HP warns on grey market patronage

Hewlett Packard (HP) Nigeria has warned the public on the consequences of patronizing grey market for the company’s information technology (IT) products.

Managing Director, Hewlett Packard Nigeria, Mr. Ime Umoh, gave this warning at an interactive session with the media last week, describing the grey market phenomenon as worrisome, even as a recent industry study by KPMG and the Alliance for Grey Market and Counterfeit Abatement reported that $40 billion worth of information technology (IT) products were re-sold on the worldwide grey market annually.

“As is the case in most developing countries, where the economy is largely import focused, any and everyone who has the means can import whatever they want barring banned products. In our business, we have authorized channel partners through which all HP products should come into Nigeria. The illegal importation of HP products outside the channel is what the industry defines as Grey Market”, he said.

While describing counterfeiting as the unauthorized application or use of goods without approval of the brand owner, he said “in HP, the strategy is to reveal illegal production of counterfeit printing supplies. The overall goal being to protect markets and customers through sensitization, prevention and enforcement”.

Also speaking, the Category Manager, Hewlett Packard Nigeria, Mrs. Terae Onyeje, enumerated the benefits of patronizing approved HP distributors and agents to include enjoyment of warranty on products, access to HP’s Service Centre where customers’ complaints on products are attended to.

as well as other notable juices from the company. She urged customers to buy from authorized distribution channels to ensure the highest levels of product quality and brand integrity.

She further said the company’s goal is “to simplify our business, including how customers do business with us, and as such make it easier for HP solutions to penetrate into the nooks and crannies of the Nigerian society ranging from Government, to organized private sector, as well as the general consumer market.”

Stressing that HP want to create a future where every Nigerian has access to computers and other technologies to make them productive in the work force and to enable them compete in the global information society.


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