AusLeisure

The Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA) has revealed recently conducted consumer research that shows consumers are comfortable with buying counterfeit products and are unaware of the damage to the economy and the threat of the 'grey market' to retail jobs.
The research study, undertaken by Empirica Research Group, surveyed 1,000 shoppers and sports participants and revealed that consumers' willingness to knowingly purchase counterfeit items was high. It asked participants to nominate the discount they would need to be offered to knowingly purchase counterfeit products.
ASGA says this had the potential to damage brand loyalty and negatively impact on consumer attitudes and the economy, ASGA Executive Director Brad Kitschke saying that there needed to be a change in consumer mindsets about the acceptability of counterfeit.
Kitschke stated "consumers might not think buying a fake set of golf clubs or pair of shoes hurts anybody, but the money trail for these products often leads back to serious criminal activity.
"When they buy a fake pair of shoes they might be funding serious criminal activity in another country. The money they spend on a cheap counterfeit item could be funding some pretty nasty stuff.
"Australian consumers need to be aware that buying counterfeit goods could mean they are funding serious criminals. Counterfeiting isn't a victimless crime and when it funds serious criminality or terrorist groups, the Australian Government must do everything it can do stop it."
On average, more than 60% of the research participants said they would purchase counterfeit products providing there was a discount when compared with authentic products.
ASGA has been campaigning for tougher laws to better protect brands against counterfeiters and counterfeit imports and says counterfeiting and the grey market is a genuine threat to the retail economy.
The ASGA is encouraging anyone who thinks they have been ripped off and sold fake products to report it to the Counterfeit Alert Network, from where the information is then passed onto the trademark owner. ASGA says that those who manufacture, import or sell fakes need to be aware that brand owners are taking this seriously and will pursue them through every legal means possible.
ASGA's issues paper and proposal for legislative change can be viewed at
http://www.asga.com.auhttps://www.ausleisure.com.au/images/stories/Counterfeit_issues_paper_ASGA.pdf

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