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17,000 "fake" watches in Dubai

Q5?

Q5?

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http://www.arabianbusiness.com/17-000-fake-watches-seized-in-dubai-home-444950

Nearly 17,000 fake watches were seized as part of a raid on an apartment in Dubai, following an investigation by a trade association representing Swiss watch manufacturers.
In a bid to crack down on the supply of fake watches into Europe, the Bern-based Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FSWI) sent investigators to Dubai to track down those involved in the manufacturing of counterfeit timepieces.
“New investigators were put on the case, using more direct and invasive methods,” the FSWI said. “In just a few weeks, our men discovered an assembly workshop run by Chinese nationals, concealed in a private apartment. The police raid seized nearly 17,000 fake Swiss watches... a major breakthrough,” it added.
Owners of designer clothing stores, gaming distributors and music shops in Dubai have for a long time called for better regulation to tackle the ongoing issue of piracy and counterfeit products in the emirate.

Companies say their revenues are taking a hit where imports of counterfeit goods go undetected, dropping anywhere between 20 and 60 percent due to lower sales.

“Piracy and counterfeit products for DVDs and music is a big issue in the UAE as it negatively impacts sales for retailers,” said Varto Basmajian, music and video regional product manager at Virgin Megastore.
“Whilst this region has rules against counterfeit goods and piracy, these restrictions are not being reinforced at the level of severity that is needed in order to make a difference and bring the consumer back to the shop.
“It is difficult to measure the exact revenue loss, but we estimate it to be approximately 20-30 percent in our industry.”
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the music industry worldwide and has closed 300,000 illegal websites, is also missing in the Middle East, he said.
According to Dubai Customs data, authorities detected as many as 689 cases of intellectual property infringement in 2010, with the majority of smugglers using the airport to bring in counterfeit goods.
Shipments included anything from CDs, DVDs, shoes, clothes, telephones, baggage and watches, to construction equipment, car parts and food supplements.
In Dubai, stalls selling counterfeit designer clothes and accessories are rife in places such as Karama and the Bur Dubai.
 
B

BADWIN BING

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So now we know why PT has took such a bashing. All of his watches were in an apartment in Dubai. :whistle:
 
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txrob779

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wow that kinda explains "the factory" thing to the noobs....means "in an apartment.
 
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jstreit

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They have always been made in apartment or small rental units because its too risky to have an actual factory. I would have thought that they would choose a cheaper place to do business and a country that's not a police state but that's just me lol.
 
ShiroTenshi

ShiroTenshi

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"Companies say their revenues are taking a hit where imports of counterfeit goods go undetected, dropping anywhere between 20 and 60 percent due to lower sales."

Ahh its all that BS again, we all know that most people who buy counterfeit branded goods will never buy/cannot afford the gen in the first place so there isnt any revenue lost.
Its more like AFTER owning the fake thing that people wants the REAL thing, like a free marketing.

I never knew of brands call Panerai, Jaeger, VC before I came into this forum.

DVD/CD of movies and softwares are otherwise though.
 
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arcadia

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Another good example that bigger rep businesses are actually out there, not just in our forums.
 
trailboss99

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Ok, for starters none of those watches were headed for the EU. It just goes to show the big brands have NFI about the business. All of them would have been for sale in the local souks to guest workers. All would have cheap CCC grade crap, there are no good reps in Dubai as all are priced for poor Africans and tourists. Every rep I have seen come out of there is canal st quality or the cheapest of forum grade at least. claiming 17k is an "important breakthrough" is a load of bulldust. Walk thru any souk in Dubai and you will see 10s of 1000s on sale. This guy simply forgot to make his bribe payment.


Another good example that bigger rep businesses are actually out there, not just in our forums.
Click to expand...
Well I'm sure the dealers/factories got a huge laugh out of that statement. You are lucky Robert isn't around any longer :)

"Just in our forums"? I keep telling you guys, we are nothing! We are the tip of the iceberg. The tip of the tip. Even for the high end stuff like NF and HF we are a small portion of their trade (most high end is sold locally to Chinese market). And compared to the main trade in the Canal St stuff we are but a mote in the eye of the rep monster. Container loads of reps leave GZ every day for Africa and the Middle East, 10s of millions of them a year. Even Robert sold 100s of 1000s of watches a year and less than 3000 or so of those were thru the forums. The rest were wholesaled into Russia and Eastern Europe. We simply were his form of entertainment (just like the rest of us) and a source of some play money.

Please try to understand, we are not important to anyone but a handful of bit player dealers. To the trade in general we are jack shit.
 
A

arcadia

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trailboss99 said:
"Just in our forums"? I keep telling you guys, we are nothing! We are the tip of the iceberg. The tip of the tip. Even for the high end stuff like NF and HF we are a small portion of their trade (most high end is sold locally to Chinese market). And compared to the main trade in the Canal St stuff we are but a mote in the eye of the rep monster. Container loads of reps leave GZ every day for Africa and the Middle East, 10s of millions of them a year.

Please try to understand, we are not important to anyone but a handful of bit player dealers. To the trade in general we are jack shit.
Click to expand...

BINGO!!! This is a very big dangerous international business. While we are worrying about CGs and rehaut, they are trading millions.
 
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markh

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trailboss99 said:
Even for the high end stuff like NF and HF we are a small portion of their trade (most high end is sold locally to Chinese market).
Click to expand...

So you're saying there's even better stuff out there?!!?? Holy crap! How do we get some of that?!
 
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ajs914

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"Companies say their revenues are taking a hit where imports of counterfeit goods go undetected, dropping anywhere between 20 and 60 percent due to lower sales."

At least for high end Swiss watches, I don't buy this argument one bit. The fact that there are Rolex reps just makes Rolex that much more desirable of a product. If anything, the likes of Invicta and Seiko are losing money because we are buying reps and not their $100 watches.
 
ShiroTenshi

ShiroTenshi

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ajs914 said:
"Companies say their revenues are taking a hit where imports of counterfeit goods go undetected, dropping anywhere between 20 and 60 percent due to lower sales."

At least for high end Swiss watches, I don't buy this argument one bit. The fact that there are Rolex reps just makes Rolex that much more desirable of a product. If anything, the likes of Invicta and Seiko are losing money because we are buying reps and not their $100 watches.
Click to expand...

Exactly my point.:lol:
 
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wolfwood

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Wait, so it is possible that there is a village in Africa where every man, woman and child could be wearing a bling bling Rollie?! :biglaugh:
 
trailboss99

trailboss99

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markh said:
So you're saying there's even better stuff out there?!!?? Holy crap! How do we get some of that?!
Click to expand...
Well I meant that most of the sort of stuff we buy gets sold into China rather than exported but yes there is better.

You should have seen some of the stuff Robert used to sell to his wholesale clients. You think the current Pams are good? These were much better. So good I'd say you could fool an AD. The same goes for Hublots, some Pateks (not the dress ones), Rolex and a few other brands. Almost perfect. Picture them being the quality of the 1500 dollar Cartier. Yes, that good or better.

"Well" You say "why didn't he sell them to us?" Because he knew full well that if he did some winging asshat would find fault and complain that his new 1800 dollar watch was not the same as the 8 to 15k gen. He decided that the agro was not worth his while.

If you want to see the very best go have a look at jeweleryandwatch.com
Everything there starts at 5k or so.



wolfwood said:
Wait, so it is possible that there is a village in Africa where every man, woman and child could be wearing a bling bling Rollie?! :biglaugh:
Click to expand...

Nope but in the towns yes. Africa is by far the largest consumer of fake watches and designer goods.
 
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