Can you do a friend of the forum a favour?

ThorpyFX

Scott at SC relics has been working hard to build his business over the last 12 months. He had the balls to quit his job and go full time to deliver his passion, lots of very cool Nitro finished relic and NOS guitars.

 Anyway, Instagram unilaterally disabled his account without notice and without explanation and as such he’s now lost all of his followers/audience.

anyway, I know many of you here have bought his work so can I ask that you share his Instagram. Account and give him a follow.

its really unfair that this has happened so hopefully you good folks can help?



https://www.instagram.com/screlicsguitaremporium

Boromedic

I've added him again, what the hell! Any clearer yet why they deleted it? How bizarre

richardhomer

Done

SteveRobinson

I don't do Instagram but I can only assume that Fender complained about trade mark violations? 

usedtobe

Done 

ThorpyFX

SteveRobinson said:

I don't do Instagram but I can only assume that Fender complained about trade mark violations? 

The thing is, he is fastidious about not using their logos.... so if so it’d be tenuous at best. 

darthed1981

Don't use instagram but would happily share either business page if requested on Facebook?  We got links?

SteveRobinson

Fender have IP rights to the word "relic" in this context so that might be their complaint? 

OilCityPickups

SteveRobinson said:

Fender have IP rights to the word "relic" in this context so that might be their complaint? 

Really? So Larry has the trademark on the colour cream, Seymore has patented fresh air ... and all those Egyptian mummies have to get re catalogued :-) 

WezV

SteveRobinson said:

Fender have IP rights to the word "relic" in this context so that might be their complaint? 

If that is the reason half the guitar content on instagram should have gone too.

Wouldn’t fender normally send a cease and desist to Scott first.

It’s a shame answers are not likely to be forthcoming.  

thermionic

Fender seem surprisingly blasè about Relic (RTM) and RoadWorn (RTM) being used with gay abandon on ebay by chancers with a Squier and a belt sander. Also, the Facebook groups are full of fake Fenders with their headstock logo, doesn’t seem to bother them either. 

Arktik83

Whilst loads of people get away with using the word relic etc on social media/ebay without incurring Fender's wrath because they're small potatoes in terms of followers/interest.

It's probably some souless algorithm that if someone issues multiple reports they take down the account immediately then it's up to the user to flag this as an incorrect take down and get it reviewed by a human being.

Anyway, I've given him a follow!  

ThorpyFX

Arktik83 said:

Whilst loads of people get away with using the word relic etc on social media/ebay without incurring Fender's wrath because they're small potatoes in terms of followers/interest.

It's probably some souless algorithm that if someone issues multiple reports they take down the account immediately then it's up to the user to flag this as an incorrect take down and get it reviewed by a human being.

Anyway, I've given him a follow!  

It’s the soulless takedown that’s the issue here, now ordy about the impact to his business- just deleted without warning....

Whilst it’s their platform, they shouldn’t  be allowed to arbitrarily remove an account without warning or explanation. That’s just unfair 

horsehead

I loved seeing Scott's photos, so I've gone and re-added him. Has anything been explained why? It seems to be happening more and more regularly for people!

OilCityPickups

ThorpyFX said:

Arktik83 said:

Whilst loads of people get away with using the word relic etc on social media/ebay without incurring Fender's wrath because they're small potatoes in terms of followers/interest.

It's probably some souless algorithm that if someone issues multiple reports they take down the account immediately then it's up to the user to flag this as an incorrect take down and get it reviewed by a human being.

Anyway, I've given him a follow!  

It’s the soulless takedown that’s the issue here, now ordy about the impact to his business- just deleted without warning....

Whilst it’s their platform, they shouldn’t  be allowed to arbitrarily remove an account without warning or explanation. That’s just unfair 

Liked ... 

GoldenEraGuitars

Thank you so much @ThorpyFX , I wasn’t expecting to find this here this morning. This has cheered me up after some other bad news (not guitar related).

Okay, after sitting on this and waiting for Instagram to pull their finger out I got a half assed reply after following their bizarre appeal process. It was the same info as on their help/support pages. They refuse to tell me specifically what the issue was but after a number of friends (in and out of the music industry) got in touch it appears that one reason makes perfect sense. Before I tell you, I have no reason to believe fender have said anything to Instagram. Thus far, I have had no issues or contact regarding this via email, the website, post or Facebook. There are far more prominent brands and builders out there with larger audiences sailing far closer to the wind than I have ever done. I also know of many people behind the scenes who use fender images, branding and names to describe their work. None of them have been affected. Besides, I’m a partcaster body and neck supplier/painter. I don’t advertise full builds, just bits.

Sooo... it appears that using these hashtags, “guitarsofinstagram” and “instaguitar”, has drawn Instagrams attention to my work. Basically these “infringe on their brand identity”. I’ve put the whole debacle down to this because I can’t see what else I’ve done wrong. The other theory is I’ve been hacked and in which case Instagram have been equally useless in assisting me.

Why am I bothered so much by this? Well, I had 1200+ followers and a 600+ picture story of the evolution of the business. Not one bit of advertising was done so this is a naturally built fan base. At the point of the account being deactivated I was getting 150-250 likes per picture. While this might seem like “....so?” to me it was a massive number. It also provided a revenue stream for the business and that is something we will need to address. Remember, this is a business started from an idea to now having a 3-4 month lead in time, that page was my diary. 

So, without getting annoyed, miffed, upset any further I will crack on and build my audience again without any shortcuts. Any support is much welcomed and you’ll see a good mixture of ideas, mock ups, full builds and inside info on the page.

As a precaution, the only fender-esque names I will be using is on “Straturday” and “teletuesday”. 

horsehead

@lonestar ; if this the reason, then fuck me....that's tight. Always loved seeing your work and drooling (came close to pulling the trigger on a couple of bodies!). I've heard several people on Insta complaining that their accounts have been pulled and no reason why just recently...seems they are making a point but not caring to share why

GoldenEraGuitars

horsehead said:

@lonestar ; if this the reason, then fuck me....that's tight. Always loved seeing your work and drooling (came close to pulling the trigger on a couple of bodies!). I've heard several people on Insta complaining that their accounts have been pulled and no reason why just recently...seems they are making a point but not caring to share why

I appreciate the kind words. I’m reliably informed that this is the reason but without a proper answer from this faceless company I have no idea.

The new page is up and running and I will endeavour to do a single daily post.

Bridgehouse

@lonestar - I’ve seen similar mate so I suspect you are spot on with your analysis. They will be pissed you are making money out of their brand name as it potentially links you to their brand identity in marketing data and they won’t like that. 

Its harsh and uncalled for IMHO - but like you say it’s their site. The big issue is how we are now tolerant of these huge companies doing what they like with us yet remain completely faceless 

Jalapeno

Going 1 better - going to order a relic'd Tele neck !

TTony

And I've just used my admin powers to unilaterally alter your sig @lonestar - the www address is now a link to your site - just makes it a bit easier for people to travel from your posts here to your website.