Vic,
I think you've hit the nail on the head. Investment to start production. That assumes that you make that investment in equipment and materials. Yes plugs are simple in design and relatively cheap to purchase. That is why they are attractive to counterfeit. You go to a retail outlet and purchase a couple of plugs that are counterfeit and duds. You try and return them to the store, but as they are used electrical items mostly likely you aren't going to get them exchanged or your money refunded. So you go to another store, because you're angry at the first store for not refunding your money and buy a different brand of plugs because you've decided the first brand, rightly or wrongly, is rubbish. So you're out you're money. The retailer isn't out money, because he didn't give you a second set to try or refund your money. The retailer is only out a customer, for now. The distributor isn't out any money as the retailer didn't complain to him about the plugs and want a replacement set or a refund. The genuine manufacturer is out on their reputation and some money do to diminished sales, but not money for replacing the bad plugs. Even if the complaint had made it that far, the genuine manufacturer would eventually realize the plugs were counterfeit and most likely not replace or refund. The counterfeiter isn't out anything, he has your money.
When it becomes obvious that brand A is suspect and everyone is dubious of buying them, the counterfeiters move on to brand B. The cycle repeating itself till they run through all available brands, returning to brand A once that brand has restored its reputation. Because plugs are inexpensive we just replace them and don't complain to the manufacturers when retailers don't replace bad ones we have purchased. So the makers are not aware they have a counterfeit issue until sales drop off.
Let's be honest, most counterfeit products originate in countries that do not honor trademark, patent, and copyrights.
Eventually I'm sure the counterfeiters will realize the vast untapped market of counterfeiting New Old Stock, if they haven't already.
Steven
I think you've hit the nail on the head. Investment to start production. That assumes that you make that investment in equipment and materials. Yes plugs are simple in design and relatively cheap to purchase. That is why they are attractive to counterfeit. You go to a retail outlet and purchase a couple of plugs that are counterfeit and duds. You try and return them to the store, but as they are used electrical items mostly likely you aren't going to get them exchanged or your money refunded. So you go to another store, because you're angry at the first store for not refunding your money and buy a different brand of plugs because you've decided the first brand, rightly or wrongly, is rubbish. So you're out you're money. The retailer isn't out money, because he didn't give you a second set to try or refund your money. The retailer is only out a customer, for now. The distributor isn't out any money as the retailer didn't complain to him about the plugs and want a replacement set or a refund. The genuine manufacturer is out on their reputation and some money do to diminished sales, but not money for replacing the bad plugs. Even if the complaint had made it that far, the genuine manufacturer would eventually realize the plugs were counterfeit and most likely not replace or refund. The counterfeiter isn't out anything, he has your money.
When it becomes obvious that brand A is suspect and everyone is dubious of buying them, the counterfeiters move on to brand B. The cycle repeating itself till they run through all available brands, returning to brand A once that brand has restored its reputation. Because plugs are inexpensive we just replace them and don't complain to the manufacturers when retailers don't replace bad ones we have purchased. So the makers are not aware they have a counterfeit issue until sales drop off.
Let's be honest, most counterfeit products originate in countries that do not honor trademark, patent, and copyrights.
Eventually I'm sure the counterfeiters will realize the vast untapped market of counterfeiting New Old Stock, if they haven't already.
Steven