Maybe you can’t afford the real thing. Or perhaps you think you deserve a bargain. So you head off to an online auction or a street corner to buy a fake handbag. After all, the fakes (also called copies, knockoffs, replicas and counterfeit goods) now are so good that even pros have trouble telling the difference. You get the bag/shades/shirt/watch that you wanted and saved hundreds of dollars. What’s the harm?
Why buying counterfeits are a bad idea
According to the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) about 18% of the $98 million of counterfeit products seized by U.S. Customs in ‘02 were made up of fashion-related items: apparel, sunglasses, watches, handbags and headwear. While it’s not a crime to buy counterfeit merchandise (only to sell it), there are legitimate reasons why you should rethink your buying tactics according to the IACC:
1. Counterfeiting robs the U.S. alone of more than $200 billion a year. It’s a cash, tax-free business; legitimate citizens like yourself will still get stuck paying taxes, while counterfeiters line their pockets at your expense.
2. Terrorists, gangs and organized crime syndicates all profit from selling counterfeit merchandise. Sometimes designer handbag knockoffs are lined with drugs and used for smuggling things like heroin, too. There is also evidence that the bombing of the World Trade Center in ‘93 was funded by the sale of counterfeit apparel.
3. You might realize that things like knockoff toys or electronics are an unsafe idea, but did you know that even items such as fake sunglasses can hurt you. According to IACC counterfeit sunglasses can shatter easily; they may fail to provide UV protection as advertised.
How to spot a fake
Knockoff designer goods are readily available on the street in such areas such as Los Angeles’ Santee Street and New York’s Canal Street. And the internet is full of online auctions and cybersellers offering “Inspired by” copies and outright fakes. The old method of spotting fakes was simple: flimsy hardware, cheap leather and misspelled logos were a giveaway. Now, fakes are so good (and expensive) that you simply can’t tell the difference. So how do you know what’s real and what’s not? Some clues:
- The price. A new Louis Vuitton handbag for $100 is not authentic. The real thing often sells for $500 to well over $1000. Same thing for Prada and Gucci.
- Where it’s being sold. Authorized dealers for Chanel, LV, etc. do not sell handbags out of the trunk of a car. Nor do they sell them at online auctions or at home parties.
- Point of origin tag. Designer apparel or leather goods with a “Made in Taiwan” tag are not authentic.
Buying online
So what if you are shopping online and come across a great deal on designer apparel or accessories? How do you know you’re getting the real thing? Read the fine print. Some etailers or items for sale in an auction will lure you in with words that you’re likely to search for like Chanel or Gucci. Many sites also use overkill — “authentic,” “genuine” and other enticing adjectives — to describe their fashion items. It’s only by reading carefully through the descriptions will you see comments like “Inspired by…” to let you know that the merchandise isn’t an exact copy (whichtheetailersclaimgives them immunityfrom trademark infringement.) Many of the better knockoffs come with packaging, locks, etc. to look (and sound in description) exactly like the real thing. Ebay.comhas rules posted forbidding the sale of counterfeit goods, but it’s not unusual to see Louis Vuittons on the site for less than $100. The only way to know if it’s real? Only buy the goods from an authorized dealer (a department store or a company outlet). Many labels sell directly to the public on company-owned sites such as Gucci.com, eLuxury.com (Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, etc.) and Coach.com. If in doubt about an outlet, contact the designer directly and ask if you’re buying from an authorized dealer.
1-800-report-a-fake
Manufacturers spend millions of dollars a year battling the counterfeit problem. Labels like Coach and Kate Spade have information set up on their websites for you to report anyone who is selling knockoffs of their goods; these sites also have more detailed ways for you to spot fakes of their labels.
