New Aussie Tail Maker

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Hi!

Sorry if this is the wrong place, please move it if it is.

Found this today. Its not open yet. They have the Magictail video...

They're called Mermaid Tails and they're based in Sydney, Australia. If anyone else can shed more light on them, that would be great!

http://mermaidtails.com.au/

[Blondie]

That tail on the front page looks like Thom's..

[Winged Mermaid]

Well I know they've already given me a super bad impression of them by using one of Thom's tails (and a photo that is copyright protected) for their header. Also Magic Tail's video? Never ever use someone elses work to represent your own. If you don't have any photos or video of your product, then don't post anything. They probably just lost all respect from any mers who know that that content isn't their work.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Oh ok. I didn't know about the golden tail.

I just emailed them asking why they have other people's products to promote their business.

[malinghi]

Seriously, they don't have a single piece of information about themselves. Not who owns it, or what kind of tails they sell, or even a photo of a single tail that they've made.

It looks like a total scam.

[Morticia Mermaid]

Did a whois search. These were the results that came up- http://who.is/whois/mermaidtails.com.au

Sad to see that people think it is ok to take advantage of others passion

[MerAnthony]

That tail on the front page looks like Thom's..

I have seen Thom's tail up close an trust me that is his tail. This person I think is fake tring to take peoples money.

[Mermaid Tula]

Looks like they took down Thom's tail picture, but the magictail video is still up.

Edit. Nevermind. I see it now.

[AniaR]

yup that's the charmed tail.

[Mermaid Tula]

I sent Magictail an email letting them know that their video was being used.

[ShyMer]

I'm still seeing Thom's photo as well as the Magictail video... Not cool. It's weird that they didn't say anything about what kind of tail they were planning on selling. The whole thing seems really sketchy.

[Fifi Tigg]

I have signed up to receive info and if its a scam I will report them straight away! I do not want anyone else to experience having their dreams stolen from them!

[Mizuko]

judging by the lack of their own product photos, plus the stolen photos/footage, and lack of information on the actual tail makers, I would say this is another scam :/ how annoying!!

[shimmygoddess]

If they are using stolen images that is total crap and I lost all respect for them. I don't care if they don't have any of their own images. They should not have a live site then if they are not ready. grrr...this burns me up as I have had alot of my images used without my permission. I even had someone on FB using my profile image as theirs...LOL

[Morticia Mermaid]

Looks like they might be monitoring MN cause they took down the photo and video.

[MerEmma]

Not on my computer.

[Morticia Mermaid]

Weird. They are gone on mine

[Mermaid Jaffa]

They must have read my email cos I don't see the tail or the video either.

Oh... Here's what the reply is.

"Hi Irene, I understand why you might be concerned, and have removed the image and video in question as a sign of good faith, as I have no desire to upset anyone within the Mer community.However, we do not actually have our own products and we do not manufacture mermaid tails. We are selling mermaid tails from other brands and manufacturers. Visiting our site and seeing products from another company would be the same as visiting the Rebel Sport website and seeing Nike or Adidas products.I encourage you to come back and visit the site in 2 to 4 weeks and I assure you, your mind will be put at ease."

Here is what I asked.

"Why do you have somebody else's tail featured as your own product in the title header?
I know that video, I have one of their tails...

Just a polite note, you shouldn't have other people's work on a business page, that's promoting your work. They're copyright products and you're breaking the laws."

I dunno... Why would you want to sell other people's products if we can just go to their sites and get them ourselves. Unless they are an official re-seller of those products?

From the way they've worded it on their website, it sounds a bit fishy.

Sorry for the funky fonts. I tried to fix it so its all the same but its not working!

[Winged Mermaid]

I've heard of MagicTail and FinFun selling to some mers and shops for resale, but those two tailmakers also sell off-the-rack sizes. If they claimed to be selling tails from higher end or custom size tails that would red flag a scam for me.

Also it doesn't matter if they are re-selling an item, they are still breaking copyright law if they post the photos from the manufacturer- unless said manufacturer gave them specific permission to use their photos for their site/store/ect or general commercial use. Like for instance if you order a wholesale lot of beads from someone, you are legally not allowed to use the photo from the whole sale listing in your etsy/ebay/ect shop. You have to take your own photos, or leave yourself open to legal action from the copyright holder of the photos. If you don't even know that much you shouldn't even be starting a business

[deepblue]

I'm wondering why mernetwork doesn't have a subforum or thread specifically for listing scams when people come across them? I realize there's no proof of it on this one, yet, But still. Advisories would be a nice thing.

This kind of thing is just so awful. Someone's going to get ripped off.