To have or not to have?

[Long Fingers]

I had a conversation with a friend of mine who loves to look high maintenance but on a budget, which I find nothing wrong with, I do it too, but she'll but the knockoff handbags from people selling them out of their cars or whatever, just to look the part in her mind. I question though where the knockoffs come from and where the profits are going. Most if not all knockoffs are cover ups for drug cartels, gangs, ect., and are illegal, playing devil's advocate, I asked whether she thinks she's helping fueling such things. She believes she's not hurting anyone and feels fine continuing to buy the type of purses she can't afford. So my question is how many here would rather go out and purchase a knockoff of something or actually save and purchase the real thing? Do you feel it's morally right or wrong?

 

[sjonathan02]

I didn't know knockoffs were illegal or covers for drug cartels, et al? 

I just figured someone was tryin' to get their hustle on. 

[Long Fingers]

I didn't know knockoffs were illegal or covers for drug cartels, et al? 

I just figured someone was tryin' to get their hustle on. 

Yes, majority of them are covers for drug cartels and gangs as well as illegal. Houston has one of the highest amount of knockoff sold in the country and from time to time the news stations will do a story on it, especially since there's a well known area here that sells those type of items.   

[sjonathan02]

Yes, majority of them are covers for drug cartels and gangs as well as illegal. Houston has one of the highest amount of knockoff sold in the country and from time to time the news stations will do a story on it, especially since there's a well known area here that sells those type of items.   

Ok, hold up. Are you talking, strictly, those cats who are selling things out of the trunk of their cars and such; I mean, what about cosignment shops?

[csedwards2]

Nope, I do not feel it is wrong. I have bought fake watches before, not because I recognize the name brand,in fact I didnt know tag huer was even recognized until somebeody recognized it on me. I bought it because it was available, and looked decent, and I liked the price, all at one time. I have never purchased a watch more than $20, doesnt mean I wont. When I bought something like that I knew it wasnt supposed to be expensive because of the price, and where I saw it (at a street vendor). I knew exactly where the profits were going; right in the pocket of the vendor.

Now back to your original argument, what about the dollar store. Isnt that a knock off from more expensive brand name.

Finally, if it were illegal, then they wouldnt have wholesaling companies to offer them for bulk sale to state licensed business owners.

[csedwards2]

Yes, majority of them are covers for drug cartels and gangs as well as illegal. Houston has one of the highest amount of knockoff sold in the country and from time to time the news stations will do a story on it, especially since there's a well known area here that sells those type of items.  

that may be a regional issue.
I have been to the wholesale companies here in DC; in fact, they have their own (maybe 10 -12 block) section here. Police monitor the spot all the time, and are looking to see if patrons have licenses; not drugs.

[Long Fingers]

Ok, hold up. Are you talking, strictly, those cats who are selling things out of the trunk of their cars and such; I mean, what about cosignment shops?

I'm talking about those selling from their trunks, salon, wherever, but what they're selling is fake. As far as cosignment shops, do you really think a knockoff is going to be sold in that of shop?

[csedwards2]

I'm talking about those selling from their trunks, salon, wherever, but what they're selling is fake. As far as cosignment shops, do you really think a knockoff is going to be sold in that of shop?

Trunks/salon/street vendors all get there stuff from the same place. The street vendors, however are the ones that obviously have a license.

As far as consignment shops, it be more wild to find an authentic one in a consignment shop then a fake one.

[sjonathan02]

Trunks/salon/street vendors all get there stuff from the same place. The street vendors, however are the ones that obviously have a license.

As far as consignment shops, it be more wild to find an authentic one in a consignment shop then a fake one.

Agreed.

I'm talking about those selling from their trunks, salon, wherever, but what they're selling is fake. As far as cosignment shops, do you really think a knockoff is going to be sold in that of shop?

In a word:

that may be a regional issue.
I have been to the wholesale companies here in DC; in fact, they have their own (maybe 10 -12 block) section here. Police monitor the spot all the time, and are looking to see if patrons have licenses; not drugs.

Agreed, again.

[Fenix]

No i don't buy knock-offs or fakes. Its a personal thing for me. If you do it, fine for you.

In any case i do believe that those selling them use them as fronts for illegal drugs. I mean it would be VERY naive to believe otherwise. The durg cartels are not stupid and can recognize a great front when they see one...and this is a great front.

[csedwards2]

adding Fenix to my list of conspiracy theorists......

No i don't buy knock-offs or fakes.

have you shopped at the dollar store?

[sjonathan02]

adding Fenix to my list of conspiracy theorists......have you shopped at the dollar store?

 

[LaylaMonroe]

I definitely don't buy knockoffs, but it's not really a moral thing for me (although integrity is about #1 on my life's priority list).  I just hate fake stuff.  Hate, hate, hate. Uggghhhh!!!  Hate knockoffs.

Atlanta also has a big problem with those places that illegally sell knock-offs.  They stay on the news.  I don't know if they are related to drug dealers, but I do know that it's illegal to use another manufacturer's label on a product that the manufacturer didn't produce.  (On another note, it's NOT illegal to purchase a product - e.g. a Hanes t-shirt - and put a different label on it).  Weird, huh?

[Long Fingers]

Nope, I do not feel it is wrong. I have bought fake watches before, not because I recognize the name brand,in fact I didn't know tag huer was even recognized until somebody recognized it on me. I bought it because it was available, and looked decent, and I liked the price, all at one time. I have never purchased a watch more than $20, doesn't mean I wont. When I bought something like that I knew it wasn't supposed to be expensive because of the price, and where I saw it (at a street vendor). I knew exactly where the profits were going; right in the pocket of the vendor.

Now back to your original argument, what about the dollar store. Isnt that a knock off from more expensive brand name.

Finally, if it were illegal, then they wouldnt have wholesaling companies to offer them for bulk sale to state licensed business owners.

Actually, nearly everything is a rip-off of an original but I'm talking about those products which are not only made to look like the real thing, but passes themselves off as the real thing. Yes, some items in the Dollar stores are and there have been some crack down of those items sold there from toothpastes to batteries.

I can see where someone purchases an illegal item unbeknownst to you, but when they knowingly purchase a knockoff, I wonder do they really think about they're doing. Most of these products are made through cheap and horrendous labor conditions in addition to the profits going to those mentioned above. True some vendors may pocket some of the money, but majority of it profits and furthers illegal activities.

that may be a regional issue.
I have been to the wholesale companies here in DC; in fact, they have their own (maybe 10 -12 block) section here. Police monitor the spot all the time, and are looking to see if patrons have licenses; not drugs.

No, it's not a regional issue, it's nation wide. I can't remember which agency in the government is involved in finding and closing down vendors from selling these and finding them at ports before they're distributed, but it's something that they work on. On a national level, I remember seeing a segment about this on either Dateline or 20/20 where visitors to the Caribbeans purchased knockoffs and later had them confiscated upon returning to the U.S. because they're illegal.

I'm a little iffy on this though. I think that people should have choices but at the same time I recognize that it takes away from those companies that hold rights to those products and the trademarks, and that it furthers/funds illegal activities. Some people can't afford the real thing, so I can see where they would want to own it even if they know it's fake. I think though that more designers should really make available some of their products that are affordable but yet still look good. Then again, people are going to always want what they can't have and want to play keeping up with the Joneses and buy the knockoffs I suppose. 

[LaylaMonroe]

One other thing related to my first paragraph.  I think your friend could stand to practice delayed gratification.  You can have what you want, but you may not be able to have it right now.  That concept will really help her in so many other areas.

Personally, I'd rather have ONE real Burberry overnight bag than a 12-piece knockoff luggage set.

On a deeper note, I'm not interested in what people think concerning my socio-economic status.  I'm not going to fake it just so people think I got it like that.  That's silly and immature to me.

If you just buy it because you like it and didn't even know it was a knockoff (like my mom, who doesn't even know what Burberry is, but bought a knockoff from a cheap store in a mall because she liked the colors), that's different.  But, if you're buying stuff to try to keep up, that's really silly, IMO.

[Long Fingers]

In a word:

Really, because from what I have seen, what you bring is accessed thoroughly and appraised in a way so that what they're selling is of the highest quality. Then again, the consignment shops I've gone to have been in the "rich" parts of town.

[Long Fingers]

One other thing related to my first paragraph.  I think your friend could stand to practice delayed gratification.  You can have what you want, but you may not be able to have it right now.  That concept will really help her in so many other areas.

Personally, I'd rather have ONE real Burberry overnight bag than a 12-piece knockoff luggage set.

On a deeper note, I'm not interested in what people think concerning my socio-economic status.  I'm not going to fake it just so people think I got it like that.  That's silly and immature to me.

If you just buy it because you like it and didn't even know it was a knockoff (like my mom, who doesn't even know what Burberry is, but bought a knockoff from a cheap store in a mall because she liked the colors), that's different.  But, if you're buying stuff to try to keep up, that's really silly, IMO.

I think so too, but she's one of those people who say, "you're not my momma" when you offer advice (even when asked), but later when she realizes otherwise (which is majority of the time), she'll say she wished she has listened. Personally, I don't buy anything fake (though I have been tempted because a purse looked so real) not so much morally, but because I know it's fake and I feel that it will make me look fake and a perpetrator. I really want a Louis Vuitton purse, so I'm saving for one. Though some may see it as a wasteful way to spend my money, I rarely buy expensive purses (maybe clothes and shoes every once in awhile ) but I think it's something that will last me until I'm God willing in my walker .  I don't know, I've just started to think a little bit about this and wonder if I did, would it be morally wrong.

With the example of your mom, I agree that's a different situation, but with the latter, I agree, especially when you're living beyond your means.

[Fenix]

I definitely don't buy knockoffs, but it's not really a moral thing for me (although integrity is about #1 on my life's priority list).  I just hate fake stuff.  Hate, hate, hate. Uggghhhh!!!  Hate knockoffs.

Is there a better word for "cosign"? If there is, please insert here--->"     "

I cannot STAND fakes. I can't stand to them touch any part of my body. In fact it took me a long while to buy brand name stuff from Marshalls cuz i was afraid they were fakes. This is my moral preference. I see buying knock-offs the same as buying bootleg CDs and DVDs.

adding Fenix to my list of conspiracy theorists......have you shopped at the dollar store?

I wear my "Conspiracy Theorist" button very proudly man. I am not saying that every bootlegger and seller-o'-fakes is a drug pusher, BUT if you were a drug pusher, this is a very good way of getting your merchandise out there and right under the nose of law enforcement officials.

Like it or not, these drug cartels are run by extremely shrewd people who are out to make a profit any way they can and are not about to let a perfectly easy way of pushing their product pass them by.

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

My mother was gifted with a Coach bag from a friend.  Sadly, I had to tell her the truth.  Then the handle broke.  Nuff said.  Personally I don't do knock offs, I wait for a sale.  A cat here in Nashville got busted not once but twice for selling knock-off Nikes.  Everything was $65 including Jordans.  They looked like Nikes but they had a little skull on the box and on the back of the shoes.  I figured they were either fake or incredibly hot(as in stolen/fenced/mafia connected).  I was ultimately sure the shoes were fakes when he started selling see-thru Nikes.  If Nike made something if this nature they would surely advertise, as the novelty woul;d be very profitable for them.

I'm patient enough to wait out things.  I love Rocawear and own quite a few items.  Normally the jeans run around $75 and up.  I shop on the website and they have clearances regularly wear you can save quite a bit of money.  I once bought three pairs of jeans for $20 a pop and they were authentic Roc.  At an average of $75 a pair, I saved $165 just buy exercising a little patience.  Many of the designers do this, you just gotta know where to look. 

I just love those folks that buy knock-offs that are so obviously fake and swear up and down they are rocking the real thing and go out of their way to make sure you see it.  If I could tell you about all of the fake Rolex, Movado, and Jacob & Co. watches I have seen it's hilarious. 

I will admit I have a "diamond" pendant that I used to wear.  If I tried to buy the real version, it would have ran around $50k or so due to the amount of "carats" in it.  When asked how much I paid, I would say $50k since they had the nerve to ask.  It turned out a major music networking function I went to once.  Women were introducing themselves and handing me their cards left and right especially the aspiring "singers."  It was too funny to me.  I'm sure a couple of them were golddiggers as well.     

[csedwards2]

I have never been a Luis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, Coogi, Armani customer, because they're stuff is not in my price range. So as of yet; no one has been able to steal my business from them, because they never had it.

In this free market society, no one company holds the rights on a specific good. Competition in its healthiest form keeps things affordable and gives opportunities for new products in the marketplace to rising entrepreneurs and clever businessmen. I dont hate on that. I just appreciate the opportunity, so when its my time, the door is still open.

With regards to a specific brand copy, you know by the price and the vendor whether its fake or not, and the smartest companies have made certain things so well that a copy is easy to spot. So if I buy a copy, thats what I was looking for.

I guess the underlying factors/philosophies for the two opposing sides is whether one is materialistic or not and if they practice delayed gratification.

I am not materialistic; I could care less. Noone pays my bills but me.
I delay my gratification.