Cyber Monday – the Monday after Black Friday (and the first after Thanksgiving) – is the busiest online shopping day of the year. Most people have just been paid, and for many, it’s the final wedge of cash for Christmas gift buying (that is unless you’re one of those last-minute-rush-around-M&S-and-end-up-with-odd-size-knickers type of people). Hmm.
And while Cyber Monday is paradise for online retailers and festive bargain hunters alike – there are always those out there who want to exploit a jolly good thing. Enter the The Crooks [insert menacing instrumental here].
Counterfeit goods are big business and along with handbags, designer sunglasses are one of the most popular faked items on the market. This year as part of a giant initiative to crack down on illegal, U.S. authorities Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Justice have seized over 150 domains selling cheap knockoffs – namely Oakley sunglasses, Ugg boots and NFL jerseys.
While consumers are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to seeking out The Genuine Article (Looky Looky men take note), even the most shrewd can fall prey to online rip-offs. It’s not like you can ‘see’ what you’re buying.
At Savvy Specs, we only ever retail authentic designer eyewear and support any measures to police the unlawful sales of counterfeit goods – particularly sunglasses. While cheap fakes may look ok, the build quality is often very poor and they do nothing to protect the eye from UV exposure – which can lead to long-term sight problems. To make sure you don’t caught out this Christmas we compiled a nifty guide to help you spot (and avoid) counterfeit goods online:
The Genuine Article: How to Spot Fake Designer Sunglasses Online
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The biggest giveaway when spotting a fake is the price. Even wholesalers won’t drop their prices to rock bottom on genuine designer goods. The general rule of thumb is if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Research
Online reviews are the best way to suss out a retailer before you buy. If they don’t have any, or have bad reviews, then there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with a fake. Similarly, it’s always a good idea to Google the brand with the word ‘scam’ in the search field. If something comes up here, AVOID.
Made in Taiwan?
Designer sunglasses are usually manufactured in Italy. This isn’t true for every brand, but if any other country is mentioned you would be wise to research the brand to find out where they manufacture – particularly if Taiwan is listed.
Extras?
Genuine designer eyewear should come with the original case and dustbag. If these aren’t mentioned, email the seller and ask if they are provided. Genuine retailers will usually respond to questions in a timely manner, and if they don’t, it may indicate that they aren’t what they seem.
Language
If a domain ends in .uk or claims to be working out of the US and the site copy features obvious typos or broken English (think scam emails) it could indicate a foreign scam business in disguise. This isn’t a given, and there are many genuine retailers outside of these countries, but this is usually one of the biggest giveaways of a fraudulent online retailer. If in doubt, research.
If you come across anything suspicious, report it directly to one of the above named authorities or Consumer Fraud Reporting.
If you really want to avoid counterfeit goods this Christmas, you need to purchase from trusted retailers, and remember, you get what you pay for. Why not check out our online store for authentic designer eyewear brands such as Ray Ban, Vera Wang, Elle and many more. While we may not charge bargain basement prices, we strive to keep ours as low as possible – passing down savings to you wherever we can. At Savvy Specs, it’s the customer who always gets a genuine deal. Happy shopping!
