Nate Dogg said:
I love the all of the Specialized haters out there that try and find any reason to bash the company, with my personal favorite being the desire to sue.
The reality is that if as an individual or company had a patent on a particular product and saw someone else using your design or the design you acquired the rights to (i.e. Horst link) you would sue as well; and don’t say you wouldn’t.
I remember when I was first getting into mountain biking and Specialized was one of the smaller powerhouse companies, I credit there innovation and marketing for where they are at today. Good for them for being successful they make a damn good bike; so do a lot of other companies, so if you don’t like them buy a different brand and stop *****in’.
Stop the hate,
Nate
I thank you for your contribution to the discussion, but I fear your instructions bely a misapprehension on your part. My public disapproval of Specialized is not mere *****in'. It is rather self-serving action, of which you apparently heartily approve.
As a consumer, I believe I am best served by an open market with vigorous competition on both price and product offerings. Specialized's business practices (both with regards to patents and their treatment of bike shops) are attempts to close the market. I do not deny them the right to do what is legal to grow their business.
I do, however, reserve the right to take actions of my own. I have already followed your advice and bought another brand of bicycle. My "*****in'" as you put it is not mere complaining, but is actually propaganda, a call to arms, if you will. If others read what what I write and do what I've done, they will similarly eschew Specialized products. This would hopefully deprive Specialized of revenue and force them to reverse some of their policies to regain the patronage of individuals like myself. This would open the market further, to my benefit.
I encourage others to follow my lead. If a company acts counter to your interests, boycott them and ask others to do the same. It just might work.