Today’s lifestyle is very different from the one of our parents. People have become accustomed to cell phones, laptop computers, HD TV and car navigation systems. Any of these mentioned products are frequently referred to as “life lines”. Technology simply makes life a little easier. The very thought of not having those conveniences will send some people into a panic.
We are continuously looking for the latest upgrades and systems that will help save time. With all of this knowledge there is power and money. Counterfeit problems are on the rise and have created a very lucrative industry. We face challenges when talking about counterfeit products in three main areas.
The Financial Issue -
The high tech electronics industry is a multi-million dollar business and big name technology companies are finding that they are dealing with lost revenue from grey markets and counterfeit products. New counterfeit divisions are being created and companies are trying to find the sources and how to shut the counterfeiters down.
The Brand Issue –
With the right marketing it can make or break a company’s image. Well so can a counterfeit product. Counterfeiters are finding more ways to make a profit, and it is at the company’s expense. There are reports of counterfeiters purchasing new computers, taking out the chipsets, replacing them with counterfeit ones and then turning around and selling both products for a profit. When that laptop overheats or causes problems, it is sent back to the manufacturer. That leaves the manufacturer with the additional cost of a warranty repair and erosion to the quality image of their brand. After all, the consumer is left frustrated and blames the manufacturer.
The Moral issue -
To find out more about counterfeits and the real issues, I searched through the sea of articles that are available on the Internet. One of them really stood out and makes the counterfeit issue more personal.
Here is what it says:
When U.S. customs agents recently seized a shipment of counterfeit extension cords they saw knock-offs in a whole new light.
“There are very real safety risks involved,” says Mike Garcia of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Injuries from overheating counterfeit cell phone batteries purchased right on Verizon store shelves sparked a recall this week by the consumer product safety commission.
“We know of at least one apartment fire that’s occurred,” says Hal Stratton, with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. “We know of at least one burn situation on someone’s face that’s occurred.”
Article courtesy of Hazardous Counterfeit Products – Once It Was Handbags, Now, All Kinds Of Products Being Knocked Off from ABC News. View the article in it’s entirely here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/25/eveningnews/consumer/main626211.shtml
This epidemic is now affecting people‘s personal safety. It is one thing to have your computer stop running, but a bodily injury or electrical fires are putting us and our families in harm’s way.
There are many ways to act against counterfeiting and some big name companies are starting to see that something needs to be done about this problem. Our company, New Momentum has been working with a few of these companies and they are seeing tremendous results using our technology.
It is time to send a clear message to counterfeiters that people will not sacrifice quality. Next time when you are online shopping and looking for a “good deal,” make sure you check it out before you buy; find out if the company is an authorized dealer.
If you have any stories about how counterfeit products have affected you, please post them. If you are a company and would like to know how our company, New Momentum, can help you crack down on counterfeit companies contact us at www.newmo.com.
This article was written and posted by Jessica Lea
