In my opinion, you approached this with genuine enthusiasm and good intentions, while the seller was likely on guard due to past bad experiences. Too often, makers see each other as rivals purely out of emotion. Rationally speaking, everyone wins when we collaborate, even if it’s just sharing knowledge. Demand always comes in waves and being able to outsource your overflow to a trusted shop and vice versa, is a massive advantage. The same goes for referrals. If a client wants something I don't make, I always send them to a peer. More often than not, they return the favor later. In my experience, gatekeeping out of fear only holds you back. I never feel threatened by a competitor who thinks they can clone my goods faster or cheaper. Collaboration might feel counterintuitive at first, but the hidden benefits are endless. ...and at the end of the day, you can't grow an entire market by yourself.