Real or Fake
July 21st, 2006 | by Administrator |Counterfeit accessories can be more than a nuisance for the manufacturers, they can also be dangerous to the consumers. In the last couple of years there have been instances of counterfeit Nokia batteries catching on fire resulting in injury to the cell phone user. I recently learned that Motorola Bluetooth Headsets have become another hot area for the counterfeiters.
So how do you know if the accessory is counterfeit or a legitimate OEM item?
First - Who are you buying it from? There are a number of online retailers that have been around for a long time and have a good reputation. Check Better Business Bureau reports to see if there have been complaints and what the subject of the complaint was. Some sellers like those from popular auction sites may not have a business license and cannot be tracked by the BBB at all. Look at how long the business has been operating and how easy it is to contact them. Companies that hide contact information or don’t provide it all may have done so because they don’t want to deal with the high volume of complaints.
Second – What is the price of the item? We all want to get the best deal but sometimes getting an item too cheap may cause headaches that far outweigh the savings down the road. Look for prices that are good but still in line with the majority of the market on the accessories as a whole. That’s not to say you may find a great deal on the item you are looking for but if every item on the site is way below market prices you might want to think twice.
Great deals are available from great companies. It is worth taking an extra few minute to make sure you are getting what is advertised.
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