Parts association warns against African market being saturated with counterfeit parts
Various stakeholders in the motor parts industry warn consumers against buying fake aftermarket parts, and encourage them to report any suspicious products. A stakeholder gives a few tips in this regard.
How sure are you that those bearings you just bought will match the original manufacturer quality bearings fitted to your vehicle?
Shawn Reddy, the product marketing manager for Motus Aftermarket Parts, notes that South Africa and the rest of Africa are facing a significant challenge of excessive counterfeit automotive parts. According to him, the continent’s move towards increased consumer independence is resulting in reduced guidance, inspection and control of products being sent to the market. This compromises the safety of vehicle owners and passengers due to the influx of counterfeit parts.
Lynette Nieuwenhuizen, SKF’s regional sales manager, emphasises the importance of buying required bearing brands only from authorised distributors.
Niewenhuizen, who has been a brand protection champion at SKF for the last two years, says from an industry perspective, they closely monitored distribution partners to ensure they are compliant and ‘clean suppliers’. It gives consumers peace of mind and helps distributors protect themselves from counterfeit products. “We offer our customers free brand protection audits to check products in their warehouses and give them tips to know exactly what to look out for and how.”
She says the problem with these fake parts is the fact that you cannot spot them by simply looking at the product or the packaging.
Do not ignore these warning signs:
- The offer is presented as a bargain.
- Short delivery times for special products.
- The seller does not include certificates and other documents to show the business connection with SKF.
If you suspect a product is counterfeit, use the SKF Authenticate app to check its authenticity.
Vishal Premlall, the national director of the Tyre, Equipment, Parts Association, comments: “Consumers need to be suspicious about what they buy and should never be afraid to approach the supplier directly to check authentication or to report the product on the Whistleblower hotline. Remember, if you have been scammed with parts purchases and suffered some consequence, it is key to report it. The more examples we have and the more we can share our knowledge and experiences with others, the harder we will make it for these unscrupulous suppliers to ply their trade.”
Source: Cathy Findley PR
