Here are ten tips to help you avoid buying counterfeit products online:
- Check the Identity of the Seller: Verify the contact details of the webshop. Look for the company name, geographical address, email address, and phone number. Don’t trust the URL extension alone; it doesn’t confirm the location of the company.
- Search Consumer Reviews: Use internet search tools to read other consumers’ reviews. Be cautious of overly positive or vague reviews, as these could be fake.
- Trust Marks: Check if the website benefits from a trust mark, a stamp of approval from an objective third party. Visit the trust mark’s website to verify the webshop’s certification.
- Assess the Website’s Layout: Legitimate websites generally look professional. Watch out for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and poor-quality images, which are common on counterfeit sites.
- Check Your Consumer Rights: Ensure the website provides information about your consumer rights, such as a 14-day withdrawal right or a 2-year statutory guarantee.
- Examine Product Photos: Compare the product images on the webshop with those on the official brand website. Check for discrepancies in logos, quality, and background settings.
- Watch the Price: If the price is significantly lower than on official retail sites, it’s likely too good to be true. Compare prices and consider the total cost, including VAT, delivery, and other fees.
- Authorized Sellers: Visit the official brand website to verify if the webshop is an authorized retailer. Avoid blacklisted sellers.
- Secure Payment: Only pay through secured payment pages (with “https” in the URL). Preferably use credit cards to have a fallback in case of fraud. Avoid direct money transfers.
- Refurbished Products: Understand what “refurbished” means on the site. Ensure you know the guarantee terms and how it compares to new products.