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

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#2,986
I have given birth 3 times since this thread was started. :p

Anyways, just wanted to give the perspective of someone on the lower end of the income spectrum. We live on my husband's income (military) and I stay home with our 3 yr old daughter (older boys in school.) We don't have a lot of discretionary income but we live comfortably enough.

I believe there is more to buying fakes than how much money you have because I haven't been able to afford a LV thus far but you won't see me carrying a fake. I think there is something about the psychology of a person that buys a fake. I believe they care more about what someone thinks of them they what they think about themselves.

I am turning 30 this year, in August. My hubby and I have discussed buying a LV Alma for this milestone birthday. By then our only debt, our car, will be paid off and we will be able to afford this special and rare expense. I've always loved handbags, when I was 16 I would buy nine west at the local macy's and now I carry Rebecca Minkoff. I hope to get an LV for my 30th bday and that is special because it signifies a new stage in my life. A new decade, the days of diaper bags are behind me and hopefully more date nights with my husband. A fake is just another bag and not special unless putting on airs feeds your soul in someway.

I guess I do "judge" people that knowingly carry fakes. I feel bad that they are so compelled to fit in that they lose their sense of right & wrong. It also makes me sad that someone here (I quoted but it didn't show up) says they don't worry about it because it is only 1-3 days of discretionary pay. I am not really sure what that has to do with any morality issues but it makes me sad that designer bags are a dime a dozen for you. I much rather be me and enjoy one as something rare and precious.

I would be ashamed to carry a fake. Just my 2 cents.


peachylv said:
There is a sociological term for that behavior, but I have perpetual mom brain now, so I cannot remember it. While I believe in being culturally sensitive, I don't believe in moral relativism. If it's wrong, it's wrong.
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Groupthink?
 
#2,988
Brookiebelle said:
I haven't been able to afford a LV thus far but you won't see me carrying a fake. I think there is something about the psychology of a person that buys a fake. I believe they care more about what someone thinks of them they what they think about themselves.

A fake is just another bag and not special unless putting on airs feeds your soul in someway.

It also makes me sad that someone here (I quoted but it didn't show up) says they don't worry about it because it is only 1-3 days of discretionary pay. I am not really sure what that has to do with any morality issues
I would be ashamed to carry a fake. Just my 2 cents.




Groupthink?
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:goodpost::goodpost: excellent points. as I ve already stated, I do see (judge if you like) in a negative light people who knowingly buy fakes. My perception of their appearance is that they are tacky and deceitful, I could of course be wrong but until we can see their inner soul that's what my perception is. Everyone 'judges' others by their appearance, clothes, voice etc and is ridiculous to pretend otherwise. :D I have no idea what the person with the 1-3 days discretionary income was talking about and I doubt she did either.
 
#2,989
Brookiebelle said:
I have given birth 3 times since this thread was started. :p

Anyways, just wanted to give the perspective of someone on the lower end of the income spectrum. We live on my husband's income (military) and I stay home with our 3 yr old daughter (older boys in school.) We don't have a lot of discretionary income but we live comfortably enough.

I believe there is more to buying fakes than how much money you have because I haven't been able to afford a LV thus far but you won't see me carrying a fake. I think there is something about the psychology of a person that buys a fake. I believe they care more about what someone thinks of them they what they think about themselves.

I am turning 30 this year, in August. My hubby and I have discussed buying a LV Alma for this milestone birthday. By then our only debt, our car, will be paid off and we will be able to afford this special and rare expense. I've always loved handbags, when I was 16 I would buy nine west at the local macy's and now I carry Rebecca Minkoff. I hope to get an LV for my 30th bday and that is special because it signifies a new stage in my life. A new decade, the days of diaper bags are behind me and hopefully more date nights with my husband. A fake is just another bag and not special unless putting on airs feeds your soul in someway.

I guess I do "judge" people that knowingly carry fakes. I feel bad that they are so compelled to fit in that they lose their sense of right & wrong. It also makes me sad that someone here (I quoted but it didn't show up) says they don't worry about it because it is only 1-3 days of discretionary pay. I am not really sure what that has to do with any morality issues but it makes me sad that designer bags are a dime a dozen for you. I much rather be me and enjoy one as something rare and precious.

I would be ashamed to carry a fake. Just my 2 cents.




Groupthink?
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:roflmfao: at the first sentence!
 
#2,990
basically they are just fooling themself.

Although, honestly, lots of people don't recognize fakes... or even notice what bag at all that a person is carrying....

When I see a fake I kind of have a little laugh inside, because the real thing is usually so gorgeous, and the fake is so ugly. Sorry.
I don't judge so much though, about character.... it's after all an object..
 
#2,991
I have one fake Coach wristlet a well-meaning friend bought me. I cannot bring myself to carry it but it sits with my authentic lot for sentimental reasons. Some people just don't know they bought a fake. There is a shop by me that sells horrific fakes at authentic prices. I went in with a friend looking for no name bags ( I will carry a cheap bag if I like the look) and literally drug her out of the store. An uninformed buyer would have never known the difference. I find the people knowingly selling this garbage deplorable but sometimes the buyers are victims, not criminals.
 
#2,993
But the notion that everyone does or should connect the brand/cost of their handbag with the emotion of pride is a little ridiculous. Everyone doesn't, nor should they. For some, actually probably for most, a bag is not something they think of as representing who they are as a person. They don't care as much about it as we do. And I don't think that means they lack pride. I think it means they put their sense of pride in something else. Maybe in an actual accomplishment... I don't have a lot of friends who are into handbags. They would read this whole thread and howl with laughter. They'd be amazed that anyone cared about anyone else's handbag that much.
 
#2,994
Brookiebelle said:
I have given birth 3 times since this thread was started. :p


I believe there is more to buying fakes than how much money you have because I haven't been able to afford a LV thus far but you won't see me carrying a fake. I think there is something about the psychology of a person that buys a fake. I believe they care more about what someone thinks of them they what they think about themselves.

Groupthink?
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I agree to the above whole heartedly. People that knowingly purchase knock-offs/fakes are trying to fit in/impress/be something they are not. If I couldn't afford a designer handbag, I would simply purchase something cute and well made within my price point.

I have a few acquaintances who deliberately buy knock offs because they are very insecure; they don't have the cash to afford the real McCoy and are more concerned with how people perceive them than the quality of the piece. Sad. What's ironic is the very people they are trying to impress are the ones who can spot the faux Chanel, LV, etc.
 
#2,996
Why do people always ask this question? The answer is simple. Some people can't afford designer things/don't want to spend that kind of money but they want the brand name, so they buy a replica. Maybe they want to portray a certain image or maybe they like the style of the bag, who knows. I just don't understand why some people care so much if other people want to buy fake handbags. Like really, who cares? I wouldn't buy a fake personally but i don't care if other people want to. It's their life. People act so offended by it and i don't get why. I hope these people that are so against fakes are the same people that have never illegally downloaded music once in the life or shopped at Nike, H&M, Forever21(any place that has been known to use child labour), otherwise you're just a hypocrite.
 
#2,997
labelwhore04 said:
Why do people always ask this question? The answer is simple. Some people can't afford designer things/don't want to spend that kind of money but they want the brand name, so they buy a replica. Maybe they want to portray a certain image or maybe they like the style of the bag, who knows. I just don't understand why some people care so much if other people want to buy fake handbags. Like really, who cares? I wouldn't buy a fake personally but i don't care if other people want to. It's their life. People act so offended by it and i don't get why. I hope these people that are so against fakes are the same people that have never illegally downloaded music once in the life or shopped at Nike, H&M, Forever21(any place that has been known to use child labour), otherwise you're just a hypocrite.
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Him don't fully agree with you - if it's about not being legal all these three issues have one in thing common but IMO this has nothing to do why people carry fake. If I can't afford a Porsche I can't just go and buy a knock off - I d have to settle with a BMW or Volkswagen or whatever there is in a lower price range. I personally wouldn't buy a fake but I guess people don't care or some even believe its real when bought from whatever shop. Probably some have no idea that lv is only sold at their stores or maybe preowned online...
 
#2,999
Lisie said:
Him don't fully agree with you - if it's about not being legal all these three issues have one in thing common but IMO this has nothing to do why people carry fake. If I can't afford a Porsche I can't just go and buy a knock off - I d have to settle with a BMW or Volkswagen or whatever there is in a lower price range. I personally wouldn't buy a fake but I guess people don't care or some even believe its real when bought from whatever shop. Probably some have no idea that lv is only sold at their stores or maybe preowned online...
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And if there were such things as fake cars that cost less than the real deal and ran reliably, though with less performance than the real deal, people would buy them in droves...
 
#3,000
I have to agree with what that have been said about people buying fakes. Some can't afford it but still covet it (maybe due to the design or the status).

Some people think it's not worth spending so much hard earned money on 'something you just use to carrying your items in' (even though they could afford it) so they turn to fakes thinking they got a better value for the same brand.

Then there are those who have to change styles very frequently to keep up with trends, friends, public image or impulses and probably wouldn't be able to sustain the purchase of all originals turn to some fakes to ease up the burden.

Plus there are some I know that buy fakes for rough use and carry their originals in better places or events.
 
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