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

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#3,451
missy_g said:
this has probably been said before but i think a lot of it is status. Some people don't care if their bag is fake. To the normal person it looks real. If it didn't, this board wouldn't be full of authenticity threads. Some people buy fakes knowing they are fake and some buy thinking they are real but imo they're buying for the same reason. They want some sort of attention or they just feel good knowing they have a bag with a designer label on it.

I mean why do people buy designer stuff anyway? You can't say it's for quality because imo fossil bags have the same if not better quality than coach but you don't see people bragging about their new fossil bag. If someone was so into quality, they would probably carry the same bag for years before buying a new one. My mil carried the same wilson leather bag for over 10 years. I asked her why and she said the bag just would not quit and because it was made so well, she couldn't see buying a new one. It finally died a few months ago and my sil gave her a d&b and my mil said she hopes it lasts another 10 years because she associates that designer with quality.
Anyway i know this is all over the place. I guess my point is, if people were totally in it for quality there wouldn't be fakes as no one would buy them.
I don't mean to post this to offend anyone as you like what you like and that's ok. I love bags as much as the next person and i'm constantly looking for my perfect bag. One day i will find it.
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+1
 
#3,452
pukasonqo said:
i think that the market and the desire for luxury items is what might drive people to buy fake items
a bit like "monkey sees, monkey do", unfortunately some monkeys have the funds to buy the real deal, others don't but still want it (for their own reasons) and here comes the personal choice: you can save for it (takes time and patience) or go the route of instant gratification by either maxxing your cc or buying an item, for a fraction of the cost, that looks exactly like the real thing, feels like the real thing and not only makes you feel good (you've got your luxury item) but ain't you clever because you paid less than retail for it
using the argument that the money spend on fakes goes to fund terrorism, child labor, etc does not work at all, most humans are selfish and given the choice, most people will choose the fake plus most of us do not identify with the victims of those crimes but aspire to look like the starlet of the moment or your BF who has that wanted item (generalising here)
why? because it gives the status, it looks exactly like the one they saw in the boutique, it makes them feel good, they deserve it (that comes as a pun), they are giving the one finger salute to the brand by buying a fake (weird but i heard this one); take your pic, the list is endless and we all are exceptionally good at self justification
bear in mind, i am talking about those who knowingly buy fakes not people who get duped or scammed into getting one
i think that, as luxury items continue to be produced, the counterfeit market will continue to grow
and counterfeit items have been doing the rounds for a very long time (the museum of counterfeits in paris has fake seals for "roman" wine, this is in the book "deluxe, how luxury lost its lustre")
and in case it wasn't clear, i am against fakes, if i cannot afford an item i save for it or i pass on it ( i know that, except for a lotto win, H is totally out of my league)
and this is the end of my great australian novel, sorry for the lenghty post!
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Great post though!!!
 
#3,454
pukasonqo said:
i think that the market and the desire for luxury items is what might drive people to buy fake items
a bit like "monkey sees, monkey do", unfortunately some monkeys have the funds to buy the real deal, others don't but still want it (for their own reasons) and here comes the personal choice: you can save for it (takes time and patience) or go the route of instant gratification by either maxxing your cc or buying an item, for a fraction of the cost, that looks exactly like the real thing, feels like the real thing and not only makes you feel good (you've got your luxury item) but ain't you clever because you paid less than retail for it
using the argument that the money spend on fakes goes to fund terrorism, child labor, etc does not work at all, most humans are selfish and given the choice, most people will choose the fake plus most of us do not identify with the victims of those crimes but aspire to look like the starlet of the moment or your BF who has that wanted item (generalising here)
why? because it gives the status, it looks exactly like the one they saw in the boutique, it makes them feel good, they deserve it (that comes as a pun), they are giving the one finger salute to the brand by buying a fake (weird but i heard this one); take your pic, the list is endless and we all are exceptionally good at self justification
bear in mind, i am talking about those who knowingly buy fakes not people who get duped or scammed into getting one
i think that, as luxury items continue to be produced, the counterfeit market will continue to grow
and counterfeit items have been doing the rounds for a very long time (the museum of counterfeits in paris has fake seals for "roman" wine, this is in the book "deluxe, how luxury lost its lustre")
and in case it wasn't clear, i am against fakes, if i cannot afford an item i save for it or i pass on it ( i know that, except for a lotto win, H is totally out of my league)
and this is the end of my great australian novel, sorry for the lenghty post!
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Nope! Fakes look nothing like the real ones and feel nothing like the real ones . There's a big difference.
 
#3,456
I guess there's not only one answer to the question. I can admit that I've been very tempted to get a certain style that I believe is way out of my budget. Not to show off but because I absolutely love the design. But it doesn't feel right. And it's so obviously out of my price range that I believe it would look silly on me - both a fake and the real thing unfortunately. ;)

However, I once got an unbranded "designer inspired" item but couldn't stand the crappy quality. I'd rather go for pre-loved designer items or well made non-designer items. If the design and the quality is great I'm interested. So far I have not come across a fake that meet these requirements.
 
#3,457
To answer your question from my point of view, I am someone who can afford designer labels and on many occasions I purchase them.

However, if I come across a designer item I want to purchase and I know of a "fake" seller whose products, to my eye, are excellent copies of the original at a fraction of the price, then I will happily buy the fake because .. why not? If two things look the same or extremely similar and one thing costs 1/10th the price of the other, then regardless of whether you could afford to pay the higher price - it seems silly and foolish not to pay the lower price.

Of course this assumes a very good quality fake. Not all fakes are the same.

Also, I'm not swayed by the "child labour" argument in a time and day when many luxury labels are shifting their manufacturing base to countries such as China.
 
#3,458
minibow said:
Not all fakes are the same.
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Fair point.

The distinction probably ought to be made between "inspired" & "counterfeit" fakes--
--first are bags copying general style of designer bag, without trying to pass as original
--second are bags attempting to copy & pass for designer original, with false brand name labels & packaging

Counterfeit trafficking is illegal. In many countries, buying/owning a counterfeit bag is illegal, also.
Inspired bags cannot be criminally prosecuted. Forever21 & target sell these often.

Search online "knockoff versus counterfeit handbag" to find more information, anyone interested. :)
 
#3,459
remainsilly said:
The distinction probably ought to be made between "inspired" & "counterfeit" fakes--

--first are bags copying general style of designer bag, without trying to pass as original

Inspired bags cannot be criminally prosecuted. Forever21 & target sell these often.



Search online "knockoff versus counterfeit handbag" to find more information, anyone interested. :)
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This is an important distinction. I have been eying some unbranded balenciaga knock offs because I love the style but cannot afford to shell out 1800.00 on a bag. And the used ones I see that are legit and are in my price range tend to look really grotty :(
 
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#3,460
But it is also a fact that there are many producers of good quality (of course it exists) counterfeits who are not funding gangs or people smuggling but are just running businesses, complying with their own countries laws without respecting another countries laws.

But the simple answer.. leaving the moral stuff out of it.. is because depending on where you buy the original and the fake can appear identical or nearly identical to anything but the trained eye.

For instance, I know a factory in India that makes fabric for scarves sold by Hermes. IF that factory had a counterfeit side business the quality would be almost exact. Similarly, its foolish to think a product made in China can't be as good as one made in Europe.

And for me, I wouldn't feel like I was posing because I'd have no trouble affording the original.
 
#3,461
minibow said:
But it is also a fact that there are many producers of good quality (of course it exists) counterfeits who are not funding gangs or people smuggling but are just running businesses, complying with their own countries laws without respecting another countries laws.
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In what sense is it a fact? Where's the evidence for this? "Without respecting" is about right.

By the way, this is an anti-counterfeits forum. You don't get to post links to or pictures of the products you seem to enjoy. That should tell you something about who's here.
 
#3,462
minibow said:
But it is also a fact that there are many producers of good quality (of course it exists) counterfeits who are not funding gangs or people smuggling but are just running businesses, complying with their own countries laws without respecting another countries laws.

But the simple answer.. leaving the moral stuff out of it.. is because depending on where you buy the original and the fake can appear identical or nearly identical to anything but the trained eye.

For instance, I know a factory in India that makes fabric for scarves sold by Hermes. IF that factory had a counterfeit side business the quality would be almost exact. Similarly, its foolish to think a product made in China can't be as good as one made in Europe.

And for me, I wouldn't feel like I was posing because I'd have no trouble affording the original.
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You can justify it to yourself all you want. Choosing to buy the illegal, amoral, stolen copyrighted work makes you not just a poser but you sound delusional. Newsflash, you're posing that you own the real thing.

Buying fakes isn't smart shopping. No matter that you keep saying you can afford the real thing, you clearly know nothing about craftsmanship, materials or place any value on a brand's heritage or a businesses rights to protect itself. While perhaps you have the means to buy at whatever price, it seems to me you're lacking the taste to make the distinction between real and fake.
 
#3,463
There is a very big difference between fakes and knock offs.

A person who buys a knock off buys a bag (etc.) that is similar (perhaps even a close twin) to a designer brand. But, that item does not carry the (original) brand's label. This is a very common, accepted practice in fashion. It's why we have trends that sweep across brands. The person who buys an iteration of an item is showing that they appreciate the style of a bag and is buying the one they can afford or they feel warrants the price asked. That is a sane, reasonable person making a decision.

A person who buys a fake buys a bag (etc.) carrying a brand's design and label that was not manufactured by that brand. That person is committing a crime and obviously is brand struck. They want to pretend to have something they can't afford (or won't spend the money on) which is pathetic. There is zero justification for supporting the theft of a brand's logo or intellectual property. It is not smart / ok / acceptable to buy something that takes away profit from someone who worked to create an item. I don't see how anyone can justify theft / supporting theft as a way to ease the burden on their own pocket. What has happened to our world when we can feel ok about this??

Buy the original or buy inspired. Otherwise, don't buy.
 
#3,464
MrsOwen3 said:
You can justify it to yourself all you want. Choosing to buy the illegal, amoral, stolen copyrighted work makes you not just a poser but you sound delusional. Newsflash, you're posing that you own the real thing.

Buying fakes isn't smart shopping. No matter that you keep saying you can afford the real thing, you clearly know nothing about craftsmanship, materials or place any value on a brand's heritage or a businesses rights to protect itself. While perhaps you have the means to buy at whatever price, it seems to me you're lacking the taste to make the distinction between real and fake.
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THANK YOU!

There are dozens of reasons why buying fakes deliberately is treated as a crime in Europe (where the most prized counterfeited brands are based: Hermès, Cartier, LV, Goyard, Patek, Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga, etc etc), with heavy fines and even prison sentences. An alleged ignorance that the item you carry is a fake, as in: "Oh, how could I know since it was a hand-me-down/a gift", "But I bought it in a real shop!" won´t let the fake carrier off the hook and, if caught by enforcement authorities carrying a fake, it will be confiscated and the carrier will have to pay a fine at least as high as the price of the genuine item: so, that fifty buck Chanel may well end up costing you five grand, plus a police file and, if a repeat offender or caught carrying more than one such fake, maybe even a prison sentence.

Here, educated, decent, honest and socially aware people don´t buy fakes on purpose. It is not considered "being sooo clever", or "just a little white lie" or a "harmless minor offence", quite the contrary. It is seen as something for losers and criminals: sorry, that is just what the law says. And NOBODY is above the law :smile1:
 
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