I will demonstrate with images how to distinguish between a genuine polo and a fake one. But of course, I wouldn’t start without a short story.
Recently, one of my customers visited the store and couldn’t hide his excitement on his recent vacation in Dubai and how he had discovered a “cheap source” for the popular Polo by Ralph Lauren polos, t-shirts and shirts. He also mentioned that he had also made arrangements for periodic deliveries to Abuja from this Dubai based retailer. I was silent for a while. The thought of losing a customer to another retailer hurts, but of course that’s a part of business I have learned to consistently deliver great and unequalled service and quality and perhaps to come to terms with it if does happen. However, I was prompted to let out a loud “wow” after he mentioned a certain ridiculous price at which he bought them. Well, my customer’s excitement was only short-lived. He called in yesterday with the bad news.
The t-shirts and polos lost their colors at first wash, stitches were pulling apart and contrast colors staining main colors.
This prompted me to do this post.
The collar-neck t-shirt with the signature pony from Ralph Lauren is arguably the most popular polo in the world and the absence of an open wholesale channel to source for the authentic merchandise, has created a multi-billion dollar profitable parallel market for fakes and knock-offs that thrives with impunity especially in the developing countries.
Unfortunately, the poor quality fakes are been sold for the price of the authentic ones and unsuspecting lovers of the brand have continued to fall victims.
The following steps would help you spot a fake polo by Ralph Lauren round-neck or collar-neck t-shirt.
STEP 1 – BRAND LABELS
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...EXCEPT FOR MEGA RETAILERS LIKE MACY’S, DILLARDS etc.
NO FACTORY OWNER WOULD RISK HIS CONTRACT WITH RALPH LAUREN TO SELL PART OF STOCKS TO A SMALL RETAILER IN NIGERIA
You get polos, genuine ones during sales and close-outs by these major retailers.
A retailer who claims to buy polo shirts from the factory where they are made, or has a wholesale link to RALPH LAUREN is selling fakes.
The makers of the fakes are pretty good and at first glance it all looks legit. But if you have real RL Polo's the differences are very obvious upon comparing the real and the fake. We are aware there are so many frauds out there trying to take money from innocent polo lovers, and thought it was necessary to come up with this guide
Our final advice, buy your Ralph products from a genuine retailer. We are stockists of genuine Polo By Ralph Lauren products in Abuja, Nigeria.
Good luck!!
Jones Apparel Group’s recognized brands include: Jones New York, Polo Jeans Company, Nine West, Napier, and costume jewelry licensed under the Tommy Hilfiger brand. Jones aims to gain stability in the apparel industry as well as retail markets through building “complete lifestyle brands serving a wide breadth of consumers in a wide range of income levels and shopping destination preferences.” (PR Newswire, 2/7/01).
Secondly luxury products are easy to counterfeit, some countries such as china, turkey, and other still have to improve their IPR policies
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However, since the last two decades, the luxury industry has been losing billions because of counterfeited products. Counterfeit can be defined as: