Stakeholders in the home appliance and baby care industry have lamented the increasing incidence of counterfeit products, which cost the country about N9 billion annually.
While the country has also lost a whopping N200 billion annually to adulterated oil, the global economy via a cross-border trade in physical counterfeit is now $250 billion annually.
Already, over one million individuals have lost their jobs due to the fact that counterfeiting has made manufacturing industries and companies to lose huge revenue.
According to the stakeholders, these are reasons that every hand should be on deck to wage war against the hydra headed menace.
Speaking yesterday during the flag off of a new campaign by Philips (a brand for home appliances), tagged: ‘Buy Original’, Philips’ General Manager, Mrs. Chioma Iwuchukwu-Nweke, explained that aside the fact that the level of counterfeiting is so high in the country, it misleads the public and presents real risk when it malfunctions.
While demonstrating how to identify the original from the fake through a 16 digit security number embedded in their various products that can be sent to 20822 and some other measures the company has put in place, she reiterated that Philips has not stepped down standards but that every good product can always be pirated.
“Consumers, in most instances, aren’t even aware they are buying counterfeit products. Philips wants to put consumers in a position that they are confident that they are purchasing original Philips products. A genuine product is subject to quality and safety control and would protect the consumers and their family. It also provides customers the after sales guarantee and the peace of mind that the after sales commitment will be honoured.”
She further stated that Philips is tackling counterfeiting through the launch of the ‘Buy Original’ campaign, which would introduce effective measures for consumers to be able to easily identify and verify Philips’ original consumer appliances and lighting products.
She disclosed that Philips would be working with relevant government agencies and organisations alongside consumers, distributors and other retail chains because piracy has serious repercussions for consumers’ health and safety.
“Buyers are often looking for the best deal and are not necessarily aware of the risks involved in purchasing counterfeit products. Protecting the consumer is our number one priority,” she said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment