Posted by Larry Kirchner (64.123.57.34) on May 03, 2005 at 13:41:01:
In Reply to: The Truth posted by Norm Lanier on May 03, 2005 at 11:10:53:
The bottom line is this type of stuff has been around for a long, long, long time.
Here is the funny thing before ANY OF YOU came out with this stuff I ran across a shop window and saw the very same thing but actually it was 1000 times better it looks REAL. It was on glass and I swear it looked so real I was in shock. I meant with this guy and he also did the lentingular (hope I spelled that right) stuff too but not on plastic but on glass and it looks a million times better.
His main product was taking a picture of a family and then he has this process that makes it look like you can touch the people...you can see every wisker. I meant with this guy and we had it all planned out to introduce this stuff. At the end of the day I said you know what...this is sidetracking what I really do and this stuff is really expensive.
What I wanted to do would cost about 4 or 500 bucks each but let me tell you the difference is mind shattering. Anyway the next year Haunted Memories came out FIRST and for 100 bucks or so you could buy something that wasn't the same but was a lot cheaper. I bought some, actually I bought several of them. I haven't bought any from anyone else yet.
Whats the point here...NO ONE INVENTED THIS IDEA and I'm sure even before Haunted Memories came out other thought of doing the same thing. We've seen the same thing on Big Gulp cups so come on guys.
Here is the bottom line...Haunted Memories was the first to actually do what everyone is now fighting over day after day. So far MOST everyone who has one of these portraits have bought them from Eddie...and I do mean MOST.
Just like everything most of the people who wanted these things have them so the sales will slow down considerably from here. I saw that Morbid Industries will be selling them to retail stores for only $20.00 or so and I'm sure they will sell a ton of them.
As for haunted house owners the bottom line for most will be who's got the coolest ones for the best price. The ones from Morbid Industriest are okay, but they don't have the selection. Haunters are looking for specific things so if Haunted Memories has them, or Haunted Gallery or even Haunted Portraits who cares.
Whom ever has the best looking stuff will get my business plain and simple!!! If one guys stuff is a lot better but twice as much I probably won't buy them but if the price is close and the one I want cost a few bucks more I'm buying it. Period!
I think all three companies have some cool designs and in the future I will look at all of them to see if you have something that fits my needs and if you do I will buy them. End of story.
Everyone should just do the best that they can and go from there...
Now the one thing that bothered me is the boasting with the description of the Pickel portraits claiming his the godfather and the authority...rubbish! I think the future that people should stick to facts not fiction to promote a product. Its clear that the hype in this little niche market has gone over the top.
It would be nice to see everyone come back down to earth and just do the best they can and let the chips fall where they fall!
Larry