Breaking down common misconceptions about knock off handbags, one myth at a time
Buying a fake handbag may seem daunting with all of the numerous myths and misconceptions floating around about fake handbags, but digging into the truth could help dispel some of the fears. The truth is, as another way of protecting their brand, original handbag companies often perpetuate news articles that spread scary rumours about how dangerous counterfeit handbags can be. Other myths are spread due to plain old ignorance about what counterfeits are really like. Here is an unbiased look at the top ten myths about knock off handbags.
The Top Ten Myths About Knock off Handbags, Debunked:
Myth 1: Fake Handbags Support Sweatshop Labor
This is true in some cases, but fake Hermes do not probably employ any worse sweatshop labour than the regular handbag manufacturing industry already does. While sweatshop labour is truly a horrible business, most genuine handbags come from third world countries and are made in awful conditions. Check the tags of your favourite clothes and see what countries they were produced in. If the ethicality of sweatshop labour truly matters to you, start by examining your own wardrobe first instead of buying into the myths and misconceptions about handbag factories.
Myth 2: Fake Handbags Pose a Health Danger to The Public
This misconception comes from the common mistake of lumping knock off handbags in with all counterfeit goods. In reality, some counterfeit goods such as cosmetics or medications do pose a serious health danger, but no evidence exists that shows fake handbags pose any risk to health. Some chemicals used in the manufacture of handbags could be risky, but no final product has ever been found to be dangerous by the US government.
Myth 3: Buyers are at Risk of Getting Arrested
Handbag buyers in the US are not at risk of getting arrested currently, but this could change in time. The legality of buying fake handbags online and in-person is currently a little bit iffy. Initiatives to squash counterfeiting are currently focused on sellers, not buyers. Even if a police officer were to get on your case about buying a fake handbag, an easy defence is to feign ignorance that the handbag is actually fake at all, they are often just as good quality as the original and Police officers aren’t experts either.
Myth 4: Fake Handbags Support Terrorism, the Drug Trade and Gangs
News headlines meant to grab attention often scream myths about the ways that handbags support organized crime. This may sound like a dodge, but while counterfeit goods may indirectly support terrorism, other everyday items may support terrorism more directly. The oil trade is a dirty business as well and has much more direct ties to terrorism, as ISIS uses oil to fund itself. While terrorism is never justifiable, there is an inherent double standard in fueling up at the gas station while condemning counterfeit handbags for supporting terrorism, Counterfeit bags do not directly support crime, it is just incidental, as they are made in often made in third world countries. No hard evidence for a direct link between counterfeits and terror has arisen, other than assertions that the two are connected in an esoteric way. At the end of the day, there is value to the original bag manufacturer in connecting counterfeits with terrorism. Designer bag companies are will often perpetuate these common myths.
Myth 5: If the Bag is Expensive, it Must be Real
Some counterfeiters can scam buyers into believing that their bags are real by setting the price close to what an original bag would typically cost. These counterfeiters utilize the many myths about how much counterfeits cost. To avoid this scam, buy smart. If you are looking for a genuine product, only buy from designated authorized retailers of the genuine handbag, and ask resellers for hard proof that it is real. Some “super fakes” can cost hundreds of dollars and be well worth the high price as well. Of course, buying in person is always the best way to determine quality, as the look and feel of a bag is never truly discernable from photos, and true super fakes are hard to come by.
Myth 6: All Fakes are Bad Quality
As mentioned in Myth #5, some fakes are considered “super fakes”, and are near identical, 1 to 1 copies. These bags are often excellent quality and will last a long time, much like the originals. There are many knocks off bags that are terrible quality and will fall apart after one use, and knock off bags that will last for years. The best way to determine quality is to buy in person and feel the quality for yourself. Read more on Super replica Hermes bag
Myth 7: Bags with Logos are Real Because Counterfeit Bags Cannot Use Logos
This is a completely false claim. Counterfeiters clearly do not care about copyright law, or else they would not be in the counterfeit business. Sometimes, counterfeit bags will employ a slightly modified logo or design, but many other knock off producers will use copyrighted logos. However, something to note is that some online retailers prohibit sellers from using the brand names of bags as a way to combat counterfeiting, so work around search terms must be used, such as “Brand H” in place of “Hermes”, or even misspellings of the name like “Yes Saint Laurent
Myth 8: Buying Online is Better than Buying in Person
Some believe that buying handbags online can lead to better deals, and while there are advantages to buying online, buying in person is ultimately the best route for higher quality. It is impossible to discern the true quality of an item online, and you are much more susceptible to scams when buying online as well. In-person, haggling can bring down a price significantly, while haggling online is sometimes impossible. Quality and size is often hard to determine online, and the consumer must usually rely on reviews by bloggers. Reviews and photos may be inaccurate, which is why buying a handbag in person is so much more accurate than buying online. The texture of the bag, the stitching, and all of the small details that would not show up in a photograph matter when making an expensive purchase, and varies from bag to bag.
Myth 9: Serial Numbers Mean a Bag is Real
Dustbags, serial numbers, certificates of authenticity, and tags do not mean that a bag is real. In some cases, these items could actually indicate that the bag isn’t real at all. If the original bag does not come with tags, a tag could mean that the handbag is illegitimate. Serial numbers can be easily faked, and counterfeiters can even make barcodes scan to the real product. This does not mean that the product is legitimate and all the features should be treated with skepticism.
Myth 10: Purchasing fake Hermes May Lead to Credit Card Fraud
This is partially true. Shady web sites may steal credit card information, but some buying strategies can help reduce the risk. PayPal is a great way to protect credit card information online, as it acts as a barrier between sensitive information and online sellers. If using PayPal is totally impossible, buying a prepaid Visa card that contains roughly the same amount of money as the purchase would secure information as well and keep potentially stolen money to a minimum. Never give out your credit card information unless you are completely confident that your information is secure. As a general rule, cash is only taken on Canal Street, which means that your card information will not be given to the clerk, making paying in person a great deal safer financially speaking, but increasing personal safety risk.
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