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Backcountry.com not playing nice

Bares · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 5

So what you’re saying Jay, is that if you chose to live you life based on a set of principles rather than price, it may inconvenience you? 

Dankasaurus · · Lyons, CO · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 85

Folks!  I still love your little mountain goat stickers on your heddy rocket boxes and late model Toyotas/Sprinters/Subarus.  Please keep putting the mountain goat stickers on your car.

Idaho Bob · · McCall, ID · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 757

I just contacted Backcountry.com and informed them that they have lost my business forever.  

J D · · SC · Joined May 2017 · Points: 25
Bares wrote: So what you’re saying Jay, is that if you chose to live you life based on a set of principles rather than price, it may inconvenience you? 

Nice twist. What I'm saying is that you can find things you disagree with from nearly any company if you look enough. Be consistent. If I were to be consistent with boycotting companies for doing things I don't like then I'd use almost none. 

It's not a difficult point to understand. Needs to be a really awful thing for me to boycott. This incident shows something that probably any big company would do. Are you consistent in your boycotts? Or is this one just cool to sound tough about?
FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
Jay Dee wrote:

Nice twist. What I'm saying is that you can find things you disagree with from nearly any company if you look enough. Be consistent. If I were to be consistent with boycotting companies for doing things I don't like then I'd use almost none. 

It's not a difficult point to understand. Needs to be a really awful thing for me to boycott. This incident shows something that probably any big company would do. Are you consistent in your boycotts? Or is this one just cool to sound tough about?

You need to quit thinking for yourself and join the mindless mob!

Bares · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 5

No twist, I was just asking a question. I personally haven’t purchased anything from backcountry, and many of the other large retailers, for a very long time. I do this for a verity of reasons, but mostly I’d rather support local business and companies that better match my values.  Am I 100% consistent? No. But I’d rather strive for something I believe in and achieve that goal as often as I can, rather than do nothing at all. 

J D · · SC · Joined May 2017 · Points: 25

I support small companies too. We all should. I would have no problem paying more for local companies. Unfortunately, I've picked a path of rock climbing while living 5 hours from good climbing, which means that online is where it's at. I do hope solutions for these trademark issues can find a way to work themselves out. Again, I think the problem is the fact that you can trademark a common term. 

J D · · SC · Joined May 2017 · Points: 25
Gvigliotti Vigliotti wrote:

Comparing it to “boys will be boys” misses the point.  I don’t, and never have used backcountry, but this company isn’t alone.  Going after people for using their trademark is one thing, and if that’s where you draw the line on your business, that’s up to you, but I think it’s a little hypocritical. Look at what other business’ you use often; Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Uber, Starbucks, REI, Wholefoods etc.  You don’t think they operate at the same, if not a more ruthless level?  You don’t think they haven’t killed off small business’?  I don’t agree with what backcountry is doing, fuck em, don’t give them you’re money. But if you’re gonna boycott them, look into tacking on some others to your list.  Otherwise, you come off sounding....

Yup 

divnamite · · New York, NY · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 90
Jay Dee wrote: I support small companies too. We all should. I would have no problem paying more for local companies. Unfortunately, I've picked a path of rock climbing while living 5 hours from good climbing, which means that online is where it's at. I do hope solutions for these trademark issues can find a way to work themselves out. Again, I think the problem is the fact that you can trademark a common term. 

You can always buy from local shop with online presence. Rock & Snow in New Paltz for example.

J D · · SC · Joined May 2017 · Points: 25
divnamite wrote:

You can always buy from local shop with online presence. Rock & Snow in New Paltz for example.

Indeed. Of course the issue not knowing about them. I have learned of alpenglow from MP and have used them. Maybe a thread for mom and pop gear shops is in need. 

MP · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 2

Comparing the situation to Microsoft and Starbucks is fundamentally different. Previous posters have explained the problems associated with trademarking a natural word (Backcountry).

I'm surprised they haven't sued backcountrygear.com. seems like you could argue there that consumers might get confused.

In any event-- I've bought thousands in gear from backcountry in the past-- gonna need at least a 25% off coupon to appease me....

Vic Davalos · · Rhode Island · Joined Aug 2017 · Points: 5

This seems to be picking up a little steam.  If you look up 'Backcountry' in the news there have been a couple of small articles from small newpapers written about this issue

Paul L · · Portland, OR · Joined Dec 2016 · Points: 346

As a consumer in a capitalist economy, you vote every day with your dollars spent.  
I'm bummed to read that Backcountry is taking this approach with their new ownership and will shop elsewhere.  The good news is that there are plenty of options for the same selections at similar or better pricing.  Looking at the portfolio for the PE firm/owners, the only one I'm actually bummed to see on there is Nuun, as I really do like their product.

There is no perfect way to navigate this as a consumer and no right answer... it's essentially politics, and as someone else mentioned if you were to go full monty boycotting everyone, you'd almost need to become totally self sufficient.  But, doesn't mean it's not worth trying if able.  That's why I avoid Wal Mart, Chick Fil-A, Tillamook Cheese, pretty much all fast food, Whole Foods, Starbucks, and a bunch more big and little companies.  There is pretty much always an alternative, if you can afford it.  I feel for people that exist in an income bracket that essentially forces the consumer to support some of the worst businesses on the planet because the companies have monopolized supply chains, etc, and there are no other low-cost options left.  

Andrew Rice · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Jan 2016 · Points: 11
Gerrit Verbeek wrote:

There is actually a huge ongoing lawsuit between Amazon, Inc. and the actual South American countries which encompass the Amazon about who should have rights to the .amazon internet domain. Predictably, the trillion dollar corporation which was established in 1994 is winning over a geographic name which predates them by about 400 years.

Not exactly correct. Amazon, the company, applied to ICANN to get a TLD (top level domain) for their company name. ie. .Amazon.  ICANN granted it even after the Amazonian countries of Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador challenged the application. As much as there are things I don't like about Amazon, they didn't sue anyone over this and simply fought off a challenge to their application. Whether it was appropriate to apply for that TLD in the first place is an open question.

benb · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 0

Really want to move the needle? Forget gearheads and Facebook. Find and post info for the private equity company partners who manage backcountry.com, and als the investors of that PE firm. Start letting them know what’s going on and the huge grassroots fury of the central customer base. Those are the people who can get stuff done immediately.

Dan 60D5H411 · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 3,436

Dave K nailed it.  BC committed the cardinal sin of betraying their customer base, their ideals and their expectations. They should reap the  awards that follow. 

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,100

Companies need to actively protect their intellectual property (IP). Failing to do so can be costly.

Here are the current PTO cases involving Backcountry.com: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=Backcountry.com,%20LLC%20%20

Just a couple of pages. Now check out the five pages each for North Face and Patagonia

The North Face:  ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v…

Patagonia: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=PATAGONIA,%20INC.%20%20

And a few pages from our sponsor REI: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=Recreational%20Equipment,%20Inc.%20%20 

Folks should learn about IP because the indignation being displayed will be of little consequence.

EFS · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 160
Allen Sanderson wrote: 

And a few pages from our sponsor REI: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=Recreational%20Equipment,%20Inc.%20%20 

im laughing that they are even going after takara sake for their rei sake. rei means cold in japanese, amongst a plethora of other things depending how its used, im guessing thats probably the meaning of the word since that sake is served cold. its a word, not an acronym.

Dan 60D5H411 · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 3,436
Allen Sanderson wrote: Companies need to actively protect their intellectual property (IP). Failing to do so can be costly.

Here are the current PTO cases involving Backcountry.com: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=Backcountry.com,%20LLC%20%20

Just a couple of pages. Now check out the five pages each for North Face and Patagonia

The North Face:  ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v…

Patagonia: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=PATAGONIA,%20INC.%20%20

And a few pages from our sponsor REI: http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=Recreational%20Equipment,%20Inc.%20%20 

Folks should learn about IP because the indignation being displayed will be of little consequence.

Completely agree that companies need to defend trademarks where competitors are trying to use the likeness of the original company to gain an advantage.  This is not the case here.   This is a tactic to sue companies with insufficient funds in order to set precedent despite a lack of competition (who here thinks the women's avalanche class represents a direct threat that misappropriates the backcountry trademark?)  

Michael Anthony · · Crestline · Joined Oct 2019 · Points: 0

I was wondering why the site/retailer named Backcountry Edge changed their name to Enwild.

I think I may have my answer. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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