Roof rack controversy. Gobi Vs Whitson

[ID2000]

Gobi usa

At Intelligent Designs 2000/GOBI USA, we have the utmost respect for our hard working industry colleagues who share our passion for delivering quality consumer products. This dedication to delivering a utility storage rack that provides an unmatched blend of durability, function and attractiveness is precisely the model we've used to build our business.

Gobi USA has been in business since 2003, delivering patented products of which we are very proud. Our 26 employees work tirelessly each day to ensure the product we deliver is of the highest quality. Our patents were granted in order to protect the work and dedication of our employees and the intellectual capital that went into creating our products. We are legally entitled to protect our patents and are working to do so in the most respectful and considerate manner possible.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

I'll respond with some known facts.

My email addresses were easily used to send copies of the LAWSUIT to me, and nothing else. My shop address was easily used to send copies of the LAWSUIT to me, and nothing else.

When someone is served with a LAWSUIT, in a state 1500 miles away, said someone is pretty much forced to respond via a legal professional within the time constraints spelled out in the LAWSUIT.

 

[Thai]

think I have so much negativity in my life. You should get out into society more or online more. Or maybe not either way you will see life is not rainbows and unicorns. I take this to heart, from opening my own business, and from opening my own company.

As for positivity in my life, thats why I have my 4runner.

Actually, wadle5, you just proved his point(s). You do have a lot of hate in you. Your business a failure is not really relevant here. Again, you're letting your personal experience/bias influence your objectivity.

Oh one more thing...usually, a car is not what is positive in someone's life...maybe a teenager getting his first car...but certainly not a grown man with a life................

Well, this does explain things...have a fabulous evening with your 4runner.

 

[Whohastime?]

No judge no jury...hell not even the stenographer in the corner. What has unfolded here is the owner came in to discuss and respond(to some) and then neglect the actual key points of the discussion. Then again claims Josh should have just done the right thing and paid him out(as the lawsuit stated, because there was not complaint). So the only thing Paul owes(which I say only because he himself created an account and responded to others in this thread to cool it down a bit), all he owes is a logical, reasonable, simple response to the questions at hand. Instead he then bounces back and says I'm done here you wont listen. I did listen. I listened to all of the responses he had to some of specific questions, but to listen such a response and take it in its entirety you almost must respond to the initial question in its entirety. Which he did not. The deflection which you, him, and a fellow member are so good at is all he came back with and then only to bow out?
I don't see life in a negative light, I feel sorry that you just joined in on to this forum to call me out, and think I have so much negativity in my life. You should get out into society more or online more. Or maybe not either way you will see life is not rainbows and unicorns. I take this to heart, from opening my own business, and from opening my own company. This is not a happy occurrence no matter how you cut it, and to play me off as just negative is elementary.
As for positivity in my life, thats why I have my 4runner.

I joined to read and respond to good debating - however you stand out as the person who thinks they can run people into a corner until they get an answer. You need to cool off dude.... you have way too much anger and hostility. It matters to a lot of people but NO one in here is taking it to the level you have. Do you have high blood pressure? If so... I can tell why.

 

[Whohastime?]

Actually, wadle5, you just proved his point(s). You do have a lot of hate in you. Your business a failure is not really relevant. Usually, a car is not what is positive in someone's life...maybe a teenager getting his first car...but certainly not a grown man with a life................

Well, this does explain things...have a fabulous evening with your 4runner.

I would agree with this - life isn't all about unicorns but... we should do our best to make it that way and pray for those who don't. Wadle5... I pray for you man, really dude I pray for you to be at peace.

 

[Thai]

I'll respond with some known facts.

My email addresses were easily used to send copies of the LAWSUIT to me, and nothing else. My shop address was easily used to send copies of the LAWSUIT to me, and nothing else.

When someone is served with a LAWSUIT, in a state 1500 miles away, said someone is pretty much forced to respond via a legal professional within the time constraints spelled out in the LAWSUIT.

So, Gobi may have lied. Thanks Whitson. Good luck to you man.

 

[wadle5]

Actually, wadle5, you just proved his point(s). You do have a lot of hate in you. Your business a failure is not really relevant.

Oh one more thing...usually, a car is not what is positive in someone's life...maybe a teenager getting his first car...but certainly not a grown man with a life................

Well, this does explain things...have a fabulous evening with your 4runner.

You know I actually debated saying my family, my wife, my gun, and my 4runner but thought I would keep it on the topic in this thread. Weird concept I know? And funny you mock the appreciation of a car on a vehicle forum. As for calling me childish and infatuated with my car. Another extreme from you which I'm sure you and whohastime had all day to think of on that one.
As for my business they were doing so well we sold both... [emoji6] , but my personal life has nothing to do with it. So again try to stay on topic.

 

[BrianSD_42]

If Mr. Whitson answers the complaint by simply calling and talking with the attorneys all of the above could change drastically which would be good for Mr. Whitson. All he has to do is respond but from what i have read previously he plans to ignore the complaint. This is the kind of reaction i expect to receive from most anyone and this is why complaints and lawsuits are used.
thank you.

My 2-cents. It would be a huge mistake for WMW to ignore the LAWSUIT (not a complaint) that Gobi's leadership has filed against them.

Absolutely do not just ignore this. I'm not saying fight it to the end but get counsel and decide how to best move forward.

If a negotiated settlement is desired then you still need lawyers.

As for Gobi, I don't see how this can be viewed as anything but a PR disaster. Forums like this one, TacomaWorld and Expedition Portal are a small community with lots of traction on Google search results. Unlike with Facebook or Twitter, there is very little that a PR rep can do to offset the bad press in these forums.

 

[wadle5]

So, Gobi may have lied. Thanks Whitson. Good luck to you man.

And this is why keyboard warriors like you are sad. After everything you purported and assumed still not even an apology. Your mindset and manner is on par with GOBIs.

 

[Thai]

And this is why keyboard warriors like you are sad. After everything you purported and assumed still not even an apology. Your mindset and manner is on par with GOBIs.

Apology for what again? What was I wrong about? You cannot even comprehend what I wrote yet still blabber about it...even now. Dude, THINK before typing next time.

Go enjoy your 4runner under the moonlight!

 

[Drunner97]

I'll respond with some known facts.

My email addresses were easily used to send copies of the LAWSUIT to me, and nothing else. My shop address was easily used to send copies of the LAWSUIT to me, and nothing else.

When someone is served with a LAWSUIT, in a state 1500 miles away, said someone is pretty much forced to respond via a legal professional within the time constraints spelled out in the LAWSUIT.

I'm going to have to agree with this. If Gobi truly wanted to contact him outside of the judicial system or before going through the judicial system, they could have easily shown up at his door, emailed him, called him, and made a legit effort. As someone that just went through the legal system, albeit child court system, I know how expensive it is just to get a lawyer to fill out the paperwork and make a response. There's a lot of money right off the top just to get the ball rolling. Why spend the money if you don't have to? This whole thing reeks of bully tactics and even if there is an agreed on settlement without going to court (which is possible, initial orders can easily be changed), there are still a lot of costs involved.

I don't know you, but I can sympathize. It's not fun getting blind sided with legal papers, regardless of what they're for. Good luck.

 

[Misterquad]

Paul,

I have to say that perception is reality.

And what I see is a company going after a one-man show because he under sells them and the company does not want that. The issue I have is when I watch a company take down a one-man show for whatever reason, it just rubs my American sense of fairness the wrong way.

My suggestion would be to pick your battles wisely. Maybe you can win in court but you can still lose your reputation and the goodwill that you worked so hard to create.

Respectfully,
Brett

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

There is absolutely not one speck of a chance that I'll ignore this lawsuit or sit idly by, never was.

 

[momo.75]

1) I will try to answer you questions with as much information as possible but keep it short. Yes, we have been burned in the past by bad business partners which is unrelated to the off road market and had no choice but to enter into a litigation battle in order to stay alive and it costed us time, money and a few years off our life. We are not interested in putting Mr. Whitson out of business this is what i mean about "it's not what you think".
2) I only know of Mr. Whitson thru reading his postings which is to say I don't know him at all but in today's business atmosphere sometimes a complaint needs to be served in order to get someone's full attention. I believe if Intelligent Designs did not send a complaint to Mr. Whitson eventually someone else will. Mr. Whitson needs to do more homework before he decides to sell a product just in case he is stepping on someones toes. As I said before we are not out to destroy anyone's business we simply need to speak with Mr. Whitson so we can resolve this matter.
3) Your right about this not being normal business practice I am on this forum talking with you when in reality I should let my attorneys do all the talking. It's taken many years of hard work and money to get to where we are today and it has not been easy to say the least. No, we are not looking for royalties and i cannot get into specifics about this matter at this time. We would just like to have Mr. Whitson answer the complaint.
I hope this helps.

thank you.

I guess this was overlooked before so i will repost....

I think it might help ease the pain and distaste the forum has collectively and admittedly a little harshly dished out to hear that you and or Gobi is not looking for a financial settlement now or in the future and that you just want to "discuss" the design elements and come to an agreement on what's fair for both parties.

I believe this would go a long way to repair the conclusions that some of us have jumped to here. I think it's safe to say that we all like competing products and we'd much rather see your talents be put to use in coming up with a better mouse trap in the end instead of just lining the pockets of the company through a loop hole in the law. I believe we all win if this helps motivate not only Whitson to innovate but also Gobi.

Thank you for coming here to share your side of the story, i hope that this can be resolved in a way that benefits the off roading community as a whole.

 

[Twan]

As for Gobi, I don't see how this can be viewed as anything but a PR disaster. Forums like this one, TacomaWorld and Expedition Portal are a small community with lots of traction on Google search results. Unlike with Facebook or Twitter, there is very little that a PR rep can do to offset the bad press in these forums.

Agreed, this seems to be about the equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot. It was also brought up a couple days ago on another forum I frequent that has close to half a million registered users and a popular offloading thread. This is the type of thing that has a tendency to spread like wildfire, and the Internet loves to help the little guy when he gets sand kicked in his face by the bigger guy. It's just the world we live in these days.

I can't fault Paul or Josh for not answering certain questions, since it is likely not in their best interests regarding their lawsuit to do so, whether I agree with them or not.

 

[momo.75]

Agreed, this seems to be about the equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot. It was also brought up a couple days ago on another forum I frequent that has close to half a million registered users and a popular offloading thread. This is the type of thing that has a tendency to spread like wildfire, and the Internet loves to help the little guy when he gets sand kicked in his face by the bigger guy. It's just the world we live in these days.

I can't fault Paul or Josh for not answering certain questions, since it is likely not in their best interests regarding their lawsuit to do so, whether I agree with them or not.

Our little corner of the world currently has 119,936 members......not too shabby.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

ID2000 - close minded people will never accept what you say. I would say stop wasting your energy and go have a beer. In fact I think we all need one. A lot of negative energy in this forum. It's really sad that people have to live life mad all of the time. Life is much too short. CHEERS!

New member as of Aug 2015...

Whohastime? - the exact same IP address as GOBI USA and ID2000

 

[Twan]

New member as of Aug 2015...

Whohastime? - the exact same IP address as GOBI USA and ID2000

Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnn!

 

[Whohastime?]

New member as of Aug 2015...

Whohastime? - the exact same IP address as GOBI USA and ID2000

the conspiracy theorist of the world unite!

 

[wadle5]

New member as of Aug 2015...

Whohastime? - the exact same IP address as GOBI USA and ID2000

Didn't want to say told ya so. But hey a false account promoting this upstanding company further. Seems convincing.

So while condescending and calling me a conspiracy theorists I guess I was just a realist and fact theorists. That will teach people to assume....

Good job on siding and having the support of the actual company in question Thai, but again you will just ignore this and pass it off as inconclusive and not acknowledge and continue to refute your own random state of mind.