China Fire Bulletin Issue #1 September 2014 | Page 25

MARKET INTEGRITY
商业信誉
parts, finished product, packaging,
documentation, marketing and even
the cartons and boxes that finished
goods are shipped in.
How does counterfeit product
get sold?

Counterfeit product initially
will be sold through tightly held
broker networks established by
the counterfeiter. Beyond those
brokers, counterfeit product many
times will then enter the gray
market infrastructure thus causing
confusion at the fire bureau and a
higher risk that the channel and end
users may be subject to purchasing
and receiving non-genuine goods,
potentially and likely compromising
the safety of the firefighters who will
use them.
What is the counterfeit
situation in the Chinese fire
market?

The challenges of counterfeit
products in the Chinese fire market
are unique because of the decision
makers lack of experience with the

long-established brands that have
existed in foreign markets for many
decades or even centuries.

At the 2013 Beijing Fire Show, for
example, it was clearly on display.
The main, ground floor was full
of manufacturers of long-term
well established brands, and their
local authorized representatives.
On the lower floor were hundreds
of companies, many offering
counterfeit products and supporting
gray market distribution. Without
any monitoring of this by organizers,
or an established method of
recourse for show participants, this
phenomenon has gone unaddressed
despite it being often discussed and
despised in boardrooms around the
world.

How do I know if I am at risk for
purchasing counterfeit products?
By purchasing products through
authorized channels or other means
of distribution established by the
original equipment manufacturer
or directly from the manufacturer

you greatly increase your assurance
that you are receiving genuine, new
and factory warranted product.
Most manufacturers have listing of
authorized dealers available on their
websites.
In any case, during a purchasing
tender for your fire department,
demand presentation of an
authorized distribution letter
from the manufacturer or from
their exclusively authorized China
distributor., and their sub-dealers if
applicable.
Purchasing team at XFD must
conduct quality control of their
sources if they wish to keep their
firefighters safe from counterfeit
products and unserviceable gray
marketed goods.

● Multi-tier authorizations, of both
the country distributor and their
authorized "sub-dealers" will ensure
long-term product service and
support capabilities, product quality
and performance, and firefighter
safety.

(2) Chinese fire bureau destroying counterfeting fire fighting products

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