Jumia has said that all the products and items listed on their online platform are genuine. But how are we sure about that statement? Because some people are already complaining about fake products and items they bought on the Jumia online store.
So, are there really fake products and items on the Jumia online mall? Well to Jumia, they are doing everything possible to prevent fake products permeating their online platform but the truth is that some might manage to find their way through!
The truth is that somehow the counterfeits persist. Counterfeit is an age-old problem, even the top giants who claimed to have strict protocols and a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit products are facing the same challenges, Amazon, Wall-mart, eBay, etc. So you see it is not new at all. I am not scaring you but just revealing the truth.
It is hard to identify whether a product is fake or not, knowing that Jumia has put measures in place to prevent fake products and items from entering their online platform. There’s a growing risk that the brand you buy online is actually fake.
The odds of encountering counterfeits can be especially high if you buy through a third-party vendor meaning other sellers besides the brand or the authorized retailer on the Jumia online marketplace.
Therefore, the purpose of this post is to clearly state and explain ways and means to avoid buying fake products and items from the Jumia online shop.
Read also:
- Answers to frequently asked questions about Jumia Orders
- Answers to frequently asked questions about Jumia Global
- Questions and Answers about Jumia account and Login information
- All Questions and Answers about Jumia products, prices and warranty
- All Questions and Answers relating to payment on Jumia
- All Questions and Answers relating to Jumia delivery
Here's how to protect yourself:
Research the seller
When you visit the Jumia shopping website, you might assume that you are buying directly from the Jumia Company which is the best way to avoid ending up with a counterfeit. But there are several vendors both local and international selling on the Jumia websites.So before you click “buy now”, make sure you know who the seller really is and if it is a third-party vendor, check out the company. If you cannot find any meaningful information about the vendor then it is likely that the product you are about to buy is fake.
Check the prevailing price of the product, Fake products are always cheaper
Almost always, in most cases, fake products are cheaper than the original ones. The reason might be that these products are not tested and certified.The truth must be told! Africans like cheap products but paradoxically like the get rich quick methods of getting money. People have taken advantage of this making millions for themselves. Before you buy a product please check the price and see whether that is the prevailing selling price of that particular product.
You can ask about the price in the normal traditional stores or even conduct some research about the product online. If the price is too low, then chances are that you are about to buy a fake product. I am not saying that if the price of the product is low then it is a fake product, no but the emphasis is if it is too low beyond explanation.
Sometimes, not that the product is fake but it has expired; therefore, it cannot function well. So it is very important to check the expiry date of the product before paying for it. This is true if you choose payment on delivery at the checkout.
But you should be aware that there are prepaid only locations where this payment on delivery is not available. Also, Jumia Global products and items are strictly prepayments. You should moreover be familiar with the types of product tags or badges that are in the Jumia shop. This will enable you to make good choices when ordering products or items in the Jumia online shop.
Sometimes, not that the product is fake but it has expired; therefore, it cannot function well. So it is very important to check the expiry date of the product before paying for it. This is true if you choose payment on delivery at the checkout.
Choose pay on delivery at checkout
When you want to order a product on the Jumia website, you have the option of whether to pay on delivery or do prepayment. You might also wish to read all questions and answers relating to payment on Jumia. I will advise you to choose to pay on delivery. Why? This will enable you the buyer to cross-examine the product you ordered for whether is it genuine before paying for it.But you should be aware that there are prepaid only locations where this payment on delivery is not available. Also, Jumia Global products and items are strictly prepayments. You should moreover be familiar with the types of product tags or badges that are in the Jumia shop. This will enable you to make good choices when ordering products or items in the Jumia online shop.
Examine the package of the Product
Brands put their logos on the packaging, not just the products. So if your purchase arrives in anonymous wrapping, then you should know that you are about to buy a fake product.
If you do see a brand logo, compare it with the one pictured on the Jumia website. Misspellings of names and differences in design could mean you’ve got a fake good. Also look for certifications and attached warranties, which should arrive with the product. In some cases, you can verify the serial number through the manufacturer’s website.
If the product has been opened or tampered with, if there are no instructions included, there's a chance the product is a counterfeit. You should not pay for it, let the dispatch rider go away with the product.
If you do see a brand logo, compare it with the one pictured on the Jumia website. Misspellings of names and differences in design could mean you’ve got a fake good. Also look for certifications and attached warranties, which should arrive with the product. In some cases, you can verify the serial number through the manufacturer’s website.
If the product has been opened or tampered with, if there are no instructions included, there's a chance the product is a counterfeit. You should not pay for it, let the dispatch rider go away with the product.
8 Comments
Jumia does not verify if the products are defective before despatch and when you return they claim you can't be refunded. There is no sanction for the vendor instead you waste your time and money. This is a total scam. I am an old customer and I will avoid buying anything from jumia and give negative reviews except my issue is looked into
ReplyDeleteIt sad to know that Jumia now allows counterfeit products on there platform, how do a first time buyer like some of get to know that a product is fake on line.
ReplyDeleteI bought an Elizabeth Arden product (RED DOOR PERFUME with order num 399523187 to realise that it was a fake product. I no longer have confidence in Jumia.
Sorry for that experience!
DeleteThey label their products 'Generic' which to be realistic on SOME of the products is honestly interchangeable with Fake...
ReplyDeleteThey do it to get plausible deniabilty if customers complain.
Thanks for the clarification on how to deal with fake products on Jumia. I am a perfume enthusiast and I buy perfumes from Jumia. I normally buy Arabian perfumes (which are mostly cheap "Clones" of popular designer and Niche brands) and cheap designer fragrances that hardly anybody fakes. But they are very good and I've never bought fakes of those in the past. However, what led me to this blog is that I am deciding to buy a popular designer perfume that is advertised for less than half the usual asking price. I immediately became suspicious and scared that this is too good to be true! But after observing that this is a Festive season and lots of discounts are going on, I decided to give it a try. So before doing that I decided to do a little research on whether there's a way one can identify FAKE designer perfumes from the product pictures on Jumia. Another challenge is unlike bigger internet malls like Amazon, eBay, etc, on Jumia there's no option of "Contact Seller" in the website (or may be I didn't know how to access it!). So in short, I think the best I can do now is to go for "Cash on Delivery", since I know how to identify fake fragrance for most brands. If it turned out to be fake after observing the real product, well, the delivery guy can as well return the package without me wasting my money on it. Thanks. This idea I think, is helpful.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHaven't yet recovered from the pain of a hair blow dryer that i purchased from jumia, and exploded the same same day of delivery while testing. This was after a month plus of waiting for it to be delivered.
ReplyDeleteVery informative article but It is also important to avoid fake tracking number.
ReplyDelete