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Office Faux

Entrepreneur, August, 2000 by Ellen Paris

Most-imitated labels in 2000: Chanel, DKNY...and Xerox?

Bogus designer handbags, sunglasses and watches have always been big business. But what are the latest items to become hot black-market commodities? Think consumable supplies (print cartridges, and copier toner and developer). The imaging Supplies Coalition (www.isc-inc.org), a trade association of imaging-supply manufacturers, estimates the counterfeit market for these products has reached a rather shocking $1 billion per year.

Xerox Corp., for one, is taking an aggressive approach to thwarting crooks. To help consumers identify counterfeit supplies, Xerox's Web site (www.xerox.com/supplies) lists high-risk products. And the Imaging Supplies Coalition's "When in doubt, check it out" program invites consumers to send in suspect products to be checked for authenticity.

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It's easy to get taken; bogus products often look like the real thing, but you'll soon realize they're inferior. Remember the old adage: If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Ellen Paris is a Washington, DC, writer and former Forbes magazine staff writer.

Business Services Industry

Office Faux

Entrepreneur, August, 2000 by Ellen Paris

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