Deceptive Marketing Practices in Household Chemical Products
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Initial Purchase Experience: The problem began with a common purchase on Allegro, where the girlfriend bought "German" cleaning chemicals. Initially, the product seemed normal, but it soon became clear it wasn't performing as expected (poor foaming, ineffective cleaning).
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Product Packaging Analysis:
- German Flag and Language: The product prominently displayed a German flag and the phrase "Neue Qualität" (new quality). All descriptions, warnings (Achtung), and even the product code (starting with 426, typical for German products, unlike Polish codes starting with 590) were in German.
- "Made in EU" Deception: A small, German-language notice stated "Produced in EU" instead of "Made in Germany." The lack of a specific manufacturer's name, coupled with a German importer's address, raised suspicions.
- True Origin Revealed: An online search revealed the product (Power Wash) was manufactured by a Polish company near Częstochowa.
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Public Perception Survey: Interviews with several people showed that the packaging successfully misled consumers into believing the product was German due to the flag, language, and perceived German quality.
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Widespread Deceptive Practices:
- Other "German" Brands: Power Wash is not an isolated case; other brands like Herr Klee, Passion Gold, Der Waschkönig, and Lovrana also falsely claim German (or Italian for Lovrana) origin while being produced in Poland.
- Retailer Complicity: The narrator highlights that major retail chains play a role, either by being unaware or by knowingly selling these products because they are profitable, despite the deceptive marketing.
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Attempts to Contact Manufacturers and Retailers:
- Unanswered Inquiries to Retailers: The narrator sent inquiries to major retail chains about product credibility and false advertising, but received no response.
- Difficulty Obtaining Product Data Sheets: Attempts to obtain a "product characteristics card" for "Der Waschkönig" were met with continuous excuses (person on sick leave, person on vacation).
- Unreachable German Contact Number: A German phone number on the product card was unreachable during working hours.
- Evasive Polish Contact: A Polish contact number only resulted in a request for an email inquiry, which also went unanswered. The narrator observed this seemed to be a deliberate strategy to deflect questions.
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Summary of Deceptive Tactics: Producers use various tricks to maximize profits, including falsely labeling products with a country of origin different from their actual place of manufacture.
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Consumer Advice:
- Check "Made in": If a product states "Made in EU" on the back, it's likely produced in Poland, Bulgaria, or Romania, not necessarily Germany.
- "Made in Germany" for German Products: Genuinely German products should explicitly state "Made in Germany."
- Distinguish Legitimate Multi-Country Production: Products like Persil, while a German brand, can be legitimately produced in other countries like Spain or Austria without deceptively implying German origin through their packaging.
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Call to Action: Consumers should be vigilant about what they buy and avoid being deceived.