If I Remember correctly didn't Muddy copy someone's design back about a year ago? Now look at their new blinds.. They are close duplicate to the rednecks. I see they make a bale blind that's very similar as well.. I find it hard to give a company like that my business..
Most of their lines are like that but some times at the fraction of the cost. Depends if you want to pony up the cash for the more expensive items.
Unfortunately, Muddy really isn't Muddy any more. They were purchased by Mainstream Holdings which is the parent company of Big Game Treestands. I have quite a bit of Muddy products, most of which were pre-sell out. They certainly frustrate me because once upon a time, they were one of the better options.
The new muddy products since the sale aren't in the same league as the originals. The are totally off my radar at this point. Same with big game ...
They are notorious for doing that. Look at their new cameras... Damn near identical to the Browning (just different color).
One of the best Facebook posts of all time. Hawk putting Muddy on blast for ripping them off. HAWK - Timeline | Facebook
I'm curious how the conversations go when they're "designing" their products. I picture someone coming into the meeting room with a competitor's catalog, throwing it on the table and saying "I want you to copy exactly what they're doing and put our logo on it" and then walking out.
Close, most do it a little nicer than that! Last design I had stolen, they actually purchased the product ............ $ in my pocket and they get a 3D model rather than a picture. I might not have shared that a patent had been filed, but I will eventually I get that not everything can or should be patented but without one, everything is fair game. While I try to create my own designs for everything that I build, there are a lot of companies that wait for the next big design that they can take....... not just hunting related companies. Do you guys knock all of them or just the hunting related ones?
Muddy sponsors a pretty bad fast sprint car But, isn't making products close to others what competition does? Sell them cheaper to try and get more buyers? I know they aren't the only ones who do things of the sort.
Just *some* of the hunting related ones. We love our Ozark Trail tumblers that cost 1/4 of what the Yetis cost. Nobody is blasting Wal-Mart for it. Speaking for myself I can appreciate when someone takes an existing design, copies it and then in some way, shape or form tries to improve on it. Whether it's a little bit lighter, stronger, longer, etc. Some sort of differentiation is commendable. When you take a unique design and rip it off verbatim with the exception of the color and the logo that's a bit lame. The thing with Muddy is that it's not just a single product they're doing this with - it's almost their entire line. Their treestand accessories are Hawk rip-offs. Their blinds are Redneck rip-offs. Their harnesses are Hunter Safety System rip-offs. Their cameras are Browning rip-offs. It is a bit sad to see a company that at one time was an innovator turn into this. But hey, to each their own!
I haven't had anything nice to say about muddy even before the big game but out. I bought 7 of their outfitter stands to phase out some old ones I had on the farm and after a month in the woods the seat adjuster rusted stiff and wouldn't move on every single one. I called and talked to a "tech" they said and told me to use WD-40 on them.... Yea that won't blow all my deer out,I'm sorry have they ever hunted before, I asked if he was kidding and he said no why? And then got an attitude. Keep up the good work Muddy!
I believe one of the Redneck guys mentioned the copied design on the Hawk post. If you haven't looked through magazines or browsed the web, they have copied their whole line from someone else. I really don't know how someone could give them business. There's so many other legit companies to choose from.
In my world that would be Strike King. I do try to avoid doing business with any company that does take others designs but I don't limit that to just hunting or fishing. With the way patent laws are now, there are worse things than just copying a design though. Now days, a company can steal your design and patent it as their own to keep the inventor from producing it.
We get to thank lawyers for that one. Of course they're controlled by corporations who control the politicians that make the laws so I guess they're all to blame. I'm sitting down for the national anthem (on my couch) to protest!
I've put WD-40 on treestand locks, ratchets, carabiners, treestand seat adjustment screws, and other various parts and pieces that I leave in and around my stands. To the best of my knowledge it's never affected me getting a shot at a deer. Sometimes I think we give deer entirely too much credit in their ability to reason as if they were human beings. If deer associated every non-natural smell with danger and death they'd be paralyzed and never get out of their bed - or they'd never stop running until they dropped over dead from exhaustion.
Shame about Muddy selling out...I had bought I think 5-6 of their hang ons and they were quality...I liked that you could get replacement straps every 3 years as well, but of course they go sell out and basically become big game. Their hay bale blind is no where near the quality of Rednecks I had already completely written Muddy off, but now this copycat crap is ridiculous I do like the Hawk accessories and the appearance of their stands...I just wish hawk used a two strap system on their hang-ons...I like having the extra security. Well I guess there Xplor does...I might look into them when I need a new stand.
I understand your point but I get really paranoid about scent and even though I know in the back of my mind it probly wouldn't hurt anything I just can't bring my self to take the chance... Lol
