|
Venue
of Experience:
Over the years, Michigan
based L.P.C., Ltd. investigators have conducted many successful gray
market and transshipping investigations throughout North America,
South America, Europe and Australia.
Type of Experience:
We are extensively
experienced in investigating all variations of gray market problems,
from regional cross-territory shipping violations in the U.S.A., to
the exceptionally secretive international operations involving
movement of product through several continents. The president
of L.P.C., Ltd. is internationally known as an expert in this
unusual niche and has provided training to other international
investigators in this specialty.
Reasons for
Investigation of Gray Market Problems:
Many manufacturers sell
products at reduced prices for specific purposes, such as for use as
components in products manufactured by buyers, use exclusively in a
specific foreign market where high tariffs or duties exist--or where
the manufacturer is trying to establish a presence in an emerging
market. In other cases, products are sold at a discount to
government agencies, nonprofit entities, or national accounts
serviced by local distributors. When these products are
diverted, they end up competing in the manufacturer's legitimate
distributor's territories, often permanently destroying these
markets, alienating the dealers, eliminating profits and devastating
the manufacturer's credibility. This can result in a reduction
in profits comparable to the ongoing activities of a major theft
ring, or losses caused by a world class white collar criminal
cooking the books--or more likely the computers. Yet, in many
venues, gray marketers break no laws and the only recourse is using
civil remedies.
Our Investigative
Methodology:
The investigation of gray
market problems is an area where each investigation is distinctively
different depending on the information available, the product, the
potential hazards to the business (or the public in cases of
distressed goods in the gray market), and many other
factors. Almost all gray market investigations are
exceptionally complicated and time consuming because of the paranoia
of the gray marketers and their clandestine methods of
operation. We have handled many successful cases of this type,
but each new situation creates a unique set of problems to
overcome. The investigation of gray market activities is
probably the most challenging work we handle.
Return on Investment:
It is always difficult to
establish the true savings to the client when a gray market problem
is eliminated. The price differential between the discount
rates charged to the dealer who places the goods in the gray market
and regular rates charged to legitimate distributors is just the tip
of the iceberg insofar as real bottom line returns. However,
in one L.P.C., Ltd. international gray market investigation,
containerized products destined for the gray market were turned
around "on the water" for an immediate savings of over
$700,000, just taking into account this differential.
More Detailed
Information & Assistance:
In the restricted article
index of this Web Site, we offer detailed information which may
benefit businesses suffering from this problem.
To
Obtain More Information On This Subject At The Restricted Article
Index--Or For Rate Information, Please Click Below:
|
|
