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Traders, consumers cry foul over fake products

According to an owner of a shop in Karama, fakes could cost more money indirectly especially if they involved cosmetic or beauty products. “I sell inexpensive beauty and cosmetic items that are original. Some customers want to save money and are easily conned by shops selling fakes at slightly cheaper prices. Either they end up with a sub-standard product, or else may suffer from allergies and have to pay even more for their medical treatment,” the shopkeeper said on condition of anonymity.

He added that owing to this lack of satisfaction or "negative efficacy", consumers shy away even from the original brand, causing its demise in the market in the long run. Altaf Khan, who runs a store in Bur Dubai, said that there are at least five or six brands of perfumes that were a rage a decade ago, especially among expatriates from the sub-continent, but an extensive influx of duplicates destroyed their reputation and presence in the market. “The original perfumes were great in every aspect, also because they were inexpensive. But the brand duplicates created bad publicity due to staining on clothes, inconsistency of fragrance and short duration of effect. In some cases they also caused rash or itching,” he pointed out.

According to Altaf there are original, inexpensive, perfumes being marketed to target low-income buyers. “These are not very great products but they are original and over the years some such brands have created a niche market for themselves,” he added.

He explained that while buyers might buy a fake wristwatch of an internationally recognised and expensive brand intentionally, the same is not the case with perfumes, cosmetics and beauty products.

“Many buyers don't know the difference between an original perfume and a good copy. The difference in pricing from store to store and mall to mall further confuses even those with a discerning taste,” he said.

A new angle to the pricing issue is added because of a parallel market, which relies on the sporadic and short supply of a limited range of established and fast selling products from neighbouring countries or even Europe. These products are original but are sold at small shops and kiosks for prices that are up to 30 per cent lower.

Praveen Mohammed Ali, a consumer, says the UAE market is flooded with cheap copies of branded items. “These copies thrive in this market because of consumer behaviour. Consumers in the UAE accept fakes knowing that they are copies because they are cheaper. With the increasing expenses of daily products, consumers find that these fake goods are able to satisfy their ego,” she explained.

She also said that personally she was against fake products because it was illegal. “Enough knowledge should be provided to traders and consumers so that they are the first to boycott such goods. Only then can the original product survive in this market,” she added.

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