University of Arizona warns fans about counterfeit merchandise ahead of Final Four

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The University of Arizona acquired its first shipments of official Final Four merchandise this week, and the campus retailer has been promoting gadgets nonstop as fans put together for the Wildcats’ first semifinal look in 25 years.

Workers on the campus retailer mentioned demand has been overwhelming, with many gadgets already offered out. The scarcity has pushed fans to hunt merchandise from unauthorized retailers and on-line shops.

“There’s been people who are trying every which way to get it, I don’t blame them,” mentioned Felix Bonha, a campus retailer worker.

Cat Hanson, Trademarks and Licensing Program Manager on the University of Arizona, mentioned the quantity of unauthorized retailers has doubled since March Madness started.

“You can imagine right now, we’re pretty packed with finding things that are counterfeit products and illegal products,” Hanson mentioned.

Hanson mentioned licensed retailers should undergo a strict licensing course of to promote University of Arizona gear, which ensures that every product meets high quality and security requirements.

“The licensees are, they’re vetted, they’re audited from time to time, we know their supply chain, they’re using countries that source ethically, they’re not involved in child labor,” Hanson mentioned.

Purchasing from formally licensed distributors additionally ensures that consumers are shielded from client fraud and cash laundering.

That’s why Hanson’s crew is working with native regulation enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the National Intellectual Property Rights Center to establish counterfeit companies in individual and on-line.

Customers can even assist by buying from formally licensed distributors, such because the campus retailer or licensed pop-up areas.

Kelly Sauer, normal supervisor of a pop-up retailer who has been promoting University of Arizona merchandise for a number of a long time, mentioned there are key methods to establish genuine merchandise.

“They have to stamp a hologram sticker on every shirt, you have to have the trademark logos on everything from the block A to the Final Four logo to the March Madness logo,” Sauer mentioned.

The multicolor hologram tag or sticker is the most important indicator, however Hanson mentioned consumers also needs to examine that spelling and colours are appropriate, that the merchandise is nice high quality, and that the “University of Arizona” has the phrase “the” in entrance of it.

If the worth is just too good to be true, Hanson additionally says it doubtless is.

Hanson mentioned buying genuine merchandise not solely helps the area people but in addition goes again to the college.

“The money from the royalties that you’ll pay on a product comes to the university in the form of programs for students, student success, athletics, things like that,” Hanson mentioned.

Authentic Arizona merchandise could be bought on the following licensed pop-up outlets:

• Campus Store
  • Park & ​​Speedway (10am-4pm)
  • Park & ​​sixth St (10am-4pm)
  • Speedway & Campbell (10am-4pm)
  • Maingate (10am-4pm)
  • Football Stadium parking zone (10am-4pm; 8am-6pm beginning April 6)
  • Campbell & sixth (10am-4pm)
  • Hi Corbett parking zone (10am-4pm; 8am-6pm beginning April 6)

Pop-up hours will likely be 10 am-4 pm from Monday, March 30, by way of Thursday, April 9, with prolonged hours (8 am- 6 pm) starting Monday, April 6, at Hi Corbett and the soccer stadium parking zone.

• Other licensed pop-ups
  • Broadway/Rosemont Broadway/Tucson Oracle/Orange Grove Old Spanish Trail/Broadway
  • Grant / Green Tank (by Scented Leaf)

If you think a retailer could also be fraudulent, you’ll be able to report it anonymously on UA’s Counterfeit Reporting Form.

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