Reveal counterfeiters and non-compliant sellers of your network.
Test purchase is a powerful brand protection tool that verifies sellers, collects evidence, ensures compliance, identifies areas for improvement in your supply chain, and strengthen your overall brand protection strategy.
All to secure your brand equity and client's trust.
Test or Trap Purchase Solutions
We purchase the suspected product to analyze its authenticity and trace shipping to detect diversions within the supply chain. As a result, we prepare an evidential report for enforcement or litigation.
Online Purchase
Place anonymous online orders to receive goods for further inspection.
Product Inspection
Analyze and document received items to verify their authenticity.
Offline Purchase
Conduct anonymous test purchase in a physical store.
Evidence Documentation
Obtain evidence and inspection reports of test purchases.
Shipment tracing
Track item movement to uncover supply chain diversions.
Parcel Forwarding
Receive anonymously purchased items delivered to your address.
Keeps Your Brand Secure
Protect your business from counterfeiting, supply chain fraud, make sure your partners are compliant and collect strong evidence against offenders.
Identify infringments
to check suspicious sellers and take actions against your offenders
Inspect counterfeits
to learn more about how counterfeiters copy your products.
Verify partners and sellers
to enforce against non-compliant sellers and secure your network
Empower brand protection
to fight offenders more effectively and increase the ROI of your actions.
Collect strong evidence
to build solid legal cases and get infringers paid for harming your brand
Find areas to improve
to fix internal problems revealed during the test purchase.
Stop distribution diversions
to secure your supply chain from possible diversions or disruptions
Get competitive advantage
to develop business strategies based on gained insights.
Obtain Insights You Require
Our reports contain all the necessary information gathered during the test purchase process. You’ll see the final product in detail and how it is being delivered. These reports are available for both litigation and non-litigation purposes.
Technical specs
Purchase details
Payment receipts
Product dimensions
Packaging overview
Listing information
Payment confirmations
Parts and blueprints
Photos & videos
Business information
Delivery notes
Product Specifications
Seller information
Payment Invoices
Shipping labels
... and many more!
How It Works
We receive the order, inspect the product, prepare and send you the report, and then forward the package to your address.
1.
Order
Conduct anonymous purchase from a suspected seller and receive a parcel.
2.
Inspect
Determine authenticity, dimensions, materials, and other relevant information.
3.
Report
Document the purchase process and inspection results, send report to client.
4.
Forward
Ship the examined product and collected evidence to the client's address.
Comprehensive Reports and Solid Evidence
Our reports are well-structured, with concise summaries and robust photo and video evidence. The reports are available in both online and offline formats and can be used for legal and non-legal purposes.
In addition, they are tailored to your needs - we can add any additional data you need to the reports.​
3-day Report Delivery
Video & Photo Evidence
Litigation Ready
Fast Results All Over the World
Our investigations and test purchases cover more than 70 countries.
You will receive our report within three days after your order is delivered to any of our offices.
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Europe: 31 country
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Asia: 19 countries
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Americas: 8 countries
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Africa: 5 countries
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We assist you in fulfilling your needs across international borders and various jurisdictions.
3-day Inspection
Truly Global Presence
Parcel Forwarding
Intelligence Dashboard
You will have direct access to the database and to a custom built dashboard with metrics that are important to you.
This is an awesome tool for tracking and processing your test purchases and investigations.
It provides you with an overview of your entire investigation and test purchase processes, including all associated costs as well as detailed information on individual service.
All data and dashboards are accessible 24/7.
Tailored Dashboards
Evidence and Reports
Easy costs overview
One-Stop Brand Protection Solution
A comprehensive approach to protecting your brand, covering all aspects from identifying and taking down online infringements, to conducting investigations and test purchases.
No Need to Allocate Resources
Lightning-fast Results
Trusted by Top Brands
Global Coverage
24/7 Software Monitoring
Dedicated Team
End-To-End Solution
10k+
Enforcements per Month
<28h
Avg. Takedown Time
98%
Removal Success Ratio
70+
Countries Covered
Real-time Protection
Data Intelligence
Global Partnerships
See Our Solution in Action!
Chat with an IP protection expert.
Schedule a call with us and we'll work with you to understand your specific needs and create a tailored solution for you.
How Infringers Harm Your Business?
The consequences of counterfeiting and intellectual property infringement have devastating effects on business:
Is your brand affected by infringers?
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about test purchases. Gain a better understanding of the topic and find out if it is relevant to your business.
1. What is a test purchase service and why it’s important?
A test purchase service is a brand protection tool that allows companies to verify the authenticity of products sold on the market, identify non-compliant sellers, and collect strong evidence against violators.
This service involves placing anonymous orders online or in physical stores, analyzing and inspecting the goods received, and preparing detailed reports with evidence and inspection results.
Controlled purchasing is necessary for companies that want to protect their intellectual property rights, prevent counterfeiting and fraud in the supply chain, and ensure compliance with the requirements of their partners. In addition, it helps to secure the supply chain from possible diversions or disruptions, learn more about how counterfeiters copy their products and build strong legal cases against infringers.
Overall, test purchase service can strengthen brand protection and fight infringers more effectively while increasing a company's return on investment (ROI).
2. How can a business benefit from conducting test purchases?
Test purchases can benefit businesses in several ways, including:
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Detection of violations: Conducting test purchases can help businesses verify suspicious sellers and take action against infringers who violate their intellectual property rights.
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Verification of partners and sellers: By conducting test purchases, companies can ensure compliance among their partners and vendors, securing their network and reducing the risk of infringement.
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Gather evidence: Trial purchases can also help businesses build strong legal cases against violators, leading to monetary compensation for damage to their brand.
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Stopping diversionary distribution: Companies can use test purchases to identify possible diversions or disruptions in the supply chain, enabling them to take corrective action.
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Check for counterfeits: By conducting test purchases, companies can learn more about how counterfeiters copy their products and use this knowledge to develop better anti-counterfeiting strategies.
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Strengthen brand protection: Test purchases can help companies fight offenders more effectively, increasing the ROI of brand protection.
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Identify other areas for improvement: By analyzing the results of test purchases, a company can identify areas where its products or services may need improvement, such as customer service, product quality, or sales methods.
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Competitive advantage: By conducting trial purchases, a business can gain insight into its competitors' products, services, and sales methods, allowing it to develop strategies to gain a competitive advantage.
3. What are some common types of test purchases?
There are several types of test purchases that companies can conduct to assess compliance, quality, and authenticity.
Some common types of test purchases include:
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Compliance testing: Conducted to ensure that vendors and retailers comply with laws and regulations for selling specific products, such as tobacco products and age-restricted alcoholic beverages.
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Quality checks: Conducted to assess the quality of a product, for example, to check the durability of clothing or the effectiveness of detergent.
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Authenticity test purchases: Conducted to identify counterfeit or fake products that could harm consumers or damage the brand.
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Mystery shopping: This test purchase involves sending trained shoppers to make purchases and evaluate customer service, cleanliness, and overall shopping experience.
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Competitive test purchases: Conducted to compare a company's products or services with those of competitors, assessing areas where improvements can be made.
4. When is it necessary to conduct a test purchase?
Test purchases are necessary when a brand suspects that its intellectual property rights, such as trademarks or copyrights, are being infringed by counterfeiters or pirates.
Test purchases can help verify the authenticity of suspicious products and identify sellers engaged in illegal activities.
Test purchases are also helpful in verifying the compliance of partners and suppliers and identifying areas for improvement in the supply chain to strengthen the overall brand protection strategy.
5. How is the test purchase being conducted?
Test purchases are typically conducted anonymously by the brand protection service provider or a third-party investigator
The process involves placing an order with the suspected seller, either online or in person, and receiving the product for further inspection.
The investigator then analyzes the product to determine its authenticity, dimensions, materials, and other relevant information and documents the purchase process and inspection results in a report.
6. How long it takes to conduct test purchase?
The duration of a test purchase can vary depending on several factors, such as the location of the seller, delivery time, and the complexity of the product being purchased.
We offers a fast and efficient test purchase service with a guarantee of delivering the report within three days after the order is delivered to any of our offices.
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It means you'll have the report in a few days after the purchase, while the parcel might still be shipping overseas.
7. Is a test purchase legal?
Yes, test purchases are generally legal if they are conducted for the purpose of authenticity and compliance testing and to gather evidence against infringers.
However, it is important to follow all relevant laws and regulations and conduct the test purchase ethically and responsibly.
8. Will the seller know that we made a test purchase?
The seller will not know that a test purchase is being conducted.
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We set up a unique anonymous identity for each testing purchase so that it looks like a regular seller purchase.
This anonymity ensures the accuracy of the results and maintains confidentiality.
9. What evidence is gathered during a test purchase?
Different types of evidence can be collected during a controlled procurement, depending on the purpose of the procurement.
This may include:
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Proof of purchase, such as receipts or invoices
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Product samples
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Photo and video evidence
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Communication records, such as emails, chat logs, or phone calls
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Shipping or delivery records
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Packaging materials and labels
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Payment documents, such as credit card statements or bank transfers
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Any other documentation related to the purchase or transaction may be important to you.
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The evidence collected can be used to verify the authenticity and legitimacy of the product or service and identify any potential violations or illegal actions by the seller or supplier.
10. What should I expect from test purchase?
As deliverables, you will get the following:
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Anonymous purchase: our test purchases are conducted anonymously, guaranteeing the results' accuracy and reliability.
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Expert inspection: inspection by our investigators and specialists to get detailed information about the product itself, identify counterfeit parts, and other potential problems.
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Comprehensive report: a detailed report on the purchase, including documented purchase process, product specifications, packaging, photos and videos, seller information, order details, listing information, business information, invoice, receipt, payment confirmation, invoices, delivery tracking, labels, etc.
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Strong evidence: Evidence collected during a test purchase can be used to build a solid legal case against violators.
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Advice and support: advice and support to help you better protect their brand.
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Access to dashboards: dashboards provide a real-time overview of your entire test purchase processes, including all associated costs
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Receive an order at your address: we will forward the parcel to you after the inspection.
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Overall, a test purchase service can provide valuable information and evidence to help you protect your brand and take action against non-compliant sellers.
11. What kind of platforms and countries do you cover?
We conduct online and offline test purchases for B2B or B2C businesses in over 60 countries. We support all types of online platforms and offline stores.
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Coverage:
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Europe: 31 country
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Asia: 19 countries
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Americas: 8 countries
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Africa: 5 countries
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In all these countries, we offer a quick 3-day inspection report delivery.
12. Can you provide case studies or examples of your previous experience?
Yes, we have a successful track record of protecting our clients' online brands.
We will be happy to provide you with specific cases and examples of our work to protect our client's brands.
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To show you a relevant case (in your industry), please request a call with one of our experts, and we will share it with you.
13. What do I need to conduct test purchase?
You will typically need a few things, including:
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A clear plan and goal: define specific purposes for the trial purchase, such as verifying the product's authenticity or investigating a suspicious seller's activities.
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A reliable provider of test purchase services: find a reputable and experienced provider that can help you with the process, including creating an anonymous identity and providing a comprehensive report.
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Access relevant marketplaces or retail stores: Identify platforms or physical locations where products or sellers are located and where you would like to conduct a test purchase.
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If you don't know where to start - reach out to us, and we will work with you to identify your needs and propose the best solution for the problem.
14. How to choose the test purchase provider?
Choosing a test purchase service provider requires careful consideration to ensure that it meets your business needs.
Here are some factors to consider:
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Experience and expertise: Look for a vendor with extensive experience in conducting test purchases and a deep understanding of your industry.
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Reputation: Check the provider's reputation by reading reviews, testimonials, and case studies from previous clients.
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Coverage: Choose a vendor with extensive coverage. Ideally, he should be able to conduct test purchases in all countries you require.
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Comprehensive and litigation-ready reports: provider should provide detailed reports that cover all aspects of the procurement, from the initial ordering process to the final delivery. They should be ready to be used for litigation or non-litigation purposes.
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Detailed evidence: should provide detailed proof of purchase, including product specifications, photos and videos of the purchased item, invoices, and shipping tracking information. This evidence can be crucial in identifying counterfeit goods and building a convincing case against them.
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Dashboards: provider should give you access to the dashboards that allow you to track your test purchases in real time and gain a deeper understanding of the associated costs.
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Fast investigation: look for a provider who can provide you with the report within a few days after the parcel arrives at their nearest office. Some providers conduct an inspection only in the main office, and it may take months to inspect the parcel after the purchase from a foreign country.
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Parcel forwarding: ensure that your provider can send the test purchase to your address with the report after it's been inspected.
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Confidentiality: Choose a vendor that takes privacy seriously and ensures that purchases are anonymous.
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Communication: Ensure the provider has clear communication channels and will provide regular updates throughout the trial process.
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Technologies and tools: Choose a provider that uses the latest technology to ensure the purchase's anonymity and the process's effectiveness.
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Customization: Look for a vendor to customize their services to meet your needs.
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Price: Consider the vendor's pricing structure and ensure it fits your budget.
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Considering these factors, you can choose a reliable test purchase service provider that will empower your brand protection activities.
15. How much does a test purchase service cost?
The cost of a test purchase service can depend on several factors, such as the seller's location, the complexity of the purchase, and the type of service required.
Typically, we provide a flat fee for each purchase, ranging from a hundred to several hundred dollars, depending on the inspection scope needed and the number of required monthly purchases. We also provide discounts for large orders or if we also work together on other services.
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Let's talk - we will identify your needs and provide the best estimate.
16. What makes your brand protection services unique?
We cover everything from detecting and enforcing high-volume online infringements to conducting global investigations and test purchases worldwide.
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No need to allocate resources
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Monitoring software with artificial intelligence
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Image recognition
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Truly global coverage
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Investigations around the world
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Test purchases with ultra-fast verification
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Customized dashboards and comprehensive reports
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Dedicated team and personal Brand Protection manager
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Flexible contract terms
We are your complete brand protection solution.
Let's talk!
