This is stemming from my recent naughty little spree. As much as I love shopping and I like nice things, I also like a bargain. I always frequent the sales in my favourite shops and I always come out feeling elated by the good buys I got. For example, prior to my new job starting, my most favourite shopping centre David Jones had a sale. I ended up buying 3 suits for the fraction of the price.
There are times when I also bought items from eBay. That place is a god-send when it comes to certain clothing and shoes. But it is also a place full of counterfeiting fiends who just want to make a quick buck.
I have read a few articles on how to spot fakes and questions to ask online sellers to determine the authenticity of items being sold. D. Parvaz's article was very well researched. They picked up 5 items from vintage stores and online places like eBay and Yahoo. They've discovered that the stitching in bags were poor, dust bags used are of poor quality and are of the wrong font, and there were even prints of bags that were never made by the original manufacturers! Very cheeky.
Another article from Postgazette.com stated that "if prices.. for some of the hottest luxury brands seem unreal, it very well may be because the goods themselves aren't real." True.
Okay, so you may think what the big deal is. Aren't people allowed to buy fakes if they want to? Are people ought to be shot if they want to buy a fake Louis Vuitton Poppincourt Haut to look cool and trendy? Can't people go and buy fakes just to show up "the man" for feeling the can justify charging us hard working folk thousands of dollars for a handbag? Fine, go ahead. But what these people don't understand is that the counterfeiting industry is a multi-billion dollar business and often involve poor children who are overworked and suffer in appalling living conditions not even fit for a dog.
In my opinion, at the risk of looking not-so-cool I'd rather not buy a fake item. Firstly, because you look like you're trying too hard to be someone you're not. Secondly, it's only feeding the counterfeiting fiends and they make more money by making fools out of others and treating children poorly. Lastly, heck... buying a fake is not even worth it! You can tell it's a fake, you'll look stupid for carrying one around, and you're ripping people off!
I feel sorry for people who honestly think they're getting a bargain when all their getting are lies and poor quality products. The only place where you are guaranteed to get the genuine article are the boutiques themselves and online stores like e-luxury.com. eBay? Not so sure. Apparently only as small as 10% of advertised luxury items are authentic, everything else is fake.
I may sound harsh towards people who knowingly buy fakes. I guess I'm just a firm believer that if a person can't afford something, don't force it. I like nice things but I also know my limits, thus my self-imposed "restraining order" (borrowing this term from you, Jaz :p) So what if you don't have a Louis Vuitton bag? It's not the bag that makes you cool, it's the person. Accessories are just that - accessories. They don't make you - YOU!
Just think of this the next time you're tempted to buy that oh-so-real-looking Hermes Berkin handbag...
Sex and the City's very own Samantha buying a "Fendi" bag from someone, stashed in the boot of his car!
How embarassing!
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2 comments:
Being cool as a person doesn't mean that one has to sport exquisite brands of clothes and accessories. One can always wear those unfamiliar brands and still come out looking like a million bucks if he/she has a good character to start with.
To be honest, I think I'd be more pleased/proud with people who purchase locally made brands or unknown brands even, than those who try sporting a fake kind....as you've said, if they haven't the financial capability to purchase a real Louis Vuitton tote, then it's best that they don't push it. Sobrang TH (trying hard) na sila kung ganun!
Ah yes, it's smells piracy. Guess it's not just here huh..
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