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

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#3,151
swissmiss123 said:
I think that's so great that you all pitched in and got it for her. If someone likes the look of the LVs, then why not use fakes until they can afford the real thing? Having that constant motivation to save up and/or wait for something you truly love every single day will make finally attaining it that much more satisfying. However, there are ways to look chic on any budget, so I don't really understand why people would want to spend money on fakes when they have thousands of great options at nearly every price point. If you truly love a bag, you would feel like there is something missing even if you have the fake. That's why it was such a big deal when this girl finally got her real LV.

I personally don't buy fakes. I don't judge it, but I can't say I really get it. I would feel dishonest and desperate and like I'm contributing to stealing someone else's art and helping the people who steal designs profit off of that and that doesn't sit well with me. But that's just my personal opinion. Style has nothing to do with price tag and when I was a broke teenager I found many bags that I loved that didn't cost a lot and helped me create some very cute outfits.

But if buying fake bags will help a fashion lover who may not have the funds for the real thing just yet have that little bit of satisfaction and happiness and peace of mind that that girl had, then I don't think it's all that bad. I don't necessarily support the buying and selling of counterfeit merchandise, but it's not like companies like LV and Gucci are hurting for cash anyway and the market for fake bags isn't going anyway anytime soon.
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You make a valid point. Buying a cheap knockoff doesn't make sense when you have a billion other well designed lower end bags.
But that's where the brand value and its extrinsic qualities come in. Carrying an LV is different and makes you feel different when compared to carrying your corner store designer brand.

It's a question of why motivates people to buy a product, as I have mentioned in my previous reply.
 
#3,152
Personally, if I like the style and design of the bag, I don't care much whether it fake or true as long as the quality of the fake one is superior. You see, there is struggle here: I like the design, but I can't afford it. I like it not just for satisfaction or posing that I can afford it, JUST LIKE THE DESIGN. So sometimes I have to compromise. Also there is another alternative for me, I may choose other bags that have similiar design elements to the one I like.
In reality, I always choose the latter.
 
#3,153
As a handbag designer, I'm probably biased here, but here it goes...I think people initially buy knockoffs because they want the same "Cachet" of owning a designer bag, without the cost. Which I suppose , is fair enough.

The reason I don't buy knock-offs is because I see it as purchasing stolen goods. Designers spend years in training, some have decades of experience and paid many dues in order to be able to design something that is both functional as well as beautiful.

I have spent months look for the perfect leather, even a whole year designing a bag with perfected proportions and attention to detail, focusing on craftsmanship. I have my friends and family wear test the bags for months before even cutting a production sample.

When all of this hard work is then replicated by a company who's only skill is copying my original design, I can can do is say "ouch". It's pretty disheartening when that happens, not to mention unfair.

Even large companies with large design teams have to scour the fashion capitols of the world to find creative talent that has the vision, creative skill, and construction know how to get just one handbag design to market.

So...anyway, I just think if people thought about that aspect of design, maybe they would make a different choice.

:)
 
#3,154
I personally would never buy a knock-off bag. I would rather own an unknown, "non designer" brand that is well made than wear a knock off.

But there are some people out there, my best friend included (whom I've given many of my authentic bags to), who come from very low economic means. And you know what? They want so desperately to have something nice, and they don't care about all of the repercussions that come as a result of ripping off a designer by getting a knock-off bag, and they just want to belong. And they don't have the opportunity to "save up" because they have kids they need to hand money over to immediately. And they just want the bag. And that's it. End of story.
 
#3,155
I remember wanting a fake LV when I was a teenager. I think the biggest thing for me at the time was wanting to fit in with my peers, when I was in high school all the girls had LVs (real or fake... I'm not sure myself). I didn't care if it was fake, as long as it has the monogram on the bag, I want it! But I quickly grew out of that stage. I'm glad I never forked over the money for fake designer stuff. Just doesn't seem to be worth it to me. My very first designer bag was a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, I got it when I was fresh out of college with my first real full time job (last year :P), and I can't even explain how rewarding that feels. I finally took the plunge this year and bought my very first LV and it's such a humbling feeling to have such a nice designer piece to call my own. Ironically, I'm not even that big of a fan of the monogram, but 10 years ago, I would have killed for a fake LV monogram bag. :laugh:

One rule I lived by since my early college years is, if you can't afford the designer, then go find a cheaper brand. The market is flooded with other brands that has similar shapes/leather to your favorite designer. Why buy a cheap imitation/knock off when there are plenty of brands out there for you to choose from?
 
#3,156
The whole world is not into purses. Some people just don't know when they buy it. Believe it or not there are actually people out there who think that is the real thing and that is what it cost. They buy it to keep their stuff in it and because they like it. And maybe because they've heard of the designer who's name is on it. There are people who don't read fashion magazines or shallowly obsess.
 
#3,157
A lot of people don't understand why they should spend thousands of dollars for a bag.
They like the design but they don't want the hefty price tag.
That's why they opt for fakes and they don't care either if people know it's fake lol
 
#3,158
vidder911 said:
That's why selling fakes online is easier. Buyer probably knows little or nothing about authentication and seller relies on this. Even if the buyer knowingly buys the fake, they can always cop out saying they were scammed online!

I don't mean to say that everyone scammed online has a dirty secret, but it goes to show how easy it is to buy/sell fakes today!

In principle, I agree with you completely that buying fake goods is akin to abetting a humanitarian crime, but in the developing world, where I'm from, people care less about principle and more about status.

The thing is, that technology and Internet have proliferated the sales of fake bags, giving people who want to make that "impression" an easier way out. Also, a lot of people including experts on this site, would be able to spot a fake if they look close enough. But there are exceptions to this, which raises the question on consistent authentication. Maybe a technology solution might increase trust in authentication?

Thoughts?
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My company has the technology to ensure authentication but we talked to a couple of brands that exists on this forum, without naming names, and they actually didnt care for it because fakes boost the desirability of the authentic.

At the end of the day, most people who buy fake bags wouldnt buy the real thing in its place just because fake doesn't exist. However, someone who has bought a fake, may move up to buying the real thing one day. So having just enough fakes raises the value of the genuine, as the mentality does exist that "if it's good enough to be faked, it must be really good"
 
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#3,160
platinum_babie said:
My company has the technology to ensure authentication but we talked to a couple of brands that exists on this forum, without naming names, and they actually didnt care for it because fakes boost the desirability of the authentic.

At the end of the day, most people who buy fake bags wouldnt buy the real thing in its place just because fake doesn't exist. However, someone who has bought a fake, may move up to buying the real thing one day. So having just enough fakes raises the value of the genuine, as the mentality does exist that "if it's good enough to be faked, it must be really good"
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Aha! And now we know the REAL dirty little secret...
 
#3,161
I personally would never buy a knock-off bag. Better for me saving for a year not buying 'non designer bag' and saving from other expenses for 1 LV or I would rather own an unknown non designer brand or brand bag is not really expensive such as Zara, Guess, Tommy H, etc that is still famous brand than wear a knock off one....Just my opinion! :smile1:
 
#3,162
Honestly if you think about it, if you were, say, Gucci and there are knock-offs that sorta looks like your pattern but uses C instead G, there's really nothing for you to sue or care about cuz it doesn't hurt your business. The fundamental issue is trademark infringements - if everyone made bags using Gucci's trademark, then it will devalue the brand, and that's when they come after you. It's never about copying the style or the pattern, it's always about the image of the branding. The need for these companies is to control the image of the brand, as that's ultimately why people buy brandname bags. We can sit here and talk about quality all day long, but there are plenty of quality bags that don't cost this much.

People can sit here and judge why ppl carry fake bags and try to police this on behalf of the company that makes the genuine, but these corporations don't care about "fake bags." They care about what the market is doing, both black and open, that affects the brand imagery. If someone is doing something "illegal" but it helps the corporation's image, do you actually the corporation will come after them? Nope, at least not until it begins to hurt the brand's image. But even then, it might not be about going after the little guys making the fakes. For example, if people stopped wanting to buy LVs because it's so hard to tell what's real and what's fake, LV can go after the ppl who make the fakes by advocating laws to be enacted or actions to be taken, or they can do something about their products to make it harder to fake. They may choose either or, but the motive behind the action is always longterm branding and never short term profit loss.

Also, using the argument that "it is illegal, therefore it is wrong" shows no awareness of how laws are made and how they get changed or how they need to be interpreted. A sense of wrong or right can influence a law, but laws don't prove morality.
 
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#3,163
platinum_babie said:
My company has the technology to ensure authentication but we talked to a couple of brands that exists on this forum, without naming names, and they actually didnt care for it because fakes boost the desirability of the authentic.

At the end of the day, most people who buy fake bags wouldnt buy the real thing in its place just because fake doesn't exist. However, someone who has bought a fake, may move up to buying the real thing one day. So having just enough fakes raises the value of the genuine, as the mentality does exist that "if it's good enough to be faked, it must be really good"
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i should probably also clarify that being able to identify a real bag from a fake bag would encourage people to buy second hand items safely, and therefore the corporations would lose money as a lot of ppl buy from the boutiques to ensure authenticity. if there were no fakes, then everyone would be buying pre-loved items without concern, decreasing the profitability of new items directly from the house.
 
#3,164
platinum_babie said:
i should probably also clarify that being able to identify a real bag from a fake bag would encourage people to buy second hand items safely, and therefore the corporations would lose money as a lot of ppl buy from the boutiques to ensure authenticity. if there were no fakes, then everyone would be buying pre-loved items without concern, decreasing the profitability of new items directly from the house.
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Wow. Never even thought of it that way, but that is so true. One of the reasons I would hesitate to buy any premium bag on eBay is because I know I would always be wondering if it was really, truly authentic or if I had been scammed.
 
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