trading standards

[i002km]

Hi Everyone

I am new to this Forum and am very hopeful you can help me.

I own limited company, a Mobile Phone Accessories shop and about 5 months ago we received a visit from Trading Standards after a complaint from a customer who's Samsung Tablet charging port got burnt having purchased a "genuine" samsung cable from us. they confiscated all the cables and other items which they suspected of being counterfeit or in breach o sales of goods act. A few days ago they returned again (first they did a undercover test purchase of a pair of samsung earphones) and later returned and introduced themselves to be from Trading Standards saying the test results came in to say that the samsung cables were counterfeit and proceeded to take all things branded "samsung". I have provided proof receipts from the suppliers which state that the items are "genuine". its clear to me that i have been mis-sold these items by my suppliers who claimed these items are genuine and i feel i am being punished for being mislead by my suppliers and its them who should get punished.

I would be grateful for some advice as to how to proceed with this matter and the likely consequences from what has happened.

thank you in advance

 

[fisicx]

The likely consequence is you will get a fine for selling counterfeit goods.

Who are these suppliers? Did you get them cheap from China?

 

[GraemeL]

We are approved by Trading Standards under the Buy With Confidence scheme. They are very reasonable people and considerably overworked.
Be straight with them from the very start. Do not try to mislead them in the slightest. Volunteer information. Make it as easy for them as you can.
The more helpful and direct you are the easier you will be dealt with.
If you knew you were not selling genuine items, come clean straight away. The price you paid for the items is an indication of whether you knew or not. If they were too cheap to be genuine then its reasonable to expect that you, as a business person, would be suspicious.

 

[Mr D]

If you purchase from the UK / EU approved distributor then the distributor will be interested in what trading standards are doing too. If fake stuff is getting into the distribution network they need to know.

 

[i002km]

The likely consequence is you will get a fine for selling counterfeit goods.

Who are these suppliers? Did you get them cheap from China?

thank you for the reply. the suppliers are based in the UK and are well known in the industry. I asked the officers why are they not going after the people who supplied the goods and they said that they are only responsible for their allocated County. My argument is, if they dealt with Supplier originally i wouldnt be in this situation, how can it be my fault if i purchased goods that they claimed is a Genuine Samsung product. thanks

 

[i002km]

If you purchase from the UK / EU approved distributor then the distributor will be interested in what trading standards are doing too. If fake stuff is getting into the distribution network they need to know.

We are approved by Trading Standards under the Buy With Confidence scheme. They are very reasonable people and considerably overworked.
Be straight with them from the very start. Do not try to mislead them in the slightest. Volunteer information. Make it as easy for them as you can.
The more helpful and direct you are the easier you will be dealt with.
If you knew you were not selling genuine items, come clean straight away. The price you paid for the items is an indication of whether you knew or not. If they were too cheap to be genuine then its reasonable to expect that you, as a business person, would be suspicious.

thank you for your response, i genuinely believed the goods to be original and showed the officers receipts that state "genuine". Surely based on that they should get in contact with the suppliers but to date my suppliers have not been contacted by trading standards. I am very interested on being part of the Buy With Confidence Scheme. How would I go about this please?

 

[Mr D]

thank you for the reply. the suppliers are based in the UK and are well known in the industry. I asked the officers why are they not going after the people who supplied the goods and they said that they are only responsible for their allocated County. My argument is, if they dealt with Supplier originally i wouldnt be in this situation, how can it be my fault if i purchased goods that they claimed is a Genuine Samsung product. thanks

Possibly because you are the one in their area passing off fake or dangerous goods to consumers.
Trading standards are not there primarily to protect you from your suppliers, they protect consumers from you.

 

[Mr D]

thank you for your response, i genuinely believed the goods to be original and showed the officers receipts that state "genuine". Surely based on that they should get in contact with the suppliers but to date my suppliers have not been contacted by trading standards. I am very interested on being part of the Buy With Confidence Scheme. How would I go about this please?

I struggle with the idea that receipts will state 'genuine' and be true.
Anyone else ever see 'genuine' on receipts for branded and authorised stuff?

 

[GraemeL]

I am very interested on being part of the Buy With Confidence Scheme. How would I go about this please?

Google it and you will find.

 

[fisicx]

i genuinely believed the goods to be original and showed the officers receipts that state "genuine".

Are they an authorised supplier? Do the goods come in official Samsung packaging?