For businesses that rely on HP printers to keep their operations going, falling prey to poor-quality fakes can have negative consequences, especially when it comes to the continuous productivity, output, and reliability of their HP machines.

According to HP, counterfeit cartridges can cause damage to the HP printer hardware which could lead to downtimes of the company’s printing infrastructure that will disrupt workflows and output quality. Even more concerning, is how the company’s reputation can be put at risk because the purchase and distribution of counterfeit products is illegal.

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HP’s anti-counterfeit Customer Delivery Inspections (CDIs)

To address this, HP is now making available its Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud (ACF) Program Asia-Pacific through its Customer Delivery Inspections (CDIs), a way to protect businesses from purchasing fake products. Upon request, the HP ACF product experts will inspect large or medium-sized deliveries of printing supplies that are suspected to contain counterfeits. This is typically conducted at the customers’ premises or, on a case-to-case basis, and in light of the pandemic, done remotely as photo-based CDIs or virtual CDIs using video calls.

How to request an inspection

If the buyer notices suspicious bids in tenders or believes a delivery to contain suspicious products, a CDI can be easily requested. Simply accomplish and submit the CDI Request Form, which will then be subject to review by the HP ACF. If deemed actionable, a team will be sent immediately at the buyer’s convenience and at zero cost. HP strongly suggests that during this period, it’s best not to inform the supplier or to return any products. Postponing payments to the items bought is likewise highly recommended, when possible.

If the products on hand appear to be confirmed counterfeits after a thorough inspection, the team will then ask for the name of the supplier and a copy of the proof of purchase. In five working days, HP will send a Report of Findings either via email or a physical copy will be sent by courier, a valuable document that can be used to file a complaint against the supplier.

Purchase only from trusted vendors

As its way to further protect businesses from being short-changed and duped by unscrupulous suppliers, HP reminds businesses to only purchase authentic HP printing products from trusted vendors such as contracted HP partners, a complete list to which is available here. To learn more about counterfeiting and purchasing safely on the HP website, visit hp.com/anticounterfeit