Counterfeit designer bags at my mall!!!

[Zuzu03]

Hi everyone,
So I love my Louis Vuitton and Burberry bags and I work really hard to save enough money to buy one here and there. I have to drive either to Boston or to Montreal to find a LV or a Burberry boutique, so it's kind of a big deal for me.

Today, at my local mall in Burlington, VT, I saw a kiosk outside of the food court chock full of fake LV, Prada, Gucci, Coach and Jimmy Choo bags. I couldn't believe it! I picked up a fake LV Neverfull and the kiosk attendant came right over to ask me if she could help me. I turned to her and said, "You do know this is a fake, right?" She said, "Yes, I know." I blinked a few times and then said, "You do know you are not allowed to sell these, right?" She said, "I can sell them." Her attitude irritated the heck out of me, so I said, "Well, do you also know that you are helping to fund terrorism, organized crime and child labor?" She said, "Whatever," turned and went back to her stool.

I checked online with the Vermont Statute and sure enough the statute is pretty clear that selling counterfeit trademark goods is a felony. I emailed the attorney general's office (would have called, but they're closed for the holiday) so hopefully someone can look into this. I've been doing a search online and there have been so many stories of people arrested for selling counterfeit purses at "purse parties" and kiosks at malls. Can you believe how brazen this woman was?

Sorry, I just had to vent because after reading some articles about 7 and 8 year old's making these things in China and how the money is used to fund terrorism, etc. it just makes my blood boil.

 

[luvmy3]

Good for you

 

[Pigeon]

The sweatshops in China that make many of the real bags and the fake bags are pretty much the same. I've been to some of them. The people making the bags are generally not 7 year olds. They are migrant women, aged 16-21 or so.

In some cases, the real bags are assembled just to the point of being complete, and are then sent to a western country to have the last touch put on them so they can be labeled as made in _____, when most of the construction is done in China.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Are they labeled as actually BEING the designer bags? Or are they "similar to" or "inspired by"?

We have a store here that sells them and they look like the real thing but the tags say "inspired by" or something like that.

 

[Zuzu03]

They have the actual designer labels on them - I checked. And Louis Vuitton does not use China to make their bags - that's why they are so expensive! Coach does, however.

 

[hellokitty86]

And Louis Vuitton does not use China to make their bags - that's why they are so expensive! Coach does, however.

I did not know that. Do you know where Dooney & Bourke bags are made?

 

[Zuzu03]

I did not know that. Do you know where Dooney & Bourke bags are made?

No, I don't know where Dooney's are made. There is a lot of reporting on counterfeit operations being shut down in the US. Unfortunately, it's a lucrative business and they keep popping up.

 

[Pigeon]

I did not know that. Do you know where Dooney & Bourke bags are made?

They do manufacture in China and Mexico, among other places.

 

[mom2grace]

It's totally disheartening!

Vera Bradley is manufacturing in China now as well.

 

[JulyGirl]

I'm guessing gasoline funds terrorism more than these cheap bags will. I am as big a handbag snob as anyone. I think most people take issue that their $1500 LV bags might get mistaken for the $75 version and vice versa. Child labor and terrorism are the excuses people like to give. I'm not referring to the OP, but to most handbag snobs in general.

 

[sunnyday123]

I'm guessing gasoline funds terrorism more than these cheap bags will. I am as big a handbag snob as anyone. I think most people take issue that their $1500 LV bags might get mistaken for the $75 version and vice versa. Child labor and terrorism are the excuses people like to give. I'm not referring to the OP, but to most handbag snobs in general.

The biggest problem is that they -LV, Coach, etc-are losing money when people buy these counterfeit versions. How about all the clothing made in China?

 

[JulyGirl]

The biggest problem is that they -LV, Coach, etc-are losing money when people buy these counterfeit versions. How about all the clothing made in China?

Most people buying the fake bags could never afford to buy the real version or would never spend the $$ to buy the real thing. I don't think LV is losing potential customers.

 

[MariDisney]

The biggest problem is that they -LV, Coach, etc-are losing money when people buy these counterfeit versions. How about all the clothing made in China?

Just to play devil's advocate...I wonder if the designer manufacturers really do lose money from these sales. Disclaimer: I don't own any knock-off bags. I'm sure I will never have the inclination and I doubt I will ever have the means to pay $1500 for a bag. So LV, Coach, etc. will never have a sale from me. If I bought a fake bag because I liked the look of it, there would be no sale lost from me, because I'd just buy a different one I liked the look of if the knock-off wasn't available. To be honest, I wouldn't even know a LV, real or fake, if I saw one.

 

[Zuzu03]

I didn't even know this existed before I started reading about it and seeing programmes about it a year or so ago. From what I read, the numbers are pretty substantial - it's a very lucrative business. I don't like ANY copyright infringement and I understand why companies work hard to protect their trademark.

 

[LindaR]

And I am sorry, but folks who frequently buy authentic designer handbags can spot the fakes/knockoffs very easily.

By buying the fake, you are NOT fooling anyone (except yourself!).

OP, there is not much you can do......other than never give your business to places like that.

 

[luvmy3]

I'm guessing gasoline funds terrorism more than these cheap bags will. I am as big a handbag snob as anyone. I think most people take issue that their $1500 LV bags might get mistaken for the $75 version and vice versa. Child labor and terrorism are the excuses people like to give. I'm not referring to the OP, but to most handbag snobs in general.

I think for most the excuse is that its illegal, called copyright infringement, trademark violation, patent infringement, I'm sure there's a bunch of others I'm missing.

 

[Zuzu03]

I think for most the excuse is that its illegal, called copyright infringement, trademark violation, patent infringement, I'm sure there's a bunch of others I'm missing.

Exactly.

 

[JulyGirl]

And I am sorry, but folks who frequently buy authentic designer handbags can spot the fakes/knockoffs very easily.

True. One of my best friends has a handbag collection to die for. She lets me borrow some on occasion (bless her heart). However, she cringes when a random stranger will ask her if her LV is a fake or real. The average person can't spot the fake without side by side investigation and comparison. That is what bothers her the most!

 

[LindaR]

This sounds awful but when dd21 and I are flying and we are sitting in an airport waiting for a connection, our favorite way to pass the time is playing "Real or Fake".

Been doin this for a long time!

 

[Zuzu03]

True. One of my best friends has a handbag collection to die for. She lets me borrow some on occasion (bless her heart). However, she cringes when a random stranger will ask her if her LV is a fake or real. The average person can't spot the fake without side by side investigation and comparison. That is what bothers her the most!

On a slightly lighter note, most people where I live haven't a clue who these designers are, which is why I have to drive 2-3 hours to find a boutique! My mother hooked me on Burberry (and Barbour!) when we were living in Wales and when I lived in France, LV REALLY caught my eye! Trust me, no one is impressed here whether I carry a designer bag or a shopping bag from our local Shaws supermarket.