Grand Theft Handpan

[Miguel Carvalho]

I was having a chat with a brasilian friend on FB, he just showed me this.
This is just an example of another huge theft... this Handpan was sold for 8500 reais. 2.795,04 €

Just a few more links...
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-548466533-hangdrum-hang-drum-perfeito-com-bag-unico-no-brasil-_JM
This one is a Saggitarius i think
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-551862581-hang-drum-fabricaco-americana-com-hard-case-e-bag-_JM

[Snivy]

WOW! And they called it a HangDrum too! Very unethical.

That second link is definitely an STG.

[ericmuller]

Couldnt the buyer get a refund being that the seller claimed this to be a "hang drum" and hang being a patented word?

[Mikey P]

[Heavenly3lues]

It's crazy that stuff like this happens. But... REALLY?!? Why would anyone in their right mind pay for something like that upon hearing the video?!? It's a two way street... it takes both a buyer and a seller. I just don't understand why someone wouldn't educate themselves before spending that kind of money on something.

[broussel2]

It's crazy that stuff like this happens. But... REALLY?!? Why would anyone in their right mind pay for something like that upon hearing the video?!? It's a two way street... it takes both a buyer and a seller. I just don't understand why someone wouldn't educate themselves before spending that kind of money on something.

Because they're unaware that they have to educate themselves. Not everyone has the occasion of becoming familiar with handpans. Sometimes you've just seen one years ago (there are about six billion people out there who are unaware of this forum). And there must like between 15,000 and 20,000 Hanghang/handpans on this planet (and less players...), bad ones included?

Too bad mistakes involve such amounts of money.

[Heavenly3lues]

It's crazy that stuff like this happens. But... REALLY?!? Why would anyone in their right mind pay for something like that upon hearing the video?!? It's a two way street... it takes both a buyer and a seller. I just don't understand why someone wouldn't educate themselves before spending that kind of money on something.

Because they're unaware that they have to educate themselves. Not everyone has the occasion of becoming familiar with handpans. Sometimes you've just seen one years ago (there are about six billion people out there who are unaware of this forum). And there must like between 15,000 and 20,000 Hanghang/handpans on this planet (and less players...), bad ones included?

Too bad mistakes involve such amounts of money.

I totally understand what you are saying, but generally, for big purchases in life (house, cars, dog, cat, vacation, TV, or whatever), people at least shop around, learn a bit more, etc. People do make impulse purchases often too, so I guess this could be an impulse buy. Surely, someone's ears can do the educating. You don't have to know handpans to know that doesn't make a pleasant sound. I would understand someone getting screwed if there weren't a video and it was advertised as a "Hang Drum". But, it's right there for them to listen to it, isn't it? Or was the video not included in the original sale?

[broussel2]

I totally understand what you are saying, but generally, for big purchases in life (house, cars, dog, cat, vacation, TV, or whatever), people at least shop around, learn a bit more, etc. People do make impulse purchases often too, so I guess this could be an impulse buy. Surely, someone's ears can do the educating. You don't have to know handpans to know that doesn't make a pleasant sound. I would understand someone getting screwed if there weren't a video and it was advertised as a "Hang Drum". But, it's right there for them to listen to it, isn't it? Or was the video not included in the original sale?

Impulse buy, opportunity effect... and the power of the mind to easily overwhelm good sense and blatant reality (or people would take sensible decisions all the time...). Being in balance is not easy... We shouldn't blame people who are taken advantage of because of their ignorance.

[Carbon]

Gifts. People sometimes get others nice presents. A person might save up for a long while and surprised a loved one with a handpan. Maybe they pooled their resources with a few other people to be able to afford one. They may know the term "hang drum"and buy accordingly. A non-musical person might not understand the difference immediately.

This is what i think of when I see replica handpans sell. I think of how excited everyone is and how quickly that piece of badly hammered metal shits on someone's dream. This sort of thing could have happened to me or a number of other handpan.org members. Heck, it could still happen.... Educated consumers know, but not everyone is education and for some it may be hard to make heads or tails of what is good and what is bad. There are arguments within the community about respected makers.

I don't think it is helpful to blame the buyer. The seller is 100% at fault and is knowingly scamming people.

[CarolW]

Gifts. People sometimes get others nice presents. A person might save up for a long while and surprised a loved one with a handpan. Maybe they pooled their resources with a few other people to be able to afford one. They may know the term "hang drum"and buy accordingly. A non-musical person might not understand the difference immediately.

This is what i think of when I see replica handpans sell. I think of how excited everyone is and how quickly that piece of badly hammered metal shits on someone's dream. This sort of thing could have happened to me or a number of other handpan.org members. Heck, it could still happen.... Educated consumers know, but not everyone is education and for some it may be hard to make heads or tails of what is good and what is bad. There are arguments within the community about respected makers.

I don't think it is helpful to blame the buyer. The seller is 100% at fault and is knowingly scamming people.

Carbon - I agree with your position. One needs to hear handpans (and pantams) in person, in order to become educated. Some people have shaky hearing, too; I am one of them.

BUT - when I hear a great handpan or pantam in person, ohhhhhh! My heart just breaks!