Keeping Children Safe From Counterfeits This Festive Season
With Christmas just around the corner, parents can often get caught up in last-minute rushes to get presents before the shops shut for the big day. In the Christmas chaos when time is running short, it can be all too easy to grab whatever is left on the shelf without paying too much attention, or to snap up those bargains on e-commerce stores without reading the descriptions.
But taking a few precious minutes to double-check what you are buying before heading to the checkout might just save you from a potential nightmare. Counterfeit toys are everywhere at Christmas time, and the risks of purchasing one can be incredibly dangerous. Here’s how you can protect yourself from fake toys and gifts, and keep your loved ones safe this Christmas.
Counterfeit Toys: A Game Of Cat & Mouse
As Christmas approaches, vulnerable supply chains are exploited and billions of pounds worth of counterfeit goods flood the markets. These fakes are snapped up by shoppers looking to grab a last-minute bargain, exposing countless parents and children to all kinds of health and safety hazards.
At first glance, a counterfeit toy might be hard to distinguish from a real one. They can often be sold at or near the price of genuine products, but many are sold at a lower price point in order to trick more vulnerable buyers into unknowingly paying for an inferior product. These cheaper counterfeits are much more likely to appear online, where customers don’t have the option to view their purchases in person, as they can use authentic images and packaging to present themselves as reputable sellers.
Popular products that are targeted at Christmas include items such as alcohol, electronics, clothing, and luxury items like handbags, perfumes and watches. All of these are highly sought-after gifts, on the wishlists of children, teens and adults alike. Meanwhile, traditional toys are also being targeted by criminals, appealing to children and young adults who don’t realise the potential risks.
What Are The Risks Of Counterfeit Gifts?
Counterfeit products are always of inferior quality when compared to the genuine products they attempt to copy. They may have serious manufacturing defects, might not last as long, and may not function well if they contain moving or electrical components. The strict regulations and standards which ensure quality manufacturing and use of safe materials do not apply to counterfeit goods, as they are often made abroad and shipped into the country illegally. This means that users are potentially exposing themselves to harmful chemicals, fire and electrical hazards, or toxic materials like arsenic, cadmium and lead as a result.
On a wider scale, the purchasing of counterfeit goods can be disastrous for the brands they imitate, particularly if the products in question are from luxury brands. Customers can pay hundreds or thousands of pounds, only to find their ‘new’ handbag or phone falls to pieces within a matter of weeks. This impacts heavily on genuine brands, as counterfeits destroy their reputation and image, as well as taking away revenue from authentic sales.
This problem is confounded by the rising cost of living, which is tightening the purse strings of many households and forcing them to find cheaper products to buy this Christmas time. Shockingly, there are also a growing number of people who are willing to purchase counterfeit goods knowingly rather than pay the full price for genuine items.
What To Spot
Thankfully, more customers are beginning to take steps to shop safely. A recent campaign by CrimeStoppers UK attempted to highlight the dangers of counterfeits, and ongoing actions from the government and police are helping to educate the public about the threat of fake toys.
If you have purchased toys and games over the internet, or if you are about to take them to the checkout in a physical store, there are several things you can look out for which should help you to determine whether or not you are in the possession of a counterfeit item:
- Check it has a UK or EU address to see where it was manufactured and make sure you can contact the supplier if there are any issues
- Check it has a UKCA or CE mark to ensure it meets health and safety standards
- Check the packaging – make sure there are no spelling mistakes, printing errors or misplaced labels, and double check it is written in English
If you are thinking about purchasing presents, here are some extra things to look out for:
- Check reviews online to see if the seller is genuine
- Compare the price online with other reputable sellers to check the difference (if it looks too good to be true, it probably is)
- If you are browsing a website or non-official store, compare the images used in advertising to those used by the original seller
It can be easy to overlook these obvious warning signs, so taking a moment to check over things before you make any purchases can save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run.
A Christmas Without Fakes…
To keep your loved ones safe this Christmas, make sure you only purchase from reputable sellers and keep your eyes peeled for imperfections or manufacturing defects. As tempting as it may be to go for the cheaper option, spending a little more time (and money) searching for the right present can save your household from the horrors of counterfeit goods, and keep the festive season merry and bright.
At Quantum Base, we’re on a mission to stop counterfeiters in their tracks, so you can enjoy Christmas without counterfeits ruining your celebrations. To find out more about how our Q-ID® technology is helping to create a Christmas without fakes, get in touch with one of our team today!
