My boss is a cheat! Help please!

Posted by ramram1975 (71 days ago)

Hi there.

Need your advice. You are most welcome to give yours.

I'm working in a factory (local one in Shanghai) we produce to export so we have many clients from abroad. My boss which "most of the time" seems VERY nice guy some times he missbehaves with our clients. Only short time ago he partnered with one of our clients (big one!) just shorlty after that I discovered he was imitating one of the clients own brands which he makes else where, in another factory I mean! That client is a very good guy which he showed trust in me and my work (as I heard it's not easy from him to show this to every body!) that I feel guilty towards him. the factory owner who I work for doesn't know I knew about this issue and I didn't say anything as well! I don't know what to do. Should I keep my mouth shut ( and I feel I'm betraying our client) or should I mention this to the owner who might listen to me since it's the matter of cheating HIS NEW PARTENER? Please tell me what to do. other ideas are most welcome. Thanks in advance!

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Posted by clam (71 days ago)

don't tell the owner if you value your job. your boss obviously has no problem with infringement of copyright..

if you feel morally obliged to inform the client, perhaps do this anonymously by providing details of the other factory with photo of copied products. whether the client acts on this is not your problem.

Posted by RA (71 days ago)

Piracy is a serious issue. Incase of a police raid, you may get embroiled in it. I think you should let your client know. Since you know about the piracy, you are morally bound to either go alongwith it or report it.

Posted by Tracy G (70 days ago)

don't know the full background, but from what you described, i'd agree with clam's advise. i'm one of those who stopped doing business with china factories because of their "customers are dime a dozen" attitude so, as biased as it may sound, i have no sympathy for nonethical business practices.

Posted by paulino (69 days ago)

Don't speak to the boss. he will only sack you. Send an anonymous message to the buyer.

Posted by ramram1975 (69 days ago)

Thank you all for the ideas but since I don't have "detective work" experience could you please tell me how to send the guy an anonymous message since I\m the only foreigner there who only contact clients? solve the puzzle!

Posted by Loyd Grossman is Miss Venezuela (69 days ago)

I'd keep quiet if I were you.

Posted by Robert43438 (69 days ago)

I suggest set up a hotmail or yahoo email account and send an anonymous message to the client. I'd advise not to get involved in any email converstaion with the client, BTW -- just send the photos or other evidence and leave it at that. You don't want to expose yourself.

Posted by evildeeds (69 days ago)

A hard one to call. Preferably, as someone who uses factories in China, I'd like to receive some notification if a supplier is going behind my back. I've had this before with new products which are suddenly copied and appearing on Alibaba, usually of very poor quality and dangerous. Investigating where they come from takes a lot of money and time not to mention obstacles as a lot of this is done with the full knowledge of local governments.

Posted by GreenValleys (67 days ago)

You also have a moral dilemma re whether you can live with yourself working for a clearly unethical employer. To make a stand you might have to lose (or give up) your job. Not to make a stand might mean that in some ways working for an unethical employer is more important than not having a job. Guess I'm lucky that choice has never landed itself at my door - it almost did about 20 years ago and it was very humbling to learn that the company changed its practices because of my stand. Good luck.

Posted by IslandHopper (67 days ago)

Get a new job and let them sort out the matter between themselves.

Don't do any bad moves before thinking about your own security - if this issue is about big money to your boss...

Posted by GemmaW (66 days ago)

I wouldn't say anything if I were you.

His partner will find out eventually. It's just a matter of time.

And who knows, maybe his partner knows about this other factory and they have a reason for opening it but for some reason, have to keep it quiet???

If you do feel strongly about your boss being a cheat, I would leave the company. After all, why would you want to associate yourself with such company?

Good luck.