I remember the time when my brother learned the hard way about fake bags. He bought a designer bag from iOffer, one of the online marketplaces for knockoff goods online. He was so proud of his new purchase and couldn’t wait to show off his new “investment”. Little did we know that the bag was not genuine and he had wasted his money.
My brother was absolutely devastated and couldn’t understand how could a thing like this happen. Knowing that the reputation of designer products is of superior quality, we knew that it could be fake. But there were no signs or labels on the item to tell us it was a fake. We asked around and heard of other people who had bought fake items from iOffer.
The whole experience was a real eye-opener for my brother. He quickly learned his lesson to do due diligence before he bought something from an online store. From a friend, my brother heard of counterfeiters that “clone” designer handbags and pass them off as real. It also made us realise that if something seems too good to be true then it probably is.
As we now know, it pays to do your homework. We go online and do our research before buying something. If I spot a great offer online I ask around and if I am not sure I check it out at a store, just to make sure I am making the right purchase.
It’s also important to remember that counterfeiters are getting smarter. You’re no longer just looking out for flimsy bags with obvious mistakes. There are highly skilled counterfeiters out there that look at the original design and copy it with exceptional accuracy.That means that sometimes even a trained eye can see a fake.
I’ve now learned my lesson. If a bag looks suspiciously cheap, even if it is exactly like the real thing, I stay well away. I’d never want to put my money down on something that isn’t real.
Finally, I’d suggest that you be extra cautious if you’re looking to buy from a online marketplace. The lure of lower prices can be too hard to resist but it’s not worth the risk of wasting your money on something that isn’t real.
But just because I’m wary of buying fake bags doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a good bargain. Instead of relying on sites like iOffer where the quality of goods cannot be verified, I have discovered other ways to find bargains, like signing up to newsletters, friending online stores on social media, and searching for coupon codes.
Rather than the temptation of buying a fake designer bag, I’m more likely to buy the real thing with a nice discount. An even better scenario is saving up my money and on special occasions treating myself to a splurge, like a genuine designer bag, jewellery, watch or shoes. Online marketplaces do sometimes have genuine items but it pays to be extra careful and be vigilant for fake goods.
I can also say from my own experience that quality matters when it comes to designer items. Not only do designer items look and feel better, but they also have a much longer shelf life. It may cost more upfront but it won’t break, wear down or go out of style as quickly.
It’s sad to see so many scammers out there who seek to make a quick buck and prey on people who don’t know any better. But with first time buyers I would always suggest that they buy quality items, regardless of price, rather than condemning themselves to a lifetime of disappointing knockoffs.
So when it comes to buying bags, remember to always do your research, double and triple check all of the specifics and make sure you get something that is worth your time and money. Don’t let yourself get fooled by these scammers. Do what you can to protect yourself and you can rest assured that the bag you end up with will be real.