This argument has been made many times over. The simple fact of the matter is that it doesn't make it less expensive to build. We still have to do all the work. We still have to provide all the same hardware. We still have to do all the research.
Are you aware that without the work Ross-Tech has done, you would not have the ability to do that which you have done on your car, Sully?
Besides a Ross-Tech based product, there are few others that can do this work - and most of those got their information from the work we did because we put much of our work on the web for free. The factory tool sells for $7000USD. The nearest other competing device to the factory tool sells for $6500 USD. VAG-Tacho and VAG Commander - while they do some of the same things our tool does, their real price is still higher than Ross-Tech's - if you buy real. Want a flashing tool to update ECUs? $2500 USD plus daily use fees. Want me to keep going?
The Chinese produce lots of product most of which are ripoffs of others work. Nearly all of that product sells for way less than the original work. Why is that? Those who make fakes do nothing but stamp out crap cheap hardware based on someone else's design efforts. They bring no value other than low price. Every time we buy from them, we enable them to continue doing it for not only this product but for other products - maybe one in which you may be involved.
Ross-Tech gave an alternative to the factory tool at a reasonable price. Potential users can team up with a bunch of buddies, buy a legit unit and share it to
lower the cost of ownership.
But that is not what most buyers want.. most want the full tool in their hands so when it is convenient for them, and when they need it, they can use it to do all the work on their car that needs done. It seems on this forum that most do not care from whom they buy. Price is the only issue. The idea is that buying fakes is not hurting anyone, right? "Ross-Tech is a big company - they make lots of money - it doesn't matter if I enable the theft of their product. I won't use it enough to justify spending £260."
Sully, what do you do for a living? Would you like someone stealing your work and selling that work for less than you do? For
lower than your cost to make the product? How would you stay in business? How would you keep your top quality product at top quality? Would you be willing to
help users for free? Would you be willing to keep information about
how to diagnose and fix VAG cars updated and current on the web?
My point is, buying fakes does matter. It matters for each and every one of us. Every time we buy a fake product, we enable the money we spend to flow into a country that is flooding the world markets with ripped off fakes. Have you seen the news about the air bag units? Do you follow what is really happening?
Sure, money is dear to all of us. Justification for buying something has to be based on value. Speaking of value, did you think about the fact that if you save 3 trips to the repair
shop for a diagnostic scan, that you will have nearly saved the cost of this tool?
Flame away folks.... I've had my say and I will not enter in further discussion...