The holiday season is just ramping up and online sellers are looking forward to, yet another record-breaking Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales just gone by. While consumers are on the lookout for buying electronics, toys, and household goods to welcome the prospective year ahead, there is an increased proliferation of online sellers on social media, e-commerce platforms, and independent websites.
Deceptive advertisements using pictures and logos taken from company websites lure consumers to buy fake products. Since consumers cannot make physical contact with the product before purchase, buying decisions are impacted by the information provided on the website. There are no foolproof methods to escape this, but consumers can follow a few tips suggested to avoid becoming a victim this holiday season
1.Shop from the company’s website – It is advisable to buy from a company’s website than buying from dealer websites and online bazaars, which may sell the product at a lower cost but it can be a counterfeit.
2.Pay attention to the seller on an e-commerce website – Most companies sell their products on e-commerce websites, while a few sell through distributors on these platforms. If you find a product being sold by the company and other sellers, choose to buy from the manufacturer than from the distributors to ensure you have the original product.
3.Investigate other sellers or distributors – There are cases where a company does not have its own website nor sell through other e-commerce platforms. In such cases, check for details on seller profile, their ratings, feedback, reviews from buyers, etc. You can also watch out for the product type the seller distributes – there cannot be a mix of products like luxury jewelry, electronics, health accessories, etc. This could be a potential counterfeit.
4.Watch out for Price – Before buying, do a pricing trend through a general google search to see the variation. Compare the sale price you have online to what the actual company advertises and then make your buying decision.
Stocked up Vs Sold Out – You can be suspicious when the manufacturer’s channels mention non-availability, but only one or two sellers have stocked up the product, it could be a possible counterfeit.
Holiday time is all about shopping and spending quality money and time. Maximize your spending and spread the cheer of the holiday by decreasing the chances of becoming a counterfeit victim.
Link:ilioSpark.com
