Chamber of Commerce warns of counterfeit branded goods in holiday countries
Many holidaymakers are familiar with this situation: beach vendors in many countries offer all kinds of goods. At markets, bazaars and in small shops, supposedly branded goods are available at negotiable and reasonable prices. Most people are aware that these are often counterfeits, but greed for a bargain often wins out. The Chamber of Commerce warns. A cheap T-shirt with a brand logo from Mallorca, a luxury watch from the beach in Turkey or a perfectly imitated handbag from a street vendor in Paris: counterfeit goods are being sold in large quantities, especially as the holiday season begins. Souvenirs from holidays include supposedly branded clothing, handbags, sunglasses, watches and shoes. "The holiday season is the peak season for brand and product piracy - a business that hurts local entrepreneurs in particular and puts billions into the pockets of product counterfeiters," says Margarete Gumprecht, chairwoman of the trade division at the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. Although the bargain price counts for many holidaymakers, this is precisely the main approach. "Even if it is tempting, you should think twice before buying a fake handbag or sunglasses. The supposedly cheap goods are often only a bargain at first glance. Counterfeits not only damage the domestic economy and destroy jobs in our country, they are often cheap and produced under poor working conditions, of poor quality and not worth even the little money," says the trade chairwoman. If a product is only half as expensive or costs a third of the usual price, it is usually not genuine: "The perfume from a luxury brand or the luxury handbag from
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