It’s so saddening when I think about how prevalent the market for fake designer bags is. Customs officials in many different countries have been cracking down on the influx of counterfeit bags coming into their countries, but I’m not sure it’s having much of an impact. I’ve had family and friends who’ve fallen victim to buying fake designer bags – they think that they’re getting the real deal, only to be disappointed in the end.
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine told me that she bought this cute Louis Vuitton bag that she’d wanted for months. Our eyes lit up when we saw it in the store, and thought it was a real bargain, How could she not get it, right? So, she bought it. I thought that was odd, since she could afford a real LV.
anyway, I found out much later that it was a fake bag. She was so frustrated and bummed out that she’d been duped – she felt so embarrassed about it, too. And I can totally relate. It’s so easy to get taken in and tricked by fake bags sold in stores or online. I really have to make sure to do my research on the price, the vendor, and so on otherwise I can be an easy target.
The worst part is that most times the bags aren’t well-made. So, when you’re investing in a designer bag, not only do you want it to be real, you want it to be of highest quality. Fake bags just don’t measure up.
sadly, this illegal trade is still happening around the globe, and it’s often at the expense of the consumer. Luckily, there are some measures being taken to try and combat the fake bag market. Customs officials are working hard to identify shipments of counterfeit bags coming into their countries, but unfortunately, the counterfeit market still persists.
What’s even worse is that counterfeiting is done with the intent of deceiving people – it’s purely based upon taking advantage of unaware people and is morally wrong in that it takes away from the market value of genuine designer bags.
In order to reduce the appeal of counterfeiting, manufacturers can start by taking a stand and making sure their products are protected through a rigorous authenticity program and authentication system. As long as customers are able to know that their purchases are genuine, the need for counterfeit products will reduce.
For consumers, we can help to reduce the appeal of counterfeiting by do our due diligence when making purchases – we have to make sure we’re buying from a reliable source and doing our research. One way to do is is to purchase directly from the manufacturer, for instance, rather than relying on middlemen to get the job done.
It’s also important to understand what kind of punitive measures the government has in place for customs officers in order to minimize the number of goods entering their country. In a few instances, countries have enacted stiff punishments such as fines and jail time for officers who facilitate the import of counterfeit goods.
Unfortunately, rogue manufacturers are always one step ahead of law enforcement and counterfeiting remains a huge obstruction when it comes to preserving the value of genuine designer bags. Until these manufacturers can be controlled, it’s up to us, as consumers, to be aware and cautious of our purchases. We have to learn how to recognize the difference between real and fake bags. As difficult as it might seem, it’s worth the effort if it means preserving the integrity of designer bags and upholding their value.