How to Recognize Fake Branded Tools Sold Online
Whether you’re looking for tools for yourself or gifting to others as a gift, you’re probably keeping an eye on sales and specials, especially over the next week or so. But, unfortunately, not all tools sold on the Internet are as advertised.
According to Tom Scalisi in an article for BobVila.com , there is a persistent fake tool ransomware that you should be aware of – not only during the holiday season, but during the rest of the year. Here’s how to spot fakes.
How a fake tool racket works
It usually starts with targeted ads on Facebook or Google offering incredible discounts on tools from well-known brands like DeWalt and Milwaukee. We are talking about serious discounts, Scalisi said , such as products advertised for a quarter or even one-eighth of their retail price.
But in almost all of these situations, the tools come from fake online retailers posing as DeWalt and Milwaukee outlets. And while the tools they sell may look like the originals, they don’t meet the same quality standards and may not be safe to use. Or, according to Scalisi, in some cases, the entire fake point of sale is a scam and customers don’t get any tools at all (because there aren’t any).
How to recognize fake branded tools
Here’s what Scalisi advises to look out for when buying tools online:
- Seller name. If you don’t buy tools directly from the toolmaker’s own website, make sure the online store is an authorized retailer of that brand, even if they have hypothetically legitimate names such as Milwaukee Tool Outlet or Dewalt Tools. “
- More information can be found on the tool manufacturer’s website. These fake tool retailers are becoming so prevalent that some companies, like DeWalt , have sections on their websites to help consumers determine if the tool they have purchased is genuine.
- Check out retail prices for tools. Before you start shopping, check the actual prices of the tools, as well as the usual discounts offered during the sale. So if a brand is offering a 20% discount on tools during the best sale of the year and you see that they are offered at a 70% discount at the alleged “point of sale,” it’s probably a scam.
- Check reviews. Look for product reviews when browsing a store website that is possibly fake. Obviously, if everyone leaves comments that this is a fake website and a scam, then avoid it. But a website or product with no reviews is also a red flag.