How to spot counterfeits

Inspect deals on designer goods before you buy

(Consumer Reports)--The selling of counterfeit goods on the Internet, at walk-in stores, and by sidewalk vendors and door-to-door salespeople is big business. In one recent example, federal agencies in New Jersey indicted 29 people in a scheme to import $325 million in counterfeit products, including fake Burberry scarves; Lacoste shirts; Polo sweatshirts; Coach, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton handbags; Ugg boots; and Nike sneakers.

Many products you might buy are common targets for unauthorized duplication, including artwork, autographed items and other memorabilia, cosmetics and perfumes, computer software, designer clothing, jewelry, music, videos, and sporting goods.

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If you buy something assuming it’s the real McCoy and it’s not, you could face several problems. Fakes might not last or perform as well as the genuine article, and they won’t be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. They might not meet safety and environmental regulations, and there’s a greater chance they’re manufactured in unsafe and abusive conditions. And, of course, you’ll probably pay way too much.

Although some sellers knowingly hawk counterfeit goods, others may be duped themselves. The auction giant eBay, for example, doesn’t allow replicas, counterfeit items, or unauthorized copies to be sold on its site. But that hasn’t prevented such items from showing up there.
The following tips will help ensure you won’t get stuck with counterfeit goods.


Become a counterfeit detective
If you’re spending a lot of money and are concerned about counterfeit merchandise, do some research before buying an item so you’ll know how the real thing tends to differ from a fake.

When we did a Google search for counterfeit Rolexes, for example, our results included QualityTyme.net, a website that provided lots of information and photos that show how to tell a real one from a knockoff. The site says that one of the easiest ways to identify a fake Rolex is by the caseback. Counterfeiters often use a clear display, or “skeleton” caseback, that allows you to view the inner workings of the timepiece. But the site says Rolex hasn’t made such a watch since the 1930s, and they were not production models.

Your search may also reveal whether there is a counterfeiting problem with the particular brand or type of product you’re considering buying.

Some manufacturers offer advice on detecting and avoiding counterfeits on their company websites, including Callaway Golf, Microsoft, and the footwear, clothing, and accessories companies Coach and Ugg.


Look for security features
To help consumers spot a fake, some manufacturers add something to their products that is hard to reproduce. For example, Ugg shoeboxes and some of its products come with reflective stickers that change from black to white as you rotate them 90 degrees. Similarly, it’s a bad sign if a product is missing a certificate of authenticity or other assurance the manufacturer routinely provides. (But remember that such documentation can be fabricated as well.) You might be able to confirm that a certificate or product is genuine by contacting the manufacturer directly.


Examine it in person
Shopping online is convenient, but you can’t inspect the product closely, feel it, or otherwise examine it the way you can in a store. Instead, you must rely on the seller’s description and photos, which can be as bogus as the product itself.
If it’s a valuable item, such as a piece of art or sought-after, autographed sports memorabilia, you should not only examine it in person but also take it to an expert before buying.


Check out the merchant
You can be pretty confident that a Prada handbag sold in a Neiman Marcus store is the real thing. But you should give greater scrutiny to products sold by less-familiar merchants, whether they operate a walk-in store or a retail website.

Don’t be reassured because a retailer displays a manufacturer’s logo or product images, accepts credit cards, or appears in online search results. Check the retailer’s reputation by doing a Web search with the company or individual’s name and words like “rip-off,” “complaints,” and “reviews.”

Also examine customer-generated seller ratings available on many retail websites, such as Amazon.com and eBay. Finally, check whether the company has a report at the Better Business Bureau. If there is one, don’t just rely on the letter grade it has received. Also review the number and type of complaints and any government actions that have been taken against the company.


Beware of ultra-low prices and risky sellers
A company charging significantly less for an item than other retailers should raise a red flag that something’s amiss.
Also avoid risky sellers. If you want the real thing it’s not a good idea to buy from street vendors, traveling salespeople, or unknown sellers who hawk their products on auction websites. You should also be cautious about buying goods at going-out-of-business sales. Once the seller is gone, you might be unable to get satisfaction if you later discover that the product is a cheap imitation.


Rely on third-party protection
To help protect yourself from phony goods, consider using an escrow service that holds on to any payment you’ve made until you can inspect and accept the merchandise. At Escrow.com, the inspection period is one to 30 days, depending on the parties’ agreement. If the buyer returns an item to the seller, the money is refunded minus an escrow service fee. For transactions up to $5,000, the fee is 3.25 percent or 6.3 percent of the transaction price, depending on the level of service. But like fake products, there are also fake escrow services. Check any company with the Better Business Bureau before signing on with it.

The Buyer Protection Policy from eBay can be a safeguard if you discover that an item you buy is a fake within 45 days of payment. But there are lots of restrictions, so check the terms and conditions.

Use a credit card. That can provide the best protection because you can dispute a charge if you purchase misrepresented merchandise.


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