Beware of the fake Happycall double pan, says importer
24 July 2012 6:35 PM | Updated 6:50 PM
The Happycall double-pan which has gained quite a following from housewives in Singapore has attracted the attention of imitators as well unfortunately.
The importer of the original pan recently released an advertisement in The Straits Times on 24 July to warn customers against buying the counterfeit product, reported Lianhe Wanbao.
The double-pan from South Korea features two non-stick surfaces with a standard sealed design that keeps smoke and oil inside the pan properly during cooking. It can also reduce the amount of oil needed.
Heap Seng Group, the sole importer of the pan in Singapore told Lianhe Wanbao that around 40 costumers have already complained to them saying they that they have bought the imitation pan instead of the legit product.
A spokesperson from the group told the Chinese daily: “Some of them complained that the pan would leak while cooking or the paint on the surface has peeled.”
He added that most of the customers who unwittingly bought the fake products purchased them online or from small retailers.
“These malicious vendors can easily obtain pictures of the authentic pan to deceive consumers into thinking they have bought the real thing. When customers realise that the product is fake, they cannot seek compensation from the sellers,” he told the paper.
According to him, the original Happycall pan retails for $85-90. The price is between $60-70 during promotions. Imitations are said to sell for around $40-$60, with the lowest being around $25-$59. He said that while the authentic pan uses ceramic coating that adheres with safety standards, some fakes ones use unknown materials that may be hazardous.
The spokesperson urged consumers who wish to buy the pan to get it at the nine exclusive retailers in Singapore, including Carrefour, Courts and NTUC Extra.
According to the group, most of the imitations originated from China and resemble the authentic pan in appearance. But there are three ways to tell the difference:
1) Round silver sticker
Authentic Happycall pans have a special silver sticker on the packaging that certifies it is distributed legally.
2) Air vent
The air vent in the authentic pan is oval in shape, while imitations have a narrow and uneven hole.
3) Silicon seal
The authentic double-pan has a silicon seal around the inner edges which will not protrude when closed and would not come loose easily. The seal in imitations are less refined and come off easily.
