Walmart Turns A Blind Eye To Counterfeits

Walmart joins the e-Commerce Counterfeit Marketplace

November 1, 2017, Los Angeles, CA – Walmart's push to capture a portion of the exploding e-commerce marketplace has exposed it to the same deceptive and dishonest dealings occurring on Amazon and eBay - counterfeit products.

Unknown to many consumers, Walmart also allows global third-party sellers to list and sell just about anything on its website. Counterfeit products appear right alongside authentic items conveying Walmart's endorsement and the illusion they are from Walmart. Walmart is both a direct seller of counterfeit products, and allows third-party sellers to list and sell counterfeits despite complaints.

The Counterfeit Report, a consumer advocate and industry watchdog, found hundreds of counterfeit products on Walmart's website and submitted dozens of complaints, authorized by the trademark holders, to remove the counterfeit items. The Counterfeit Report also purchased counterfeit products from Walmart as direct seller, and from Walmart's third party sellers.

Inconceivably;

• Some items were removed, yet months later, others still remain.
• Walmart refused refunds for confirmed counterfeit product purchases.
• Walmart customer service had no consistent response in handling counterfeit inquiries or how to report counterfeits.
• Promises from Walmart staffers for removal of counterfeits products, and commitments for telephonic follow-ups from Walmart management were simply lip service.
• Emails directed to Walmart's legal department were acknowledged but went unanswered.

For example; the microSDHC^® trademark is owned by SD-3C, LLC, who licenses its registered trademarks to authentic, conforming micro SD products. In simple terms, there is no authentic 64GB microSDHC^® product in the microSDHC standard, or any licensed manufacturer's authentic product line.

The Counterfeit Report purchased the inarguably counterfeit 64GB microSDHC^® computer memory cards below on Walmart’s website and submitted 27 complaints to remove the fake items. One item remains listed despite the complaints and calls to Walmart management.

Could you identify the fake microSD^® and microSDHC^® memory cards below offered on Walmart.com? If you can't, you just bought a fake. None of the items below exist in the Secure Digital (SD) standard, or any licensed manufacturer's authentic product line, yet after repeated complaints, they are all still sold on Walmart.

Consumers cannot determine the actual memory capacity of a counterfeit memory card by simply viewing the capacity displayed on their computer, phone or camera. The counterfeiters are too smart for that, and simply overwrite the real memory capacity with a false capacity to match any capacity they print on the counterfeit packaging and card. Actual capacity may be much less than shown on the product and when reached, exiting data may be overwritten and lost.

The removable microSD memory storage card is an amazing, convenient and trouble-free storage device. When it works, it is unnoticed. When you get a fake, it will be the very core of your frustration, despair and pain – your data will likely disappear and your equipment may be damaged.

Companies that facilitate criminal activity and profit from dishonest sales which impact consumer safety, jobs and public trust create a public perception of deception and impunity. However, their reputation damage is only a small part of the problem: the value of counterfeit and pirated goods is forecast to grow to $2.8 trillion, and cost 5.4 million net job losses¹ by 2022, while manufacturer's brand integrity is tarnished or destroyed.

Consumers who purchase counterfeits online receive little if any value in return, yet are supporting terrorists and other criminals while destroying U.S. jobs.

Footnote:
¹ THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF COUNTERFEITING AND PIRACY
The report was prepared for The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC BASCAP) and The International Trademark Association (INTA)
January 2017
Frontier Economics, Ltd.