Thoughts on advice being given to residents about theft

[left]Firstly, I wasn't sure what board to put this on; this seemed most appropriate to me, and I apologize in advance if it needs to be moved. I've heard this a few times from people and now having seen it echoed even by someone who reviews products, thereby attempting to influence which products consumers buy, I felt this warranted a response, a simple one, one that perhaps many haven't thought of, however logical it seems to me.

I hear over and over, "With all the theft that is going on, you should stick to well known designers". While none of us want to support and encourage a thief to continue to do so, the vast, vast majority of us are neither thieves nor well-known designers, just trying to get by and having some fun sharing our designs with the public. What has happened to the better-known designers is awful, and heck, I'm not a well-known designer and something of mine was even stolen, but I shrug and move on. It's not so important to me that I have to kick and scream and tattle, except to fume to my close friends, but then, I don't make my living from what I do. The bottom line is: we all start somewhere, and all of us were unknowns at one time or another. As hard as it is for you to believe, there WAS a time in SL when places like ETD did not exist, and Elika had to make a name for herself. If everyone was told not to go to her because she was unknown, we might not have all the lovely hair we have today. This also means that while her, and the other big designers', hair is lovely and diverse, there is much more that remains to be seen that is not stolen, either in design or in textures, and is worth a look. Many new designers' hopes, enthusiasm, and drive may be crumpled beneath the weight of your vaguely pointed fingers of discouragement and accusation, killing what traffic they may get before their business ever takes off, and we all miss out on that chance for even more diversity in this world that is so beautifully diverse. Please think before you advise others not to see what the little people have to offer.
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I had not heard of anyone saying dont buy from new designers. Youre right that would be a shame.
The advice I give people is simply dont buy from an individual who says something along the lines of "Pay me and I'll give you your purchase." I tell people the safe way to shop in SL is to buy from scripted vendors or from prims and to simply pay attention to what you are clicking on and buying.
I also tell people to speak up if what theyve bought was not what they thought.
I was very grateful to the person who IMed me the other day to tell me the box she bought from me was accidentally empty (oops my fault ) and glad she didnt just assume she got ripped off.

I didn't mean the scam kind of thieving, rather, the kind where someone copies prim for prim or the texture of someone else's product and passes it off as their own, reselling it in their store. This has happened to some hair and skin designers and a vehicle designer that I've read so far in the recent past, but I'm sure it can and has happened in other places too. It's a horrible thing to have happen for sure, but not a reason we should all start buying only from the top 10 people everyone already knows about.

I've seen this advice mostly in blogs or by word-of-mouth, but most recently, for instance, in the blog Second Living, wherein new products are reviewed on a daily basis.

General advice,

You are doing the right thing not to get too frothed up over it
especially being new.

Just continue to offer quality products and over time you will build a reputation as fair and honest dealer.

Customer support is also critical. Most new companies in RL
offer steep discounts to get attention.

I am fairly new myself so this info is what I brought from RL.

If I understand what you are saying correctly you are assuming that beacuse SOMEONE rips a skin or an outfit or a build, that people here on the forums are suggesting that we should ONLY shop at the top(whomever they are)designer's shops.

Well I can't see where you got that.....

Been here 1.5 years and haven't got a clue who the 'TOP' designers are.........I know what I like, and that's where I shop.

I have yet to see ANYONE in the forums say..."Don't shop the new places" because you may get screwed.

What I DO see, is people posting that some people have zero morals and will, if they think it'll get 'em a buck, steal and sell others' work....and I find this info VERY VERY helpful.

I am ALWAYS looking to hear about slobs who copy and sell others' work as their own, but that matters not to me AT all when it comes to shopping at a NEW place.

Worry less and just do your thing