[imagesource:takealot/facebook]

Blue Sky Distribution has threatened to pursue criminal charges against Takealot and its chairperson after the online seller allegedly allowed counterfeits of a RapidLash product to be sold on its platform.

Blue Sky is the exclusive distributor for RapidLash, a trademarked eyelash hair loss serum made by the US-based company.

Blue Sky CEO Wayne La Grange said that although the product was not for sale through Takealot, it regularly found counterfeits of its product on the platform – despite informing Takealot that they sell the product exclusively through their own ‘licensed professionals’.

The counterfeiting claims came after a Carte Blanch episode during which La Grange alleged they bought one of the Takealot-advertised products and sent it to the US providers for testing. According to the tests at RapidLash, the product was indeed fake and consisted mostly of water.

Mybroadband reports that despite contacting Takealot afterwards, La Grange was not happy with the reply, which included ‘Vague information”. Not too chuffed with the response, La Grange tracked down the vendor who was selling the fake and klapped them with a ‘cease and desist’ letter.

Following the attorneys getting involved, the fakes-supplier admitted to selling counterfeit goods, which led to criminal proceedings, and it’s this criminal case that is pulling Takealot in. La Grange wants Takealot to show ‘proof that it does due diligence to block counterfeits’.

According to La Grange, the seller had already turned over R100,000 between November and January.

Following Takealot’s refusal to hand over information about the counterfeit seller, La Grange said Blue Sky sent a notice of pending litigation and a pending warrant of arrest for Takealot Group executive chair to Mamongae Mahlare.

Takealot however confirmed that it has a zero-tolerance approach to counterfeit goods, and if instances are identified, ‘they terminate the seller’s account, refund the buyer, recall the product, and take legal action’.

[source:mybroadband]