thousands of business models are made every year based off taking an existing product and making it better/higher quality/more expensive OR cheaper/a little less quality.

[KarlSpackler]

Yea Karl, I think you're misunderstanding something here...

I know you dont know me, but my name is James. Just an FYI and I am not misunderstanding anything. I am just sick of all of the people who are on the rep wheels kick. It is the dumbest thing of all time.

Let me come to your house, I guarantee I can find 10 things that are "reps" of another product out there. Do you bitch at yourself ?