Why Do People Buy Fake Designer Bags Or Fake Designer Anything?

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#1,997
anusa said:
just a little story here
a student of mine(i teach art and i sell art) who is nearly sixteen and wanted to buy a software called corel painters X. could not manage to spend 300 on the whole thing so she wanted to copy it thru a crack. I introduced her to this thread and she did go thru many of the articles that are there in another thread that enlists resources in refference to counterfeiting. She was like could it be true?? and then but cracks wont fund terrorism or child labour would they ?? anyways since it is debatable she said she wouldnt want to even be a part of it and keep wondering that could her silly act be a part of such huge issues. And waited till she could buy the authorised students version.

Such arguments do have an impact however small but they do IMO
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Good. You taught her well. As an artist, she surely would not like it if someone tried to steal her work.
 
#2,001
black jade said:
No offense, but I actually think that both the 'authorities' and the 'media' have more pressing issues on their mind than the Chinatown fake that some woman is offending us purists with.

The fact is, that people who carry fakes know that out of 1,000 people 999 will be impressed with the fake. Yes, you can tell, but in many cases only after studying bags and pictures of bags in more detail than most people care to bother to do (which is why even on this forum, people need help from 'authenticators.')

Yes, the fakes usually fall apart quicker but a lot of people don't care if a bag falls apart after, say, 6 mos, if they only spent $30 on it on a NY street. To tell the truth, a lot of the designer bags nowadays are only in style for 6 months anyway--or at least, there's a new and more interesting bag out by then. they will just buy themselves a new fake then. it takes a lot of $30 to add up to the $700 for a real whatever.

Some of the fakes don't fall apart all that quickly. Many companies (you can look it up, I won't say who) have their factories now that make their real bags in China and the underpaid workers there are said to smuggle out materials and make 'unauthorized' bags using the same techniques they learned in the company factory, which is wrong of course but maybe not too surprising considering the pennies they get to make bags that then cost $1000s in the US. These 'superfakes' are supposed to be the ones that the salesladies in upscale stores have trouble telling are not real. I don't know if this is true but I have heard this.

anyway, that's not my point, my point is that its fun for us on this forum to talk about purses and show off our purses, etc. etc. but (although it might be fun too for some people) no point in letting your blood pressure rise worrying too much about people who don't have the same interests buying and using fakes. Because it's not going to stop happening. and could it be that it's SO offensive to some of us because each time we see someone getting away with this, it reminds us that our little hobby is not so important in many other peoples' eyes and that most people in fact are not admiring our wonderful taste and/or high disposable income level because they don't even know the difference between us and the lady with the fake? Or care? Time to step back maybe and get some perspective that our hobby is for us to enjoy, not because anyone else outside our little circle is EVER going to be interested.
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Very good post! :tup:

Linda
 
#2,003
black jade said:
No offence, but I actually think that both the 'authorities' and the 'media' have more pressing issues on their mind than the Chinatown fake that some woman is offending us purists with.

The fact is, that people who carry fakes know that out of 1,000 people 999 will be impressed with the fake. Yes, you can tell, but in many cases only after studying bags and pictures of bags in more detail than most people care to bother to do (which is why even on this forum, people need help from 'authenticators.')

Yes, the fakes usually fall apart quicker but a lot of people don't care if a bag falls apart after, say, 6 mos, if they only spent $30 on it on a NY street. To tell the truth, a lot of the designer bags nowadays are only in style for 6 months anyway--or at least, there's a new and more interesting bag out by then. they will just buy themselves a new fake then. it takes a lot of $30 to add up to the $700 for a real whatever.

Some of the fakes don't fall apart all that quickly. Many companies (you can look it up, I won't say who) have their factories now that make their real bags in China and the underpaid workers there are said to smuggle out materials and make 'unauthorized' bags using the same techniques they learned in the company factory, which is wrong of course but maybe not too surprising considering the pennies they get to make bags that then cost $1000s in the US. These 'superfakes' are supposed to be the ones that the salesladies in upscale stores have trouble telling are not real. I don't know if this is true but I have heard this.

anyway, that's not my point, my point is that its fun for us on this forum to talk about purses and show off our purses, etc. etc. but (although it might be fun too for some people) no point in letting your blood pressure rise worrying too much about people who don't have the same interests buying and using fakes. Because it's not going to stop happening. and could it be that it's SO offensive to some of us because each time we see someone getting away with this, it reminds us that our little hobby is not so important in many other peoples' eyes and that most people in fact are not admiring our wonderful taste and/or high disposable income level because they don't even know the difference between us and the lady with the fake? Or care? Time to step back maybe and get some perspective that our hobby is for us to enjoy, not because anyone else outside our little circle is EVER going to be interested.
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ITA - good post :balloon:
 
#2,004
I'm not like a lot of people here in that handbags are my vice. They're not :shrugs:
I don't 'collect' them nor consider them remotely a hobby. I would prefer to spend all my money on dressing my DD to be honest, I derive far more enjoyment from that than buying or having bags.
If I never bought another bag as long as I live I'll be more than fine.

Why it's something I care about is because, and I've posted this a LOT on tPF, I had no idea counterfeiting was going on.
I've been offered Chanel, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton bags at discount prices because "they're returns and can't be re-sold" or "I know someone who works for ____". This was before I found tPF.
I am guessing most of the population also just believes this BS told to them by sellers because why wouldn't they?
I'm irritated by others lying to sell these bags, lying by saying they're real when they're not. Over the years as I've been better educated about it I've learned that it contributes to a lot of unsavory activities, whether the naysayers in this thread choose to believe it or not, ask yourself, "what if it does? What if it DOES contribute to terrorism, drugs, trafficking, etc. . . " isn't even a 10% chance that it DOES contribute to those things worth at least agreeing that people shouldn't carry them?
It's ILLEGAL for a reason. Aside from the possibility of it contributing to the things listed it's THEFT of intellectual property and other people's work.

I get that people are skeptical that it could even remotely be possible to contribute to terrorism et al, but because it's illegal in it's own right and POSSIBLY contributes to those things makes ME care.
Bolt fake boobs on, who cares, they're not illegal. Fix that little bump on your nose from diving and hitting it on the bottom of the pool when you were 5. . . not illegal.

Either way, it does impact people outside this forum; people are misled, stolen from, etc. . . just because a large portion of the population doesn't know about it doesn't mean it's unimportant. There's a LOT of causes and issues out there that we could all stand to be better educated on, but then again, this is a bag forum.

JMO :smile1:
 
#2,005
Swanky Mama Of Three said:
I'm not like a lot of people here in that handbags are my vice. They're not :shrugs:
I don't 'collect' them nor consider them remotely a hobby. I would prefer to spend all my money on dressing my DD to be honest, I derive far more enjoyment from that than buying or having bags.
If I never bought another bag as long as I live I'll be more than fine.

Why it's something I care about is because, and I've posted this a LOT on tPF, I had no idea counterfeiting was going on.
I've been offered Chanel, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton bags at discount prices because "they're returns and can't be re-sold" or "I know someone who works for ____". This was before I found tPF.
I am guessing most of the population also just believes this BS told to them by sellers because why wouldn't they?
I'm irritated by others lying to sell these bags, lying by saying they're real when they're not. Over the years as I've been better educated about it I've learned that it contributes to a lot of unsavory activities, whether the naysayers in this thread choose to believe it or not, ask yourself, "what if it does? What if it DOES contribute to terrorism, drugs, trafficking, etc. . . " isn't even a 10% chance that it DOES contribute to those things worth at least agreeing that people shouldn't carry them?
It's ILLEGAL for a reason. Aside from the possibility of it contributing to the things listed it's THEFT of intellectual property and other people's work.

I get that people are skeptical that it could even remotely be possible to contribute to terrorism et al, but because it's illegal in it's own right and POSSIBLY contributes to those things makes ME care.
Bolt fake boobs on, who cares, they're not illegal. Fix that little bump on your nose from diving and hitting it on the bottom of the pool when you were 5. . . not illegal.

Either way, it does impact people outside this forum; people are misled, stolen from, etc. . . just because a large portion of the population doesn't know about it doesn't mean it's unimportant. There's a LOT of causes and issues out there that we could all stand to be better educated on, but then again, this is a bag forum.

JMO :smile1:
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ITA

The bit I bolded is IMO totally true.

I can't even think of why people would support the production and commerce of an illegal industry that is fundamentally based on deception
 
#2,006
Here Comes Mish, courtney921, I love your posts, and totally agree with you

But my point is that they are far more important issues than fakes in this world in the category of consumerism. I would say that you have to be a responsible consumer,
you want a better planet ? Buying a real handbag instead of a fake and still driving you SUV doesn't make a difference on how good/how bad it is . It is only for your pleasure.
I think the things that are really important and could change a thing are :
- food ( buy it when it's from your country/ region and "earth friendly"
- packages ( must be deogradable or reusable)
- less waste of water, food, and electricity
- Use the car less, only drive your SUV when you need to.

But again , I think a lot of people here have a fascist point of view. But each his own.

This forum IMO should stay lighthearted .. It's HANDBAGS everyone !
 
#2,007
Eponineslove said:
Many people taking baby steps will make a bigger difference than one person taking a huge step.

One of the sad things about this world is that people DON'T care when they should. I think you're argument that "millions of people carry fake bags" is weak. Millions of people murder, rape, steal, abuse others; does that make it ok? No!

The fact that selling fakes is illegal *should* be enough reason not to buy or sell a fake purse at all. It is not an unjust or unfair law; fake purses do hurt industries. They hurt the designer because they have to spend money fighting the fakes; they hurt the consumer because we end up paying more for the real thing when the designer has to raise the price; they help fund terrorism and that hurts everyone in this country (and in other countries).

It is about respect: respecting the designers who created these purses, respecting the laws which prohibit the selling of fake purses.

And like someone else said, the feds are spending a lot of time going after fakes. Because our tax dollars are funding the fighting of fake purses, you should care.
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The reason why bags are sold like this is because the laws are not really being enforced. Have you ever read an article regarding fake bags? The first thing that is said is that the U.S. doesn't get anything out of it (taxes), it supports terrorists, and child labor. That is an outright lie. Terrorism was here before I was born, the country wants money (if they decide to tax fake bags they wouldn't be so called "illegal").
Child Labor - A lot of these companies (LV, Gucci, Nike, etc.) hire companies in China (which has child labor), to produce goods. Look, I know where you are coming from, but please, the U.S. is full of it when it comes to certain things. If they are not going to get anything out of it, it is so called "illegal". In actualilty the U.S. is allowing companies in the U.S. to produce these products overseas for cheap, and selling them in the U.S. for thousand of dollars (do you think that is right?). You won't back child labor in the U.S. but allow certain companies to do it. Have these hourses been shut down? No, because the U.S. is good for double talking.

I buy real bags as well as fakes but I do believe it should be illegal to sell a pocketbook for thousand of dollars. I believe designers already know going in, that this is going to happen. That is why they sell their goods for so much money!

They (designers) aren't losing anything because the people who can't afford it and buy fakes weren't going to buy it anyway.

What we really need to do is get real about real issues. Is it right to pay thousands of dollars on a bag and your neighbor is hungry. Some of us carry brand name bags, but when someone says they need a dollar because they are hungry, we keep walking or say we don't have it.
 
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#2,008
mo-djoe said:
Here Comes Mish, courtney921, I love your posts, and totally agree with you

But my point is that they are far more important issues than fakes in this world in the category of consumerism. I would say that you have to be a responsible consumer,
you want a better planet ? Buying a real handbag instead of a fake and still driving you SUV doesn't make a difference on how good/how bad it is . It is only for your pleasure.
I think the things that are really important and could change a thing are :
- food ( buy it when it's from your country/ region and "earth friendly"
- packages ( must be deogradable or reusable)
- less waste of water, food, and electricity
- Use the car less, only drive your SUV when you need to.

But again , I think a lot of people here have a fascist point of view. But each his own.

This forum IMO should stay lighthearted .. It's HANDBAGS everyone !
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Fascist?
 
#2,010
:yes: Handbag website, hence the topic of this discussion, counterfeit bags :D
Just because people here sort of dig a materialistic good doesn't mean we're truly shallow. Why knock people that care about this? :thinkin: I don't get it?
We've acknowledged the fact that there are more pressing needs, but this is a bag website, it's what we're here to discuss.
 
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