Bad News for Otter Box, Very sad story

[rapaleeman]

I don't know how you justify comparing a Rolex to and Otter Box. Maybe you haven't seen an Otter Box case so let me tell you there is nothing there than cannot be duplicated for very little money. It is a bit of plastic and silicone and that's it. A Rolex is a piece of art and would take a lot of money to make one even if you had all of the parts for free. That is why Otter Box has this problem. From what they say in the article some are so good they might be the orginals and those would have to come from the factories making them for Otter Box and selling them out the back door while Otter Box's back is turned. I don't see how they can stop it if they stay in bed with the same people.

You realize your "piece of art" is going for $15 bucks on 14th street in DC right?

I have a true Rolex (with certificate and all) that cost me a huge chunk of change. When compared to some of the copies I've seen, they are pretty close to the real thing.

Same goes with Oakleys and the Beats by Dre headphones.

Seems like someone bought a "Folex" on accident and holds a grudge that he got took. I mean really, that example of comparing Rolex watches to the Otterbox was fine.

You just took it further then postulating (as did that article) that there was a dude holding open a back door and smuggling out product. Maybe the original writers of the article as well as you apparently don't realize that OEM products generally use the same molds as the real thing with either the exact same material or a slightly cheaper version.

As someone already mentioned, the OEM Apple bumpers look and feel almost identical depending on where you get them since they use the same molds and materials. I got a box of 5 from eBay for $10 shipped and they are practically identical. If I didn't know which one is which when comparing I wouldn't know which was the real thing. Even the boxes were identical with only a minor font difference.

 

[rapaleeman]

Sorry, just a bit upset that an American company is slowly losing a good opportunity. Otter Box must be exporting their case to retailers around the world which means more money coming into the USA especially if they could keep the price at $49.95. Now that they've educated the Chinese and the Chinese will do the same by beating Otter Box at the price game. I guess that's how it is and they will have to deal with it. The good days of $49.95 will soon come to an end.

"The good days of $49.95 will soon come to an end." Really these are the good days?

Maybe good days for the manufacturer who overcharges for their products to begin with (Apple bumper, Griffin, and Belkin to name a few).

Paying $50 for a product that costs single digit dollars is a rip off to the consumer. These are bad days to the consumer. Not sure why you can't see that unless you work for Otterbox or some company that is being beaten at their own game and hold a grudge.

Honestly, this whole thing is nonsense. An American company who is essentially ripping off the American people should not be pitied. As has been seen with the top quality OEM products currently being released at a significantly lower price.

To me Otterbox needs to stop using cheap manufacturers as evident by their high amounts of issues with their first versions of each case they release. I had to exchange my silicone on my Defender twice because it kept stretching out after a week.

The lesson is Otterbox needs to step up their game and create better products with better quality. It appears they are trying to do this by releasing the new Reflex case and they have revamped their case lines throughout their product life cycles.

 

[CBR900RR]

The otterbox factory is from china, who knows if all this knock-off might comes from the same factory, so it can be a real OEM otterbox that sell illegally.

 

[PaulChowHK]

Otter Box iPhone 4 Defender cases as low as $0.80 USD

In China you can find Otter Box cases in electronic wholesale markets, websites sites including public traded companies like Alibaba.com , Aliexpress.com, taobao.com , madeinchina.com just type in Otter or Otter Box and you will see 100s of Chinese agents and factories offering Otter Box cases as low as 0.80USD. These cases are finding their way into the international market on a large scale. Many of these cases are bad knock off but many or so good that they could be or are the original cases, all of them at a fraction of the price offered by Mr. Richardson’s company creating a loss of millions of dollars and growing. It puts into question how many of the Otter Box cases offered on eBay.com ,online stores and brick and mortar stores are real. Because of the legality of selling knock-offs we would think that most if not all of the cases in major retailers are from the original source Otter Box the company but at the same time it has to make these retailers wonder why they are buying cases at $25.00 USD when good look alike cases are selling for as low as 0.80 USD from suppliers in China.

via:
http://www.idealschina.com/Insider/NewsDetail.aspx?ArticleID=38

I reading all comments and tell you many these cases from the same mold as original that is why so good. I know many Hong Kong people go to Shenzhen to buy iPhone accessories with famous brands because Hong Kong price like USA and many HK Apple stores buy in Shenzhen. Good news not many Otter Box because not so pretty. We like color and thin case. Chinese very smart because they know Americans come to China to get low price and think Chinese are dum but China always have way to win

 

[shahn3]

Value of 49.99?

I would like a good quality case for a reasonable price. But, 49.99?? If otterbox was made in USA, sure why not. American workers wage, making molds, raw material etc. are a lot more expensive than China as we all know. But Mr. otterbox is making them for less than $0.80 (dont they give SUPER BIG orders to the factory? I'm sure their cost of making otterbox is whole lot less than $0.80. Ripping off Americans and making himself and Chinese factories rich? probabably. I've seen the new version of knock offs and they are pretty much IDENTICAL. at least I could not tell. Hope Idealschina.com does a comparison soon and make my point. on the idealschina's article it said the CEO and staffs of otterbox stayed in China huanting down the knock off factories during Christmas. Obviously somebody is a little nervous.

 

[drummingcraig]

Sure, some will want the OEM case for a variety of reasons however, in the end, it's always better to get something for cheaper.

Ummmm....thats far from a 100% factual statement. Yes, it is always better to get something for cheaper if you're comparing apples to apples. But if you're referring to cheap knockoffs vs. the real deal that is not the same thing. There is a reason this very popular saying exists: "You get what you pay for".

Edit to add: I am not defending the insane markups which exist in the retail world. But that markup is a premium you are paying which 9 times out of 10 results in a better product, customer service, warranty, etc.

 

[PaulChowHK]

So any links to these 0.80 USD Otterbox?
I'll rather purchase them then the real thing if the difference in price is so remarkable.

You want a Defendr case I can send one for you or maybe you like other case. I can buy next time I going to Shenzhen. Just send me a message

Just like photo on this page http://www.idealschina.com/Insider/NewsDetail.aspx?ArticleID=38&PageIndex=2

 

[drummingcraig]

"The good days of $49.95 will soon come to an end." Really these are the good days?

For the retailers/companies it is, and I am pretty certain that is what that comment was referring to.

Maybe good days for the manufacturer who overcharges for their products to begin with (Apple bumper, Griffin, and Belkin to name a few).

Exactly. See above.

Paying $50 for a product that costs single digit dollars is a rip off to the consumer. These are bad days to the consumer. Not sure why you can't see that unless you work for Otterbox or some company that is being beaten at their own game and hold a grudge.

Honestly, this whole thing is nonsense. An American company who is essentially ripping off the American people should not be pitied. As has been seen with the top quality OEM products currently being released at a significantly lower price.

To me Otterbox needs to stop using cheap manufacturers as evident by their high amounts of issues with their first versions of each case they release. I had to exchange my silicone on my Defender twice because it kept stretching out after a week.

The lesson is Otterbox needs to step up their game and create better products with better quality. It appears they are trying to do this by releasing the new Reflex case and they have revamped their case lines throughout their product life cycles.

Yet people are still buying Otterbox products by the truckload. This is how capitalism works. You can't blame the company. Businesses exist to make money and you don't do that by selling your product at low profit margins. Could Otterbox turn a profit if they sold the Defender series for $29.95 vs. $49.95? I am sure they could but to what end? It might make you and some other other consumers feel better about life, but what else does it accomplish? It certainly doesn't help Otterbox grow and develop new products.

So don't get PO'd at Otterbox - get mad at society. Thats where product values are generated.

 

[drummingcraig]

I think you're right and it seems that the major of people here agree that Otter Box is over charging for their cases. The question is what would be a good retail price for their Defender case. I'll through in number first and that is $14.95 based on their low China cost. If they manufacture in the USA I would give them $19.95

Out of curiosity, do you have access to Otterbox's financial statements? Do you know how much they pay in design/development expenses? Do you know what they spend on marketing their products? Do you know how much tax they have to pay on each case that is imported into the country? Do you know how much their employers earn? Do you know how much their electric bill is? No? You don't know any of this do you?

Its easy to assign an ideal price to a product you want but that is not always reality. I would love to buy a brand new BMW M3 for $800, but that is not reality. Of course they have a profit margin on those cases - thats how business works.

My point is that the market determines whether or not Otterbox is overcharging. Not you, not me and not any other individual on this board. You can cry all you want, but as long as enough people continue to pay $49.95 for a Defender you can bet Otterbox isn't going to drop the price.

So I suggest taking your $19.95 and buying 20 knock offs from eBay or wherever if that will make you feel better. Thats the beauty of capitalism...the buyers have control whether they realize it or not.

 

[PaulChowHK]

For the retailers/companies it is, and I am pretty certain that is what that comment was referring to.



Exactly. See above.



Yet people are still buying Otterbox products by the truckload. This is how capitalism works. You can't blame the company. Businesses exist to make money and you don't do that by selling your product at low profit margins. Could Otterbox turn a profit if they sold the Defender series for $29.95 vs. $49.95? I am sure they could but to what end? It might make you and some other other consumers feel better about life, but what else does it accomplish? It certainly doesn't help Otterbox grow and develop new products.

So don't get PO'd at Otterbox - get mad at society. Thats where product values are generated.

You are sill boy. Chinese is loving you, we no want Oter Box sell for less. If they doing we losing big money. Now we making money manufacture and more money sell the cases. How you saying Win Win.

 

[drummingcraig]

You are sill boy. Chinese is loving you, we no want Oter Box sell for less. If they doing we losing big money. Now we making money manufacture and more money sell the cases. How you saying Win Win.

How does this make me a "sill boy"??? I didn't buy an Otterbox (at least not yet anyhow and if I do it won't be at full retail). I was simply explaining to the other poster how the market dictates prices in the current American society. I never said anywhere that I thought $49 was a good price.

 

[rapaleeman]

Yet people are still buying Otterbox products by the truckload. This is how capitalism works. You can't blame the company. Businesses exist to make money and you don't do that by selling your product at low profit margins. Could Otterbox turn a profit if they sold the Defender series for $29.95 vs. $49.95? I am sure they could but to what end? It might make you and some other other consumers feel better about life, but what else does it accomplish? It certainly doesn't help Otterbox grow and develop new products.

So don't get PO'd at Otterbox - get mad at society. Thats where product values are generated.

I understand exactly how the market works here in America. I'm not even mad at Otterbox selling their product at a price people pay. My point is in response to the article and the people on here that feel sorry for Otterbox.

I don't and if you are an actively purchasing consumer then lower prices are better. If you see 2 identical products, one for $50 and the other for $5 and you buy the $50 one then you are fool that loves to throw money around and doesn't comprehend the value of a dollar or how Capitalism works.

Using your example, cutting their profit may not be ideal, but they are still making a profit as you say. That is what business is about and in order for them to stay competitive that is what needs to happen. They need to lower prices. They had the market cornered for a while as the only company releasing fully protective cases. There are others now, including HK knockoffs. Trident cases, Ballistic, Case-mate, Incipio, and Switcheasy are a few of the "legit" brands. Some of those are expensive and are about the same price as the OB but some of those are significantly cheaper. Trident specifically.

Again, I'm not mad at Otterbox at all. For the time being their products are still the best but then again I didn't pay full price for my Otterbox either. I got my Defender for $20 after shipping on Amazon (not counting the free ones I got for "review"). I felt it was a fair/cheap price for the protection it offered.

Seriously don't give lessons in economics if you don't understand them yourself. Defend the company all you want, but don't bring in the economy and Capitalism if you aren't sure how they even relate.

 

[RebeccaL]

Something everyone seems to forget is the service and support you get with the real deal and not with the knockoffs.

 

[RebeccaL]

I reading all comments and tell you many these cases from the same mold as original that is why so good. I know many Hong Kong people go to Shenzhen to buy iPhone accessories with famous brands because Hong Kong price like USA and many HK Apple stores buy in Shenzhen. Good news not many Otter Box because not so pretty. We like color and thin case. Chinese very smart because they know Americans come to China to get low price and think Chinese are dum but China always have way to win

Reading your posts is a bit difficult language-wise.

 

[drummingcraig]

Using your example, cutting their profit may not be ideal, but they are still making a profit as you say. That is what business is about and in order for them to stay competitive that is what needs to happen. They need to lower prices. They had the market cornered for a while as the only company releasing fully protective cases. There are others now, including HK knockoffs. Trident cases, Ballistic, Case-mate, Incipio, and Switcheasy are a few of the "legit" brands. Some of those are expensive and are about the same price as the OB but some of those are significantly cheaper. Trident specifically.

Which is exactly what I said in another post in this same thread: Until people (the market) take their money elsewhere, Otterbox is going to continue to sell at the higher prices. Once sales fall off (due to competition, knockoffs, whatever) they will have to reduce prices to stay competitive. But in the meantime, while you don't have to feel pity for their reduced margins, its not really accurate to declare that they are ripping off customers. They are simply taking advantage of the demands of the market. If they were selling an inferior product, with poor customer service or advertising one thing and delivering another (bait & switch) that could be defined as a rip-off.

Again, I'm not mad at Otterbox at all. For the time being their products are still the best but then again I didn't pay full price for my Otterbox either. I got my Defender for $20 after shipping on Amazon (not counting the free ones I got for "review"). I felt it was a fair/cheap price for the protection it offered.

Which is what many people do: smart shopping. I do the same. I never pay full retail unless I absolutely have to. But yet, there's evidently enough people out there who feel that $49.95 is a "fair/cheap" price for the Defender case as well.

Seriously don't give lessons in economics if you don't understand them yourself. Defend the company all you want, but don't bring in the economy and Capitalism if you aren't sure how they even relate.

Please enlighten me then as to what I am missing here. Its basic supply & demand. Please explain to me how the direct correlation of what people are willing to pay for something vs. the market value of a product is not an accurate depiction of how elements of Capitalism & the economy function?

EDIT TO ADD:

I don't and if you are an actively purchasing consumer then lower prices are better. If you see 2 identical products, one for $50 and the other for $5 and you buy the $50 one then you are fool that loves to throw money around and doesn't comprehend the value of a dollar or how Capitalism works

OK, I get that paying 10 times as much for something that can be had equally for less elsewhere displays a lack of fiscal sensibilities. However that has nothing to do with understanding how Capitalism works.

 

[guccigucci88]

"The good days of $49.95 will soon come to an end." Really these are the good days?

Maybe good days for the manufacturer who overcharges for their products to begin with (Apple bumper, Griffin, and Belkin to name a few).

Paying $50 for a product that costs single digit dollars is a rip off to the consumer. These are bad days to the consumer. Not sure why you can't see that unless you work for Otterbox or some company that is being beaten at their own game and hold a grudge.

Honestly, this whole thing is nonsense. An American company who is essentially ripping off the American people should not be pitied. As has been seen with the top quality OEM products currently being released at a significantly lower price.

To me Otterbox needs to stop using cheap manufacturers as evident by their high amounts of issues with their first versions of each case they release. I had to exchange my silicone on my Defender twice because it kept stretching out after a week.

The lesson is Otterbox needs to step up their game and create better products with better quality. It appears they are trying to do this by releasing the new Reflex case and they have revamped their case lines throughout their product life cycles.

This man said it best. Although I have to say, the rolex isn't exactly the fairest comparison. Given 50% of rolex is the name, they did get the name for a reason. I have gotten a few knockoffs which weren't even cheap from Hong Kong and believe me: junk. If I paid about 50 or more canadian for a knockoff and it was junk, then I realy don't see how a 5 dollar one from New York will be any good. An authentic rolex, like any other high end watch, is basically something you can pass down in your family from generation to generation. There are no fakes that come close to the qaulity of a real. When it comes to otterbox or many other cases, trust me... The real and the fake are coming from the same Location. Its like Televisions, or shoes.. their made by the same damn people in the same factories! They just slap a different label on it for different companies. Go to best buy or future shop and check out the tvs... dont they ALL look suspiciously the same?


Regarding Otterbox, the point here is that they were being greedy. charging 50 bucks for a case made of Plastic! OBviously if people can find similar quality product for cheaper why the hell wouldn't they go for it? Its obvious otterbox is making a fat profit off these cases... theyre just being hella greedy. IMO, it's not a sad story considering how much they've already caked...

On a seprate note.. Woohoo no longer a newbie!

 

[PaulChowHK]

If you see 2 identical products, one for $50 and the other for $5 and you buy the $50 one then you are fool that loves to throw money around and doesn't comprehend the value of a dollar or how Capitalism works.

There are others now, including HK knockoffs. Trident cases, Ballistic, Case-mate, Incipio, and Switcheasy are a few of the "legit" brands. Some of those are expensive and are about the same price as the OB but some of those are significantly cheaper. Trident specifically.


Seriously don't give lessons in economics if you don't understand them yourself. Defend the company all you want, but don't bring in the economy and Capitalism if you aren't sure how they even relate.

China selling Trident, Ballistic, Case-mate, Incipio and Switcheasy also iSkin, Incase, Xtreme etc etc for less $2 US and you needing pay Swiss Post about $8. arriving 5 to 10 days or HK register post arriving 5 to 20 days. You buy more shipping cost less for each cases. Lots of cases for selling in China. Manufacture making more than 300 profit. They happy you happy Win Win.

 

[Coralie]

The otterbox factory is from china, who knows if all this knock-off might comes from the same factory, so it can be a real OEM otterbox that sell illegally.

Exactly what I am thinking.. Thank you for mentioning that..

 

[TEHi]

Have anyone here actually ordered a kock off otterbox case and compared it with the original one? Because you people seem to be so sure that the $5 from the chinese website is the same than the $35 real one.

No? then let me tell you..it is not the same. someone in shenzhen just stole the design and produced them. The material, finish, details different from the original otterbox.

Plus the otterbox defender is just $25, not $50. only dumb people buy directly from their website.

 

[PaulChowHK]

Have anyone here actually ordered a kock off otterbox case and compared it with the original one? Because you people seem to be so sure that the $5 from the chinese website is the same than the $35 real one.

No? then let me tell you..it is not the same. someone in shenzhen just stole the design and produced them. The material, finish, details different from the original otterbox.

Plus the otterbox defender is just $25, not $50. only dumb people buy directly from their website.

I going Shenzhen yesterday visit my sister and seeing for myself. On one floor I talk to 4 peoples selling defender from oter box. They telling me when first cases come some good some not so good quality but now everyone selling the same quality because foreigners come to buy and they checking everything so cannot selling junk and they want give good service to have cutomer buy more times. I check cases and they looking very good. Sample price depending if they know you are big customer from 6 rmb to 9 rmb, they not knowing you 25 rmb. I asking business good or no good. They telling me now slow but last month they selling lots. I see defender like in the photo and one with piece plastic on the back, I not like that one but they say they selling ok.

 

[guccigucci88]

Have anyone here actually ordered a kock off otterbox case and compared it with the original one? Because you people seem to be so sure that the $5 from the chinese website is the same than the $35 real one.

No? then let me tell you..it is not the same. someone in shenzhen just stole the design and produced them. The material, finish, details different from the original otterbox.

Plus the otterbox defender is just $25, not $50. only dumb people buy directly from their website.

like i said, hit and miss. Even fakes have different qualities. I've gotten 2 otterbox knockoffs from the same seller, one had a poor silicone finish, the other was near perfect. Given it's not 100% on quality, who the hell really cares? Gets the work done, more colour options, doesn't have a giant otterbox stamped on the back... Ill take 5 or 10 knockoffs for 5 bucks each over 1 for 25-50 anyday.

I'm not knocking people for buying the real deal either. I don't only buy knockoffs, i get real cases too. Jus sayin knockoffs can get the work done too.

 

[martynov]

This is actually very sad to hear but im a software developer and creating a unique product only to see it go on the black market for free or at a cheap price is absolutely agitating. The worst part of it all is that there is nothing you can do about it

 

[ChinaAzzi]

like i said, hit and miss. Even fakes have different qualities. I've gotten 2 otterbox knockoffs from the same seller, one had a poor silicone finish, the other was near perfect. Given it's not 100% on quality, who the hell really cares? Gets the work done, more colour options, doesn't have a giant otterbox stamped on the back... Ill take 5 or 10 knockoffs for 5 bucks each over 1 for 25-50 anyday.

I'm not knocking people for buying the real deal either. I don't only buy knockoffs, i get real cases too. Jus sayin knockoffs can get the work done too.

I’ve been following this topic with great interest because for a number of years I’ve made my money by selling Apple accessories to dealers in Australia. That stoped two years ago because there is no way to make money anymore. Today the factories are finding the market themselves and foreigner are coming over by the plane load to find the factories. Even though I changed my business every now and then I go to the markets to look for products for my iPhone and iPad and to gossip with my former suppliers. Everytime I go I am amazed, these markets are filled with brand name accessories. I am talking about a 1,000 or more agents in Shenzhen alone handling brand name charges, cases etc complete with the packaging. More impress is how many Chinese and foreigners are coming to these markets to buy cases of accessories day in and day out. These accessories are so good that it is hard to tell if they are the originals or fakes. I say this because I have a Incase case on my iPhone and I still don’t know if it is the original or a fake, I paid 3 rmb. Yes Otter Box has a problem but they are not the only one and from my experience their problem is not going to go away any time soon.

 

[ChinaAzzi]

I got a knockoff Defender in the mail yesterday. Ordered it via ebay for $25 shipped and got it and somethin about it just didn't feel right. Went to Walmart this AM and picked up a Defender for $40 and I could tell the difference right away.

I just checked eBay and there are 1,300 people selling Otter Box cases. Many selling for less than what a retailer would pay Otter Box which normally should be 45 to 50% off their suggested retail price. By Australian law you can buy something for $49.95 and sell it for $1 and no one can stop you but you would have to be nuts to do that. More likely you would sell to make a profit which means that some eBay sellers are doing just that. Unfortunately it seems if you want an original Defender you would have to buy it directly from Otter Box to be 100% sure .

 

[PaulChowHK]

like i said, hit and miss. Even fakes have different qualities. I've gotten 2 otterbox knockoffs from the same seller, one had a poor silicone finish, the other was near perfect. Given it's not 100% on quality, who the hell really cares? Gets the work done, more colour options, doesn't have a giant otterbox stamped on the back... Ill take 5 or 10 knockoffs for 5 bucks each over 1 for 25-50 anyday.

I'm not knocking people for buying the real deal either. I don't only buy knockoffs, i get real cases too. Jus sayin knockoffs can get the work done too.

You buy China or USA? How much you paying to ship to you?