Complaint Review: DStines Dennis Stines

Love the work Dennis Stines has done! Fantastic fan made reproductions!

Dennis Stines - DStines still pirating and selling Star Trek items.

All the ALPHA Upgrade Parts are back in stock and ready for immediate shipping!

idplates- 9.50 Each or 5 for 40.00 (Add 1.00ea if you want them drilled and tapped) Screws included

Moire Ring - 13.50 Each or 5 for 55.00

Mic Grill w/Free Shells 40.00 See Post #115

Aluminum T-Jets 9.00 a set, Individual 2.00 for unthreads and 2.50 for threaded with Screws, Builders Special, 10 sets for 75.00 See post #309

Lid Kit- Kit includes 2 wheels, pre-bent wire frame, stamped pre-formed lid and axle. Price 48.00 for the kit. See Post #526 and #547

Control Panel- DONE! Panel along with a strip of Velcro 5.50 when shipped with anything else. If shipped by itself, 7.50 for the first then 5.50 for any additional. See Post #610

Edmunds #4 Moire Pattern- 3.00 Each See THIS LINK . (6.50 for the first one if ordered seperately from other item to cover shipping. If ordering Moire together with any other part, price is only 3.00)

Jewel Pack 5.00

Shipping will not be an issue. All prices include First Class postage to the US and Canada. Overseas will be priced as needed. I will only offer parts that are ready to go. There will be no waiting. If I list it here with a price, it's ready for order and immediate shipping unless stated otherwise.

As always, please use my Email at DStines@infionline.net for correspondence instead of PM's. This is so I can better organize and keep track of your orders. My Pay-Pal address is the same as my email.

PROOF

http://www.therpf.com/index.php

08-13-2003, 05:15:32 AM       
gavidoc
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,317

http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=352
    
Dstines has been banned from the RPF for violation of Sections 14 and 15 of the ROM.
The Administration has come to the conclusion that Dstines is involved in a working partnership with a former member of the RPF who is infringing upon a copyrighted item, as well as damaging the abilities of a fellow RPF member to produce and sell that item as the License holder.

He has failed to heed a warning given by the Administration on Aug. 01, 2003 involving a
previous incident of the same nature. Therefore, he has been permanently banned from the RPF for noncompliance in regards to his warning.

I feel your pain as I was ripped off by Dennis Stines for in excess of $3000.00

for multiple custom electronic board sets, movie prop replicas and misc electronic

items such as lithium ion batteries with chargers.

I have spoken with him and he placated me by saying he was going to make me

whole again either by refund or sending what I ordered. I should also add that I gave him 3 years to either send the goods or refund me. Now he ignores my calls and my emails. I am going to pursue what ever legal avenue I can including any avenues through forums such as these. I may even volunteer to testify for Mallory Levitt.

I never would have believed Dennis could behave this way, he seemed like a friend

for many years until he burned me.

I've purchased several items from Mr. Stines and have no complaints. His products are high quality, low volume, and someone doing this kind of limited production could not "make a living" off it.

This ripoff report is like several authored by someone who has reportedly been banned from several hobbyist forums for, guess what ... ripping people off. This report is just slander and innuendo as retribution for being excluded from one or more online communities. I suggest this report be closed as the author hasn't made any substantiation of losing money to Mr. Stines, leaving this report as either slander or innuendo, which appears to violate a basic tenet of this site.

I came across Dennis Stines work because of his Batmobile and then my sister happened to get a tricorder from him off the internet. I have to say my sister buys alot of crap props off the internet because she is nerdy and like that kind of thing. Out of all the thousands of dollars she spent collecting props and replicas Her Dennis Stines tri-corder was way superior. It was a higher quality item than you could find in most stores. And she paid way less for it than many of the poopy replica items she had purachsed over the years from "official" star trek vendors.

I say all that to say this...How is this a rip off? This website is for protecting consumers from getting ripped off. A talent fan makes high quality repilca props and sells them for good prices ...and you are up in arms because a multimillion dollar copy CBS Paramount didnt make it themselves? Who is getting ripped off. Any consumer who wants this isnt going to be upset because CBS didnt make it. Let's face big companies dont make cool stuff like this they dont really care about fans. So once again my big question is "How is this a rip off?"

I googled Dennis Stines and found nothing but good reports and posts about him. Other than this post about these replica items being a rip off... I even found a store about him giving fans who were waiting outside a comic convention after it closed (they were unable to attend) a free ride in his replica Batmobile. This guy is way cool and you are not for bashing him/trying to get CBS to sue him.

I came across Dennis Stines work because of his Batmobile and then my sister happened to get a tricorder from him off the internet. I have to say my sister buys alot of crap props off the internet because she is nerdy and like that kind of thing. Out of all the thousands of dollars she spent collecting props and replicas Her Dennis Stines tri-corder was way superior. It was a higher quality item than you could find in most stores. And she paid way less for it than many of the poopy replica items she had purachsed over the years from "official" star trek vendors.

I say all that to say this...How is this a rip off? This website is for protecting consumers from getting ripped off. A talent fan makes high quality repilca props and sells them for good prices ...and you are up in arms because a multimillion dollar copy CBS Paramount didnt make it themselves? Who is getting ripped off. Any consumer who wants this isnt going to be upset because CBS didnt make it. Let's face big companies dont make cool stuff like this they dont really care about fans. So once again my big question is "How is this a rip off?"

I googled Dennis Stines and found nothing but good reports and posts about him. Other than this post about these replica items being a rip off... I even found a store about him giving fans who were waiting outside a comic convention after it closed (they were unable to attend) a free ride in his replica Batmobile. This guy is way cool and you are not for bashing him/trying to get CBS to sue him.

I came across Dennis Stines work because of his Batmobile and then my sister happened to get a tricorder from him off the internet. I have to say my sister buys alot of crap props off the internet because she is nerdy and like that kind of thing. Out of all the thousands of dollars she spent collecting props and replicas Her Dennis Stines tri-corder was way superior. It was a higher quality item than you could find in most stores. And she paid way less for it than many of the poopy replica items she had purachsed over the years from "official" star trek vendors.

I say all that to say this...How is this a rip off? This website is for protecting consumers from getting ripped off. A talent fan makes high quality repilca props and sells them for good prices ...and you are up in arms because a multimillion dollar copy CBS Paramount didnt make it themselves? Who is getting ripped off. Any consumer who wants this isnt going to be upset because CBS didnt make it. Let's face big companies dont make cool stuff like this they dont really care about fans. So once again my big question is "How is this a rip off?"

I googled Dennis Stines and found nothing but good reports and posts about him. Other than this post about these replica items being a rip off... I even found a store about him giving fans who were waiting outside a comic convention after it closed (they were unable to attend) a free ride in his replica Batmobile. This guy is way cool and you are not for bashing him/trying to get CBS to sue him.

TTK seems to have even more time on his hands than I do. I'm sure Mr. Stines does not have time to waste like we do...because he's busy making Star Trek props and recasts. LOL.

I've done a little checking...and it's my opinion that Stines is producing some pretty awesome props from what I can see. I wasn't able to look at (or find) everything he's been accused of producing, but what I did see seems to be top notch. I can see the man has real enthusiasm for accuracy and quality.

Once again, our friend TTK has ignored the point that the activities of small-time hobbyists such as Mr. Stines hurt no one. Also, in order to prove some "property" has been stolen, one would have to first make a case that such property actually exists...and who it belongs to.

If Paramount/CBS believe they have property that's been stolen, it is their responsibility...not TTK's...to enforce it in court.

One of the pieces I saw was the Stines communicator. As we now know, the original comms produced by Mr. Wah Chang were copied by vacuuforming plastic over a buck made to the contour of a pencil case produced by Sterling Plastics Company. So, first, I'd think the pencil case would be what you'd call "prior art". At the time Wah did his work, Sterling had a design patent in place for thier pencil case. Copying it would be a no-no. So, is Paramount willing to admit that their so-called copyright is based on the theft of someone else's design patent? I'm not a lawyer, but I think that would make a pretty weak case. Obviously TTK thinks he's a lawyer.

Assuming what Mr. Chang did was legal...CBS/Paramount would also have to prove that the creator of the comm actually transferred any intellectual property to them upon delivery of the parts. It is possible that Mr. Chang retained the right to reproduce the property. Can anyone prove otherwise? Can CBS/Paramount prove (through paperwork or whatever) that Mr. Chang transferred ownership of any copyright to them? This all assumes that Mr. Chang had a right to transfer ownership to begin with...which is questionable.

Once again, from what I can see, Mr. Stines is providing a service to the fans. Furthermore, I can't see that he's doing any damage to supposed owners of any trademarks or copyrights. In fact, quite the opposite. He's nurturing the enthusiasm the fans have for the show.

Star Trek is one of the biggest money making franchises in all of entertainment history. I honestly think the lawyers at CBS/Paramount see that little improvement on that track record would result from any action against Mr. Stines. That's why they haven't pursued it in court.

Dstines was banned from The Replica Prop Forum for Recasts. This is copying work done by others.

Dennis Stines is a Re caster of not just Star Trek, but anything, he can make a dime on.

Justafan/Dennis stop making a fool of yourself. You copy other peoples work and pretend to know it all.

Why can't you get a real job instead of Satellite/Star Trek Piracy?

Okay, it seems my previous rebuttal was completely ignored and Thortheking has an axe to grind against Mr. Stines. All I can say is I have to wonder why TTK holds such a grudge. What's in it for him?

Again, how does Mr. Stines harm the franchise or the property of paramount/CBS? Can someone please answer that question? Look at the low-quality but officially licenced (and dimensionally inaccurate) CRAP put out by Diamond Select Toys. It's no wonder fans are clamoring for something more substantial. I'd say the DST toys do more damage to the franchise by linking it with low-quality Chinese-made products.

In any case, I sincerely doubt the claim that Mr. Stines is making a living off a few hobbists/enthusiasts. Just as I'm sure Mr. John Long is not putting his kids through college by selling his props either.

It is obvious to me that Paramount/CBS don't care. If they did, they'd be suing Mr. Stines for damages. I'm guessing the problem is that they have no way to prove any damage was done. Sure, they could confiscate Mr. Stines' stock and means of production, but I doubt they'd get any money from him over it. So, once again, they're not stupid enough to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to sue a small-time hobbist when in fact no damage is being done and no court would award them cash to be paid by the defendant. I'm sure the CBS legal team has much bigger fish to fry...that could actually promise a return on their investment. I guess they're probably smart enough to know that there isn't any point in pursuing Mr. Stines. It makes me wonder...if this is not important enough for CBS to pursue, why is TTK so obsessed with it? It seems he's personally invested in it. Why? Honestly, who cares?

Dstines aka Dennis Stines is a unlicensed Star Trek item Vendor, make no mistake about it. He copies and sells various items in the Star Trek property with no license, using the name "Star Trek" to sell the items.

Selling "One Shot" Star Trek items is not a crime. Dstines aka Dennis Stines is into mass production and makes a living on it.

He is a major vendor here:

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/397/RipOff0397916.htm

Look, guys, can anyone produce a copy of a signed contract showing that Wah Chang transferred ownership of copyrighted materials to Paramount/NBC/CBS etc when he delivered the original props? How about the copyright and patents held by Sterling Plastics on their pencil box (from which Wah crafted his prop communicators for the series)?

I don't own any of Mr. Long's offerings or those of Mr. Stines, but I am familiar with both. I don't believe either of these gentlemen are getting rich off of the sales of these props, and the excitement the props generate in the fan base is fantastic. I think CBS should be very happy that a 40 year old franchise still generates so much interest from the fans. It is truly unbelievable (Star Trek first aired before I was born).

I guess it isn't enough for CBS to issue and re-issue DVDs over and over again with additional content so that the consumer has to keep buying the same thing over and over again. It isn't enough for them to license T-shirts, toys, bumper stickers, anything and everything. They have to clamp down on every small-time operater...most of whom are just expressing their love of Star Trek and sharing it with others?

I personally would be very surpised and dismayed if the legal team at CBS gave this more than 5 minutes. There is no damage done to the franchise by these hobbist activities. Would they really be willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars chasing after pennies from "bootleggers"? It simply does not make sense.

The petty bickering is infantile. Let the fans have some fun! One thing I know is true, the fans care more about the franchise than the owners. Look at the fan sites dedicated to Star Trek. It is truly amazing and thrilling. CBS ought to be encouraging the growth of this movement. I don't see anyone at CBS documenting the history of the props. I don't see anyone providing any caretaking for them either. The fans are willing to do the research and documentation to preserve it for future generations of fans...and they're doing it for next to nothing. Most of what the fans do is completely free for other fans.

I've said my peace. I hope everyone will calm down and stop throwing out slanders against others. We all love Star Trek. Everyone should keep that in mind.

Images of DStines Star Trek infringement were sent to CBS Corporate Lawyer, Mallory D. Levitt. These include DStines Prop shop, production and the use of The Star Trek Property. The sales were also provided.

CBS Corporate Lawyer, Mallory D. Levitt is involved. Presently, Dennis Stines continues to infringe on the Star Trek property.

Please report any losses you occurred to the address listed.