How you can help yourself and the country at the same time.
The counterfeit industry in India has crossed Rs 40,000 crore (Financialexpress.com, 11 Jan 2021) and is expected to keep growing. This menace affects both retail customers and companies alike. Fraudsters and unauthorised dealers are increasingly tech savvy and their websites and offerings are sophisticated enough to fool all but the most discerning.
Sheaffer and other such premium brands are often targeted because they are high value items with a strong and positive brand recall. It is tempting to purchase such products at discounted prices but there is always a hidden cost, and it can be very steep.
In addition to running the risk of being duped by spurious items, unauthorised sellers may be taken to court at any time and you may have to contend with the very cumbersome legal system as an accessory or third party.
It is always advisable to buy from authorised sellers because you will receive genuine products with a certificate of authenticity. This allows you to avail of any service and manufacturing warranties. These dealers and distributors are compliant with the applicable laws and have paid the necessary taxes. Companies in particular must be careful to buy only from authorised dealers because their own brand can be tainted if the items purchased and gifted to clients are fake.
William Penn is an authorised distributor of many premium brands and we are the exclusive distributor for the Sheaffer brand in India. We take great pride in providing only genuine products from our partner brands. When you shop with us or our authorised sellers you should request an authorisation letter signed by William Penn’s MD/COO. Every transaction should be accompanied by a proper bill as per the governing laws with a detailed product description. You can also ask for a copy of the licensing agreement.
All our Sheaffer products come with:
a. A warranty card with seal
b. An MRP sticker watermarked with the William Penn logo
An ASPA report estimated that counterfeiting has created an over Rs 1-lakh-crore hole in the economy and the lifestyle and apparel sector is among the top ten highest counterfeited sectors. The black market does immense harm to legitimate businesses and the economy as a whole. Now that you are up-to-date on the ‘Fake News’ we hope you will stay vigilant and encourage others to do the same.