Chinese fake goods makers are bold, many have no respect for IP infringement and have seen fake milk, fake bags, fake golf clubs and even fake bicycles (fixed or foldables). Across the causeway, you could buy a pair of Beats audio headphones for a fraction of the cost of the real Dr Dre

In the recent Apple store crackdown in Kunming, the signs look real, the products look real and the staff all think they work for Steve Jobs – but this Apple store in China is a complete fake. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016885/Fake-Apple-store-China-convincing-staff-fooled.html#ixzz24OQX4fpb

In an article http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130381&page=1#.UDZuSqMkqSo, the writer reports “…Most of the Yamaha motorbikes here are not made by Yamaha. One-fourth of the Duracell and Energizer batteries are bogus. American Standard toilets, Head & Shoulders shampoo, Gillette razors and even reliable Skippy peanut butter are almost all of dubious quality. They even sell fake Viagra.

“Anything from shampoo that might burn your head, batteries that only work for two days before they cut out, light bulbs that go out after two days,” Scholz said.

Many of the auto parts made in China are unreliable, dangerous knockoffs of well-known international brands. The result is shoddy goods that often make their way around the globe. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-14503724

Why are we writing this post? Seems like there are people in Singapore trying to market non international ranged bikes from their homes or through classifieds. We have received emails and even seen people bring in their so called “Dahon Bullet” or “Dahon Formula “, “Dahon Dragon” and said that they were sold as bonafide International models. These are  sold in China for the  domestic market and you do not see it ranged by Dahon China even (Check out  http://www.dahon.com.cn, http://www.dahon.com or http://www.dahonbikes.com (You cannot find the models there).  Typically, these sources will only sell through website links, will refuse to issue receipts and even point you to markings on the boxes with infringed local trademarks and so called bar codes just to convince you it’s alright. The other trick they do is to have hidden statements in the invoice that says X days warranty and goods sold are not refundable in small fine print.

Dahon offers in country warranty (Currently 5 years) on frame and folding joints through authorised dealers so ask how you are going to get support should the frame or folding joint has a defect.

Even if  you are riding at speeds of 15km/h, a malfunction part like brake controls or cracked welding joints can cause bad injuries to yourself.  This situation is not peculiar to Dahon. There has been recent increased in such activities for other brands.

While we cannot stop people trying to “con-vince” money out of Singaporean’s growing love for folding bikes and a “good” deal, we can try to help you be an informed buyer. So please -  do your research, read up as much as you can, ask the questions and buy a  bike from authorised dealers. A fake LV bag or watch just malfunctions/fade -  a loss of face to the owner. Falling while riding a bike, it usually means loss of skin and lots of pain gained.

The Lemon Law will enhance protection for Consumers and Retailers. If you have been misled into buying one, go try and get back a refund and failing, you can report them to the authorities.

Lastly, we the right not to provide service and technical support for brands not ranged by us or models not  internationally endorsed by manufacturers. We just do not have the necessary back to back support with the makers and working on these bikes that do not use parts that we are familiar with. Singapore is member of the Bern convention  and anyone marketing fake or IP infringed goods can land in jail or pay the fines or both. Both the Dahon logo and the Dahon word has been trademarked in Singapore and unauthorised use IS infringing Copyrights. Read more here http://www.singaporelaw.sg/content/iplaw2.html

So answers to your questions are in this post. If you happen to have one, do not pass the problem by selling it away, not really fair to the buyer who thinks they bought a real Dahon.