It wasnt about the truth hurting Mark

There was alot of self promoting going in the thread and due to the fact that Amm is our girl the entire post had the potential to turn into a big ugly mess....which is probably why it was deleted but I cant speak for the Admin...just my opinion

The reason the thread was deleted was that we received 5 complaints in less than one hour specifically directed at the blatant advertising that was included in two of the original posts.  I was asked to ban one of the people advertising but decided to let it go for now to see if we can try this topic again because AMM is very near and dear to all of us here. 

There is a very fine line here on this board and to be honest, to try and maintain fair boundaries, we created a Salon Directory for anyone that wanted to aggressively advertise their services.  The cost of the directory is competitive with other similar directories and basically covers our costs.

Any of you that maintain a salon or have a business understand that you have to pay to run that business.  Of course you might be a little upset if someone posted their ads with their phone numbers or web site on the outside of your building where you were paying rent and running a respectible hair extension business.

We are in the same boat here.  I have always strived to provide a community that was a fun, friendly and informative place to be.  I have resisted charging for anything on the site, other than in our store.  Recently the cost of hosting the site has gone wild and so we sell Goggle ads and other advertising to help keep the site free.

However, when people use the boards for "free advertising" it is definitely a problem. Not only from the ethical sense but once someone starts there are flocks of others behind them.  :-)

Ironically, when someone posts advertising on this board and it is removed, someone from HB.com contacts the advertiser asking if they would like to advertise in the Salon directory or on the site.  Of course none of you will be surprised to know that not one of the people that have ever posted their advertising illegally here has ever agreed to be listed in the directory.  Nor have they agreed to buy banner ads or similar.

In one case, I personally called a woman in Atlanta who posted a series of 20 ads over a three day period.  She screamed at me on the phone and then hung up on me and said "the Internet is free for everyone".  That gave us all a good laugh.

But I digress....................

As a result of all this and the fact that we try to be fair to all who visit here....there is zero tolerance on any attempts for anyone to cross the line.  The majority of the people here do an excellent job of discussing their business within reason and appropriately.  And I really appreciate that very much.  So thank you all.

When the line is breached...the HB Admin Team will delete it immediately.

That's just business.  You all understand that I am sure.

And by the way....it has been a rough couple of days here with various attacks on long term valued members so the Admin team is a little quick on the delete fingers.  I apologize for any inconvenience in advance and thank you all for your posts and participation.

Mark -

What about all the other companies out there who call there products "shrinkies"?  Are they in violation of US patent laws too?

ouchie ouchie...leave it alone

Interesting.  Honestly though Mark, I am a bit confused by your assuming that by only selling to licensed stylists that you are maintaining some sort of integrity to the application etc. etc.  MOST stylists do not know how to do extensions.  I would think that an alternate way to attempt to ensure consistency and quality would be to require the purchaser to have trained with your company, and passed some sort of proficiency.

In the past, I have purchased your ShrinkLinks indirectly through a "licensed" stylist that is willing to order them or me.  My point being, there are ways around everything.  "Licensing" assures you of nothing if your goal is to make sure those using your product know what they are doing.   I was very pleased with them, however, there are similar shrinkies out there that are just as good and cost much less so I do not use yours anymore. 

Great Lenghts is patented...so why is it we have so many other brands of fusion bonding?

I guess I just dont get this whole patent issue. MB is the only thing I have EVER seen, that claims that no one else can sell a similar product. Ive never in my life walked into a store to buy a specific product, intended for a specific use and only had ONE brand to choose from.

Ahhh so you want to be the ONLY one in the market...to monopolize and control the market!

So if its the process that is patented, then I or anyone else should be able to sell shrink tubing, so long as we dont advertise it for that purpose...correct?

So, question.... Are you saying that shrinklinks are totally different than the adhesive lined tubing sold for electronics?  And if so, than why can't the common electronics product be sold for the purpose of hair extension for those who chose to use it or sell it for that purpose?

Sherrie - Of course you could...it is the name and its "likeness" he is attempting to protect...

I was at Home Depot the other day and found "shrink" tubing in the electrical department that works just fine when cut down and used with hair...THAT IS ALL IT IS!!!!!!!!!  I call it "Hair bond stuff", and I am in no violation of any patent!!!!!! 

I hope I unnderstand what Mark is saying.  It is not the name, it is the process that is that is patented.  It is kind of like Thomas Edison and the light bulb.  He invented it put eventually anyone can make them.  Or Ben Franklin and eye glasses, or levis and dungerees, etc.

I feel sorry for the DIYers!!!! You are the people I have learned the most from!!!  I am a stylist and the majority of experienced stylist wouldn't give me near of the warm reception you guys have.  Long before I was a stylist, I was a kitchen chemist.  I learned way more that way than I ever did in school!

I also understand the business aspect of it  I had a stylist wanting to come to work for me.  Everything was a go and she had started moving her equipment in to my salon.  She finally got the balls to ask me "So, when are you going to teach me how to do extensions.  When are you going to order my kit?" I explained to her that I wasn't going to teach her.  I am the only stylist in a 50 mile radius doing strand by strand extensions and I'll be damned if I move competition in the chair next to mine!!!!  She threw a fit! That was it for her!  She was just in it to get my knowledge.

I guess he is saying, if you want to apply adhesive lined heat shrink tubing in a hair extention process, get your supplies from a hardware store, not a person or business in the market selling "Shrink Tubes for Hair Extensions".

I hope this all works out.  I can see it from everyone's perspective and I am so sorry crap like this happens.

Good Luck!

Question #2..

Toobz, are you aware that there are several sources of adhesive lined shrink tubing, some pretty big ones too, like the 3M company, and others that sell the product wholesale?

It's not that hard to get the stuff.......I am still wondering if that is a entirely different product...or not????

Aphrodite if you read his posts in regards to my questions, he is saying that the process of using shrink tubing to attach hair extensions is what is patented, so anyone that sells the tubing or markets the product for extensions is in violation of his patent. So when I asked if I could sell it and NOT advertise it as for use as a hair extension product he said...INCORRECT.  According to MB, its not the likeness of the name...its the process

I understand that is what he is saying.....I just don't buy it.  Can I patent selling "bag balm" for use on dry skin?  It was made for something else but many people use it for dry skin or cuts etc...gosh, I guess I'll just PATENT THAT!!!!

I would love to read the small print of his patent and what it pertains to...I can see the "likeness" of "shrinkies" being an issue, but the process...COME ON!!!!!

I also noticed something in smshands post that I think according to MB's previous post that he may has issue with.

smshands wrote:

 I guess he is saying, if you want to apply adhesive lined heat shrink tubing in a hair extention process, get your supplies from a hardware store, not a person or business in the market selling "Shrink Tubes for Hair Extensions".

So according to his previous posts, he says anyone can put anything in there own hair, and for there own personal use. So I assume he would have an issue if a stylist was going to the hardware store and buying shrink tubing to put into a clients hair for profit!

Please correct me if I am wrong Mark.

what I understand is..so long as someone is making money, and putting hardware store shrink tubing in someones hair it would be a violation of his patent. If Im using it for my own person use its fine!

Oh blah, fine I'll say it.

Mark, stop being an ass.

There.

Sheesh, thats as asanine as patenting weaving thread.

I read the patent...thanks, AMM...If this is really the case....I guess it is on to silicone- lined micro-rings and fusion installs!!!  I CANNOT see how this is beneficial to Mark Barrington in any way, shape, or form...

If he enforces this, we will simply go onto other methods....

As a side, AMM, I do use MB SHRINK LINKS sometimes so I am in NO VIOLATION of anything...you presume far too much....

i can understand both sides of the spectrum on this whole issue.

Its prob the same way hairlocs feels about their patent. now eveyone sells, links, locs, shells, tubes, etc. they all do the same thing, even look the same, and yet, everyone is profiting from someone elses ideas. Personally, i would take it as a compliment and let it go, you could spend your whole life sueing eveyone or spend your life making SURE your the best and so is your product.

For Mark- i agree stylist should be certified in what ever method they plan to do, it makes for more credibility and professionalism. There are 6 stylist in my salon certified and their certificiates are proudly displayed in salon and we are currently the top extension salon in our area.