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

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#3,211
Pillow8 said:
I am guilty of buying 2 reps just recently and it took me a while before I share my thoughts in this thread.

I am an authentic bag collector for many yrs and what pushed me to try a rep is the recent Chanel price increase. I have saved a lot for what I consider my holy grail bag. But just when it is within my budget's reach, they increased the price which brings me back to square one. I was so upset so as protest, I tried a rep thinking (1) i'll only carry it in a place where there are not a lot of people to see (2) carry it to a place where people have untrained eyes to spot a rep & (3) i can dispose of it when I dont like it. Hunting for the best rep gave me that thrill to find the best mirror image and increased my knowledge about the bag through research. However, no matter how good a rep is and even if people can't tell the difference, a rep cannot give me something that only an authentic can...pride. I have been used to carrying an authentic bag that when I carry the fake, I always feel like hiding. My bf is not a fan of my collection (he said it was excessive) but when I told him I bought reps, and why I did that, he said the price increase is to maintain that level of exclusivity which is part of what I am paying for. He does not support the expensive bags but he prefers I buy only original.
I regret buying reps as I can't enjoy carrying the bag. I realized I just wasted money as I could have bought a real LV cles with the amount I spent on the reps. :(


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Thank you for sharing your experience. I must say its quite brave considering!

I've said my opinion here pages and pages ago, but I think that's what it comes down to doesn't it - the opportunity cost of purchasing (or contributing towards the purchase) of either a real LV SLG in your case, or even a beautifully made, real leather non-brand-name piece otherwise.
Even if the fake is $5, $50, or $500, that's still good money thrown towards a pretend product, and who is anyone trying to kid?
 
#3,213
Gixxer said:
Thank you for sharing your experience. I must say its quite brave considering!



I've said my opinion here pages and pages ago, but I think that's what it comes down to doesn't it - the opportunity cost of purchasing (or contributing towards the purchase) of either a real LV SLG in your case, or even a beautifully made, real leather non-brand-name piece otherwise.

Even if the fake is $5, $50, or $500, that's still good money thrown towards a pretend product, and who is anyone trying to kid?
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No more pretend products for me regardless if its bag or other stuff. Thanks for letting me share.


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#3,214
ladysarah said:
...and is always worth remembering what is behind those 'fake' bags....http://www.adnas.com/company-blog/child-victims-counterfeit-trade
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Somehow, I thought of a use for the reps. I'm think of creating a video about how to spot a fake and educating other people what goes behind the making of a bag. I'll post your link in the message box for others to see. A lot of ladies turn to TPF and YouTube for info when deciding a purchase. I might just be able to enlighten a tempted buyer of rep to not go for it.

Thanks for the reminder :)



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#3,216
Pillow8 said:
Somehow, I thought of a use for the reps. I'm think of creating a video about how to spot a fake and educating other people what goes behind the making of a bag. I'll post your link in the message box for others to see. A lot of ladies turn to TPF and YouTube for info when deciding a purchase. I might just be able to enlighten a tempted buyer of rep to not go for it.

Thanks for the reminder :)



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I think making a video would be an excellent idea. The word should be out there more than it is.
 
#3,218
metallica said:
I'm curious what do most of you do for a living in order to be able to afford these nice bags? Ob
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Well for me, I work as a nurse here HK. I'm single, no kids and I'm not supporting anyone but myself. So yeah, all of my bags on my collection is from my own pocket. This may sound cliche but here it goes, it takes hard work and dedication to sustain my bag obsession. I mean I can't just expect things to happen if I do nothing right.

On the topic.
I know someone that get so hyped whenever she buys fake designer handbags. I think this is because she feels like she crack a code or something. You know getting a something luxurious and expensive in fraction of the price. Is that make any sense at all?
 
#3,219
Everyone I know that carries a fake is convinced they got a steal, bargain. I remind them its only a bargain if only you can get it. Anyone can buy a fake. They think they are exclusive, know something other people don't know, are smart. They think they can fool other people and people are dumb.
 
#3,220
I live close to the Italian border. In the past, lots of people used to go to Ventimille on Fridays to buy fakes at the market. They knew what they were doing.
Even ladies with high incomes used to go there. Some said that the bags were very close to the original, so they were very proud to tell us they had spent very little money to get what others got from the French boutiques at a huge price.
French television had a lot of programmes about the whole thing showing us Customs Officers searching car trucks, confiscating the items, giving huge fines to counterfeit buyers.
Italy went into action too.
And today it´s over or so people say.
When you go to the Vintimille market it ´s to buy bed covers. sweaters or salami....
The Police are everywhere to make sure no one sells fakes any more.
 
#3,221
metallica said:
I'm curious what do most of you do for a living in order to be able to afford these nice bags? Ob
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Freelance conference interpreter, unmarried, debt-free, child-free, and I got my finances together. My only costly vices are my dog, backpacking trips, heirloom garden seeds, antique books, and 1 top bag/2 SLGs per year, tops.

So I set aside a sum each month in my "stoopid envelope" (stupid broken home appliance that needs replacing, lost umbrellas, stupid late fee, stupid speeding ticket etc); at the end of each month anything left there is split, half is carried over to next month´s "stoopid", the other half I blow on any of the above, or save it for a biggie in July or December. Also a great incentive to take good care of my stuff, pay bills on time and not drive too fast :D
 
#3,222
Pimpernel said:
So I set aside a sum each month in my "stoopid envelope" (stupid broken home appliance that needs replacing, lost umbrellas, stupid late fee, stupid speeding ticket etc); at the end of each month anything left there is split, half is carried over to next month´s "stoopid", the other half I blow on any of the above, or save it for a biggie in July or December. Also a great incentive to take good care of my stuff, pay bills on time and not drive too fast :D
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Love this idea. Good for you!
 
#3,223
I've never purchased nor would I ever purchase a fake designer handbag or wallet. I just feel that it doesn't make sense when you can purchase other non-designer bags that are better quality than a fake bag. I've never owned a high end designer bag until I was out of college because I was making serious money and could spend money on that kind of stuff living in Boston. But I work really hard in a serious well paying corporate job that I'm able to afford high end designer clothes and bags... Over the years I've collected a large number of expensive bags which if you add it up would cost the price of a nice car..

Now I don't post many of my high end designer bags on here and I've felt the need to really cut back on all that over the last several years.
 
#3,225
If one can't afford a high-end designer handbag there is plenty of other nice bags out there that has a cheaper price tag but no fancy name.
I would never carry a bag that is fake. To me that is just trying to hard to be something you just can't be. There is nothing wrong with not having the money to spend on a very expensive bag - but if you can't afford the real deal then buy something else! It can be just as chic to carry a cheaper bag but carrying a fake is just embarrasing.
 
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