Counterfeit products - what you need to know

Counterfeit products are unfortunately becoming a part of the eCommerce landscape, so we’ve put together this page of information to help people avoid buying counterfeit products.

Under The Roof Decorating (UTR) has recently become aware of unauthorized resellers selling a product that appears similar to or indistinguishable from our Hang & Level™ product. These counterfeit products may be using Under The Roof Decorating’s name, copyright, trademarks, patents and other UTR intellectual property. UTR products sold by unauthorized resellers are pirated goods of inferior quality that are not authorized or produced by UTR. These products also infringe on UTR’s intellectual property rights. Please do not purchase unauthorized or counterfeit products. Purchase only genuine Under The Roof Decorating products to ensure quality and your satisfaction.

Why should I care if a product is a counterfeit?

Counterfeit products affect both consumers and manufacturers in a number of ways. For consumers, they are purchasing a product of inferior quality, which may not function correctly, or have broken or missing parts. Counterfeit products are not covered under the manufacturer's warranty, so getting a defective product replaced or refunded is a challenge. For manufacturers, having counterfeit products not only has a financial impact in terms of lost sales, but more importantly, there is a negative impact for our customers and their experience with what they think are legitimate products.

How can I tell if a product is fake?

There are a few things you can do to check to see if the product you are interested in is an authentic one.

Where you buy it

If you are purchasing your product directly from the manufacturer or on a reputable retailer’s website (for example HomeDepot.com), there is a high probability that the product will be authentic.

Purchasing from marketplace sites like Amazon, eBay or Facebook can be more problematic, as the majority of counterfeit products are sold in these channels. 

When in doubt, the original manufacturer will be able to confirm that the reseller is an authorized one, and may also include a list on their website similar to this list.

The price is too low

While everyone likes to get a good deal, shop around and check the manufacturer’s website to find the regular product price. Most manufacturers have a Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) policy with their authorized resellers to ensure advertised prices do not go below a set price. A deal that is too good to be true can often reveal a counterfeit product.

Customer service

Authentic products have the support of the company behind them. Contact the company directly to get any answers about the product, shipping, price and returns policy. Reviews of the product can also be verified using a site like fakespot.com

What to do if you think you have purchased a counterfeit

If you suspect an item you have purchased is a counterfeit, the first step is to let the store, vendor or manufacturer know about it. Check for a list of authorized resellers on the manufacturer’s website, or contact them to confirm the reseller you purchased from is authorized. If you purchased on a third party website like Amazon etc, they often have a mechanism to quickly report listings you think are fraudulent directly on the site. Look for a link labelled “Report Counterfeits” or something similar, and report the counterfeit.

Counterfeit products affect both buyers and sellers alike, so in order to avoid being disappointed, and to receive the product you intended to, keep the items above in mind, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@utrdecorating.com