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kylecyesterday at 2:35 PM5 repliesview on HN

If it's advertised as a case and it works, why is it a scam? I don't own a 3D printer, nor do I know anyone who does. If someone is designing, printing, and selling a useful product, why is that a scam?


Replies

collingreenyesterday at 2:50 PM

I think they are saying people mislead customers into thinking they are getting a "$60 gaming pc" when they are actually just getting a 3d printed case with nothing inside.

cortesofttoday at 3:22 AM

If you are selling a product for way more than it should cost (like a $60 3D printed case), when that cost is the exact price that a popular blog says the computer costs, you are intentionally hoping to prey on people mistaking your listing for the actual computer.

You can make all sorts of arguments about possible reasons for charging that exact price for that exact product, but no reasonable person is going to buy that.

noahbpyesterday at 5:37 PM

Because the sellers are categorizing them as computers on ebay and filling in all of the appropriate specifications as if it was the computer, and only putting in the description "CASE ONLY, DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY COMPUTER PARTS".

Brian_K_Whiteyesterday at 2:50 PM

Automatically no 3d printed case is worth $300 because it's not possible to make it good enough quality.

A metal and wood case could be worth $300.

A good design is worth something, and a good printing job is worth something, and the convenience of a service is worth something, but no amount of good design and quality printing job and service convenience can make a 3d printed case worth more than about $50 before shipping, and it would need to be somehow pretty special design to overcome some basic material and process weaknesses and still be functional and look good to be worth that much.

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