Beware Counterfeit Products

Hi all,As you know, Jeff and I are actively testing Aura and Abba products which are Aveda copies. However, there are cases where products are actually sold as counterfeits.I wanted to share some information on counterfeit hair care products that I have recently read about to warn all of you of the dangers.In 1997 ARTec hair care products were being sold as counterfeits at the CVS and Genovese drug store chains.ARTec actually brought in the FBI and private investigators to catch the counterfeiters. Joseph Zingale, New York City Beauty Supply Inc and Moshe Wolberger, Barry Kossoff, L&B Beauty and Duane Reade Corporation were all cited in the counterfeiting suit by ARTec. Although others were involved, they settled with ARTec out of court to protect publication of their names.Why are hair care products counterfeited? ARTec explained that when hair salon product sales are large, often products become diverted through industy disloyal distributors and some disloyal salons.NOTE: No counterfeit ARTec products were actually found in any salons though. They were only found in the drug store chains cited above.Any popular hair care product (Aveda, Matrix) is a potential target to be counterfeited.How do you the hair care consumer protect yourself?Know who you buy your hair care products from. It is best to buy from a certified salon or shop that you trust or that advertises the name product.Aveda created the Aveda Concept Salons to guard against products being sold inappropriately. Other products have followed that trend to protect the hair consumer from getting a product that is fake.One of the key dangers of counterfeiting is the health hazard that tainted products can represent. The ARTec counterfeit was discovered by a consumer that found a bottle of ARTec Kiwi shampoo that had a typographical error on the label. That sent out warning bells.ARTec actually took the Kiwi shampoo product and had it analyzed to discover that is was a fake.If you buy your favorite hair care product and it looks a little strange for some reason (typographical errors on the label, different label or a label that just looks different) be careful. Also, if you find it at a greatly reduced price you should be concernedCounterfeit products will often smell a little different than the real thing since the formula is not the same. Cheaper ingredients will often be used.ARTec has publicly released press releases promising a commitment to protectint the integrity of its professional product line.Beware and keep your eyes and noses open and you will avoid the danger of purchasing a counterfeit hair care product.Be careful.Karen

Yes..Jennifer is correct about this.I have had this happen to me where I bought some Aveda at a big name drug chain and the Blue Malva had been diluted so that the color was very light blue instead of deep blue. The product did not sudse like I was used to and it smelled different.I sent the bottle to Aveda and they confirmed it had been watered down. I was stuck because the drug store denied it and Aveda could not do anything becuase I had not bought if from a certified Aveda distributor.Be careful.Sherri> Also I've read in a few places that drugstores> and grocery store chains often sell diverted products> that aren't counterfeit, but are the real product,> only diluted to stretch over more bottles. The> sad thing is that many times these products cost> MORE than if you'd just bought them in a salon.>> -jennifer