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

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#1,246
sweetneet said:
i still don't understand the assertion that "it's not my business" whether or not someone chooses to carry a fake bag.

i have a question for you then ..say at a library or office, you see someone clearly stealing a laptop from someone's else desk. are you saying that would not bother you at all? that you would just stand there and watch it happen, do nothing (don't report it, etc) thinking "well, it's none of my business, as i'm not the one getting ripped off." :rolleyes:

seriously, i think the reason a lot of people think buying fakes are no big deal is because they're not the one dealing with the consequences. there is no "valid" reason to buy counterfeit or stolen items, period.

and even though Prada, Chanel, LV etc bags may not be manufactured in the US (some LV's are though), their sale DOES contribute to the US economy...think of the jobs of all the SAs, managers that work in US boutiques...not to mention all the other employees (in marketing, advertising, etc) that live/work in the US.
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But, it really ISN'T my business, your business or anyone else's business. That person chose to spend THEIR money the way they saw fit.

If you are witness to a robbery, yes it is your civic duty to report it. But, what are you going to do if you see someone carrying a fake bag? Verbally accost them about it? You cannot do that. They would (more than likely) tell you that it's none of your business and to get lost. Also, are you going to visually and physically inspect every LV bag or designer bag that you encounter on a daily basis to see if it's real or not? You cannot do that, either. How would you feel if someone did that to you? You could tell them it's real if they asked, but if they said they didn't believe you and wanted proof, what would you do then?

I'm not pro-replica purchasing. All I'm saying is that people do not have a right to criticize or lambaste someone for buying a replica. Why do people buy generic drugs over name-brand drugs? They're less expensive, that's why. Basically, until Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Balenciaga and all the rest reduce their prices to a reasonable, livable amount that these folks buying replicas can afford, these same folks will continue to buy replicas.
 
#1,247
KathyB said:
But, it really ISN'T my business, your business or anyone else's business. That person chose to spend THEIR money the way they saw fit.

If you are witness to a robbery, yes it is your civic duty to report it. But, what are you going to do if you see someone carrying a fake bag? Verbally accost them about it? You cannot do that. They would (more than likely) tell you that it's none of your business and to get lost. Also, are you going to visually and physically inspect every LV bag or designer bag that you encounter on a daily basis to see if it's real or not? You cannot do that, either. How would you feel if someone did that to you? You could tell them it's real if they asked, but if they said they didn't believe you and wanted proof, what would you do then?

I'm not pro-replica purchasing. All I'm saying is that people do not have a right to criticize or lambaste someone for buying a replica. Why do people buy generic drugs over name-brand drugs? They're less expensive, that's why. Basically, until Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Balenciaga and all the rest reduce their prices to a reasonable, livable amount that these folks buying replicas can afford, these same folks will continue to buy replicas.
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um, the sale of generic drugs is not illegal. the sale of counterfeit items is. so you can't really make this comparison.

and LOL ...i'm not saying i would go up to someone and harass them about their bag being fake. i live in a town where 90% of the bags i see are hideous fakes, and I've never said a word to them, and never would. however that doesn't change what I think about what they are doing. it DOES bother me a lot when i see fakes or hear about people knowingly buy fakes. if someone i knew told me how they bought a fake on purpose, then i'd let them know what I thought of it, and would tell them where their $$ is actually going. and if after hearing all the facts, they still insisted that there "was nothing wrong with it" and continued to purchase fake bags because they wanted to save a few $$$, then yes, I probably would think less of them for that. Sorry if that makes me "judgmental" or whatever. I just can't understand how someone can consciously support an industry that promotes children working in sweatshops, organized crime, tax evasion, loss of jobs, people getting scammed, etc.

also, the notion that fakes would not exist if LV, Gucci, Prada lowered their prices is completely and utterly false. Where I live, the brand that is faked the most, hands down, is COACH...9 out of 10 fake bags i see is Coach. There is a Coach outlet 10 minutes from where I live, where i see several bags marked down to around $50. yet people still want to pay about THE SAME AMOUNT for a FAKE, crappy-quality "coach" bag from a street vendor. :confused1: Also, i know of a few people who make much more money than my DH & I (they drive a Mercedes,etc) yet they proudly wear fake handbags. I think it's not so much about affording it more about the "satisfaction" of getting something for really cheap.

Also, if you still think that counterfeit industry would not exist if authentic bags are cheaper.. look at what's probably faked/copied/pirated the most... DVDs and CDs!! are you telling me that most people can't afford a measly $15 for a CD, so that is why they must download it illegally, or get bootlegs from China?? Again, it's not necessarily about being able to afford it, it's more about not wanting to pay for it.
 
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#1,248
sweetneet said:
um, the sale of generic drugs is not illegal. the sale of counterfeit items is. so you can't really make this comparison.

and LOL ...i'm not saying i would go up to someone and harass them about their bag being fake. i live in a town where 90% of the bags i see are hideous fakes, and I've never said a word to them, and never would. however that doesn't change what I think about what they are doing. it DOES bother me a lot when i see fakes or hear about people knowingly buy fakes. if someone i knew told me how they bought a fake on purpose, then i'd let them know what I thought of it, and would tell them where their $$ is actually going. and if after hearing all the facts, they still insisted that there "was nothing wrong with it" and continued to purchase fake bags because they wanted to save a few $$$, then yes, I probably would think less of them for that. Sorry if that makes me "judgmental" or whatever. I just can't understand how someone can consciously support an industry that promotes children working in sweatshops, organized crime, tax evasion, loss of jobs, people getting scammed, etc.
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Yes, I realize the sale of generic drugs isn't illegal. :rolleyes: My point was the product being less expensive, regardless of what it is.

(Ref. in red) This isn't your "cross to bear", so to speak. If you're purchasing the genuine bag and can lie down in bed at night with a clear conscious in doing so, then you've done well for yourself. If these people buying replicas with the proceeds going toward all those "activities" you've mentioned and they've knowingly done this, it's their burden, not yours. However, it's not your place to criticize and/or lecture them about it, either.

You cannot police the world.
 
#1,250
LOL! I have to repeat what I said before. . . some people can justify anything and we'll never be able to convince them that the counterfeit trade is ethically wrong.
You either agree that illegally stealing someone else's design and giving proceeds to terrorist, drug traffickers, thieves {because stealing the design IS theft}, etc. . . is wrong or you don't :shrugs}
 
#1,251
How Luxury Lost Its Luster
by Dana Thomas

Highly recommended book to read.:tup::tup:

The author writes about first hand experiences (including a police raid in China) w/ the counterfeiting business.

Also loads of history on the fashion business and houses.

 
#1,252
i am confuse where i am standing here...i hate hate hate fake bags and seriously could not understand why people buy fake bags... i have only 2 friends with money that are buying those fake bags and i could not understand why....they bought expensive designer clothes but not real bags...
but i cannot judge them i guess...i do love pirated dvds...i cant imagine myself buying the real dvd...imagine how much 1 dvd is in my country....1 movie = 1 dvd = 50 cents.....if i buy the real dvd its $10....you do the math...
please tell me what u think...
 
#1,253
^it's theft. . . that's what I think since you asked :D

You're taking away profit from every single person that worked on that movie; the writer, key grip, animator, composer, etc. . . .

theft is theft is theft is theft.
 
#1,254
I think it's a slippery slope to assume that ALL replicas are produced in sweatshops and support terrorism, drugs, etc, etc.

I'm sure lots are, but I don't think that it's fair to assume that ALL designer bag replicas support these things. What about a person in the markets of China who makes it themselves and it not involved in all these things...also in the markets of new york.

Either way it is illegal, but I just take issue with the genealization. It's impossible to know where every replica comes from or who and what it supports...and out of all the billions in the world...i doubt that EVERY SINGLE ONE supports bag things.
 
#1,257
Swanky Mama Of Three said:
^it's theft. . . that's what I think since you asked :D

You're taking away profit from every single person that worked on that movie; the writer, key grip, animator, composer, etc. . . .

theft is theft is theft is theft.
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:yes:

I have friends who, when they were kids, had parents that would do things like get them illegal copies of DVDs of the latest Disney movie that came out (before it came out on DVD); would accompany them into sneaking into a 2nd (or 3rd, etc) movie at the theater. Now I know that many people (especially as children, or college students) have probably snuck into a movie or downloaded illegal copies of music etc at some point in their lives, most probably not fully aware of the effects of it.... however, teaching your own children to do it is a whole 'nother ball game...i mean you're basically teaching them that stealing is ok, and that is just so wrong IMO. i think that's how a lot of people, as adults, allow themselves into the whole "but i'm not hurting anyone" excuse when it comes to purchasing counterfeit items etc...maybe their whole lives they were somehow taught that some forms of stealing were ok, which is unfortunate...
 
#1,258
^^^^Who said ALL counterfeits support terrorism, drugs, etc. . .

That's just splitting hairs anyways, it's ILLEGAL. Pretend it never supports those things. IT'S STILL ILLEGAL! LOL!
 
#1,260
Swanky Mama Of Three said:
^it's theft. . . that's what I think since you asked :D

You're taking away profit from every single person that worked on that movie; the writer, key grip, animator, composer, etc. . . .

theft is theft is theft is theft.
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i knowwww...but i cant help it hiks.....huahuahau and after reading people n US magazine doesnt help either knowing how much the stars r making etc, well actually to be fair, i dont buy movies dvd....i always watch movies in theaters, what i buy are series..like gossip girl, grey's anatomy haha...n swanky haha i do feel like a theft sometimes....but i cant help it hiks.... :shrugs: and i love it because its sooooo cheaaap heuehuehueheu
 
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