Why Do People Buy Fake Designer Bags Or Fake Designer Anything?
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so true! I think NEXT has great designs, love their accessories. Top shop also has a constant supply of up-to-the minute shapes, some well priced leather bags as well as unique vintage pieces. Some people here assume the choice is spending their mortgage money on an expensive BRAND or buying a counterfeit. (btw there are fake Cath Kidston and fake Le pliage bags - they are not expensive to begin with, so saving money is not always the issue...greed, ignorance and poor taste rather than poverty is the driving factor.) there are some very angry people on this forum here who 'do not judge' but fiercely defend 'others' and their right to buy fake goods. http://www.theavtimes.com/2012/11/23/holiday-buyers-beware-counterfeit-goods/ As you say about the woman with the 'birkin'-some are happilly blind to just how awful they look, it would be an act of mercy to show them the way to Top Shop. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx...oh well - the FASHION police is after them...
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ladysarah said:so true! I think NEXT has great designs, love their accessories. Top shop also has a constant supply of up-to-the minute shapes, some well priced leather bags as well as unique vintage pieces. Some people here assume the choice is spending their mortgage money on an expensive BRAND or buying a counterfeit. (btw there are fake Cath Kidston and fake Le pliage bags - they are not expensive to begin with, so saving money is not always the issue...greed, ignorance and poor taste rather than poverty is the driving factor.) there are some very angry people on this forum here who 'do not judge' but fiercely defend 'others' and their right to buy fake goods. http://www.theavtimes.com/2012/11/23/holiday-buyers-beware-counterfeit-goods/ As you say about the woman with the 'birkin'-some are happilly blind to just how awful they look, it would be an act of mercy to show them the way to Top Shop. Nevertheless most of those angry people here are just not intelligent enough to comprehend WHY something may be illegal or tacky or both...oh well - the FASHION police is after them...
I agree with you on every point except for Cath Kidston and Le Pliage bags. I can't even afford those! So while they might be inexpensive for designer standards 100 dollars for a handbag is not something everyone can afford. Also, that might not be someone's taste. I think those bags are boring. Why would someone spend $100 dollars on a real designer that they don't like, when they can get a cute fake Miu Miu bow bag for $30. I don't buy fake bags (I don't buy designer bags at all). But I can understand how they would appeal to someone with little money.
Honestly, ladysarah, you seem like the angriest person here. Maybe you could find some constructive way to get your message out other than coming on tpf and making passive-aggressive, snide remarks about those of us who can't share your passion about the situation. Because really I can't see how anyone's remarks on here, where no one actually buys fakes, could make any significant difference in the industry.
Maybe find a picket line to join? Or hand out fliers or something?
Or maybe you could make a YouTube video. You seem to have a flair for the dramatic...
Maybe find a picket line to join? Or hand out fliers or something?
Or maybe you could make a YouTube video. You seem to have a flair for the dramatic...
from my experience some of the people..(i am from malaysia) some of our people they didn't know anything about all this what we call it luxurious brand...they just know lv as 1 of the expensive beg but they didn't know about another brand...so they just buy it without any feeling that it is a copy, or imitation or whta so ever...they buy because its look nice n beautiful n cheap...
but some of us they knew that it is expensive brand so they bought it (the fake one) on purpose to show that they got a lot of money (so sorry for my poor english) but they can cheat people who donno anything about the brand but not the expert....^_^
But for me i rather bought unbranded bag rather than buying something fake..
but u know what now u can get 1:1 fake bag but with the same quality and material but the price far cheaper than the original..
but some of us they knew that it is expensive brand so they bought it (the fake one) on purpose to show that they got a lot of money (so sorry for my poor english) but they can cheat people who donno anything about the brand but not the expert....^_^
But for me i rather bought unbranded bag rather than buying something fake..
but u know what now u can get 1:1 fake bag but with the same quality and material but the price far cheaper than the original..
IMO there are a few reasons why people buy fake bags. Mostly due to the original's price tag definitely. Not everyone can actually afford expensive brands (let's go to the extreme for example sake), like the Birkin or Chanel right? Middle income earners would probably feel their heart dropping and roll around a few blocks just at the thought of ever owning a brand new one of these; or even a second hand one (which my heart does sometimes btw 
)
In reality, branded bags like those made in Italy or France are more affordable in Europe and the US when compared to Asia. While a Balenciaga (again this is an example) would have a price tag of about US$1500, they are sold for almost double of that price in Asia!
This is mainly due to the shipping and taxes as well. Now that's a whole lotta moolah for 1 bag. Also, there are very few retail stores that are around in Asia. I am from Malaysia too and for the longest time, there hasn't been any Balenciaga store here until recently. Now we have one in the whole country. So imagine how difficult it is to get any form of sale/discount on these items here. I assume even if there were discounts probably a pathetic 10% off or so.
Coach is all over the place in the US, and there's also the factory outlets that sells bags at prices below US100. There are no such factory outlets over in this part of the world. It can only be found at their flagship stores. They do have better slashed prices though compared to the high end brands. They sometimes discount to 50%. This happens twice a year only if I am not wrong. Again, prices here are approx double of their prices over there. It's obvious that the lower income earners would find it difficult to own such expensive things. But we are all human and we want nice things too. Though the material and designs are way off from the real thing, the fakes are affordable substitutes. Some people just cannot afford even the smallest luxury in life.
While majority would fit in the "I cannot afford the one that I desire", others would've bought fakes just for the sake of having gazillion bags maybe? LOL!!
I don't condone to fakes personally, simply because I can afford to splurge sometimes. We shouldn't look down on people who do buy fakes. Instead, we should feel blessed that we can get away with our wants that may not even be our needs.
)In reality, branded bags like those made in Italy or France are more affordable in Europe and the US when compared to Asia. While a Balenciaga (again this is an example) would have a price tag of about US$1500, they are sold for almost double of that price in Asia!
This is mainly due to the shipping and taxes as well. Now that's a whole lotta moolah for 1 bag. Also, there are very few retail stores that are around in Asia. I am from Malaysia too and for the longest time, there hasn't been any Balenciaga store here until recently. Now we have one in the whole country. So imagine how difficult it is to get any form of sale/discount on these items here. I assume even if there were discounts probably a pathetic 10% off or so.
Coach is all over the place in the US, and there's also the factory outlets that sells bags at prices below US100. There are no such factory outlets over in this part of the world. It can only be found at their flagship stores. They do have better slashed prices though compared to the high end brands. They sometimes discount to 50%. This happens twice a year only if I am not wrong. Again, prices here are approx double of their prices over there. It's obvious that the lower income earners would find it difficult to own such expensive things. But we are all human and we want nice things too. Though the material and designs are way off from the real thing, the fakes are affordable substitutes. Some people just cannot afford even the smallest luxury in life.
While majority would fit in the "I cannot afford the one that I desire", others would've bought fakes just for the sake of having gazillion bags maybe? LOL!!
I don't condone to fakes personally, simply because I can afford to splurge sometimes. We shouldn't look down on people who do buy fakes. Instead, we should feel blessed that we can get away with our wants that may not even be our needs.
yes it def slowed down im in my 3ed week with no change weight wise just toning. I think my first 2 week was the water weight.
LOL!! Love your post! Don't you just love those folks who "don't judge"?BTW...Don't be suprised if this thread ends here, since I am usually able to kill a thread with one post.
there are some fabulous justifications here as to why people buy fake bags and why 'we dont judge'.
My personal favourite is the ones who 'because they can afford the real thing' so they don't care for those who cannot...
So does that mean they don't 'judge' them because they do not matter?
there is a CHANEL thread on the subject as well http://forum.purseblog.com/chanel/why-am-i-annoyed-with-fakes-778215-7.html
This is such a smart post - thank you.
I have to say that I live in the midwest. You basically see a ton of Coach here and that is the status women strive to attain - a Coach bag. I see a few LV now and then but really nothing over that. I imagine that if one wanted to buy a knock off here of Prada or what have you (which they'd have to do online), they could sport it around and nobody would know the difference - AND nobody would care. Basically if it isn't a Coach - nobody knows or cares what it is anyway. I know, this is probably shocking and disturbing to some, but it's true. So what we see here are knock off Coach purses - and they are just awful!
I hate to admit I am guilty of having bought one in my college years. I was so poor but wanted to feel special - and yes having that silly fake Coach did make me feel special. I forget what it was that made me do it but eventually I thought "how silly, what am I doing" and just got rid of the purse. I became really self conscious that someone would realize it was "fake" and call me out on it. I decided - like you said - that I would rather carry something I could afford than carry around a fake bag.
Then we also have people like my MIL who had a really really horrible LV knock off for awhile. I don't even know if you could call it a knock off - but you could tell LV was what it was aspiring to be. Thing is - I doubt my MIL even knows what LV is. In fact, I am sure she doesn't. So at least in the midwest, we also have people who are just ignorant completely to knock offs since the designer brands are so unknown here and they just think they are buying a "pretty purse".
I think younger girls are also a big target. They want to be what they see in ads and on television and they figure getting a knock off will help them become this "persona" of whatever it is they are trying to be. Add in the small price tag and you have yourselves a winner.
Do I really care if other people buy knock offs? No, not really. And I sure don't judge them for it. It's my preference not to because I'd feel awkard doing it. I'd rather own the real thing of something I can afford like a Coach or D&B (now that I can). I cannot afford the high end designer brands (and probably never will be able to) and I'd even go as far as to say a lot of people who own them ALSO cannot afford them. Just because you own something doesn't mean you could really afford it to begin with. For those who can - yipeee. But why should you care so much about what other people are doing?
so true! I think NEXT has great designs, love their accessories. Top shop also has a constant supply of up-to-the minute shapes, some well priced leather bags as well as unique vintage pieces. Some people here assume the choice is spending their mortgage money on an expensive BRAND or buying a counterfeit. (btw there are fake Cath Kidston and fake Le pliage bags - they are not expensive to begin with, so saving money is not always the issue...greed, ignorance and poor taste rather than poverty is the driving factor.) there are some very angry people on this forum here who 'do not judge' but fiercely defend 'others' and their right to buy fake goods. http://www.theavtimes.com/2012/11/23/holiday-buyers-beware-counterfeit-goods/ As you say about the woman with the 'birkin'-some are happilly blind to just how awful they look, it would be an act of mercy to show them the way to Top Shop. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx...oh well - the FASHION police is after them...
Fake cath kidston- really?! Shows how little I know when it comes to this! Thats just silly really- I brought one of there large box style bags in the sales in New Year for about £25!
Oh and my point about my Next bag- kind of null and voided as the flowers on the front fell to pieces at the weekend. DOHH.
As I said in my original post- I would never be outright malicious to somebody about carrying a knock off bag. The girls I spoke about probably realized I was looking at them and knew what I was thinking but I didn't say anything to them out loud- in fact knowing me I probably gave them an embarrassed smile because I was caught nosing.
I get some people can't afford nice things. I am unemployed and anything really nice I get I have to save up for or my parents buy me (I am far far from spoiled- this rarely happens!). I personally would rather wait a couple months/a year/two years and carry something from Topshop or whatever than look like a wally carrying a knock off bag. I'm by no means an expert so if it is obvious to me it must be pretty obvious to many others.
Not to mention what people who buy knock offs must be funding....I prefer not to think about it to be honest. Not to mention it leads to a lot of mistrust and means average joes like me will only save up to buy it from an actual brand store than say looking on eBay for one that I could get much cheaper.
I get some people can't afford nice things. I am unemployed and anything really nice I get I have to save up for or my parents buy me (I am far far from spoiled- this rarely happens!). I personally would rather wait a couple months/a year/two years and carry something from Topshop or whatever than look like a wally carrying a knock off bag. I'm by no means an expert so if it is obvious to me it must be pretty obvious to many others.
Not to mention what people who buy knock offs must be funding....I prefer not to think about it to be honest. Not to mention it leads to a lot of mistrust and means average joes like me will only save up to buy it from an actual brand store than say looking on eBay for one that I could get much cheaper.
In my experience - if you buy a bag from Next and it proves faulty - they will refund/exchange - and they will apologise as well.
If you buy a counterfeit LV and the logo falls off or something - I ve heard the service aint as good.
IMO there are a few reasons why people buy fake bags. Mostly due to the original's price tag definitely. Not everyone can actually afford expensive brands (let's go to the extreme for example sake), like the Birkin or Chanel right? Middle income earners would probably feel their heart dropping and roll around a few blocks just at the thought of ever owning a brand new one of these; or even a second hand one (which my heart does sometimes btw
In reality, branded bags like those made in Italy or France are more affordable in Europe and the US when compared to Asia. While a Balenciaga (again this is an example) would have a price tag of about US$1500, they are sold for almost double of that price in Asia!
This is mainly due to the shipping and taxes as well. Now that's a whole lotta moolah for 1 bag. Also, there are very few retail stores that are around in Asia. I am from Malaysia too and for the longest time, there hasn't been any Balenciaga store here until recently. Now we have one in the whole country. So imagine how difficult it is to get any form of sale/discount on these items here. I assume even if there were discounts probably a pathetic 10% off or so.
Coach is all over the place in the US, and there's also the factory outlets that sells bags at prices below US100. There are no such factory outlets over in this part of the world. It can only be found at their flagship stores. They do have better slashed prices though compared to the high end brands. They sometimes discount to 50%. This happens twice a year only if I am not wrong. Again, prices here are approx double of their prices over there. It's obvious that the lower income earners would find it difficult to own such expensive things. But we are all human and we want nice things too. Though the material and designs are way off from the real thing, the fakes are affordable substitutes. Some people just cannot afford even the smallest luxury in life.
While majority would fit in the "I cannot afford the one that I desire", others would've bought fakes just for the sake of having gazillion bags maybe? LOL!!
I don't condone to fakes personally, simply because I can afford to splurge sometimes. We shouldn't look down on people who do buy fakes. Instead, we should feel blessed that we can get away with our wants that may not even be our needs.
I was about to say the same thing, but this is very well said. I still think buying fakes are wrong, but I totally understand why they buy them.