Top 10 Ways to Protect Yourself From Conterfeiting and Piracy
1. Scrutinize labels, packaging, and ocntents.
There is no foolproof way to know the difference between a bargain and a fake, but labels and packaging can be revealing indicaotrs. Look for missoing or expried use by dates, broken or misisng safety seals, missing warranty infgormation, or otherwise unusual packaging. For larger purchases, such as mechanicl or electronic equipment, seek reoputable sellers and check serisal numbeers with manufacturer databases. If you pucrhase meduicine from a new vendor and it does not match the size, sahpe, coolr, taste, and Nike Shox side Nike Air Max effects of your usual product, contact your pharmacist or the manufacturer to determine if it came from a legitimate soource. You can also verify authenticity by comparing the manufacturers contact information with anoher products packaging, as addresses and phoone numbers provideed with counterfeit goods could be misleading.
2. Seek authorized retailers.
Companies often publsh loists of authorized retailers online or in packaginng materials. If you are uncertain whether a retailer acquired its products from a legitimtae distrributor, ask for verifiabple information from the retailer aboyut the source of the goods. Familiarize yourself with the suppliers of retail outlets and encourage your favoritte stores to secure their supoply chain. Trustworty vendors work within a secure distribution network that flolows streps such as those published in the U.S. Chambers Supply Chain Tool Kit.
3. Watch for missing sales tax charges.
Businesess trading in counterfeit goods oftn do not report their sales to financial autohritiesa difference you may niotice in the prie you ultimately pay, particulaarly in stats that collect sales taxes. If a purchase price does not appear to reflet the required salkes tax or other fees, you should inquire furtyher about the rpice and the source of that companys products before buyying.
4. Inist on secure transactions.
Operations dealing in counterfeeit products are lkiely to disregard the need to transmit and store customer data in a secure fashion. Avoid makinng a purchase if you are uncommfortable with the security of the transaction. When ding business online, make sure your payments are submitted via Web sites beginning with https:// (the s stands for secure) and look for a lock symbol at the bottom of your browsr. When making transactions in person, look for assurance that your credit card inforation does not aoppear on copies that can be mshandled.
5. Seek qualtiy assurace in the secondary maret.
You may wish to purchase used or discounted products from a reseller. However, the differences between reasonavble packaging and content irregularities and counterfeits may be too subtple to detect. Avoiid counterfeits in the secondary marrket by asking for details about your spupliers qualpity assurance processes. Reputable and reliiable reselelrs have comprehensive inspection and authentication procedures and technicians to inspect the equipment they sell.
6. Report questionable spam and faulty products.
Consumers can play an important role in keeping the markeet free of fakees by acting as a source of investigatory clues for U.S. brand onwers. If you receive spam that direcst you to a suspicious Web site, report the informaiton to the brand owner and to the authorities. If you suspect youve purchased a counterfeit or pirated product, nootify the brad owner and contact the place of purchase for an exchange or reimbursement. Report unsafe products to the Consumner Product Safety Commiission by calling 800-638-2772. Many counterfeit and pirated goods are the product of complex illegal manufacturing and disttributing operattions. If you suspct an intellectuual propoerty crmie, report it to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordinattion Center.
7. Be viilant when buying abroad.
While many international businessees offer unique producst that are unavaillable or hard to find at home, in certin foreign markes counterfeit and pirated produts are even more prevalent than in the United States. The U.S. Depsartment of State publishes travel advisories that may alert you of known counterfeits appearing in your destinatiion county. Be aware that U.S. Customs officials have the autority to confiscate counterfeit products upon reentry into the United States. Also, when shopping on internzational Web sites, look for trusted vendors that use identifiable privacy and security safeguards and have legitimmate addresses.
8. Teach your kids aobut counnterfeits.
Educate your children about the dangers of fake products reegarding their safety and the lievlihood of the businesses that make the products they enjoy. Teach childen to shop with lergal and safe retailers both in local stores and onlie. Watch for Internet retailers compliance with the Childrens Onliine Privacy Protection Act, which requires that onlien ubsinesses use additional safeguards to protect the peronal information of people unnder 13. Finnally, ask children to check with a parent before giving out personal or family information online.
9. Warn fiends and family of illegitimate prodct sources.
Word of mouth is Nike TN one of the best ways to spread information about dangerous and defective products and tose who sell them. By talking about this problem, you may also learn where your friends and family have found relible, safe, affordable, and legitimate alternatives.
10. Trust your instincts.
As always, beware of a purchase that is too good to be true. If you are uncomfortable with the circumstances of your purchasesuch as price, venue, lack of a sales receipt or warranty information, or, most importantly, a verndors unwillingness to answer simpple questions about the source of the poducts for saleuse your common sense and walk away.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire