I have a friend who went on a holiday to Chiang Mai, and came back with several fake designer bags. At first when he showed me the bags, I was in awe of the official-looking designs and high quality craftsmanship. But then I realized that I had been fooled.
I just couldn’t believe it. How could something so convincing be so fake? I started wondering, what kind of people could be duping other people into buying these things? I’d heard of such places in other cities and countries, but I didn’t expect it here in Chiang Mai.
My friend seemed pretty happy with his purchase, though, as he got them for a fraction of the cost that genuine designer bags would have cost. For him, it was all about getting the look without the price tag. I, on the other hand, couldn’t shake off the feeling of being duped.
I understand that prices for genuine designer items can be a bit high, but at least with those you know you’re getting the real deal. It’s a bit of a gamble buying something fake. You don’t really know what you’re getting, and the product may not be good quality or even be the correct design.
So, it really left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. The idea that some people from Chiang Mai are preying on the naivety and ignorance of people to make a quick buck. It’s a shame. It really is.
I suppose you get what you pay for, but still, it seems wrong to be selling people things they think are genuine designer items when they aren’t. There’s a certain level of trust that’s broken.
That said, it seems like there isn’t much that anyone can do about it. I know people are trying to clamp down on these types of businesses, but it’s hard and it happens in many other places, despite the efforts of authorities.
Another thing is that it can be difficult to spot the difference between genuine and fake designer items. And there are always people who are willing to take a chance and buy fakes, thinking that they can’t tell the difference or won’t get caught.
I guess in some ways it’s the same as counterfeit money. People know it’s wrong but they’ll still take it if they think they can get away with it. And in some cases, it’s not even the seller’s fault. They didn’t make the stuff, they’re just selling it.
However, I still don’t really condone it. It’s wrong to be selling fake designer items and it’s wrong to be buying them. There’s just too much potential for being ripped off and you can never be sure that what you’re getting is exactly what you paid for.
All this being said, it’s not like I think Chiang Mai should shut down all these stores and businesses selling fake designer items. I mean, who am I to tell people what to do? But I do think people should be aware of what they’re buying and where it’s coming from.
On the other hand, if you really want designer items, it might be worth the effort and expense to get the real thing. I mean, it’s not like these fake designer bags last for long, so what’s the point in spending all that money if the product isn’t going to last for very long?
That’s why I’d personally suggest people stick with genuine designer items if they really want something that’s going to last and look good for a while. But like I said, that’s just my personal opinion. What do you think?
Despite all the warnings I’ve mentioned, there will always be people who are determined to buy fake designer bags in Chiang Mai regardless. People think they’re either getting a good bargain, or they don’t realise what they’re buying – or maybe they just don’t care.
It’s hard to tell. However, personally, I feel that it’s wrong to be buying these fake designer items and I don’t think I’ll ever do it myself. I’d rather pay the full price for a genuine item that I can be sure of.
On top of this, I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about people getting scammed with fake designer items from Chiang Mai. You know, like they bought something thinking it was real only to find out it was a knock off. It just doesn’t seem worth the risk.
I also feel that buying fake designer bags Chiang Mai isn’t really something to be proud of. Sure, it might have seemed like a good deal at the time, but when people find out that you’re carrying a fake designer bag, it kind of defeats the whole point of having it in the first place.