Mr. John Moir, Samsung Country Manager
June 3rd 2014 Samsung Botswana has made a concerted effort to educate consumers on the importance of buying genuine Samsung devices as opposed to cheaper knock-offs or even ‘grey’ products.
Said Mr. John Moir, Country Manager, Samsung Botswana, “When you buy a Genuine Samsung device, you enjoy the benefits of comprehensive device protection. Registered devices, unlike the cheaper knock off or even grey varieties, are covered by a 24-month warranty to give the consumer peace of mind. You can simply walk into any Samsung authorized seller or store and your warranty, as long as it is still valid, will save you time and money in the event of a problem with your device.”
Part of the wider international Buy Genuine campaign, the project aims to emphasise the benefits and added value of buying genuine Samsung brand products. Consumers are being taught the importance of buying genuine, as well as how to tell whether your Samsung product is genuine.
The Buy Genuine campaign follows such local efforts against fake phones, as with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) 2013 campaign, noting the various penalties and fines incurred to retailers of the so called “fong kong” phones. BOCRA had previously warned mobile phone dealers that it is clamping down on the sale of counterfeit and uncertified handsets, having said that selling fake phones after August 31 2013 could land the dealer with fines of up to P2 million (US$228,000) and/or jail terms of up to 10 years (Section 84 of the CRA, 2012).
In line with this effort, Samsung continues to advise customers to check that all handsets purchased contain a unique IMEI. In order to register your device and verify that it does not have the cloned serial numbers often used in counterfeit phones, Botswana mobile phone users simply SMS “REG*IMEI#” to the number 16776.
“There are a number of clear and simple ways to ensure you have peace of mind that your phone is genuine, and which allow you to enjoy the benefits of that fact. It’s as easy as verifying the quality, as anything less than 100% quality will not give you satisfaction; and verifying the price, as what may seem like a bargain can often be a con that isn’t worth wasting your money on,” Moir commented. “In addition, verify the service, as after sales service and warranties only come from authorised resellers.”
Moir further noted that additional advantages of buying genuine include the fact that certain devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5 offer even greater benefits. This includes Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH), which covers screen and liquid damage repairs to your device. Moreover, the recently launched Kleeks music service allows users to enjoy exclusive playlists free of charge.
“We want to educate and empower consumer to make the right, genuine, choice so they may reap the rewards of that decision whilst contributing meaningfully to legitimate economic returns,” he concluded.
