In shopping, here are secrets of quality buying

It’s not unusual to return from shopping and only to discover that some products you have bought were of low quality to what you were used to. So, once or twice we have found ourselves in error of paying money for fake product, simply because we did not take notice of certain differences.

Regrettably, sometimes the ability to spot the difference between a fake and an original product eludes a buyer because of “market pressure”, however some other time the customer neglects his primary responsibility of ensuring that the goods he or she is paying for is original by doing the necessary checks expected of a buyer.

There are few things that distinguish an original product from a fake. The first visible trick to look out for is your favourite brand’s spelling. Most counterfeit always try to imitate popular original brand’s name and logo’s but are careful to twist the spellings of their name either by deliberately omitting an alphabet in such a smart way that makes it difficult for customers to easily spot the trick at a mere glance on the product.

Secondly, on every original product there must be a production and expiry date inscribed on that product. These important dates are sometimes omitted on fake products after all the product is not the real thing in the first place, so why waste time and resources inscribing a fake production and expiry date. So ensure you look out for these important dates when next you shop.

In addition to these dates is a product quality endorsement sign often branded by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) on original goods but hardly found on a fake product because quality is often absent in counterfeiting operations.

It is also ill-advised to buy a product if the supposed seal of the goods you are buying is broken or seems tampered with. Experts advise you deviate from such goods because it might be a fake product after all.

Selling a product at the wrong environment is also another trick by sellers to dispose there fake products, this simply because the original will refuse them selling at the market place. So you are likely to find fake goods been sold at such as road side or at odd hours of the day.

The tendency to always buy a cheap product by any consumer is always high however if what you are buying is clearly below its supposed price then you might just be buying an imitation of your favourite product. 

Be on the lookout for your products packaging, this includes all the necessary accessories that is expected to accompany your product.  Most counterfeit products do not come with the expected accessories simply because of the cost of adding them to the product.

Janine Eccleston, personal finance expert, believes the key to avoiding patronizing fake product is by learning as much as you can about the product you want to buy; this will help you ensure you can separate bonafide items from inferior imitations. Also ensure you check for quality, precision, detail, and you will be able to spot knock-offs that are rarely a good deal in the long run.