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top of doulton filter with code and numbers

Fakes, Copies & Counterfeits - Is My Doulton Water Filter Authentic?

przez Terri Lowe W News

As a Made in Britain brand with manufacturing facilities in Staffordshire, UK, Doulton is deeply committed to the authenticity of every product we create. As our ceramic water filters continue to be enjoyed around the globe, it’s no surprise that others are trying to replicate what we’ve perfected over more than 200 years.

Over time we have noticed an increasing number of counterfeit Doulton and British Berkefeld products emerging.

To counterfeit means to imitate something. Imitation products are unauthorised replicas of real products. A fake item that has been produced with the intention of taking advantage of the superior value of the original product.

Many items can be copied nowadays, and the results are startling. Forgeries range from currency and documents to pharmaceuticals, car parts, toys, watches, and works of art. You name it and it can almost certainly be copied.

The illegal production of fake, bootleg, pirated, or counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime. Manufacturers lose billions of pounds in income every year, which impacts local jobs and the economy. Even more disturbingly, many counterfeit consumer products are known for their lower quality (sometimes completely non-functional) and may even contain toxic elements.

So, how can you be cautious of counterfeits and ensure that your Doulton products are authentic?

The spread of counterfeit goods has become global recently, and the range of goods subject to being unlawfully copied and sold on the cheap has increased significantly. Despite the Trading Standards Departments (and their counterparts across the world) constantly shutting down websites, seizing goods and prosecuting offenders, the problem persists.

One positive solution is product authentication. Authentication is vital if customers and manufacturers alike are to gain not only peace of mind but also the benefits of high-quality, genuine products.

What is Authentication?

To help distinguish originals from counterfeits, copyright holders now use methods such as the use of serial numbers and/or holograms to establish the origin of their goods and distinctive and inimitable marks and systems designed to confirm ownership and provenance.

Being able to positively identify an item as genuine enables potential customers to gain some peace of mind alongside the knowledge that their money has been well spent.

How are Doulton water filter candles authenticated?

We use a unique identification number on all filter candles, allowing the customer to easily check that what they have bought is the genuine article. It only takes a few seconds and a few simple steps.

illustration of top of doulton filter with numbers and codes to check authenticity

On the mount of each candle, alongside the product number, is a unique serial number.

To verify this information, simply visit the Authentication Page on our website. Following the prompts and entering these numbers together will provide confirmation of the product's authenticity.

Why does it matter if your Doulton Water Filter is Authentic?

Doulton ceramic water filter systems are backed by stringent in-house quality control procedures. Accredited by BS EN ISO 9001 international quality standards, we also hold the coveted NSF and WRAS certifications on various products.

Our annual independent quality control audits and laboratory testing is ensures high performance in all manufacturing processes, product quality consistency and global customer service.

This high quality should be protected, not only for our company but for our customer too. Whilst other water filters may look the same, the quality and control of their production is simply not as stringent. Any manufacturer attempting to make the same water filters will not be able to complete the independent testing that our products go through.

How can you avoid buying counterfeit Doulton products?

The simplest solution is to always purchase from the Doulton website or a reputable distributor or marketplace in your country. From the Doulton website, we ship to a majority of mainland EU countries, and in locations such as the US, we have trusted partners. You can also shop with confidence on marketplaces such as Amazon if you check the original shop's listing before purchasing. 

If you ever need assistance with detecting the most reliable seller of our products, our customer service team is more than happy to help, too. Just pop them an email today or reach out on our contact page.

Tagi: Advice Product Verification

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