Delivery worker fined $20 for alerting recipient to counterfeit watch

I work as a delivery driver. One day, I was assigned to deliver a watch that claimed to be from a Japanese brand. I could tell it was a counterfeit so I decided to tip off the customer. However, she got upset and reported the incident to the seller, who subsequently reported it to my employer.

As a result, my employer penalized me: they cut my monthly bonus, deducted two days’ wages, and fined me VND500,000.

A few days later, I had to deliver another package to the same customer. She remembered me and criticized me for not letting her return the fake watch. She bought it on Facebook—how could she expect me to return it?

Reader ledongkhoi8982

The story was shared amid the recent debate regarding counterfeit goods after several other readers recounted similar incidents where delivery workers warned them that they were receiving fake products.

Reader mcan2352015:

“I have been a delivery worker for five years. Whenever I realize an item is a counterfeit or a scam, I inform the customer and advise them not to accept it. But some customers do not listen and insist on taking it. They then call me asking if they can return it. At that point, there is nothing more I can do.”

Reader nhat tan:

“Fake goods are widely sold on online e-commerce platforms. Sometimes, users know items are not genuine but still buy them out of curiosity due to their low prices and appealing features. Others may not realize they are fake and purchase them simply because they are cheap. I believe there needs to be stricter regulations for these platforms.”

Reader kininhcnn:

“I would rather use products from a lesser-known brand or one that is not well established than use items that are obviously fake. When it comes to watches, if I cannot afford a new one, I will use a second-hand one, as long as it is authentic.”

*These opinions were translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.