The growing concern of counterfeit toys was announced today as a key factor contributing to the decrease of UK toy sales.
It was revealed at the 65th Toy Fair in London today that UK toy sales had decreased by 2.8% in 2017 to £3.4bn.
Several key factors were suggested to have contributed to the dip in the market, which follows three consecutive years of growth.
Factors included under-performing licenses and the impact on Sterling following Brexit, in addition to the ever-growing concern of counterfeit toys, according to the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) and the NPD Group.
BTHA director of public affairs and communications, Natasha Crookes, said: ‘The increasing breadth and depth of counterfeit toys is a real concern, with more than £400m worth of sales being lost to the industry, as well as the cost to companies from the theft of innovative design.’
How can you tell if your toy is fake?
If the toy you’ve bought is suspiciously cheap, that’s often a sign that it’s a counterfeit good. Fake deals sold at too good to be true prices often are just that.
If you haven’t yet bought a toy but are considering it, make sure you check the packaging by researching the product you’re intending to buy and looking out for distinguishing marks or logos when it arrives.
Watch out if you’re buying from outside the UK, especially if you’re buying online or from an online marketplace.
Read our guide for more detailed tips on spotting a fake or counterfeit good.
Report fake or counterfeit toys
If you’re concerned you may have a fake or counterfeit good, there are steps you can take to get things resolved.
A trader may have committed a criminal offence by selling you fake goods or by giving you a false description of the goods, so you may be entitled to a refund or exchange.
You can report it to a range of organisations who can help you to take action against the seller of the fake goods and get a refund.