Knock off purses. Why?

[dogluva]

I can always spot them so I have no idea why someone would think they can fake people out LOL I am always shocked when I go into the LV store and see someone in there browsing with thier fake trying to pull off that it is real

Seriously, shocked? You must "shock" easily.

Why do people care what other have? I don't care and hope I never care. I also don't judge someone by what type of bag they own.

Tracy

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

I can spot a fake LV from a mile away. Even DH now can spot the fakes. If you are carrying a fake LV you must know that we all can tell it is fake and we are laughing at you for being a poser.

That is horrid! What about the people who love the look of the real ones but cannot afford it? So they buy a fake and so people know it is a fake but they like it, what difference does that make? Are you laughing at them because they don't have as much money as you? It certainly sounds like it.

 

[dogluva]

What bothers me more than anything is that there are shallow women out there that actually laugh at/call women posers for carrying fake bags. I mean really...??? People are dying in wars, from cancer..etc. and all they can think about is whether or not someone is being a poser by carrying a fake? Wow. I can understand the whole counterfeit thing taking money from the company- but geez... why do they charge so much in the first place? I'm not making excuses for the rip-off, I just don't understand what makes a hunk of leather so expensive in the first place. You could buy the whole cow for less than that. Maybe women like the style of LV bags- I for one love the speedy style, but I will never spend thousands on a handbag. So what's wrong with finding one that is designer inspired? I feel really sorry for women that judge others by the brand of their clothing or bag- I find that pathetic. Sorry to spout off, but this is something that really bothers me- shallowness.

I agree. I totally can afford a Coach. I choose not to buy one. I go by what I like and I don't think I could justify spending that much money on a bag when I am really not a bag person. I am also not very materialistic and would rather spend my money on doing fun things with my kids or by going out to eat.

I don't care if you have a fake coah, real coach or walmart. Everyone has different priorities. I also know some women with designer stuff who can barely pay their bills.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I can spot a fake LV from a mile away. Even DH now can spot the fakes. If you are carrying a fake LV you must know that we all can tell it is fake and we are laughing at you for being a poser.

This is really sad!

I can always spot them so I have no idea why someone would think they can fake people out LOL I am always shocked when I go into the LV store and see someone in there browsing with thier fake trying to pull off that it is real

again wow!

What bothers me more than anything is that there are shallow women out there that actually laugh at/call women posers for carrying fake bags. I mean really...??? People are dying in wars, from cancer..etc. and all they can think about is whether or not someone is being a poser by carrying a fake? Wow. I can understand the whole counterfeit thing taking money from the company- but geez... why do they charge so much in the first place? I'm not making excuses for the rip-off, I just don't understand what makes a hunk of leather so expensive in the first place. You could buy the whole cow for less than that. Maybe women like the style of LV bags- I for one love the speedy style, but I will never spend thousands on a handbag. So what's wrong with finding one that is designer inspired? I feel really sorry for women that judge others by the brand of their clothing or bag- I find that pathetic. Sorry to spout off, but this is something that really bothers me- shallowness.

Couldn't agree more!

I have a prada , LV, and many Coach purses. But those are my thing. I work to pay for my designer purses or my mom or husband will buy one for me for my birthday or Christmas.

I am lucky I can afford the real thing. How very shallow to judge people because of the purse they carry. And to call someone a poser.

I have the real thing and still " can't spot someone a mile away" carrying a fake. But then I don't really care. My priority isn't whether the person next to me in the mall is carrying a real Coach or not. Gees! And why would someone care. Oh yea (Thats a good smiley for this thread)

 

[CathrynRose]

This is really sad!



again wow!



Couldn't agree more!

I have a prada , LV, and many Coach purses. But those are my thing. I work to pay for my designer purses or my mom or husband will buy one for me for my birthday or Christmas.

I am lucky I can afford the real thing. How very shallow to judge people because of the purse they carry. And to call someone a poser.

I have the real thing and still " can't spot someone a mile away" carrying a fake. But then I don't really care. My priority isn't whether the person next to me in the mall is carrying a real Coach or not. Gees! And why would someone care. Oh yea (Thats a good smiley for this thread)

Agree with everything you said.

I actually never cared for any Coach Purses - ever, until I spotted this one:

$550. FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS for a stupid purse. I actually went to a few Flea Markets, and would pull it up on my phone and show it to the purse vendors. They never had anything like it.

But now I had a bug in my butt. I wanted a stupid (almost $600 with tax) purse! Ridiculous. Absurd. Truly. As snotty as some of you are being about knock offs is as snotty as I am going to be about someone spending that much money on a stinking purse.

HOWEVER - that being said. My bug in my butt. Now I wanted one. I threw all caution to the wind, and was going to buy one. BUT - now they were sold out. Probably a good thing, too. Again - ridiculous to spend that much money on a stinking bag.

But the bug was still there.

I ended up with this one:

And I love it. And it's my first Coach ever. I actually never cared for them, honestly. The 2 styles I posted are not typical "Coach".

But my step son works for a major department store, and I got a hefty discount on it.

That being said - that original purse I posted is actually back in stock. ARGH! Taunting me. And I am half considering running up my Bloomingdale's charge, to get it. It's sick.

This rambling only has one point. How rude and pretentious to care what someone else's purse is or is not.

 

[pixiewings71]

So, how does one tell if your purse is a "real", a "fake" or "inspired by"? Because I can't imagine Claire's selling a "fake", wouldn't they get in trouble for that? Yet one of mine came from Claire's......

And I'm in the $40 is too much for a purse camp, but if I see one and like it and it's functional for what I need (which is the case with the 2 not Coach bags I have LOL) I'm going to buy it.....not a flea market or swap meet but at a store yes. In fact the bag I use for every day is similar to a Coach bag, but it's got hearts on it that interlock instead of C's.

 

[dvcgirl]

It's mostly about status if you ask me. Still, I would say that a good percentage of the people who buy the real thing likely can't afford them. You'd think that people would learn from what our world has gone through (and is still going through).....but they probably won't. There are still an awful lot of "Aspirationals" out there.....aspiring to be look wealthy.

 

[Purseval]

This is really sad!

Originally Posted by MinnieVanMom
I can spot a fake LV from a mile away. Even DH now can spot the fakes. If you are carrying a fake LV you must know that we all can tell it is fake and we are laughing at you for being a poser.

Actually there is a website with thousands of users on it, many with exactly this same attitude. To them it is all about the bag.

 

[blanq]

I don't know why anyone would own the real thing, much less a fake. I suppose some people can tell the difference between a fake and a real LV purse, I don't need to because I can laugh equally at both of them.

Yet another reason why I like you, Crisi!

 

[si-am]

I refuse to wear or carry anything with a recognizable brand name. The idea of it is just cheesy to me.

So no fakes for me, but no "reals" either.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I've just never understood the point of designer purses. I was wandering around in downtown Chicago one extremely hot summer day with a friend of mine, and we went into Nordstrom's to cool down. She went to look at purses and was ogling this one that was $1200. I looked at it, looked at her, and blurted out, "Dude, that's my entire credit card bill." And she just laughed and started talking about how cute it was.

For the record, I'm not one for wearing anyone's label on anything. I've never understood why someone would want to wear another person's initials or whatever all over their body. I think it looks ridiculous, and, honestly, all of the designs I've seen (particularly Vera Bradley and Coach) are just fugly as heck. I don't want to look like my grandmother's housedress (Vera Bradley) or something from the 70s (some of the Coach bags I've seen). I'm also in the $20-40 range for purses, since I tend to switch from purse to backpack to computer bag pretty regularly. I just don't get it, and I probably never will.

 

[Purseval]

So, how does one tell if your purse is a "real", a "fake" or "inspired by"? Because I can't imagine Claire's selling a "fake", wouldn't they get in trouble for that? Yet one of mine came from Claire's......

LV Speedy is a classic design. Many other companies make styles that are similar to (inspired by) the Speedy but they add their own touches to them, that is what Claires would sell. Some companies make the Speedy, call it a Speedy, put LV logos all over it and sell it as a bargain basement LV. That is a fake.

It is possible to buy fakes at places like TJ Maxx. This isn't intentional on TJ Maxx's part. Unscrupulous buyers will go to TJ Maxx and buy a Coach purse. Then they take their receipt and return a fake Coach. The salesperson, who isn't an expert at spotting fakes, returns the money and puts the fake back on the shelf.

 

[patsal]

All of the illegal knock offs I have seen are really poorly made. They are pricey for being poorly made--they charge about 10% of what the bag would cost so $1000 bag is like $100 around here--which is about $90 too much! I saved up and stashed my leftovers at the end of every week and bought a real Burberry bag at the outlet store in my area I paid $700 for a $1500 bag, I knew what I was getting, knew what I wanted and didn't mind spending that kind of money on it. DH bought me the matching wallet for our 15th anniversary. It is a beautiful set that I use infrequently--I've had it for 5 years now. DH travels internationally a lot so I get "good stuff" for cheap. I have burberry gloves that cost pennies on the dollar as compared to here in the states, I have Beleek candle holders that I would never be able to afford if they were not gifts from his trips. My bag was my once in a lifetime splurge. I use Vera bradley bags that I get on slae for my everyday bags. For the $ I pay they last about a year or more so I am happy with that!
If a person likes their "inspired bags" great for them, I prefer my real one over a fake, but to each their own. Though I agree with the OP, I wouldn't waste precious time on vacation searching out a knock off purse when I could do or see something more fun.

 

[Purseval]

I've just never understood the point of designer purses. I was wandering around in downtown Chicago one extremely hot summer day with a friend of mine, and we went into Nordstrom's to cool down. She went to look at purses and was ogling this one that was $1200. I looked at it, looked at her, and blurted out, "Dude, that's my entire credit card bill." And she just laughed and started talking about how cute it was.

Do you realize how easy that is to turn around?

I've just never understood the point of WDW vacations. I was wandering around in downtown Chicago one extremely hot summer day with a friend of mine, and we went into Nordstrom's to cool down. As I was looking at handbags she started telling me about her upcoming WDW vacation. I looked at her and blurted out, "Dude, that's my entire month's salary." And she just laughed and started talking about how much fun it was.

Everybody has different things that they enjoy.

 

[Stitch76]

I can spot a fake LV from a mile away. Even DH now can spot the fakes. If you are carrying a fake LV you must know that we all can tell it is fake and we are laughing at you for being a poser.

If your laughing at THEM!! I can imagine you're rolling on the floor in hysterics at me and my $10 Johnny Depp purse from Wal-Mart. But you know what, I'm lucky enough to not give a HOOT at what people like you think about me and what I wear/own. I'm not in High School anymore. I have a home, DH, and 3 kids. I have more important things to worry about, and to spend my $$$ on.

 

[KellyNY]

I've just never understood the point of designer purses. I was wandering around in downtown Chicago one extremely hot summer day with a friend of mine, and we went into Nordstrom's to cool down. She went to look at purses and was ogling this one that was $1200. I looked at it, looked at her, and blurted out, "Dude, that's my entire credit card bill." And she just laughed and started talking about how cute it was.

For the record, I'm not one for wearing anyone's label on anything. I've never understood why someone would want to wear another person's initials or whatever all over their body. I think it looks ridiculous, and, honestly, all of the designs I've seen (particularly Vera Bradley and Coach) are just fugly as heck. I don't want to look like my grandmother's housedress (Vera Bradley) or something from the 70s (some of the Coach bags I've seen). I'm also in the $20-40 range for purses, since I tend to switch from purse to backpack to computer bag pretty regularly. I just don't get it, and I probably never will.

Imagine you could spend $1200 as easily as $20, would you go to the same store and pick up the same bag? Probably not. Not every designer bag is for everyone's taste. I do not like Vera Bradley as well, I like, not love Coach, but I am crazy about Fendi, very particular buckle bag in very particular color. Chanel is also very good quality, so is Dior. Never got Prada and sorry but do not even try to get Juicy. So for me it is not about labels but what I like. Sure it would be same for you. When you cannot afford it, it is realy easy to ignore lables, but when you can, you are on a very different shopping level.

 

[Ember]

And if someone purchases a fake LV purse, it is probably b/c they like the look of the bag, but don't want to spend $100s on it, and there's nothing wrong with that.

What about the people who love the look of the real ones but cannot afford it? So they buy a fake and so people know it is a fake but they like it, what difference does that make?

If you want the real thing but can't afford it then do without. Or get an inspired bag so you can have the look without the price tag. If it's the name brand that's important, then get the real thing. I'm sorry, but knock offs are illegal and it's a crime to buy them.

What's wrong with buying counterfeit??

- Counterfeiting costs U.S. businesses $200 billion to $250 billion annually.
- Counterfeit merchandise is directly responsible for the loss of more than 750,000 American jobs.
- Since 1982, the global trade in illegitimate goods has increased from $5.5 billion to approximately $600 billion annually.
- Approximately 5%-7% of the world trade is in counterfeit goods.
- U.S. companies suffer $9 billion in trade losses due to international copyright piracy.

That's what's wrong. Wanting something you can't afford does not give you the right to resort to illegal measures to get it.

What bothers me more than anything is that there are shallow women out there that actually laugh at/call women posers for carrying fake bags. I mean really...??? People are dying in wars, from cancer..etc. and all they can think about is whether or not someone is being a poser by carrying a fake? Wow. I can understand the whole counterfeit thing taking money from the company- but geez... why do they charge so much in the first place? I'm not making excuses for the rip-off, I just don't understand what makes a hunk of leather so expensive in the first place. You could buy the whole cow for less than that. Maybe women like the style of LV bags- I for one love the speedy style, but I will never spend thousands on a handbag. So what's wrong with finding one that is designer inspired? I feel really sorry for women that judge others by the brand of their clothing or bag- I find that pathetic. Sorry to spout off, but this is something that really bothers me- shallowness.

I don't laugh at women who carry fakes (not inspired bags, but the ones with logos), but I do disapprove of them. Not for wanting something they can't have, but for thinking a knock off is okay. It is not a victimless crime (see above). If having the real thing is that important to you, then save up and buy it. Wanting something and thinking it's okay to "steal" it (stealing the logo) is nothing more than entitlement. It's saying, "I want it but I don't think I should have to pay for it." Again, this is not the same as an "inspired" bag which is saying, "I like the style, but I'm not paying for the brand name on it!"

The companies charge so much because they can, just like any other company. With luxury goods they're trading on the fact that their items can't be owned by every one. There's an exclusivity to it. They back it up with a quality product, but that's really the core of the model. It's the same reason people stay in 5 star hotels. A $50 /night hotel will serve the same purpose, a place to sleep, but some people enjoy the experience of staying in a beautiful hotel and they're willing to pay for it. Or the same reason people buy anything more than a basic model car. In many cases it's the same engine, but you're paying for the features and the name they call it. If something holds no value to you, personally, then of course you see no reason to pay for it. I feel that way about a lot of things others pay for or care about. But I don't feel the need to judge them for what they like.

You may hate others that judge people by their handbag, but I hate being judged for owning mine.

I don't know why anyone would own the real thing, much less a fake. I suppose some people can tell the difference between a fake and a real LV purse, I don't need to because I can laugh equally at both of them.

Here's the thing, didn't buy it to impress anyone. I really do like it, and if no one knew it was a designer item, it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. (In fact, the bag I normally carry is worth about $800. Most people would never know, the only logo is on the lining inside and it's not a brand most people would have heard of anyway.) I totally get the annoyance about people who feel they are superior because they own a designer handbag, but you get that complex with everything. From the car you drive, to the house to you own, to where you choose to vacation, to the food you buy at the grocery store. People who have a superiority complex will use any excuse to put others down. I find the fact that the above poster would laugh at me for something as simple as the bag I carry to be very pathetic. It may not be your thing, but why put others down?

 

[dvcgirl]

Imagine you could spend $1200 as easily as $20, would you go to the same store and pick up the same bag? Probably not. Not every designer bag is for everyone's taste. I do not like Vera Bradley as well, I like, not love Coach, but I am crazy about Fendi, very particular buckle bag in very particular color. Chanel is also very good quality, so is Dior. Never got Prada and sorry but do not even try to get Juicy. So for me it is not about labels but what I like. Sure it would be same for you. When you cannot afford it, it is realy easy to ignore lables, but when you can, you are on a very different shopping level.

I agree with your premise, that for someone making 500K a year a $500 bag isn't a big deal. I would argue though that most of the people sporting designer bags should be spending closer to $50 for a bag as opposed to $500.

I think it would be cool if all of those people with designer bags had their net worth in big numbers on the side of the bag.....lol. It would also work to put the number on the door panel of all Mercedes. Heh.

 

[3boymthr]

For you who wonder "why carry designer bags? What's the point?"

Do remember, that sometimes besides being designer obsessesed, people buy designer bags because they need to present the I'm classy and professional and represent your company well front to their bosses - even if in their personal life they prefer to run around in ratty t-shirts and holey jeans.

I didn't carry designer bags until I got a PT job that has a job title and pay scale equivalent to six figures. I can't carry a bag that has a picture of Johnny Depp on it - it just doesn't look right for the industry I'm in, at the pay scale my job/title carries. And certainly it would look funny with the suits I sometimes have to wear. (For that matter I can't carry anything that's obviously designer either - no purse covered in "C"s- it's just that type of job.)

Don't get me wrong I still can't justify carrying a $300 purse. I just shop around and hit the outlets until I find the purse that projects the right image for much less money that does carry that designer name.

 

[crisi]

Imagine you could spend $1200 as easily as $20, would you go to the same store and pick up the same bag? Probably not. Not every designer bag is for everyone's taste. I do not like Vera Bradley as well, I like, not love Coach, but I am crazy about Fendi, very particular buckle bag in very particular color. Chanel is also very good quality, so is Dior. Never got Prada and sorry but do not even try to get Juicy. So for me it is not about labels but what I like. Sure it would be same for you. When you cannot afford it, it is realy easy to ignore lables, but when you can, you are on a very different shopping level.

I can afford it, but really don't get it. I do think many of the purses are cute - I really like the D&Bs - but I won't spend that much on a purse (and the D&Bs are cheap compared the the LVs). My money can do so many other things than buy expensive purses - send my children to college. Maybe send their children to college. Maybe leave enough behind to fund a scholarship. Or support rescued dogs. Or fund mammograms for poor women. Or maybe just pay for a nicer nursing home when I'm old and senile.