Biznes Fakty
UOKiK: Asian clothing and footwear sellers impersonate Polish brands
Sellers of apparel, footwear, or leather products from Asia are masquerading as Polish brands, luring customers with promotions, according to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection’s announcement on Thursday. The actual product may not match the images shown, and the seller is often unreachable, it was stated.
„The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection is receiving reports regarding unscrupulous sellers marketing clothing, footwear, and leather items online. These entities pose as Polish brands and entice shoppers with substantial discounts. However, it turns out that purchases are made from Asian vendors, primarily from China,” the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) stated in a press release.
They attract with large discounts
It was noted that such online stores often operate under names that include a first name, surname, or a town name followed by terms like „fashion” or „boutique.” Occasionally, they mirror the web address of an established brand, with only a slight variation—such as a hyphen. These stores lure customers with significant promotions and product descriptions that highlight a familial essence and long-standing tradition, or they may mention a store liquidation with sales on the inventory.
– Unethical sellers misrepresent the origin of their business and products, compromising consumer interests and tarnishing the reputation of the brands they impersonate. Consumers need to be aware of what to look for to reduce the risk of financial loss and unsatisfactory purchases,” stated Tomasz Chróstny, president of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, as quoted in the announcement. The Office also highlighted the presence of fraudulent online stores that attract bargain hunters, often presenting „surprisingly low” prices. However, the content of these stores is usually poorly written, and the seller’s information is often incomplete. Additionally, information regarding return policies is either missing or the address provided is subtly listed as being in an Asian country. In many instances, after payment, items are not delivered, and the store’s website disappears from the internet,” said the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. It has also been noted that after receiving the shipment, customers may find that the product is significantly different from the images presented, and the seller may not be reachable. The Office advised reporting such incidents to the police and the CERT team, and also suggested notifying the bank, especially if the payment was made via card, as the chargeback process may facilitate a refund. The announcement also indicated that the website where the products are purchased is not always the actual seller; this is known as dropshipping. In such instances, the website serves as an intermediary, and the customer is purchasing directly from another entity. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection stressed that the seller must be clearly identified on the website, along with details about their responsibilities and those of the intermediary.
They may conceal information
– Unscrupulous sellers can obscure the fact that they operate under a dropshipping model, misleading their customers. Consequently, buyers may only realize they purchased from an Asian entity rather than a Polish store when the goods fail to arrive, do not match the description, or when they attempt to return them. Consumers should be informed about who they are actually purchasing from while reviewing the store’s offerings,” Chróstny remarked. The President of the Office reminded that an investigation is underway to examine the advertising mechanisms on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as on various websites working with Google. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection is assessing the level of oversight over promoted content. In cases where issues arise with returning products acquired from an intermediary, assistance can be sought from consumer ombudsmen. If the intermediary is based outside of Poland but within the European Union, the relevant point of contact will be the European Consumer Centre,” the Office informed. It emphasized that dropshipping is a legitimate business model only if consumers are not misled.
