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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Marketplace => Topic started by: XDelusion on January 09, 2015, 09:17:59 PM

Title: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 09, 2015, 09:17:59 PM
Hello, this is not a sales post but a question. I hope this is in the right place.
Anyhow, I just got off the phone with Ebay as they closed down one of my Gotek listings claiming that I was selling a modified devices intended for piracy.
I tried to explain to them that what I am selling is no for piracy, but that must be done on the software level.
Needless to say, they would not believe me and I can no longer sell them, that is so long as they are flashed to work with the Amiga.
Anyone else having this problem?
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on January 09, 2015, 09:23:03 PM
Ooooh, somebody reported you.  Who'd you piss off?  That sucks, and I don't even like the "Gotek" type of devices or floppy emulators.  :angry:
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 09, 2015, 09:31:59 PM
Quote from: Oldsmobile_Mike;781341
Ooooh, somebody reported you.  Who'd you piss off?  That sucks, and I don't even like the "Gotek" type of devices or floppy emulators.  :angry:


That's the odd thing... I've not sold one in two months. I just listed some that came in and boom, they took it down and did not re-post after all my explaining. I've had nothing but positive feedback from everyone I'd sold to.

Searching for Amiga Gotek, it now looks like there are only about 3 people still selling...
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: danbeaver on January 09, 2015, 09:36:25 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;781340
Hello, this is not a sales post but a question. I hope this is in the right place.
Anyhow, I just got off the phone with Ebay as they closed down one of my Gotek listings claiming that I was selling a modified devices intended for piracy.
I tried to explain to them that what I am selling is no for piracy, but that must be done on the software level.
Needless to say, they would not believe me and I can no longer sell them, that is so long as they are flashed to work with the Amiga.
Anyone else having this problem?
Technically, you are selling a "Value Added Product" and increasing the sale of Gotek devices overall for the manufacturer.  I am not a lawyer, but there is no piracy involved unless the firmware coder has expressed that his "work product" should not be used for commercial use.  I haven't check his site recently, but there was no mention of restriction on use (it was freely available for download) when I programmed the several I have.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: danbeaver on January 09, 2015, 09:40:46 PM
I am sorry, I just checked the author's web site: https://cortexamigafloppydrive.wordpress.com/

And there is now added in red:
"The informations and softwares provided on this page can’t be sold directly or indirectly into a preflashed device."
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 09, 2015, 09:47:32 PM
Quote from: danbeaver;781346
I am sorry, I just checked the author's web site: https://cortexamigafloppydrive.wordpress.com/

And there is now added in red:
"The informations and softwares provided on this page can’t be sold directly or indirectly into a preflashed device."


Hmm, I did not see the update notice on the web site. I wonder if that is what the Ebay guys are going from or if they are just jumping to conclusions.

I asked them if I could sell my drives unmodified, and they said yes. That way I can at least get most of my money back out of them. Oddly enough though... do a search on Ebay for Gotek...

....there are very few left being sold even without the flash, at least with "Gotek" in the title. Hmmm....
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 09, 2015, 10:00:00 PM
I still see nothing on the official about not selling pre-flashed drives. This is the only notice I see:

"DISCLAIMER :
No software from Gotek System was used or reversed to make this new firmware.
Informations and softwares on this page are provided in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
The author will not be held liable for any loss, damage or failure or any incident related to the use of this software and informations.
It is not a commercial work and had been done at my free time so don’t expect instant support or warranty.
The informations and softwares provided on this page can’t be sold directly or indirectly into a preflashed device."
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: bbond007 on January 09, 2015, 11:26:23 PM
Quote from: XDelusion;781340
y would not believe me and I can no longer sell them, that is so long as they are flashed to work with the Amiga.

Kind off off topic

I have one called HXC but I never installed it because ive not been using the mig that often lately and when I do, whdload is my goto.

Anyway, is this one better than HXC?

I do hate ebay sometmes. First, I sold a Mazda rotary engine on there and did not realize I'd get charged 10% on freight shipping which was substantial. Then I sold an aluminum Chinese mustang intake manifold but buyer never paid (ebay noob - max bid mistake) but I still got stuck with the fee. I mean they give you a credit, but need sell over $200 worth of stuff to use it because unfortunately the intake sold for a lot less the second time.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 09, 2015, 11:36:58 PM
Quote from: bbond007;781356
Kind off off topic

I have one called HXC but I never installed it because ive not been using the mig that often lately and when I do, whdload is my goto.

Anyway, is this one better than HXC?

I do hate ebay sometmes. First, I sold a Mazda rotary engine on there and did not realize I'd get charged 10% on freight shipping which was substantial. Then I sold an aluminum Chinese mustang intake manifold but buyer never paid (ebay noob - max bid mistake) but I still got stuck with the fee. I mean they give you a credit, but need sell over $200 worth of stuff to use it because unfortunately the intake sold for a lot less the second time.


From my understanding, the HXC is better.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: UberFreak on January 10, 2015, 04:13:23 AM
This is actually good news for all of us Gotek users.
The author of the Gotek's Amiga firmware stopped updating it because many people started selling his work.

Looks like he finally managed to do something about it, good for him.

Btw, that notice on his website about not selling his software has been there for many months.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 10, 2015, 04:21:56 AM
Quote from: UberFreak;781367
This is actually good news for all of us Gotek users.
The author of the Gotek's Amiga firmware stopped updating it because many people started selling his work.

Looks like he finally managed to do something about it, good for him.

Btw, that notice on his website about not selling his software has been there for many months.


I only look at the bottom of the page for updates when I visit.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: danbeaver on January 10, 2015, 07:13:48 AM
Well I guess one could add the header line, the USB UART device, and instructions on how to do it.  I hated the colors and made 4 painted in Amiga beige.

P.S.,  I wish someone would invest in a 3D printer and start making Amiga cases for these, A4000 front fascia's, custom A1200/600 cases, and parts to build an A1200 tower.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 10, 2015, 01:44:12 PM
Quote from: danbeaver;781374
Well I guess one could add the header line, the USB UART device, and instructions on how to do it.  I hated the colors and made 4 painted in Amiga beige.

P.S.,  I wish someone would invest in a 3D printer and start making Amiga cases for these, A4000 front fascia's, custom A1200/600 cases, and parts to build an A1200 tower.


Yep, or offer to do mandatory flash updates for buyers...

...but no one listened, everyone had to be hard headed. Oh well.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: slaapliedje on January 10, 2015, 11:57:51 PM
Quote from: danbeaver;781374
Well I guess one could add the header line, the USB UART device, and instructions on how to do it.  I hated the colors and made 4 painted in Amiga beige.

P.S.,  I wish someone would invest in a 3D printer and start making Amiga cases for these, A4000 front fascia's, custom A1200/600 cases, and parts to build an A1200 tower.


I've seriously considered buying a 3D printer so that I could do some replacement parts.  But cases for things like the Gotek would be sweet.

slaapliedje
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been "Blocked" From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: danbeaver on January 11, 2015, 01:59:30 AM
1) The Goteks are still selling unrestricted on UK eBay.

2) The case for them (Gotek devices) doesn't fit A1200/600's so a 3D printed one would be "sweet."

3) If someone could do Amiga plastics (cases, case fronts, inserts) on a 3D printer they would make some fast money.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: slaapliedje on January 11, 2015, 03:19:12 AM
Ha, Yeah I've been thinking for quite a long time that I'd love to get a 3D printer so I could reprint retro-computer plastics.  Instead of having to attempt the whole retr0brite process, just print up a new part.

Not sure how you'd do keyboard keys and the like though.

Also, I'd need a printer large enough to do the A4000D front.

slaapliedje
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: danbeaver on January 11, 2015, 05:26:26 AM
The keys can be found plenty of places, but the cost of a 3D printer large enough to do case parts would easily be recouped in a matter of weeks.

Or if someone could find a firm willing to do them, that would work too!
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: Duce on January 11, 2015, 12:13:13 PM
Can't say I blame the creator of this if people are profiting, even to minuscule amounts, off his hard work.

The dude probably isn't making a dime off these, and has likely put hundreds is not thousands of hours into the code and hardware, so I don't begrudge him griping to ebay (assuming it was him that did the griping) if people are flogging off his hard work and making even minor profits while he's likely having a hard time even breaking even.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: danbeaver on January 11, 2015, 01:01:54 PM
Still, to contact US eBay and not UK eBay is odd (he appears to be located in France, just a Chunnel away).
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 11, 2015, 01:59:59 PM
Quote from: Duce;781479
Can't say I blame the creator of this if people are profiting, even to minuscule amounts, off his hard work.

The dude probably isn't making a dime off these, and has likely put hundreds is not thousands of hours into the code and hardware, so I don't begrudge him griping to ebay (assuming it was him that did the griping) if people are flogging off his hard work and making even minor profits while he's likely having a hard time even breaking even.



He could have sold them himself on Ebay, nothing was stopping him.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 12, 2015, 04:45:57 AM
One thing I don't see though, is why these devices get as bad a rap as they do. Sure they are no faster than a regular floppy, but on the other hand, with the right disk image, almost everything I've tested on it worked. It all mostly comes down to the Amiga's hardware, same as loading from floppy.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: Lurch on January 12, 2015, 07:00:49 AM
Never bought Goteks through Ebay always found them over priced, picked mine up through Amibay.

Best bet would be to sell them there.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: Dale on January 12, 2015, 07:48:20 AM
Quote from: XDelusion;781524
One thing I don't see though, is why these devices get as bad a rap as they do. Sure they are no faster than a regular floppy, but on the other hand, with the right disk image, almost everything I've tested on it worked. It all mostly comes down to the Amiga's hardware, same as loading from floppy.
I love these Gotek devices.  I found some that were flashed for Yamaha with shipping for around 18 bucks, so you just clear that out and reflash it.  I read were he did not want to sell them something about having to pay extra tax in his country, but he also did not like people selling them and making money off his work.  I am glad he is at least sharing his code.  These just save a lot of floppy abuse.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 12, 2015, 01:23:11 PM
True, I just don't see why he didn't offer to sell himself, unless of course it did have to do with his country's taxes (unfair trade).
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: Duce on January 12, 2015, 02:20:17 PM
A bit puzzling why he'd be uppity about US based ebay sales and not in other regions.  All I can think is there were far more sales going on in North America and/or people were charging unacceptable prices per the fellows standards that offended his sensibilities more than UK sellers prices.  Or perhaps the complainant simply hasn't got around to complaining to ebay about UK sales yet, who knows.  You'd think if someone was going to get offended about others selling their creations, even at a meager profit, it'd be a universal insult completely blind from any regions.

His right regardless, I suppose.
Title: Re: Anybody Else Been Bloccked From Selling Goteks on Amiga?
Post by: XDelusion on January 12, 2015, 02:45:44 PM
Quote from: Duce;781537
A bit puzzling why he'd be uppity about US based ebay sales and not in other regions.  All I can think is there were far more sales going on in North America and/or people were charging unacceptable prices per the fellows standards that offended his sensibilities more than UK sellers prices.  Or perhaps the complainant simply hasn't got around to complaining to ebay about UK sales yet, who knows.  You'd think if someone was going to get offended about others selling their creations, even at a meager profit, it'd be a universal insult completely blind from any regions.

His right regardless, I suppose.



Ironically the highest selling prices I noticed were in Spain $435, and yes people were buying...