Blocking counterfeit household appliances on the German market
For a manufacturer from Podlasie, we tracked down and withdrew 482 units of counterfeit mixers within 14 days of reporting.
A manufacturer from Białystok was losing margin due to dishonest sellers from Berlin and Hamburg. They were trading cheap copies of his flagship mixer on auction platforms. We entered the game to clean up the market and secure the brand against further losses. We speak plainly about the law.
The challenge
The company TechnoDom noticed an 18.4% drop in sales in Germany in the first quarter of 2024. Seven new accounts appeared on Amazon.de and eBay offering the 'TechnoMix' model under an almost identical name. The price was 40% lower than the original. Counterfeits had faulty motors, which threatened to destroy the Polish company's reputation built over 9 years. The client didn't know how to hit the foreign scammers without spending a fortune on German law firms.
Our approach
Our team started with a controlled purchase. We bought 3 copies from different suppliers to have hard evidence in writing. We confirmed the infringement of the trademark registered in EUIPO. Instead of writing long essays, we prepared specific cease and desist letters (so-called Abmahnung). We used Amazon Brand Registry procedures and the VeRO system on eBay, which allowed for a quick reaction without waiting for court decisions.
The solution
We filed official technical complaints supported by patent documentation. Simultaneously, we directly hit the two largest distributors storing goods in Germany. We demanded immediate product withdrawal and the source of supplies. We checked the paragraphs while the client could focus on production. Without fluff, we led to the removal of all auctions in the second week of actions.
Results
Within 14 days, we blocked all 7 sales accounts offering counterfeits. The market was cleared, and original sales returned to normal within the next 3 weeks. The client avoided expensive processes before the court in Munich.
Timeline
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March 4, 2024Controlled purchase and technical analysis of counterfeits from Amazon.de.
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March 11, 2024Reporting violations through Amazon Brand Registry and eBay VeRO systems.
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March 18, 2024Sending pre-trial summons to German distributors.
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April 2, 2024Signing settlements and confirmation of destruction of goods stock.
"I was afraid that the fight in Germany would take years and consume the budget. Business Precision handled the matter in two weeks. We recovered customers who bought counterfeits thinking it was our goods."