Warning against cheap counterfeits following recent large raid
Buying fake fashion items can cost jobs, says Hounslow’s leading councillor for consumer protection.
Councillor Ed Mayne , cabinet member for community safety and regulatory services, said: “It’s tempting for hard-pressed shoppers who are struggling to make ends meet to buy cheap fake goods - but it’s a false economy.
“They are often shoddily made and if shoppers try and get their money back, they will have next to no chance.
“Cheaply made goods also undermine genuine traders and producers, meaning less sales and possibly putting retail jobs at risk.”
Cllr Mayne was speaking after Hounslow Council urged shoppers to keep their eyes peeled for fake brands including Gucci, Dior, Ugg, Ralph Lauren, Adidas, Nike and many more hitting the high street, after the council seized up to £4 million worth of counterfeit goods.
Hounslow Trading Standards seized a container-load of the counterfeit goods in a raid on Western International Market in Hounslow before Christmas.
Cllr Mayne said: “While this was a massive haul, there still could be some of these counterfeits out there, posing as the real deal.”
To check whether your purchase is genuine, contact Hounslow Council’s Trading Standards team by emailing tradingstandards@hounslow.gov.uk or calling 020 8583 5157 for advice on how to spot fake fashion brands.
March 1, 2013
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