dhs raided my store

Originally posted by goou111

Originally posted by windword
reply to post by goou111

 

Wow! Tale of caution, for sure.

I sell at craft fairs mostly, and they make us sign paperwork stating all our merchandise is handmade. But there are always sellers who are selling stuff made in China and passing it off as handmade, for way cheaper we artisians can possible charge. So I understand the problems.

I do buy a lot of stuff from China. It's way cheaper than any in the states and usually comes with free shipping too! Fortunately for me, I only buy blanks that a either paint or decorate.

But it's tough out there and this probably couldn't have come at worse time for you. From one entrepreneur to another, I feel for you. Hope you're able to get back up before too long! Best wishes.

edit on 8-12-2012 by windword because: (no reason given)

your right couldnt have been at a worse time for me lol..

but ill just find other things to sell.. im open to any ideas

I do my local Farmer's Market seasonally, as a crafter. I do make all my products, don't buy anything but natural oils, butters and essential oils to make them with. But, I do have friends that do the carnival circuit during the Summer months. They seem to do well with body jewelry to the younger crowd. You might look into that to augment your inventory. Takes up a small amount of space, and sells quickly. Just follow the trends of what the teens and twenty-somethings are into at all times. Don't overstock, keep inventory with a rapid turnover rate.

Good Luck on recouping your loses!

Des

reply to post by goou111


On the other hand, I see people of visually questionable background selling stuff that looks likes they robbed a drug store, or something that fell out some old storage container; Stuff like expired Nyquil, etc, etc, etc, that even the $.99 Cent Store wouldn't sell. And I see people trying to selling things from the $.99 Cent Store for like $5. Good on 'em if they can, but I just laugh and walk on by.

Meanwhile we have drug cartels running amok, people conducting mass shootings on a weekly basis and the highest murder rate of the developed world. But fear not those big brave men with their badges took those dangerous jerseys off the streets.

Originally posted by windword
reply to post by goou111

 

On the other hand, I see people of visually questionable background selling stuff that looks likes they robbed a drug store, or something that fell out some old storage container; Stuff like expired Nyquil, etc, etc, etc, that even the $.99 Cent Store wouldn't sell. And I see people trying to selling things from the $.99 Cent Store for like $5. Good on 'em if they can, but I just laugh and walk on by.

edit on 9-12-2012 by windword because: stuff

what kills me is everything in that dam flea market is fake.. purses, shoes,clothes
the smoke shops even sell those damm synthetic drugs and they do all the movies and music
but they left all of them alone and busted me wtf??

Originally posted by zonetripper2065
Meanwhile we have drug cartels running amok, people conducting mass shootings on a weekly basis and the highest murder rate of the developed world. But fear not those big brave men with their badges took those dangerous jerseys off the streets.

lol yep i feel alot safer knowing my kids wont be able to get there hands on em

reply to post by goou111


It seems that you may have enemies, my friend. Capitalistic enemies.

If they take my shoes, I'll be pissed.

Not like it will sell for anything but I'm not selling because no else has them and they came from China.

But....... still..

Don't take my shoes man..

Unless you plan to wear them.

Because..... I'm not selling.

reply to post by windword


i think it shows that the NFl and NBA and MLB get to make up the laws and sick there dogs on whoever they want

reply to post by goou111


Btw, sent you a pm man.

Ok, since the smoke shop is out of the question, do you have a stand selling candles there? My wife can't walk by a candle aisle without buying a couple. You could sell those little $1 and $2 candles you see at Walmart.

Or you could do a stand that does holiday gift wrapping. Paper costs next to nothing, and its crunch time for the holidays, people don't have time to go to Wally World, buy paper, wrap, etc. I know it's only temporary for the holidays, but it could tide you over til you find a new niche.

I feel for your loss brother.....
DHS will be a huge mistake someday, but they are cock o the walk right now......
These are simply CORPORATE BULLY BOYS...not policemen.
The goverment is protecting the other corporate entities who make the campaign contributions of large denominations...
The whole emphasis of goverment is shifted to the corporate citizens of America.
(corporations are people too) this screwed up decision of the courts is the basis for the shift....
the power grab is now becoming very naked.....you are lucky SWAT didnt shoot yer dog too.....
The whole knockoff thing is part of the corruption as well...
Who do you think is invested in those chinese companies that make them?
How would the chinese even know what to produce if their foriegn ownership didnt tell them whats hot...?
DHDS is just another part of the scam......its a pyramid scheme, not a country anymore...and soon the people will be stuck holding the bag......
They are draining the wealth of this country.....and DHS is guarding the plug so no one can stop it.

reply to post by goou111


If they didn't have the copyright logo, they're bootlegged.
As a retailer, bootlegged products can get your butt in some serious trouble.

You are extremely lucky you didn't have to go to jail.

Of course, money-wise is a different story.
They always take the money when dealing with a situation like this.
Selling an illegal product therefore the money technically doesn't belong to you.

Over the past 25 years or so, we've seen many loose every thing they had because of it not being a licensed product.

Some were people we knew, so I'm fully aware of what goes down.
Scary big time....

And your life is never the same.

One couple we knew got in trouble over bumper stickers at the Daytona 500.
They lost every thing.....
Except back then, it was the US Marshall's that confiscated their stuff and arrested them.

If we run across some one selling bootlegged products, we try to warn them about the possibilities of getting caught and the repercussions.
But they usually don't believe us.
It's the "Oh it won't happen to me" mentality.

reply to post by goou111


Here's a thread talking about raids at Flea Markets


DHS and ICE now raiding flea markets


This always has been and always will be an issue I'm afraid.

Nothing new......

I love how people defend the DHS here. Uhm, this isn't their job. They need a search warrant to do what they did. The OP's GOD GIVEN INALIENABLE RIGHTS were VIOLATED.

Vote with bullets.

Originally posted by goou111 i dont understand how they can leave the soccer that i told them was fake but take stuff i know was real.. and they took my till for the day ..

Nothing but thugs in suits with badges. Sorry this happened to you. Hope your store can recover.

To satisfy my curiosity, you said they were appraising the jerseys at 250 a piece. How many did they confisca..sorry I mean, steal?

Basically what this tells me is that DHS works for US corporate interests: Nike, the NFL, those guys. Probably any of the companies that count senatewhores and congressmonkeys as board members. THEY can have their "authentic" apparel made in China, but God forbid a guy tries to make a living by selling the same stuff in a freakin flea market. A flea market? DHS is shopping in flea markets - for the public safety?

Wake the hell up people.

Originally posted by phroziac
I love how people defend the DHS here. Uhm, this isn't their job. They need a search warrant to do what they did. The OP's GOD GIVEN INALIENABLE RIGHTS were VIOLATED.

True, but the Patriot Act gives the DHS this fake authority. Still, no one does anything about it. Baa.

I'm willing to bet that the professional soccer lobby is not as rich, powerful, and influential with our Congressional "representatives" as the NFL, MLB, NBA, or NCAA is. You have misunderstood our whole system. Free enterprise, as you were practicing it, is not legal. Big government licenses these things for huge corporations so that they can charge many times the fair (free) market value without any competition. Good ole corporatism. And under our "socialist" President, this is getting even worse.

The Department of Homeland Security is a rip-off of the original intellectual property ideal that agencies like this exist to keep us secure as a nation.

Instead, they are a knock-off agency that abuses their authority, goes after small individuals and lets the large crimes that threaten to destabilize us go unpunished.

As AwakeinNM said, they exist to protect corporate interests, and don't give a rat's ass about anything else.

A disgusting example of how our tax dollars are being used for bullcrap.

As for the all the sports franchises and their stupid merchandise, it's all Chinese garbage, but garbage that they get a cut from. They operate the same way Disney does, vehemently protecting their trademark, and charging a fortune for stuff made from sweatshop labor in other countries.

I am into the fair/market scene. I make handmade soap and sundries but last year felt like I needed to branch out and begin selling other things for those who might not have been looking for soap. In the hood...socks, undies, sweats and tees are always a great seller as are sheet sets, towels and washcloths. China has the game pretty locked down when it comes to offering wholesale goods at rock bottom prices. I like to get novelty items from them. Funky lamps, LED stuff, Adult toys.....and let me just say...adult novelties are a gold mine if you are allowed to push them. I know a lot of flea markets are okay with them while others....not so much. I see some items on these hipster websites that sell geekery and gadgetry and can't help but chuckle at the 200% markup. I see that same crap on display at my chinese supplier for a fraction of the cost. This spring I hope to finally get rid of the thousands of comic books I have in my collection. Im gonna use the wholesalers to augment the comics with some cool anime stuff. Hopefully my little Naruto bobble heads don't send the federales to my door.