10 tips to help you avoid buying and identifying counterfeit products
1) Always purchase your Canon products and accessories from an authorised dealer or directly from Canon.
2) Beware of “too good to be true” prices - when an offer seems too good to be true, the chances are IT IS too good to be true. Check out the reputation of the seller and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
3) Be careful buying through overseas sites - counterfeit products are often intercepted at the border. Check out the site and/or the seller first.
4) Check the packaging and ensure it is of high quality. Legitimate Canon products will always meet Canon’s high standards and always look for our brand and anti-counterfeiting hologram.
5) Beware of non-packaged goods. Counterfeiters will often sell their products loose (without normal boxed packaging). Always check with the seller as sometimes there may be a reasonable explanation although this is not very likely (second hand or damaged goods would not fall into this category).
6) Make sure the battery fits your product with ease before turning it on. You should not have to force a genuine product to fit.
7) Overheating, unlike genuine Canon products, counterfeit batteries, chargers and external flashes do not normally follow Australian and New Zealand safety standards and we have been made aware of consumers who have had their product overheat, melt or explode when in use.
8) Battery life. Every Canon battery should charge and hold its charge the same as your previous product, so issues with battery life may be an indicator of a non-genuine product.
9) Check the branding on your current Canon products and compare it to the logo on the questionable item. Every genuine Canon product will meet the high standard Canon maintains for its brand and logo. If it doesn’t look right then it might not be right.
10) If in doubt get Canon to check it out. If you have concerns about an item you have bought or an item you are thinking about purchasing, contact Canon directly and we can help you.
Most common counterfeit products in the Australian and New Zealand market
- Canon batteries for all camera types
- Canon battery chargers
- Inks for Canon printers
- Speedlight Flash
- Camera Grip
You should be vigilant when making any purchase to ensure that you are getting the quality products for you and your existing Canon equipment.
Why avoid Counterfeit products?
Safety risk: Counterfeit Canon products are not likely to have been manufactured and tested to the strict quality standards of genuine Canon products and accordingly may cause harm to a person or other products when used. Counterfeit batteries can generate excessive heat, leak or explode when used, causing serious personal injury or irreparable damage to a product.
Quality: Counterfeit Canon ink and toner cartridges can leak, block a printer’s print head or lead to colour blurring and streaking. These cartridges are also likely to offer significantly less print capacity than genuine products. The print capacity of counterfeit cartridges that Canon has tested range from 28% to 69% compared to genuine cartridges.
Environmental Impact: All Canon genuine products comply with Australia and New Zealand safety and product standards. Counterfeit products are unlikely to comply with these laws. Their origin, ingredients and production are unknown, and therefore cause a greater risk to the environment.
What does Canon do to protect our customers?
Protection: The Canon name and logo are officially registered as trademarks and with Customs offices in more than 30 countries to allow formal surveillance and seizure of suspected counterfeit products.
Technologies: Canon has and will continue to develop and implement security measures to help customers identify genuine Canon products.
Co-operation: Canon co-operates with national and international authorities and organisations, including police, customs and trading standards, to help them identify counterfeit Canon products and remove them from the market.
Education: Canon provides training and education programs and seminars to police, customs and other Government authorities to assist them to identify counterfeit products.
For peace of mind shop from a
Canon Authorised New Zealand Dealer near you.
Have a question?
Please contact Canon's Fraud & Counterfeit Manager on +61 2 9805 2739 or via email at
AntiCounterfeit@canon.com.au.
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