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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.
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