ThePortForum.com

I've just been trying to find a source of the flexible metallised plastic discs that the producers are rather fond of using when serving from bottles.

I can't believe they can cost more than pennies to make, but the best retail price I've found is £2.99 for a pack of three.

- Does anyone know where I might be able to get a bulk pack at a more sensible price?

since i've seen you post about travels to asia, this might be a potential avenue for you

http://www.winetool.cn/ (website) has contact

http://www.micbook.net/China/Hangzhou-D ... 151298.htm (more info on them)

Min 3000 piece order

i believe @ 6 cents per

which is a nice low 180$

Drop Stop is patented.

They can be ordered in bulk, either with custom print (single sided) or unbranded, but the price is still in the order of EUR 0.50 - EUR 1/piece.

There are imitations. However, all are patent infringements. There is a dutch company, specialized in plastic printing, who are selling imitations. Quality is OK, but not up to the standard of the original Drop Stop. Less flexible, thicker material.

I've seen the chinese offers as well. Don't know what the quality is like, but I do know that Drop Stop is actively pursuing patent infringements. So beware if you order a few thousand of those printed with a company name or logo. If any of those found their way to the Drop Stop patent lawyers you could be in for an expensive settlement.

Roel.

I don't see how

this is a patent, and you are the end consumer.

this is not like a copy right.

If anybody has a liability, I would hazard it's the manufacturer.

I doubt that.. As far as I know patent infringement can also be a result of the /use/ of a product.

So my guess would be that importing 3000 of these imitation drop-stops from China into into a country where the Drop-Stop patent is active is a clear case of patent infringement, even if you are not the producer. Usually these are also printed with company logo's and used as promotion material, so they are easily traceable. I wouldn't take the risk..

Roel.

Nope

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/37/section/60

An act which, apart from this subsection, would constitute an infringement of a patent for an invention shall not do so if
(a)it is done privately and for purposes which are not commercial;

as someone who imports 3000 of these for personal use, it is not patent infringement in the UK.

Ie, if you really are the consumer in a non commercial setting it is perfectly legal for you to use a patented product. It'd be rather silly for the laws to impose upon the consumer to check every product they use to see if it patent infringes.

I was in Divertimenti earlier today (which is, of course, not known for being underpriced...) and saw they had Le Creuset branded drop-stops for £2.95 for five, and (not on their website) non-branded ones for £2.35 for five.

On return of our vacation to Portugal two weeks ago, we came by an Auchan Hypermarked in Lille (France). There I bought three packs of dropstops (not the brand, but the own Auchan brand of it) of 10-pieces each, at € 3,95 (per ten). Haven't tried them yet, but they're thesame dimensions as the original dropstops that I also have.

Hi

We are the UK Distributor for DropStop®, which is manufactured by a Danish company called Schur. You can read all about DropStop® here http://www.waitersfriend.co.uk/blog/printeddropstop/

The real DropStop® is manufactured to the highest food standards and has taken years to perfect and develop. I wouldn't be tempted to put a cheap Chinese replica into my nice bottle of Port!

You can buy a pack of two online from our website http://www.winegiftcentre.com/department/drop_stop/. The total cost does come to £4.33 when you add on p&p but if you are interested drop me an email maddie@waitersfriend.com and I will sort free delivery for you.

Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Maddie

WaitersFriend wrote:Hi

We are the UK Distributor for DropStop®, which is manufactured by a Danish company called Schur. You can read all about DropStop® here http://www.waitersfriend.co.uk/blog/printeddropstop/

The real DropStop® is manufactured to the highest food standards and has taken years to perfect and develop. I wouldn't be tempted to put a cheap Chinese replica into my nice bottle of Port!

You can buy a pack of two online from our website http://www.winegiftcentre.com/department/drop_stop/. The total cost does come to £4.33 when you add on p&p but if you are interested drop me an email maddie@waitersfriend.com and I will sort free delivery for you.

Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Maddie

I believe the OP was interested in buying much much larger quantities then a pack of two.

5 Le Creuset for £2.99 on Amazon (free postage with Prime).

The reviews suggest that the ellipse shape of these Le Creuset ones are slightly easier to use than the perfectly round ones (plus they are cheaper than the Dropstop 2-packs, and the same price as the 50-pack).

WaitersFriend wrote:Hi

We are the UK Distributor for DropStop®, which is manufactured by a Danish company called Schur. You can read all about DropStop® here http://www.waitersfriend.co.uk/blog/printeddropstop/

The real DropStop® is manufactured to the highest food standards and has taken years to perfect and develop. I wouldn't be tempted to put a cheap Chinese replica into my nice bottle of Port!

You can buy a pack of two online from our website http://www.winegiftcentre.com/department/drop_stop/. The total cost does come to £4.33 when you add on p&p but if you are interested drop me an email maddie@waitersfriend.com and I will sort free delivery for you.

Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Maddie

Maddie,

Thanks for finding this and posting here.

Are you up for a challenge?

We have regular Port tastings in London. "Regular" meaning we have had around 50 tastings so far this year.

Would you like to come along to one of our tastings and put your product up against two or three alternatives and persuade us that DropStop® is the way to go?

I will happily provide a bottle of Port and cover the cost of your meal if you are willing to take up the challenge.

We are a friendly bunch, and our objective is always to find the best way of enjoying our Port.

Are you up for the challenge?

RAYC wrote:5 Le Creuset for £2.99 on Amazon (free postage with Prime).

The reviews suggest that the ellipse shape of these Le Creuset ones are slightly easier to use than the perfectly round ones (plus they are cheaper than the Dropstop 2-packs, and the same price as the 50-pack).

While I've not used the Dropstop style (round), so can't speak for how that type works, I have used the Le Creuset style and love them. I use them quite often as they do eliminate dripping and make pouring a lot easier.

The Le Creuset stye can be found in my parts on sale from time to time for pretty cheap, around $3 for a 5-pack last time I got them on a 1/2 off sale.

Would be interested to hear how the Dropstop style works so hopefully Maddie takes DRT up on the offer.

Maddie,

Thanks for finding this and posting here.

Are you up for a challenge?

We have regular Port tastings in London. "Regular" meaning we have had around 50 tastings so far this year.

Would you like to come along to one of our tastings and put your product up against two or three alternatives and persuade us that DropStop® is the way to go?

I will happily provide a bottle of Port and cover the cost of your meal if you are willing to take up the challenge.

We are a friendly bunch, and our objective is always to find the best way of enjoying our Port.

Are you up for the challenge?

Always up for a challenge!!

I'd be delighted to come and join you for an evening and put the DropStop® to the test...I have a few other Port products up my sleeve too which I could bring along.

Let me know the whens and wheres.
Cheers,
Maddie

PS anyone looking for larger quantities of the DropStop get in touch. We supply plain packs of 50pcs or printed fom 250pcs.