Car Boot Sales Could You Be In For More Than You Bargained?
As the May bank holidays approach and the weather improves, what better place to pick up a bargain then at a car boot sale?
CD’s, DVD’s perfumes, toys and designer clothes are just some of the items that can be picked up for what you think is a bargain price – but do you really know what you are getting?
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service together with Consumer Direct West Midlands lets you in on the tricks of the counterfeit trade so you don’t get ripped off.
What you think you are getting: The latest DVD/CD
The reality: The CD/DVD you have brought is likely to be of poor quality, the sound may be distorted or the picture unclear. Not only will this ruin your listening/viewing pleasure but you will have wasted your money! If you had bought the items from a reputable supplier – you may possibly have got a refund or exchanged it if the quality was not right. Traders at car boot sales move around – and the likelihood is that if you did have a problem, they wouldn’t be there next time to complain to. What you didn’t bargain for is that counterfeits can damage and corrupt your DVD/CD player or laptop when playing them.
What you think you are getting: A genuine branded item – e.g. perfumes, clothes.
The reality: Often counterfeiters will spend their money on creating realistic looking packaging – the contents however may be nothing like the real thing. A range of cheap ingredients/materials are used to make the goods look convincing but you can’t guarantee what is in them or how safe they are for you to use.
What you think you are getting: A bargain - as the price looks too good to be true
The reality: The quality of counterfeit goods is often very poor. The material of the clothes and the embroidery may look ok, but when placed next to an original the fake becomes obvious.
You may still be spending a reasonable amount of money on these items, which are not the real thing. Remember – the goods could also be stolen, even if you didn’t know they were it is a criminal offence being in receipt of them.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service said:
"One of the biggest risks to consumers who buy any counterfeit goods such as perfumes, toys, alcohol or cigarettes is their safety and that of their families. What people don’t realise is that the people often producing the counterfeit spend the money on producing convincing packaging so that people think they are getting the genuine article. In fact, the proceeds from what look like harmless ‘fakes’ are supporting criminal activity."
Remember – Counterfeiting is illegal, and counterfeiters don’t care. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
If you are concerned that your local car boot is being ruined by people selling counterfeit items or you think you have bought counterfeit goods please call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506, or visit our website at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk