S/O Am I the only one who has never ordered from AE?

It's not the nested basic shape dies that I want to buy. I already had those long before I ever heard of Ali Express. I like detailed dies that are quite obviously designed by someone talented. I can design my own cutting files, and often do, but I still really like and often prefer the look of the thin, etched dies.

Birch Press layered dies were brought up, so I will use that as an example. I saw them at convention and liked them. I liked one of their layered sets a LOT! However, to pay $72/set, even though I could technically afford it, did not seem a wise use of my funds. My bank account is not limitless. So I went onto the Silhouette store site and bought several layered designs for pennies on the dollar because I have a subscription there. All legit. They aren't the same as the Birch Press dies, but there are very few dies that I would pay $72 for, especially for a set that is limited to making ONE CARD DESIGN. Not happening. So I found cutting files that would meet my needs, even though none were the Birch Press set that I drooled over. And no, I am not going to buy a bootleg version from Ali Express, either. Even if I were so inclined, someone mentioned that they bought dies from AE that were supposed to layer, but one of them was not sized correctly. It sounds as thought quality control can be an issue.

For what it's worth, I used to design cutting files, and I had some designs pirated. End result: I just stopped designing cutting files for others. I wasn't a big name, so it was really hard to make it pay for the time it took to do the design work.

I'm not going to knowingly buy pirated designs, but I was also sincere when I said that I'm not going to judge those who do. I've lived below the poverty level, although it was long ago. I can understand those who are just trying to make their dollar stretch. If I can find sellers who offer dies that aren't pirated, I'd like to stretch my dollar, too.

I had honest questions. I still do. I wasn't trying to start an argument.

From one or two comments, it sounds as though some vendors at AE offer products that may be legit. Is there a way to tell which ones are legitimate vs. pirated? Are there some sellers who you can recommend as having dies that are not just blatant copies? If not, then I'd like to know that, too.

Thank you, Embri!

Some really interesting points have been brought up.

I don't buy designer/expensive clothing, or purses, or anything that I can think of. I bought some Gloria Vanderbilt jeans at Costco and paid $20 or less for them. I don't think they qualify as designer clothing, even if they have a mock "designer name." They are a very basic product that she lends her name to. I bought them because they fit women who have had babies. Do they look designer? Nope.

That said, I don't really see much similarity between big name clothing designers and die (and other craft) designers. It seems like comparing apples to oranges. Designer clothing tends to be a far higher mark up than anything crafty. True designer clothes can be hundreds of dollars or higher. I don't see them where I shop, nor any blatant knock offs, either. The clothes at places like Target aren't exact duplicates of some big name designer's clothing lines. In the die world, the dies sold by some of the Chinese companies are often exactly the same die designs. Exactly. Not inspired by. Exact. Copies.

Those who design dies took time to do the design work and then get a company to bear the cost of getting the design to manufacturer, and finally to market. They set up at conventions, where they pay for the booths. It's part of their marketing. Some of the cost of dies offered by Sizzix, Spellbinders, Heartfelt Creations, etc., has to do with the real life costs they incur to get a design to market as a die. The Chinese companies that copy/pirate designs are eliminating many of those costs, so they can offer the same design for considerably less on a website. It's a total rip off for those who created the design, which is why I refuse to knowingly buy anything pirated. IMO, if I like a design that someone has created, the designer deserves her/his commission.

As for companies that sell dies which the buyer needs to cut apart, I agree they should not be charging as much as they do. I like Altenew, but I haven't bought much from them ever since I had to cut apart the dies I ordered from them. I was shocked when they came that way. Dies that have to be cut apart just seem cheaply made to me. I love the Altenew designs, but not their dies. I won't buy any more of their dies. I'll use my Scan N Cut if I order any more of their stamps.

Many companies provide a higher quality die besides Sizzix. Heartfelt Creations does, and their packaging is nice, too. Crafter's Companion dies don't need to be cut apart, either,and Spellbinders has already been mentioned. Unless something has changed since I last went, at conventions there are dies galore, but very few are the type you cut apart.

Back to Birch press. A $72 set makes one layered card design. You can use each of the dies separately, but it's not like you're getting 3 super different dies. A layered card cutting file on Silhouette runs about 99 cents. With my sub, I get it for less than a dime. That is a huge difference in cost, but because the files are electronic, they naturally cost far less than dies do. The Silhouette layered designs aren't exact copies of the Birch Press layered cards, though. They may have been inspired by the Birch Press layered sets, but they are definitely different designs, with the possible exception of the very generic ones.

For the combined price of even a few of the Birch Press layered card die sets, you can buy an electronic cutter. I think the high cost of dies is part of the reason why so many crafters own electronic cutters. It was the reason I bought my first electronic cutter (oldblue Wishblade) back in 2005. Even though I understand why name brand dies are as expensive as they are, that doesn't mean I am willing to buy them when an electronic cutting file will suffice,for a fraction of the cost.

It is indeed a pain. The last time I had my card compromised was 10 years ago. Prior to that, it happened about once a year. However, 10 years ago was so bad that I had to talk to a financial crimes detective. He said the most likely places for your card to be compromised are gas stations and restaurants. Skimmers in gas pumps are often deeper inside, so they may be impossible to spot. At restaurants, the card often leaves your sight. An unscrupulous employee can take a photo without your knowing and then have fun shopping at your expense.  I've paid cash at gas stations and restaurants ever since, and haven't had a problem now for 10 years. I do a lot of shopping online, too, ever since we moved to a rural location. I don't usually shop from other countries, though.