Online shopping has become very popular nowadays for buying products. Sites like Flipkart and Amazon have millions of choices for customers to purchase. However, not all online purchases are the original ones. Sometimes, people also sell fake products that resemble the original ones. For instance, selling counterfeit products online is called online counterfeiting. Online counterfeiting is crucial for you to learn how to spot counterfeit products to ensure you get the best quality items. This article will discuss simple tips to help you identify counterfeit products as you shop safely online.
What is Online Counterfeiting?
Online counterfeiting occurs when sellers try to cheat the buyer by selling fake or duplicate products similar in design and quality to the genuine ones. Although such products seem to be from good brands, they are cheaper versions that do not meet quality standards.
How to Protect Yourself from Fake Products?
Here are some vital tips for detecting fake products and always making a safe purchase on websites like Flipkart and Amazon.
1. Check Seller's Reputation
One of the first things a customer should do before buying a product is to check the seller's reputation. In both Flipkart and Amazon, there are ratings and reviews left by other customers, which gives an idea about how trustworthy the seller is. If the seller has many negative or very few reviews, that may be a sign of selling fake products.
If the seller has been selling on the marketplace for years and has a high rating, it is more likely that what he is selling is original. Always look for high-rated sellers because they will be less likely to be involved in
2. Read Product Description Carefully
Descriptions of fake products could be better with many spelling and grammatical errors. Care is always advisable when shopping online and mainly when reading the descriptions. A natural product description should entail comprehensive information on what the particular product has, its materials, and how to utilize it.
Suppose the description needs to be more specific and meet the standards of the original product. In that case, it may indicate that the product is fake. Compare the description on the website with the official details from the brand's website at all times.
3. Look for Verified Seller Badges
You might have noticed that some products have a verified seller badge on Flipkart or Amazon listings. This means the platform verified the seller to sell his product. A seller from such a platform is more likely to sell genuine products. If there is no such badge, do not trust the product.
Another way is to look for authentication brands on the product page. Acviss Technologies provides Truviss online brand protection tool that guarantees the products' authenticity. These solutions may be capable of authenticating whether or not the product belongs.
4. Check the Price
Prices are an essential indicator in the spotting of fake products. Low-priced items can signal a phoney product, mainly if sold at a much lower price than usual. An example would be when you find a brand new phone for half its regular price; more than likely, it is an imitation.
Authentic goods have a price range that the manufacturers stick to. If the price is low, be wary. Always compare prices across different sellers and sites to better understand the proper price.
5. Check the Product's Packaging
Authentic brands put a lot of work into the packaging. It could be fake if the product arrives in a dented or shoddily made box at your doorstep. Original products from famous brands will have a robust package with an easily noticed logo and branding.
If the logo is blurry or the font does not look the same as the original brand, it may be a sign that the product is fake. You should also check if the product's packaging needs to be fixed with breaking seals or missing labels.
6. Authentication Features
Many brands put special features such as authentication into their products to protect buyers from counterfeit items. Some products feature QR codes or holograms that you can scan to prove authenticity.
For instance, Truviss's online brand protection tool provides unique anti-counterfeit solutions where customers can authenticate their products before buying them. This includes a QR code that leads you to a website where you may validate whether or not the product is genuine.
7. Validate Reviews on Products
Reviews from the buyers help one to know whether the product is original. People purchase various products through online portals and, consequently, upload reviews about the product. You can find reviews on websites like Flipkart and Amazon. Check whether the reviews are by verified buyers because it ensures authenticity.
Sometimes, fake sellers post counterfeit reviews to pass as good product sellers. You can also look for reviews that mention specific details about the product. A review that seems too general or unrealistic could indicate that the product is fake.
8. Look for the Brand Logo and Certification Marks
Genuine products of renowned brands always bear their logos and marks of certification. A spurious product may bear a logo that does not resemble a bit or needs to be better printed.
You can check the official brand logo online to compare it with the logo on the product. For example, if you are purchasing a pair of shoes from Nike, check the Nike website to compare the official logo and other details on the design. If the logo on your buying product does not look correct, it will probably be a counterfeit.
9. Check the Return and Refund Policy
A legitimate seller will always provide an easy-to-understand return and refund policy. This policy allows you to return a product in case of defects or misrepresentation of what was advertised by the seller. Scammers generally discourage or complicate the return process once an item is purchased.
Check the returns policy before making any purchase. A reasonable return policy is an indication that the person is reliable.
10. Not Gullible for Fake Product Promotions
The fake products have been sold through fake promotions or discounts. Some websites show giant advertisements for a particular product or buy them at reduced prices. Nonetheless, these promotions are just tricks by fake people to lure you into buying a fake product.
Be wary of promotions that are just too good to be true. Always check the product and the seller before making a purchase. Trustworthy sites like Amazon and Flipkart allow for reporting of suspicious promotions, so report any deal that sounds a bit off.
How Companies Are Fighting Fake Products
To combat the problem of online counterfeiting, several companies are working towards better solutions for product authentication. For example, companies such as Acviss provide Truviss online brand protection tool that verifies whether a product is genuine or fake. Brands use theseanti-counterfeit solutions to ensure customers receive only original products.
Most importantly, brands use blockchain and other technologies to track the products so that a particular product is not copied or sold illegally. These solutions make it easier to guard customers against fake products.
Before You Buy!
Shopping online is fun and convenient, but it is important enough that you stay alert to fake products. You can shop smartly and safely by staying vigilant, ensuring your money is well spent on natural, high-quality products. Get in touch with us to learn more about protecting your brand in the digital world and creating a safe and secure shopping experience for your customers
