COUNTERFEITS: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -WOLFF'S FLEA MARKET

COUNTERFEITS FAQ
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

We are not lawyers, and this is not legal advice. Information here is gathered from our experience and ongoing research. Counterfeits are not allowed at Wolff's Flea Market. 
Vendors are responsible for monitoring their own merchandise.

More Questions?     Call or text 847-524-9590     wolffs.com 
Originally published May 2015
Edited 11/17/16, 3/7/2017, 5/5/18, 2/19/2020, 4/4/2023, 3/9/2025

WHAT IS A COUNTERFEIT? 

Counterfeit products are illegal fake copies of real products. 

People knowingly or unknowingly buy or sell counterfeits. Other related terms: fake, copy, replica, forgery, knock-off, bootleg, pirated, unlicensed, trademark infringement, trademark dilution, look-alike.

                                            
IS THERE A LAW? 

The Lanham Trademark Act is the federal law prohibiting counterfeits. It bans the use of: copied pictures, words, symbols, logos, etc. except to original trademark owners. This law protects brands and their intellectual property.

WHY DON’T YOU ALLOW COUNTERFEITS? 

We strive to uphold the law and maintain our market as a legitimate shopping venue. Flea markets, small businesses, online sellers and individuals have been held liable for counterfeits! No one wants that!

WHO CARES? 

We care because counterfeit products are illegal, deceptive and poor quality. Brand owners, legal firms, US Customs, and other governmental agencies send investigators into flea markets to raid, arrest and sue individuals and market owners. Additionally, stores, individuals, mall kiosks, wholesalers, importers, manufacturers, websites and street vendors are also routinely busted and/or sued. Unfortunately, counterfeiting continues.

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE COUNTERFEITED? 

In one word: EVERYTHING. Every brand and type of item is vulnerable. Trendy and expensive items are highly desirable and fall prey to counterfeiting over and over again. Each season we research and try to predict the "Watchlist". Hello Kitty (Sanrio) and shoe charms have been frontrunners for several years. 

WHAT DOES “CONFUSINGLY SIMILAR” MEAN? 

Counterfeiters may create an item with a pattern, logo or packaging design that closely resembles the real product and causes you at first or second glance to associate it as authentic. 

The brand's brand name or logo may not actually be present, but pattern, color combination, packaging, wording, etc. may be very similar. So be mindful if your product looks like another one. Example: "Apple's White Boxes" vs copied white boxes with similar (yet fake) AirPod images. Other terms: trademark dilution.

#3 IS REAL. THE OTHER PATTERNS
 ARE CONFUSINGLY SIMILAR/DILUTED 
AND BANNED.

WHY DO STORES SELL “COMPARE TO” ITEMS IN SIMILAR BOXES? 

Comparative advertising is legal in the US if the item is “clearly identified, truthful, and non-deceptive" (wikipedia). However, we occasionally see lawsuits between companies. Read more here.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE “PARODY” T-SHIRTS & CRAFTED TUMBLERS? 

We currently do not allow parody (also known as altered logo or mash up designs) merchandise. You cannot sell an item that even uses 1 portion of a copyright or trademark. Example: A shirt with Blackhawk's -like feathers that doesn't use the whole team logo. This is a subjective and gray area of ongoing research. 

COME ON, IT’S A FLEA MARKET, PEOPLE DON’T EXPECT TO FIND THE REAL THING HERE! 

It is illegal to sell counterfeits, wherever you are. We work hard to maintain our reputation for offering legitimate goods and NOT counterfeits. #afakeisafake

AREN'T THERE BIGGER PROBLEMS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN COUNTERFEITS? LIKE DRUGS AND WEAPONS?

True that illegal dangerous drugs and weapons are bad and should be stopped! But counterfeits pose a problem as well for all the other reasons listed in this article. They may also fund other illicit businesses.

WHAT IF I TELL THE BUYER IT IS COUNTERFEIT? 

It is illegal to sell counterfeit merchandise. #afakeisafake

BUT THE CUSTOMER DOESN’T CARE AND WANTS IT. 

It is illegal to sell counterfeit merchandise. We recognize that the counterfeit industry is fueled by consumer demand for look-alike, cheap, trendy products. #againafakeisafake

WHAT IF IT IS ONLY ONE ITEM? 

It is illegal to sell counterfeit merchandise. Did you know that several trademarks or patents may apply to only one item? #youknowitafakeisafake

Example: Crocs owns the patent (design) of their Jibbitz. Therefore, you cannot sell those generic shoe charms.

WHAT IF I DIDN’T KNOW? 

Well, now you know (because we made you listen ad nauseum), so put it away and we will probably be cool. But repeat offenders may be ejected from the market. 99% of our vendors choose to be educated and safe. However other vendors have been permanently ejected over the years for selling counterfeits.

WHAT IF IT IS USED? 

It is illegal to sell counterfeit merchandise, NEW or USED.

WHAT ABOUT “THAT GUY” OVER THERE WHO IS SELLING IT? 

If you see someone selling banned merchandise, please give us a space number and we will check it out. You may do this anonymously by texting 847-524-9590.  But please don't send us on a futile search to a vague or non-existent location.

CAN I JUST SELL IT TODAY? 

NO. It is illegal to sell counterfeits. 

CUSTOMS AND PORTS OF ENTRY
 (click on photo to read small prin

WHY WAS I ABLE TO BUY THESE COUNTERFEITS TO BEGIN WITH? 

We enforce our own rules, and cannot answer for the manufacturer, importer, store, guy, other market, website or wholesaler where you bought the counterfeit item(s). 

Unfortunately, even when vendors make good faith efforts in asking their source about the legitimacy of their purchase, they may be told that it is "ok", when it is in fact counterfeit. 

Counterfeiting is a worldwide problem that is not limited to flea markets. Only a fraction of products are stopped at ports of entry. Some components separately enter the country through regular mail and are assembled into counterfeits here.

A COUNTERFEIT MICHAEL KORS EMBLEM
WAS PLACED ON A CHEAP BLANK YELLOW PURSE

Arrests can and do happen, so we need to stop it HERE and NOW.

WHAT IS WOLFF’S DOING TO STOP COUNTERFEITS? 
We have a 3 part program: Prevention-Intervention-Education (PIE).
We conduct ongoing research.
We monitor hundreds of vulnerable brands and licenses. We do not allow certain highly counterfeited brands: Coach, Louis Vuitton, MAC, Beats by Dre, Otterbox, Gucci, Chanel, KatVonD, Kylie and potentially others.
We monitor Homeland Security's categories of merchandise: Apparel/Accessories, Footwear, Watches/Jewelry, Handbags/Wallets, Consumer Electronics, Consumer Products, Pharmaceuticals/Personal Care, Optical Media (music, movies), Toys, Computer/Accessories.
We analyze products according to many parameters.
We use hands-on training with photos and items to teach staff and vendors about counterfeits.
We vigilantly patrol our markets. 

HOW DOES YOUR POLICY PROTECT US? Our policy keeps customers from making fraudulent purchases, prevents vendors from arrest and protects the flea market from vicarious liability lawsuits for allowing counterfeit sales. Flea market raids occur all around the country. Designers Coach, Louis Vuitton and UGG have won millions of dollars from lawsuits against flea market owners.
Vendor arrests: NY, IL, WI, IN, TX, FL, MO, KY, SC, MA, CT, NC
Coach: Swap Shop, FL ($5.5M), Visitors Flea Market, FL ($42M/bankruptcy), New Hampshire, Chicago, 
Louis Vuitton: Eisenhauer, TX ($3.6M), Swap Shop, FL (undisclosed, but over $5.5M)

WHAT CAN I DO AS A CONSUMER? Thanks for asking! Your best tool is to 
educate yourself! Subscribe to "Google Alerts" for topics related to counterfeits. Be
aware of popular trends and brands. 

                        Questions?    Call or Text  847-524-9590     wolffs.com