Except you can’t just push a model from printables.com to your A1 (or other) Bambu printer via the Bambu Handy app (or via Bambu Studio, all ready to go). Otherwise I entirely agree with what you said… it’s just another site… one of many.
I think I need to clarify some things. First of all:
Most of my designs are not exclusive, I decided on making my Bambu spool for Bambu filament exclusive because I think it is even slightly wrong to get Prusameters for them on Printables. I did not intend on it becoming so popular but the money I received from it surprised me. Almost all of my other models are non exclusive and do not make me direct cash and I intend to keep it that way and post them on multiple platforms.
Secondly, I am not here for the money at all. I have been sharing my designs since 2017 on thingiverse, myminifactory, printables and makerworld. Only in the past years there have been incentive structures. But I design stuff that I like for me as a hobby and I share it because I like spreading it.
Thirdly, I am a big fan of some form of incentive structure. Printer manufacturers sell printers and filament because of users downloading models designed by the community. Receiving some form of kickback for your design work (which doesn’t even come close to an hourly rate for 99% of the models) is awesome. It respects us as designers and what we bring to the table
And lastly, like @MalcTheOracle rightfully says, something has to pay the bills. I spend too much free time designing stuff (just ask my gf), but for me it is a hobby. I have seen the quality of models take a big leap since the Exclusive program, where people are now paid to put more time and effort into polished models and extensive manuals. I personally don’t want to live off of it because it has to stay fun and it has to stay me, but I love that there are now creators that can live off of designing stuff for the community without relying on Patreon gifts, JLC sponsorships, promoting yourself to be able to sell through cults, clubs on printables, etc. Just create and get paid.
I fully understand and support designers that use the Exclusive program. Just as I fully support designers that turn their back onto any platform for personal reasons. I am somewhere in the middle so I hope you also will keep supporting me and my designs, especially if you like them
, things are not looking good for them they were picking on my account the other day too they removed some of my prints even the ones that had pictures and then turn around and told me they didn’t have pictures I appealed it and got it back up there. Also I’ve got an open support ticket on an A1 Mini I bought in April of 24th they deemed it Dead on Arrival in June and we’re supposed to send me a new one in July they sent me a new machine at least I thought it was come to find out they sent me my broken machine right back to me and they’ve been having me put parts on it ever since it still doesn’t print and I still have an open ticket now they’re going to send me a main board I keep telling them it’s the Eddie sensors but they don’t listen and they won’t let me get a refund because they milked me along for 8 months now I’m already looking for another company and this firmware update and removing print profiles from my profile that had pictures is the icing on the cake. Not only did they lie to me but they called me a liar and then they told me to take Parts off of a working machine to fix their broken machine I told them no this posted on my LinkedIn the actual proof of where they told me to do that. Now if you read through my messages I’m a frustrated customer I have been ridiculed on Reddit for not using punctuation I don’t care I run a business and I am not their research and development team.
Oi… you miss some full stops and commas there! (Just kidding!!)
Yeah, it’s not a good start when you send them the machine back, they return it to you unfixed, then expect you to fix it, and won’t send you the right parts to fix it… Especially when it is like “don’t send me the $100 part… The $10 part is the one that needs replacing” What were you thinking Bambu?
Glad you were on the ball with the profile though, and got that sorted out… But again, what were you thinking Bambu?!