Counterfeit Products
Combatting Counterfeit Products
Jaguar has specialized in professional hairdressing shears since the late 1960s. Today it is one of the leading companies in its sector worldwide, enjoying success in more than 80 countries. The brand stands for quality and design amongst hairdressers. For some time, others have also tried to capitalize off the success of this strong brand by counterfeiting. Fake Jaguar shears can be found in counterfeit workshops all over the world, especially in Pakistan and China.
Counterfeit Jaguar shears are difficult to identify at first glance—it's not only the well-known logo that is copied, but sometimes the packaging, characteristic shape, accessories and components, and even the names of the shears that are copied as well. The fact that these counterfeits are lower in quality in every respect than their original counterparts generally does not become obvious to the hairdresser until after they are used in a salon (a nasty surprise, indeed!). These shears are already dull or lose their sharpness after just a short while, making them useless for professional hair cutting. Common characteristics of knock-off Jaguar shears typically include:
- Lower-quality steel and substandard processing of the metal (during tempering, for example)
- Unprofessional adjusting of the shear halves
- Poor processing of cutting edges
Unfortunately, these traits are often invisible to anyone other than a shear specialist. And because they are counterfeit, users cannot make warranty claims as they would with original products. Professional hairdressing shears are technically sophisticated tools that require a great deal of expertise to produce.
Take a look at the following examples of genuine and counterfeit Jaguar logos and packaging:
Working together with retailers and sales partners, Jaguar is taking active steps against counterfeiters. If a copy is sighted on the market, Jaguar works with attorneys based in the country where it was found to trace the channels through which it was sold and uncover the identity of the producer.
Occasionally, we go even further. Awhile back, we hired detectives for a special case and were able to successfully uncover a counterfeit producer in China. Authorities seized more than 4,000 Jaguar copies and a heavy fine was imposed on the manufacturer. But Jaguar is paying attention to more than just counterfeit producers. We have a list of more than 250 manufacturers and retailers worldwide who are suspected of offering counterfeit Jaguar products. We are continually gathering information and investigating suspected counterfeit manufacturers and retailers. As soon as firm evidence of counterfeiting is discovered, we take swift legal action against these companies.
It is important to know that dealing commercially in counterfeit goods is punishable by law and subject to prosecution, just as producing them is. The trade in these products (including purchasing them) is a far cry from being a trivial offense. In Germany alone, estimates put annual financial losses due to counterfeiting at 29 billion euros, costing about 70,000 jobs.
First, it is recommended that you only rely on well-known brands of shears, like Jaguar, because these brands guarantee a good ratio of price to value. But how can you be certain that the shears in your hand are the genuine product? Here are a few tips to take to heart:
- Buy shears only from specialized dealers and representatives you know and have found to be reliable. In this case you can be sure that they offer only genuine goods. They will also assist you with service and warranty questions.
- Always make sure to obtain a receipt with every purchase that shows the address of the company selling the product. Make sure that in addition to the brand of shears, the receipt also specifies the exact model / article number.
- Exercise common sense—If a model you know of is offered at a very low price, it may likely be a fake. Quality has its price! Avoid conspicuously low-priced goods, which are offered via websites and online auctions, unless the dealer is well-known.
- Do not make purchases at flea markets or from street vendors.
- Pay attention to outward signs such as the packaging and logos.