If you’re anything like me, chances are you still have some holiday shopping to wrap up—no pun intended—in the next week or so. [related]
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that a survey by online marketplace OnBuy.com of more than 1,800 shoppers this holiday season shows that almost three-quarters of them have been burned by unintentionally buying fake tech or other counterfeit merchandise in the past, with toys and electronics the most likely categories for fake goods and knockoffs (74%).
Shoes (69%), clothes (63%) and bags and accessories (60%) are the other categories most prone to fakes, according to the survey results.
The biggest concern among survey respondents when it comes to fake tech and other items is being ripped off or overpaying for what they thought was something else, with about three out of every 10 people saying that’s something they think about before they cash in on what looks like a too-good-to-be-true deal.
Branding is usually the first clue for shoppers (29%) when it comes to figuring out that that Pole-X watch, for example, may not be legit. A mismatch between the product received and the image is another indicator for about 25% of respondents.
About 20% of respondents say they realized they’d been had based on the poor quality of the item when they got it and about the same percentage say a lack of communication with the seller is another clue.
Sniffing Out Fake Tech Gifts
Here are a few tips from OnBuy.com founder and managing director Cas Paton to help you avoid a holiday gift-giving snafu:
Always be suspicious – if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Triple check any particularly impressive deals or prices; they may be impressive for a reason.
Use company/brand keywords when searching – this will help to weed out fake sellers and push legitimate ones to the top.
Check reviews and seller info – We’ve seen a dramatic increase in fakes, but it can still help to consider reviews. View as many as you can to get the overall picture, and assess whether: the seller has a track-record of selling these items, if they have a US address, etc.
Cross-check where possible – what better way to validate a product or seller than comparing them with the official website?
Appraise products thoroughly on arrival – check for official addresses and CE marks, untampered seals and packaging, consistent branding, or anything that will indicate a product’s (in)authenticity. If anything doesn’t seem right, report and try to refund the item. Speaking of which…
Report fake sellers – Most online marketplaces allow you to report a seller you think may be fraudulent. Do your bit to combat the rising circulation of counterfeit goods.
