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

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#1,291
Originally Posted by KathyB
All I said was that as long as designer goods are priced too high for the average Mary or John Doe to afford, does that mean Mary or John isn't entitled to own those designer items? Sure, they could save their money for weeks, months, years until he or she can travel to the boutique of their choice and purchase the item of their choice.

No Mary or John Doe is not entitled to own designer items if they can't afford them. There are so many places to buy a well priced authentic item. Perhaps they would be happy with a gently used item so it wouldn't be so expensive. I started with a used Dooney, then a used Coach and now I have a used Chanel. I hope to have a new Chanel soon! haha that would be nice. People should save up for the items they want or purchase with a credit card and make payments.

I do not condone fakes at all. Seeing stolen intellectual property being so blatently displayed is sickening to me. Especially now that I am more educated about fakes I notice fakes much more and I do wonder how all these women can be ok with carrying a tacky looking bag on their arm.

 
#1,293
so . . . even though I can't afford a $10mil home I am entitled to one?:s
I think people take 'entitlement' too far. You earn a living. . . to buy necessary things, to feed yourself, etc. . . . luxe items are also earned, just like EVERYTHING else.
 
#1,295
i understand the point she's making, but it's the underlining meaning that i find most perturbing.

i still maintain that no one is advocating the right of counterfeiters to steal and profit off of intellectual property theft, but rather the opposing view is asserting that demonizing those who choose to carry fakes isn't productive either.

my friends have purchased replicas from canal street. i've inform them of the implications of their actions and it's ultimately up to them whether or not they choose to heed my warning. you may lose respect for them since they went ahead and bought that fake spy anyway, but i didn't. i can only control what i do and how i feel. there's many, many things i'd like to convince other people of, but it's an impossible endeavor. i'm convinced they are wrong and i think their beliefs are harmful, but it's their right to ascribe to those values. who am i to tear them down? a person's views might not be respectful, but i've been taught to respect those views anyway.

some see this as a black and white issue while others take a more relativist approach to the matter. this is one of those controversies in which people hold steadfast views on meaning no one's minds are really going to change...
 
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#1,296
:goodpost:

Thank you for this post. It's what I've been trying to say all along. You can lecture and preach to someone about the horrors of the counterfeiting industry until you're blue in the face, but ultimately, they're going to do what they want to do. The decision is solely theirs and only theirs.

Respect their opinions and choices just as you would expect them to respect yours.
 
#1,297
^I think the point is that if someone chooses to carry a fake bag, that we don't have to respect them (for the plethora of reasons stated in the 26 pages of this thread)

And it's fairly naive to assume that people can respect someone who makes the ridiculous choice to purchase a blatantly fake bag instead of something more "ethical" that they actually can afford

JMHO
 
#1,298
KathyB said:
:goodpost:

Thank you for this post. It's what I've been trying to say all along. You can lecture and preach to someone about the horrors of the counterfeiting industry until you're blue in the face, but ultimately, they're going to do what they want to do. The decision is solely theirs and only theirs.

Respect their opinions and choices just as you would expect them to respect yours.
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I agree with that point. The decision IS theirs and I don't even try to change them - it's not my place. And while I can respect their right to make that decision, I do not have to respect the decision.

My comments were in response to the points/questions/comments in this thread. I wouldn't go up to someone carrying a fake and start lecturing them.

We are all just expression our opinions in here, not trying to police the world or pass judgment on others.
 
#1,299
I have not and will not ever lecture anyone on buying fakes etc. None of my friends have ever bought one I do notice some of the bags they buy from other designers or stores are obviously inspired because usually theyre a similar style of others Ive looked at but thats not a fake and theyve just picked it as a design they like not even knowing it has been inspired by something else and often made by a well known chain or low end designer.
I would however have something to say if someone came up to me and told me they got their authentic *insert label here* for $40 (or similar) as Ive seen before. I didnt say anything back then but I wasnt as into bags as I am now and I didnt know the girl. But if they buy a fake knowing and admitting thats what it is then good on them, I dont agree or approve but Im not going to say what they should and shouldnt do so long as they dont try to pass it off as real and tell me I got ripped off.
 
#1,301
irishlass1029 said:
I agree with that point. The decision IS theirs and I don't even try to change them - it's not my place. And while I can respect their right to make that decision, I do not have to respect the decision.

My comments were in response to the points/questions/comments in this thread. I wouldn't go up to someone carrying a fake and start lecturing them.

We are all just expression our opinions in here, not trying to police the world or pass judgment on others.
Click to expand...

ITA. while people may have the right to purchase a fake bag (while fully being aware of the negative effects on economy etc) i think i also have the right to think that such a decision is somewhat selfish and irresponsible on their part, due to the fact that it involves supporting thieves, crime, child labor, etc. if that makes me a "snob", so be it.

furthermore, NO ONE HERE is claiming that people who purchase & carry AUTHENTIC bags are all moral, upstanding fine citizens. sure, some people carry $2000 bags just for the status; and many of those are likely in debt up to their eyeballs, just because they want to flaunt luxury items to portray an image to others. do i think that is shallow and irresponsible? hell yes; i never said it wasn't. the issue being discussed here are people who buy FAKE handbags and act like it's no big deal. just because i disagree with someone who does that doesn't mean that I don't think that there are other things that are equally shallow/irresponsible.
 
#1,304
I agree about inspired bags. I waited until I was making enough money to buy a REAL coach... It kind of just happened when it did, but I'm still glad I waited. What disgusts me is a couple weeks later I saw a bunch of fakes of my bag on craigslist and other sites. So I know what you mean about people just thinking your bag is fake too. I bought Vera Bradley until I could afford coach... And I think buying something like that, still nice but less expensive, is WAY better. Fake bags make you look CHEAP...
 
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