Fake Copy or Genuine

How do you know what you're buying online from eBay, Amazon, Alibaba or any other website from overseas or Australia?

We can't all be an expert on everything...and if you're looking for something in particular.....whether it's a bumper, bonnet, lights, plastic accessories or roof racks....there's usually a way to tell if it's the REAL THING!

Rule 1:  

• If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

That's true to a certain extent, but there's so much online and you have to have a few tricks up your sleeve to ensure you get your bargain, and not a bad mistake!

Rule 2: 

• Read everything in the item description, carefully and watch for words that might indicate the item is not everything it's cracked up to be!

Read....is obvious, but it's amazing how sometimes we just miss things! 

You might find that the item is just a replica, or copy of a original brand.

Words like "-style", "similar to - ", "-like", "-in the style of-", "-look", "copy", "approximately", “renamed to -“etc....all indicate an uncertainty to the origin of the object in question.  

Rule 3:

• Ask the question!

You would simply and clearly ask something like: "Is this item genuine (Poison Spyder)? Where was it made?

If your seller responds with a concise answer, giving you precise details on the item, then you may feel comfortable in purchasing the object.  If a seller or shop owner is evasive, or does not answer the question you asked satisfactorily, do not purchase the product.  If you can't tell without handling it yourself, then....Better safe than sorry!

Rule 4:

• Look for a manufacture mark.

Most genuine products of good repute have a manufacture mark of some type.  A maker's mark is some mark, initials, logo, design, sticker or tag that indicates the object was made in or by someone or some factory in particular.  

Some marks will be copied, but mostly they are not in the right location, off centre, poor quality or just plain wrong.

Rule 5:

• Examine the quality of the object.

The manufacture of the object is paramount and some will use genuine images on the website so the product looks identical to the genuine so it might be hard to identify as a fake.

If you are lucky enough to be able to feel and look at an item in person, then it may be easier to judge, but what if you are interested in an online item? You can't touch it, or examine it in the flesh.   In this case you need to check through the above rules, and ensure that you have researched it as much as possible.  In addition to this you need to have looked at other similar objects on the internet and elsewhere to compare quality and to compare details. 

Rule 6:

• Price.

Clearly, a big brand name item, selling at a bargain price, is suspect.  Use your other rules to substantiate the seller's claim that it is a genuine brand item.  If satisfied, then go ahead and buy.  Cheap price usually equals cheap quality!  So do your homework!

Rule 7:

• Do your Homework!

The internet, shops, other consumers.....they're all valuable tools for researching your item.  What are the best brands?  What prices do these items realise?  What are the distinguishing features?  What are the options, different styles available, colours etc.?  You need to also closely examine all the details of the item, to familiarise yourself with it, so that you'll be able to compare similar items online or in another store.  

Rule 8:

• Beware of the Fake!

We all know they are not supposed to make copies of other brand names.  It's illegal. But how do YOU know which is, and which isn't fake.  

The brand name says Teraflex, the tyre carrier looks like Teraflex, the seller says it's Teraflex.  The thing is, you KNOW, don't you, that sometimes brand items are labelled to imitate famous names.  Do your research - where was it made?, what's the quality like? Does it have a maker's mark? Is this item the price you would expect of a genuine part?, Does the seller have other items for sale that look or are fake? 

If you, or anyone you know, ever find any illegally copied merchandise being sold it should always be reported.  It could save someone you know from being tricked into buying a piece of junk, instead of the quality item they'd hoped it would be.

Rule 9:

•  Reputation.

Check the seller's reputation.  An unhappy customer is much quicker to leave his gripe than a happy one, so be certain about this....if your seller is doing wrong by his customers, you'll be able to find out about it.   Buy from sellers with good reputations and a good percentage of positive feedback.  Always remember, ask first any questions you might have.

Rule 10: The last one....

• If in doubt, don't.

If you have a gut feeling that something is just not right with the product, then it probably will always feel wrong.  Impatience has a lot to do with it. Keep looking, and do your homework!

Nothing is nastier than getting taken for a ride.  You've only got yourself to blame - especially when you should have known better and the items are rusting, welds are cracking, paint is fading, plastics are bending, joints are falling apart leaving you broken down, angry, out of pocket with no warranty and potentially endangering you, your family and the innocent bystander.  Well KNOW BETTER! use these rules for finding the Real Thing.

You most likely will surround yourself with genuine not fake friends because you know the value of a genuine friend, so why would you want to invest your time and money into a fake product?

We at SBR Offroad, sell GENUINE brand products and if we ever have an item that’s of unknown origin we will disclose this so you the consumer is aware of such.