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

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I understand all of your points and opinions. They were pure examples. Like is said, people all have a preference and we do not know their situation. Yes some like the quality of real bags, some people don't care and just like the brand name and think its crazy to spend thousands. Lexus and toyota are owned by the same...acura and nissan as well. I could go on...so why are people buying toyotas when they can have the rel deal with lexus?? Again, this is purely an example. Lexus is the exact same as toyota but made better quality, more expensive, fancier etc. So why go with the cheap brand? Why not save for the real deal? As I stated, I buy all authentic, I have a nice car, but why do we sit here and even wonder why people carry replicas?? Yes, we all have our reasoning behind personal choice. But why does anyone care???


...what? :confused1:

We're talking about why women wear fake bags. Your car argument is talking about car quality? Lexus is a luxury car brand while Toyota is more of an economy brand. It's not a replica of Lexus. I don't get how that ties in with fake bags?
 
Here is my answer to the Why :)
I support replica and I couldn`t be more content replica exists, because otherwise how in the world would I manage to wear such fabulous styles that would hugely attack my pocket.
I own a couple of real bags too, and the funny thing is, I could afford to make some authentic purchases. Not everyday, but still.
Why don`t I ? Because I have found the right places to shop at, I have found sites that do provide you with mirror perfect replicas. Believe it or not there is such a thing as replica so good even an expert can`t tell the difference. I`ve experienced it in the Louis Vuitton store on the 5th Avenue in New York and I was wearing a replica Neo. The girl there complimented me on the fab bag I was wearing.
And you know what...there`s nothing to be ashamed of when wearing it. When did looking fabulous become a crime?
Yes, some women can afford to pay thousands of dollars on every handbag they buy, but for the rest of us there`s always replica, and getting 4 designer bags at the price of 1 brings a smile upon my face everyday. Because it all comes down to quality.

Another thing I do not believe in are the so called rumors saying that the cash you invest in any kind of replicas is invested in terrorism. God Forbid, they`d invent anything for the sake of brainwashing.

Replicas, through their existence are a praise towards designer, never an insult...

I agree 100 percent. And Eva, why is this topic even as issue? Is it really anyone's business as to why others choose to flaunt their mirror-image replicas for 1/4 of what the others pay? Hey! More power to them! If those replicas are high quality bags (which I have seen and have compared to the authentic ones and they are EXACT) and not those cheap ones (such as China Town, EWWWW) then more power to them! A handbag for every outfit, a new handbag for every week etc. To each its own!! ~Rock On~ I don't judge~nor is it my business~ =)
 
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More power to something illegal?? Well, I'm a lawyer so I can't agree with you on that (and even if I wasn't.. I don't support replicas in any way :nono:).. I'd simply buy a nice non-designer bag if I wanted to save the money on bags.

I'm saying more power to saving money then on spending thousands on a bag. Excuse me, but what do you think your bag is made of??? But you support that? Shall I call you an animal killer now? Gimme a break! Yes, it's "illegal" because of use of the name, and I'm someone who buys real bags. I don't CARE what people do. It's their choice! I can think of waaaaaay more things that people need to worry about then "omg she's flaunting a fake bag, Oh what shall we do?" What I DON'T agree with is someone selling a replica and not letting the buyer know it's fake misleading them that its real.
 
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I understand all of your points and opinions. They were pure examples. Like is said, people all have a preference and we do not know their situation. Yes some like the quality of real bags, some people don't care and just like the brand name and think its crazy to spend thousands. Lexus and toyota are owned by the same...acura and nissan as well. I could go on...so why are people buying toyotas when they can have the rel deal with lexus?? Again, this is purely an example. Lexus is the exact same as toyota but made better quality, more expensive, fancier etc. So why go with the cheap brand? Why not save for the real deal? As I stated, I buy all authentic, I have a nice car, but why do we sit here and even wonder why people carry replicas?? Yes, we all have our reasoning behind personal choice. But why does anyone care???

Uhm, actually - Acura is owned by HONDA.

Infiniti is the luxury line for Nissan.

(Yes, this makes me a jerk. I'm having a girl mood today.)

Back to the forum....
 
I'm saying more power to saving money then on spending thousands on a bag. Excuse me, but what do you think your bag is made of??? But you support that? Shall I call you an animal killer now? Gimme a break! Yes, it's "illegal" because of use of the name, and I'm someone who buys real bags. I don't CARE what people do. It's their choice! I can think of waaaaaay more things that people need to worry about then "omg she's flaunting a fake bag, Oh what shall we do?" What I DON'T agree with is someone selling a replica and not letting the buyer know it's fake misleading them that its real.

I agree: tell buyers they are not getting an authentic bag but a copy and let the buyer make the decision about the purchase!
 
I think you mean concur which means to agree with.

And I don't worry about what other people carry. I just care about my own bags. I don't have any replicas, mirror or not, but when it's nasty out and I don't want to take out a 'good' bag, I use one of my non-leather brands. I would love to have a purple stam some day, but until I can get a real one, it would never occur to me to get a replica. That to me is trademark infringement, and that is stealing from the actual designer.
 
More power to something illegal?? Well, I'm a lawyer so I can't agree with you on that (and even if I wasn't.. I don't support replicas in any way :nono:).. I'd simply buy a nice non-designer bag if I wanted to save the money on bags.

Yeeeeaaaaah, I'm going to have to go with this. Replicas are illegal. As with most illegal things, the illegality attracts shady elements and involves various human rights violations. That's hardly news on any level. I can't villify women who buy replicas, but I can't condone or recommend the purchase of one.

OTOH, I'm a totally fine with and approve of things like the Target bag here, that one line - LUSH? I think - that made similar bags without being dishonest, and all of the other wide variety of artists that create beautiful designs at all price points. Everyone should be free to look great and enjoy the benefits of that without facing judgment and without having to take on debt over a bag.

I like personalizing some words every now and then for the "visual fun" of it but at the same time I can appreciate a good sense of detail, so although it was unnecessary, thanks for the input :D
Other than that, my thoughts are totally different, regarding replicas being a trademark infringement, but we`re all entitled to our own opinion, and we could go on forever here, but who do we need to convince? As long as you`re happy with the choices you make, nothing else matters.
And also, judging another person for doing this or that, does not define that individual, but yourself.

Conquering something means winning / defeating your opponent, etc. Different word.

That said, when something's illegal, your thoughts on it aren't important enough to make the actions okay. The government has done the thinking for you and decided what is right and wrong (and will impose a penalty for choosing "wrong" actions). You might morally feel that it's fine and that's certainly your call - but it's still ILLEGAL. I agree that some of the rhetoric here about fakes / replicas and the women who carry them can be a bit over the top on occasion, but it's still not a LEGAL alternative, so recommending that someone break the law is questionable in any situation, IMO.

A valid alternative (which is why I'm so opposed to this thread, since it seems to attack the validity of that alternative) is to buy a nice design within your price point. :shrugs: That, to me, is 100 times more respectable than credit card debt OR judging people based on their bag's brand.
 
I've read several posts that make the assumption that everyone is aware of the evils of replica bags made by children in sweatshops, and how the funds support terrorism. I honestly think a large portion of the population has absolutely no idea about any of this. I had never heard anything about it until I became a member of TPF a few years ago. I don't think that this issue is covered by the media as much as we think it is -- we just happen to notice anything on this topic because it interests us.

With that said, I think many women who buy fake bags don't even consider that they may be supporting child labor or terrorism, even if they're aware that fake bags are illegal. They think they're getting essentially the same bag, only at a much better price. If they haven't had much exposure to the real thing, they may not realize how big the difference in quality is.

I also think at least some of the women carrying the higher quality replicas may honestly think they purchased the real thing. There are so many websites that claim to offer authentic products but really sell replicas, and some of them are quite expensive. If someone isn't familiar with with the real thing, or isn't a member of TPF where they can ask someone with more knowledge to authenticate, they could get scammed and not even realize it. And of course there's the whole fakes on eBay problem....

I always notice when someone is carrying a fake bag, but I would never say anything to them! Whatever the circumstances or their intentions, it would still be rude.

And do you know how I feel when I see someone carrying a fake version of my real bag? I really don't care..... they got what they paid for and I got what I paid for. I enjoy the feel and smell of the real leather, and the quality of my bag. It doesn't bother me if other people fail to realize that mine is real and cost a lot more, because that's not why I bought it. I guess I have kind of a "live and let live" attitude towards this issue.
 
Maybe those women do not even care about quality in the first place.

Most of the women I know don't care about quality or what their bag looks like once it wears a bit (I personally cannot stand the look of pleather when it starts to age), but they just don't care enough to even spend 100$ on a decent leather bag from Danier. They think I am insane for buying high quality purses...
 
Let`s get something straightened out. You don`t buy a replica for the brand it represents. You buy the design! This is your confusion here and the majority of people that also confrunt with it.
Personally, I am in love with every style I get. Why do most of the people believe you want something just because it`s got a Louis V label or Chanel?
I too will buy a non branded handbag whenever I see one I adore, but can you compare designs, can you compare ideas ? Heck no.
So excuse me, but I don`t feel guilty for recommending it. I don`t feel guilty for wearing it and by far I don`t feel anythng illegal about any replica baby I purchased.

If you buy the design, buy the design! For every design produced by a "premier designer," I can walk into any boutique in town and find various incarnations of the bag, ranging from scarily identical copy to "inspired by" at prices from $35 to $500+. None of them are replicas. Heck, if you want to hit the "right" scene and pick up a "Drada" that is identical to its designer namesake, go crazy! You want to pick up a PS1 look-a-like from Target and use the leftover funds to spend a week crashing with friends in Hawaii? We could be buddies - sounds like my kind of person! :p

Enjoy your replica - no reason not to if you purchased it. But buying them is illegal. Not a judgment. Just a comment. Drinking before you are 21 is illegal (in the US), speeding is illegal and violating IP laws is illegal. I have definitely sped, I plead the fifth on my university activities, and you have a replica. It does not make either of us monsters. But its still not legal.
And if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, illegal activities - including the act of purchasing what you know to be an IP law violation - can put you in contact with law enforcement authorities ... :shrugs: Im not making a moral judgment with that - just distinguishing between enjoying a bag design through legal versus illegal avenues. Best to play it safe, IMO.
 
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