Hand-carried goods, a familiar term to Vietnamese consumers, are often associated with "imported" products that bring a sense of good quality and reasonable price. However, the reality is much more complex, and the existence of hand-carried goods entails many consequences, especially for official distributors.
What Are Hand-Carried Goods? Distinguishing Between Hand-Carried Goods and Genuine Goods
Hand-carried goods, basically, are products purchased from abroad and brought to Vietnam through unofficial routes, usually by flight attendants or individuals returning from overseas.
The main differences between hand-carried goods and genuine goods:
- Import Route: Genuine goods are imported directly by authorized distributors, fully complying with customs regulations and paying import taxes. In contrast, hand-carried goods often "bypass" these regulations.
- Certification Documents: Genuine goods come with full certification documents of origin and product quality. Hand-carried goods often lack clear documentation or have ambiguous papers.
- Warranty: Genuine goods are usually warranted by the official distributor in Vietnam. Hand-carried goods often do not have any warranty or are warranted according to the seller's own policy, posing risks for buyers.
The Downside of Hand-Carried Goods and Their Impact on Official Distributors
Although seemingly attractive in terms of price, hand-carried goods bear many risks:
- Quality Control Issues: The unclear origin and transport process make it difficult to control the quality of hand-carried goods. Consumers risk buying counterfeit or substandard products.
- Health Risks: Especially with cosmetics and dietary supplements, the health risks are significant when using hand-carried goods of unknown origin.
- No Official Warranty: Buyers of hand-carried goods do not receive support or warranty from the manufacturer when the product encounters issues.
For official distributors, hand-carried goods are a serious problem:
- Decreased Sales: Cheap hand-carried goods create unfair competition, leading to a decline in sales for official distributors.
- Brand Reputation Damage: Substandard hand-carried goods can damage the brand's reputation and image in the market.
- Market Management Difficulties: The existence of hand-carried goods complicates market control and the fight against counterfeit goods.
Solutions for Enterprises: Protecting the Brand with Lameco
So what should official distributors do to tackle the problem of hand-carried goods?
Brand protection is the optimal solution!
Lameco - A leading brand protection unit - provides comprehensive solutions to help enterprises:
- Monitor and Supervise the Market: Timely detect acts of trading in counterfeit, imitation, and hand-carried goods violating regulations.
- Violation Handling: Collaborate with authorities to thoroughly handle violations and protect the rights of enterprises.
- Enhance Consumer Awareness: Through communication campaigns, Lameco helps consumers better understand the harms of hand-carried goods, thereby choosing genuine products.
Contact Lameco today for detailed consultation on the brand protection services suitable for your business!