DAMMAM, 28 May 2007 — A stroll through any of the Kingdom’s major shopping areas reveals a host of street sellers plying their wares that include all sorts of counterfeit items. The abundance of fake perfumes, cosmetics and aftershave leads one to think that the Kingdom has perhaps been flooded with such items, Al-Yaum newspaper reported.
Counterfeit perfumes may make one feel good, but in reality health experts say that such goods can cause serious illnesses such as skin cancer, allergies and skin inflammation. Experts say that most counterfeit perfumes contain extra amounts of alcohol, which are dangerous to people’s health.
“The local market is full of imitation perfumes. In fact, it has become pretty hard to find original items, which are only available in a few stores,” said Saudi shopper Saeed Muhammad Al-Suwailam. He added that the prices of counterfeit goods differ from one place to another.
“Early on, I bought some perfume for SR170 and then found it available at another store for only SR70. I called the Ministry of Commerce in Dammam to complain, but they said that they weren’t responsible for the prices. I wonder who is then?” he added.
“The authorities need to wake up and protect consumers from such harmful products. I believe that the media also has to play a role in confronting this problem,” he said.
Muhammad Al-Rehan, owner of a perfume store in Dammam, said: “Imitation products have become a widespread problem for a lot of countries. This is especially the case with regard to perfumes and cosmetics that have added chemicals that cause serious health complications.”
Speaking to people closely involved in the perfume and cosmetic industries, it does seem that local proxies that sell perfumes to retailers have monopolized the industry and charge retailers huge amounts of extra money. In turn, retailers focus on bringing counterfeit goods from the Far East, which are very similar to original items.
Al-Rehan said: “I don’t deal with fake perfumes and cosmetics. I only deal with proper branded goods. A lot of women want to buy counterfeit items but they shouldn’t.”
Naima Khalil Ziady, a local Saudi consumer, said: “I never buy counterfeit items. I always look for original items, regardless of how much they may cost. Fifteen years ago my father bought some cheap aftershave from a market in Dammam, which caused my younger brother to suffer pneumonitis (lung inflammation). He is still suffering from it.”
Zaid Rady Al-Owainy, an owner of a perfume store, said the local market is full of forged and imitated perfumes. “This is particularly the case with street sellers. These perfumes are bottled locally, and mixed with water and vegetable oils that increase their quantity and maintain their smells,” he said, adding that it is necessary for the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant government bodies to protect consumer rights.
“Prices of perfumes and cosmetics in other countries are less expensive than prices here. Prices in the Kingdom continue to increase without any particular reason. We need an official body like the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice to monitor the market and prevent traders from cheating consumers,” he said.
Fuad Salman Al-Khalifa, a consumer, said: “I bought perfume from a store in Dammam for SR220. I found the same item on sale in Alkhobar for only SR120. Later in Ahsa I found it available for SR55. I spoke to a seller and he told me that its original price is only SR25.”
He added: “The difference in prices is indicative of the lack of official monitoring of the market. We need an intensive campaign on the municipal level to get over this problem.”
Abdullah Saad Al-Deris, a Saudi consumer, said: “Forged perfumes have became widespread in the Saudi market. I was in Malaysia recently and bought some original men’s aftershave extremely cheap. When you compare them with the forged ones that we have here, we find these original items to be much cheaper and better. A year ago, I bought some imitation fragrance from a public market in Alkhobar. It caused me to develop some dark spots on my neck because of the increased amount of alcohol inside. I only managed to get rid of the marks through a four-hour cosmetic surgery operation.”
Al-Deris warned people against using such perfumes, saying they could lead to death. “My sister’s little baby died due to these fake perfumes. He had severe pneumonitis and died after two days. It would be better to not use any sort of perfume than use imitated and forged items.”
