From android watches to mobile phones and gaming consoles, manufacturers are constantly waging war against copycats that produce and distribute fake merchandise under the original trademark of a famous brand.
Thousands of copyright infringement lawsuits every year are the result of original right owners against those who would seek to generate a profit using other people’s intellectual property and the customers’ lack of information.
Since the online world is flourishing with all sorts of scam artists, it’s important to know how to prevent deception when you wish to buy a product. The same goes for situations when you have physical contact with the merchandise, so let’s take a look at some of the easiest ways to recognize a fake gadget.
Poor quality of the packaging
Original manufacturers pay close attention to details when it comes to how their products leave the stores and fall into the hands of their customers.
Every box in which your new iPhone or Xbox arrives is carefully designed and produced under a strict quality control process.
Any blunders like poor grammar and punctuation, wrong shape or dimension of the package, use of different colors and typography are the clear signal that something is wrong with the product you just paid for.
Therefore, before you make a purchase, make sure to examine the packing and make sure that all the details are to the point.
User manual
In order to use a product, you have to know how to handle it properly. Every gadget should contain a user manual with instructions that describe safe use, set up instructions, maintenance information, and any other data that explains how the gadget operates.
In case the User Manual is not available, you are most likely dealing with a fake product. Furthermore, in case the instructions are not available in your language, then the product is either smuggled or a copy of the original product.
Ultimately, if the copycats were cunning enough to hire a translating and proofreading service like Rush My Essay, which also provides the best essays and superior dissertations, in order to create a user manual content in your language with proper grammar and spelling, there is another way to check if you have the original gadget in your hand – button layout. If the buttons and display layout on your product and User manual are not exactly the same there’s a great chance you’ve been a victim of a fraud.
The quality of the materials
As we already stated, the production process is strictly regulated, the quality standards are high, and there is no room for mistakes when it comes to well-known brands.
The quality department would never allow a product that doesn’t fall in line with quality requirements to leave the factory.
Therefore, in case you notice your gadget is made out of some cheap plastic, or you notice that gaps are not matched or a button is too loose – you’re most probably dealing with a product that doesn’t come from the place you were hoping for.
Discounts that don’t seem logical
If you come by an offer that allows you to buy a brand new product for a price that shows discount rates that surpass the common sense (e.g. 75-80 percent) then you’re most probably dealing with a fake gadget or, even worse, a fraudulent offer.
In case you encounter such an offer online, make sure to check the authenticity of the web page. Take a quick look at the address bar and see if the website address starts with https:// because the “S” stands for a secure connection.
However, don’t think for a second that just because you’re on a secure location there is no chance to get tricked. A few years ago, Apple found that 90 percent of the accessories sold on Amazon were knockoffs instead of original Apple merchandise.
Also, try to find some user reviews or outside sources that confirm that the offer you are looking at is valid. If you can’t find the proof that you have a really good deal in front of you, then you should probably pass on the amazing offer to buy an $800 product for $120 because you would buy a fake or air.
Flawed trademark or brand name
There’s an old episode of The Simpsons where Bart and Homer come into a store to buy a TV, however, what Homer doesn’t realize is that all the cheap brands are just knockoffs with misspelled names.
Even though we can all recognize a genuine Sony when we see one, it’s not a bad idea to take a closer look to logo design and brand name font and color. There is virtually no chance to buy a legitimate product with a discolored logo, misprinted letter, or unexacting logo – which would be a catastrophe for some users.
Conclusion
For large corporate brands, as well as for small and mid-size businesses, user experience begins with the first contact with the brand and lasts long after the customer has made a purchase. Therefore, legitimate shops will always deliver only high-quality products, with impeccable packaging.
Even if it happens that you buy a product that doesn’t fit the quality standards or the product description, you always have the chance to return the product or change it for the appropriate alternative. Keep these tips in mind next time you go out to buy a new gadget, it could save you a lot of money.
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