A & R store - they say their "prices make the difference" - but in the rush of get to school giveaways that price has resulted in a negative difference for them.
That's because A & R is the country's sole authorized importer for Jansport school bags. That's a high quality, long lasting brand out of the US - but it's also relatively high cost. A new bag at A & R sells for just north of 70 dollars - which compares favorably to prices on Amazon where iT sells for 38 US dollars.
Which is why we scratched our heads when on Friday - for example - we saw Superintendent of Police Aaron Gamboa giving out Jansport's like 5 cent sweets. And then we saw them again on Sunday in Cayo north with the PUP Area Representative.
The owner of A & R saw them too - and he was fuming.
Now, of course, saying that brand name fakes are available in Belize is just about as surprising as saying you found a spoon in the kitchen - but A&R says it matters to them they're losing business on a premium back to school product. We spoke to the regional manager via Zoom.
Leili Montalvo, A&R Regional Manager
"What we observe is that those are not the original Jansport bags."
Jules Vasquez
"So those are fake?"
Leili Montalvo, A&R Regional Manager
"Well, yes. Our observation..."
Jules Vasquez
"How do you know that? You don't handle the bag."
Leili Montalvo, A&R Regional Manager
"Well, we know how to identify the original. We have a few points, the QR code inside. Each bag has a QR code inside. It's unique. Once you scan it, it takes you to the official Jansport page. Then we have the fishtail stitches. That's unique, too."
"We have the SBS engraved zipper and the material. The material is high quality. The fabric is durable."
Jules Vasquez
"Now, a critic will say, OK, well, Unu got an authorized Jansport bag. But those bags are $72 each, right?"
Leili Montalvo, A&R Regional Manager
"Well, we do also have a lot of other bags that we also import. Everest, which is a cheaper brand. It's high quality, too. So we do have cheaper bags to suit all the pockets. And if you compare it to what Amazon has, our prices are very reasonable."
"So seeing the fake does affect our sales."
Jules Vasquez
"I've seen a minister donating these Jansport bags. In your opinion, is the market flooded with fake Jansport bags?"
Leili Montalvo, A&R Regional Manager
"Yes, to our knowledge is it's flooded with the fake."
A & R says it has a number of authorized re-sellers countrywide.
