Counterfeit Products
Counterfeit products are on the rise. As
product counterfeiters become more sophisticated, it's getting increasingly difficult to
detect the fakes.
Counterfeiters are becoming increasingly
adept at the copying, packaging and labeling of any product that sells well - and they are
making enormous profits. It is almost impossible for the average consumer to detect the
difference. Even retailers have been duped.
Electronic Goods
In 2004, it was estimated that approximately
10% of so-called brand-name electronic goods purchased by consumers turned out to be
counterfeit. Counterfeiters deliberately use a false trademark that is identical with, or
substantially indistinguishable from, a registered trademark. The aggressive
counterfeiters often reproduce the exact housing of the brand name product and simply have
a manufacturer provide cheaper components.
Refurbished products are another common source of
counterfeit products. The seller usually replaces component parts with inferior drives,
memory modules or graphics cards then sells the product as the real thing. Most users
wouldn't be aware of the switch as they wouldn't open up the case and even if they did,
they may not know what to look for. The substituted components usually work, although
often not as well or as long.
Everyone Loses
The losses are far reaching - affecting trademark
owners, consumers and the economy at large. Reputable companies that pride themselves on
producing excellent products suffer a loss of reputation and revenue when counterfeit and
replica products bear their logo. In many cases, counterfeiters do not charge customers
tax but retain it. Because counterfeits are often made with substandard materials and are
not subject to the rigorous testing procedures that reputable manufacturers must carry out
on their products, they can not only prove disappointing but can even pose safety hazards.
Brand name manufacturers are fighting back
with their own investigators that track down the culprit manufacturers and lay charges or
start legal proceedings. The manufacturers are also trying to stop the flow by hiding
product registration numbers and serial number identifications on their products.
Protecting Yourself
Counterfeit products may be half the cost of
the genuine article but is it really a bargain if the goods are poor quality, the
performance is disappointing or they prove to be inefficient or even a safety hazard?
To avoid counterfeit products, be wary of
the most obvious clues:
• Incorrect,
smeared or blurred printing on the packaging;
• Incorrect
spelling of brand name and other spelling mistakes;
• Lack
of warranty or guarantee documentation; and
• Unbelievably
low price.
As counterfeiters make the cheapest possible
products in order to maximize their profits, they often pay less attention to packaging.
Does the packaging look right? Does it provide contact information for the manufacturer?
Most legitimate packaging contains manufacturers' codes, trademarks, copyrights, toll-free
telephone numbers as well as bar codes, holograms and recycling logos.
Here are some other tips that can help you
ensure that the product you purchase is the real thing.
• Be
choosy about where you buy products. Deal with well-known, reputable companies.
• When
purchasing online, deal with well-known, reputable companies. Secure websites are
recognized by HTTPS before the site address instead of the more familiar HTTP. Always save
or print the purchase confirmation page as a record of the transaction. As this will
usually have a confirmation number, it is useful if you need to track the delivery.
• Buy
products with which you are familiar or for which you have done some research, even if the
price is a little higher.
• If
you are uncertain about a supplier, check the manufacturer's website to see if it provides
a list of legitimate dealers and contact information.
• Check
the serial number. Some manufacturers now provide online authentication programs so
consumers can verify the product has been assigned a serial number. If the serial number
is not registered, the product is likely a fake.
If It's Too Good to be True…
The old adage "if it's too good to be
true, it probably is" will stand most purchasers in good stead. In the long run, a
counterfeit product could turn out to be very costly in terms of lost revenue, downtime or
inferior performance. In a worst case scenario, a serious malfunction could lead to
equipment damage and even personal injury.
.
|
