How to spot fake products
Perhaps the only feeling more intense than the joy of a great bargain on a luxury product, is the disappointment you would feel if you found out it was fake. To help you avoid being scammed, here’s our guide to avoiding fakes and counterfeit goods when you shop online.
At Bob Shop, our community team goes to great lengths to filter out scams and fake products – they’re the reason you see so few suspicious listings on Bob Shop. However, with over 3 million items for sale, and thousands more added every day, it’s still important to be careful.
Trust your instincts
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is: that Louis Vuitton handbag for R500.00? It’s a fake, darling. Those Manolos for R250 are definitely not your size, and as for that “genuine” Rolex for under R1,000 – well, don’t give it the time of day.
Examine the listing carefully
Before you bid or click on buy now, take a really close look at the listing, and compare it to images of the real thing from an official brand website. Possible red flags include no images of the actual object, badly written descriptions, and inconsistencies between how the product looks and how it’s described.
Some fake products are easy to spot: look for badly reproduced logos, or brand names that have been spelled wrong. Those are surefire signs that the article in question isn’t genuine.
Research the seller
Check out their reviews and ratings – if they don’t have any, be wary – equally, if all their reviews feel over the top, they may not be real. Look instead at reviews from other genuine Bob Shop customers like yourself, and be particularly careful if there are reviews that mention missing packages or fake goods.
Ask the question
Of course, the vast majority of sellers on Bob Shop are completely honest and would never dream of selling fake items. You can always use the ‘Ask the seller a question’ link on a listing if you’d like more information – any genuine seller will be happy to oblige.
Relax, you’re protected
The Bob Shop Buyer Protection Programme provides additional peace of mind when you’re shopping with us. The minimum cover amount of R2,000 is designed to fix the situation if the seller doesn’t send you what you’ve purchased, or the item they send you is very different to the one they listed.
Buyer beware
Only you can decide if a particular item feels real or fake, and if it’s worth the asking price. If you’re in any doubt, the best advice is to simply walk away. You can also report any suspicious listings or activity to our community team – their email address is communitywatch@bobshop.co.za. Together, we can make Bob Shop an even safer and more enjoyable ecommerce experience for everyone (except the scammers, of course!).
Shopping online is one of those situations where it’s best to err on the side of caution, and hold on to your money or Bob Bucks. Yes, you might regret missing out on what looked like a bargain, but you could also end up wishing you hadn’t wasted your money on a counterfeit listing.
