This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
The Isle of Wight Council Trading Standards Service is reminding shoppers to beware of buying counterfeit goods this Christmas.
The biggest danger is buying items online from fake sites, auction sites or through private sellers. Items such as GHD straighteners and UGG boots are amongst those most often counterfeited and illegally sold online.
Might not be obvious
“The goods aren’t always so cheap and therefore it may not be obvious they are fakes”, said Amanda Gregory, the council’s regulatory services manager Amanda Gregory.
“If the genuine article costs a hundred and fifty pounds, the counterfeit version might be offered for a hundred pounds. This cheaper price makes the customer think they are still getting the genuine article at a better price”
Can pose safety risk
Fake GHD straighteners can pose a serious safety risk whilst fake UGG boots are often made inhumanely with inferior material.
Amanda said “These fake products are unlikely to have undergone any safety or quality tests and will not comply with British safety standards. They may cause harm and are likely to deteriorate in quality more quickly than the genuine products.
“Sometimes an order might be placed on a website but no goods are received or the goods might be seized by customs on entry to the country.
“Most of these illegal websites are based in countries such as China and it is unlikely anyone who falls for this scam will get a refund if the item does not turn up or is found to be fake.”
Working with Trademark holders
The Isle of Wight Council Trading Standards Service is working closely with trademark holders to take action against anyone found to be selling counterfeit items on the Island.
The advice from trading standards is to be careful and to only shop from official websites or visit a genuine retailer.
