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

[ladysarah]

I try my best to research the things I buy and the conditions in which they are produced, as far as I possibly can. It isn't always possible to do so and unfortunately I'm certain that not everything I buy has been produced ethically. However, the bags I buy are. I'd never buy designer - something which, let's be honest, is a frivolous luxury - which I know or suspect has been produced using questionable methods.
That's just my choice; everyone is free to make their own, of course.

 

[MargaretofAnjou]

Do I care that someone has a fake bag? Not really.
Do I understand why someone would want a fake bag? Not really

Even if I fooled most people, I would know that I carried a fake, and that's what matters most to me. Does it really matter to some that they appear to have a certain bag when they don't? I buy designer bags for the quality -- and yes a little for the brand -- but I could never derive satisfaction from carrying a fake.

I semi understand people who don't believe in spending a lot of money on bags and may buy a fake because they simply like the design, but the ones who buy a fake for the pretend status? The people you'll fool likely don't care about the brand of your bag, and the ones who care you likely haven't fooled. Still, I wouldn't use this as a judgement for their character, because I don't know their situation and why they may feel the need to have one.

I will say though, that I feel nothing but sympathy for someone who unknowingly buys a fake. Those sellers should be ashamed of themselves for exploiting innocent people.

 

[aussiegirldubai]

i buy expensive designer bags because they make me happy. and no one can tell me otherwise.

hahah. Sorry this makes me giggle.

 

[aussiegirldubai]

Do I care that someone has a fake bag? Not really.
Do I understand why someone would want a fake bag? Not really

Even if I fooled most people, I would know that I carried a fake, and that's what matters most to me.

Very much agreed here.

 

[starbucksqueen]

This is a very old thread. Why, it's practically a fossil! So the argument continues.

I have held various positions on this. Have had to reconsider this due to the Great Recession and the fact that there is something called personal autonomy.We all like to spend on whatever we wish--if we have it. Or sometimes we like to think that we do.

I have met people on limited incomes of all ages. Would they love the real thing? Most, yes. I have to confess also that many years ago, (like in the 1980s), I did buy fakes. First of all, I didn't what Coach was though I liked the designs and I would never have dreamed of spending $$$ on a handbag. Because I could barely afford rent and food. Plus, I worked in bad neighborhood. It just wasn't smart to carry $$$ anything. So yeah, there are people like that. They don't care about sweatshops. Heck, they probably work in one! So as it was once said "It's the economy, stupid.
" Now for those who have money and they sort of know better and have fussed at me and pointed to the "suffering in the world."Why don't I buy a fake and give the money to charity?
Well, I have gone through enough on my own and the fact that I own or anyone else owns nice handbags or buys fakes has had very little bearing on the human condition. Really! So I guess you shouldn't be "holier-than-thou" about such things. We don't this here nor is it condoned. But I guess things are not so black-and-white. I truly would like to see things back to where we have the luxury to care about such things. It's a far different world than 2005 and 2006.

 

[Carrierae]

I dont find it hard to judge at all actually. Apart from the fact that most fake bags look supertacky.(yes darling, the proportions are usually off, the quality of the finish poor, the leather inferior etc etc etc they dont fool everyone you know... those who carry them may think they look cool - but yu know - we may be polite in front of you but we do laugh behind your back, or bag so to speak. we do not laugh thinking you have no money - we laugh because you have no taste.) Apart from the purely visual disaster, it is a form of theft and your family who is in the law enforcement business should explain that to you. The companies that produce the original designs, invest in quality design, manufacturing, pay taxes and generally contribute to society, whether one likes it or not. The illegal fakes are just that - illegal leeches. If you want to help the world's poor you can encourage local artisans and factories producing a certain standard of work - not copies.

I apologize for the late reply. I did not see my quote notification.

First of all "ladysarah", I don't need anyone to explain theft to me. I can comprehend that concept all on its own. The point is that people from ALL backgrounds steal. People with money shoplift, download illegal movies, and steal software without licenses. All forms of stealing take away from contributions towards society, but it is not limited to just the poor.

It's an integrity issue? Students cheat on tests, fake papers, take illegal prescription drugs to enhance their performance. They get that pretty little paper that said "MBA," but did they really earn it? Is their high GPA or degree giving them an competitive advantage that was obtained dishonestly? But it doesn't hurt people like replica purses? Unless you have an issue with all who compromise integrity, then you are using that as an excuse to snub your nose at replicas.

"We may be polite in front of you but we do laugh behind your back" Really...what are we? Mean girls back in high school? That's the problem with yes, SOME people, in society....they never grow up. Just because a woman is an adult doesn't mean she still doesn't continue to act like a little girl. Why would you even care? I see TERRIBLE replicas everyday. I think to myself "that was ugly," but I would never belittle one or JUDGE them because of their choice of taste...not in their presence, or behind their back. Taste is not only your choice of clothing...it is your choice of action.

A lot of these opinions steam from self-consciousness. "I don't want their replica to downplay my collection." Good grief. Who really cares? Eleanor Roosevelt said “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” That is spot on. People are going to make their own opinions. I wear my authentic with pride, and I don't care if someone thinks my bag is fake or not. I don't care if someone has an obvious fake bag. There is always going to be some sort of dishonesty in society. There will always be adolescence in society, but I can sleep knowing that I don't need to subdue the juvenile girl inside me.

Be grateful that you of what you have, and not dismissive of what others have not. And remember..."Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

 

[jailnurse93]

I apologize for the late reply. I did not see my quote notification.

First of all "ladysarah", I don't need anyone to explain theft to me. I can comprehend that concept all on its own. The point is that people from ALL backgrounds steal. People with money shoplift, download illegal movies, and steal software without licenses. All forms of stealing take away from contributions towards society, but it is not limited to just the poor.

It's an integrity issue? Students cheat on tests, fake papers, take illegal prescription drugs to enhance their performance. They get that pretty little paper that said "MBA," but did they really earn it? Is their high GPA or degree giving them an competitive advantage that was obtained dishonestly? But it doesn't hurt people like replica purses? Unless you have an issue with all who compromise integrity, then you are using that as an excuse to snub your nose at replicas.

"We may be polite in front of you but we do laugh behind your back" Really...what are we? Mean girls back in high school? That's the problem with yes, SOME people, in society....they never grow up. Just because a woman is an adult doesn't mean she still doesn't continue to act like a little girl. Why would you even care? I see TERRIBLE replicas everyday. I think to myself "that was ugly," but I would never belittle one or JUDGE them because of their choice of taste...not in their presence, or behind their back. Taste is not only your choice of clothing...it is your choice of action.

A lot of these opinions steam from self-consciousness. "I don't want their replica to downplay my collection." Good grief. Who really cares? Eleanor Roosevelt said “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” That is spot on. People are going to make their own opinions. I wear my authentic with pride, and I don't care if someone thinks my bag is fake or not. I don't care if someone has an obvious fake bag. There is always going to be some sort of dishonesty in society. There will always be adolescence in society, but I can sleep knowing that I don't need to subdue the juvenile girl inside me.

Be grateful that you of what you have, and not dismissive of what others have not. And remember..."Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Oooh..I love that! I'll be listening for the opportunity to use that in the future!

Also the quote from Eleanor Roosevelt....it is soooo true; no one can make you feel anything! Makes me wonder if she was an early 12 step member.

 

[Carrierae]

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

I know it is a "bewildering" concept, but yes....people with money can look past material objects.

My friend has the most disgusting Prada fake. She doesn't care that it is a replica or tries to pass it off as real. She doesn't even care if it says Prada. She bought it because she liked the design of bag and it was in her budget at the time.

No, she is not beneath me. I'm not a fan of her bag, but I don't judge her wardrobe or care. She's my friend not because what is on her back, but because of the type of person she is.

*Gasp* the horror.

People buy fakes for as many reasons as there are people purchasing fakes. You don' t always know who they are, nor can you presume to know what they can or can't afford, just what they choose to (or not) spend their money on. There are plenty of wealthy women who carry fakes, and many women living paycheck to paycheck in order to have the "boutique experience" and reassure themselves and others that their handbags are signifiers of their status and affluence. I've reached the point where I can't invest much energy in worrying about other people's choices, because I understand that I can never really know. I do what I do, and hope they're happy with their own decisions.

That was a perfect explanation.

I totally agree. Diminishing others; especially over style behind their back while being polite to their face does make you more significant. Actually, it makes you kind of fake as a person.

Hmmm...what is worse, having a fake object or a fake personality?

 

[helene20]

i have a story that would be a great method to either induce vomitting or crying!!
yetsurday i was at a store buying some socks for my son. I was waiting in line to pay when my eyes caught a lovely burgendy paddington on the arm of the lady in front of me. As she didnt look like anyone who would be carrying such an expensive bag; I was really interested. Not that I am catagorizing people now as "expensive bag material" or not but you can almost tell by the way a person dresses and takes care of themselves if thsi person is likely to be holding an expensive bag or not. This person I saw was not. I started some small talk with her and i admired her bag (i was holding my whiskey paddington at that time too). I asked her where she got it. I was shocked!! On my way out of the store I caught another glimpse of her bag and almost went into tears!!!

That's a dangerous and unfortunate way to think about folks. I recall my time as a freshman a Duke. I lived next to Ralph Lauren kids, and Ben Qualye ,and they looked like they had just gotten out of bed most times, really shabby and drove VWs. I think people with a certain amount of exposure and experience realize that many people who are well off simply don't display their wealth.

Well said, I have an late uncle that had millions and if you would have seen him sipping his coffee at McD every morning you would have never guessed he was rich. He loved to live a simple life and was such a great man to talk to but never displayed that he had money neither my aunt.

 

[Laura Gao]

Everyboby has it's own reason:
1. Some people want to pay less.
2. Some even don't realize than they buy fake thing.
3. Some find bag of good quality & design and would be happy to buy it with "noname" label, but accidentally it wears "cool" label.

 

[cherrycookies]

a friend of mine has a large collection of fake bags and with the money she spent on them as she only gets good quality fake bags, she can easily get real ones. i don't judge her as it's really none of my business. she likes having many bags as she likes to match them with her outfits. she believes in quantity over quality.

for me, i will too embarassed to carry a fake but to be honest, as i look at her bags, i can't really tell the difference between real & fake bags unless you put the 2 bags side by side and examine closely.

 

[Hatfield1313]

I've been debating getting involved in this topic but, here I am. I was given a fake LV Rayures Neverfull. Didn't know it was fake till it started peeling. Before I knew I used it with as much love as I do my authentic bags. When I noticed it started to peel was I upset? Of course. Did I lash out at my friend because of it? Of course not. Maybe she thought it was real (she's not savvy in designer bags), maybe that's all she could afford, or maybe she just knew I wanted a real LV in that pattern but missed the boat on that collection and she wanted to make me happy. The point is it was still a gift from a friend. Do I use it less now because it's fake? Honestly, no. I do use it less, but because I don't want it more damaged. I still love it just as much. Would I ever buy a real Neverfull for myself after using this one? Eh, I'm still on the fence on that because I'm not sure I like the design (which brings me to another point momentarily). Do I feel ashamed when I carry it knowing it's fake? Answer: Do you really think I give a damn? I know who I am, what I'm about, and could care less about what others think when they look at it. I don't wear my designer bags to be all "Look at me and look at what I have and neener neener neener!" I wear them because they suit my style and taste. I've had Coach bags I've hated, I've had Juicy bags I've hated, and even LV's I've hated. The label doesn't have much to do with it for me. Now, the other point I was going to get at is this: After carrying around this fake, I thought, ya know, this is a great way to try out a style. This does NOT mean I condone buying them or would I ever buy one! What this means is have you guys thought maybe some women do this as a test run for the real thing? See if they like the style? Sure there's BBOS where you can rent one and test it out but half the time there's a waiting list. I don't know, this is just a thought, something that occurred to me while reading through posts and thinking about my own wannabe at home. Bottom line is, you never know where a person's coming from or what their reasons are for doing what they do, and while it's human nature to judge, I think it's also worth looking at a bigger picture.

Maybe that woman in line in front of you was given that fake bag by her grandmother who's now passed that couldn't afford anything more or just didn't know otherwise, but wanted to please her grandchild.

Think about it.

 

[jailnurse93]

Some people just don't know where to buy real ones either. I experienced this first hand just a few weeks ago. A co-worker who knows that I have a purse addiction showed me a website that had what appeared to her to be Coach bags. She had seen a Coach logo bag on someone the week prior and decided that she wanted one too. "Is this a nice one to buy?" she asked me. It was a site that was full of fakes but she did not know. I guided her to coach.com (poor girl nearly fainted at the prices) and also coachfactory.com, where she ended up choosing her first designer bag. She would have bought a fake and never would have known had she not asked....

 

[Hatfield1313]

Some people just don't know where to buy real ones either. I experienced this first hand just a few weeks ago. A co-worker who knows that I have a purse addiction showed me a website that had what appeared to her to be Coach bags. She had seen a Coach logo bag on someone the week prior and decided that she wanted one too. "Is this a nice one to buy?" she asked me. It was a site that was full of fakes but she did not know. I guided her to coach.com (poor girl nearly fainted at the prices) and also coachfactory.com, where she ended up choosing her first designer bag. She would have bought a fake and never would have known had she not asked....

Great point! So see ladies, not everyone is as educated in the world of handbags as we are. Which adds to my previous post, just show a little compassion rather than judgment.

 

[every1dreams]

I can't claim to know the difference half the time so I just assume they're all real. I figure considering where I live n the ppl I encounter, if I can afford it so can they.

I did get caught tho. 3-4yrs ago I went back home to visit, decided to stay in manhattan in a nice hotel and show my mom a good time... While walking thru Times Square I was approached by a guy. Since I planned on shopping anyways, when he showed me this monogram empreinte tote, I fell in love. He wanted $800, I was like no way am I paying $800 to some random guy on the streets, I paid $400 NEVER saw another like it on the streets or even on LV.com and everywhere I went ladies wanted to know where I got it and the leather was extremely soft n supple so I thought it was real and at the time I didnt know all the styles available in this pattern, just thought I got lucky. Everyone assumed it real as well, since in between I was carrying authentic galleria, abbey, spy, and sukey. I eventually gave it to my local consignment store, it was gone in 2dys.

Bottom line, I'll never buy from a guy on the streets again, simply bc I like to know my item is real and the only way I can be sure, is to go directly to the stores.

I don't judge others for buying fake, I judge myself for being so weak that I can't be satisfied with a no name anything. My concern is with the fact that counterfeit anything helps to fund terrorism.