It has come to our attention that there is a growing presence of counterfeit and grey Casio products within the South African market. We want to take a moment to clarify the distinction between these two categories and provide some guidance to ensure that you make informed purchasing decisions, particularly when shopping on online marketplaces and e-commerce websites such as Takealot.

Counterfeit Products (Fake):

Counterfeit Casio products are not genuine Casio items; they are unauthorised replicas that attempt to mimic the Casio brand's products. These counterfeits lack the quality, reliability, and warranty support associated with genuine Casio products. Purchasing counterfeit goods not only compromises your experience but also undermines the integrity of the Casio brand.

Parallel Imported Products:

Parallel-imported Casio products are authentic Casio items; however, they have not been officially imported by the authorised agent of the country. While these products are genuine, they will still come with a comprehensive warranty and after-sales support that official products enjoy. Parallel imported products are perfectly legal to sell in SA but a retailer or website must state when a product is a parallel imported product - it is at the clients discretion whether to purchase the product in question product or not.

Warranties: If a parallel imported product does not come with an international product warranty, the item will need to be sent back to the source for repair or replacement. However, local brand agents will need to honour products which come with an international warranty.

How to check for a  genuine Casio product:

To ensure that you are purchasing genuine Casio products with the full backing of a Casio agent, we recommend the following:

1. Check for Authenticity: Inspect the product for authenticity markers such as holographic labels, packaging quality, and product details. If something seems off or inconsistent with genuine Casio items, exercise caution.

2. Warranty Information: Inquire about warranty coverage when making a purchase. Official Casio products should come with a manufacturer's warranty provided by an authorised agent.

3. Customer Reviews: Read reviews and feedback from other customers when shopping online. Legitimate products tend to have positive reviews, while counterfeit items may have negative or suspicious comments.

4. Report Suspicious Listings: If you come across potentially counterfeit Casio products on e-commerce platforms, report them to the platform and the official agent in South Africa.

5. Beware of website offering low pricing: Casio as a brand has a specific price point for their products. If you come across a website or retailer offering extreme discounts or low prices this could be a cause for concern.

Fake site alert - Casiosouthafrica.com

Please note that casiosouthafrica.com is a fake website trying to steal your funds or credit card details. An easy way to work out if a site is a scam or not - generally a  physical address or working contact number cannot be found on the website and the domain would not be a .co.za. Scam websites also advertise products at massive discounts in order to attract unsuspecting clients. Do not be fooled ... once you have placed an order, no goods will be send out to you.

Can agents/distributors prevent stores from offering parallel products?

The answer to this question is - no ...

It is illegal to threaten parallel sellers with legal action or refusing to supply them if they are clearly stating the fact that displayed products are in fact parallel. Distributors have attempted to threaten parallel importers with supply disruptions or legal action but this is illegal practice according to the consumer protection act and this action needs to be reported to the commission.

The commission promotes competition and the offering of the best prices for the public - if distributors are trying to keep margins high for themselves, this is not in the best interests of the general public. If you are a retailer in this situation, request that your supplier provide reasons in writing to you why they are refusing to supply you and ask the consumer commission for guidance.

Consumers have the right to purchase any products which they wish to purchase and at a price at which they are willing to pay as long as they are presented with the relevant information.

We value your trust and satisfaction with Casio products. By following these guidelines, you can minimise the risk of purchasing counterfeit goods. We remain committed to delivering quality, authentic Casio products through our authorised channels.

Thank you for your continued support, and please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.