China Fire Bulletin Issue #1 September 2014 | Page 23

MARKET INTEGRITY
商业信誉

Gray Market and Counterfeiting:

A Cancer in China's Fire
Fighting Market

■ By / Zachary E. Allen
(1) Chinese fire bureau destroying counterfeting fire fighting products

E

very foreign company that has
done business in China has
encountered some form of gray
market or counterfeiting involving
their products or designs. A basic
understanding of both is critical
to the industry, purchasers, users,
investors, and other stakeholders.
The group that is greatest effected
by gray marketing or counterfeited
products are firefighters. They rely
on the equipment daily, trusting that
their leaders made smart purchasing
decisions to protect their lives and
allow them to do their job well.

Part of China Fire Bulletin's mission
of helping to improve the fire
service, worldwide, is to help our
readers understand the dangers of
gray marketing and counterfeiting
and provide them the knowledge
and tools they need to combat
this cancer and make smarter,
responsible decisions for themselves
and their teams, all of who's lives are
depending on it.
Why is there a need for this CFB
column?

Reducing counterfeiting and gray

marketing activity is important for
maintaining the highest possible
standards of product quality
and reliability and ensuring that
customers' service and support
requirements are met.

The financial impact and customer
satisfaction issues resulting from
gray and counterfeit market could be
significant.
The inherent value of fire fighting
brands is strengthened when
products are delivered through
approved distribution partners,
ensuring the highest quality product

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