Why I don’t buy fake designer bags
Liz asked:
I was searching for knock off purses in Sydney because my nieces are coming to visit and they would like to purchase some fake purses.
I know that you are an upright group who deals with original products but I thought that you might have an idea on where these girls might purchase a purse to take home with them. Are you familiar with any locations near Darling Harbor as that is where we will be meeting them?
On another subject what are some of the signs to look for to determine if the product is a fake?
Liz, if your nieces really want fake purses I’ll give you some tips on where to find them — but first I’d like to show you that knock offs are a rip off.
You can have a beautiful, real designer bag for around $200 (I’ve found a few to prove it), and it will last longer and look far better than any fake.
Why I don’t buy fake designer bags
Don’t worry, I’m not going to lecture you about the intellectual property rights of rich people! I have zero sympathy for designers whose $1,000/hour lawyers tell us that knock offs are sending them broke. If you can afford that lawyer, you ain’t broke ;)
The reason I don’t like fake bags is simply because they’re poor value for money.
Personally, I own a small collection of Longchamp bags. I’ve paid around AU$200 each for the ones I bought myself, which isn’t exactly cheap, but it is affordable on a normal salary if you only buy one occasionally — and a good quality bag doesn’t need replacing often.
Before I started buying Longchamp purses, I owned a few fakes, mostly knock offs of Prada and Dior bags I still wish I could afford! On average, I paid AU$30-50 for each one, and they were worn out in about three months. The best quality one I ever found was a faux Prada that lasted a whole year… but it looked absolutely dreadful by the end of it!
(Side note: I had much more luck with fake watches than fake bags. One especially nice faux Gucci cost $25, lasted 3 years and was completely indistinguishable for the $800 real thing. Quelle bargain! ;)
By contrast, my first Longchamp bag cost AU$225. I used it every day for the first year I owned it and still use it at least twice a week. After four years, it’s due for a professional clean, but is otherwise immaculate.
So far, that Longchamp bag has cost me 33c per wear, but it’s still in great condition so the cost-per-wear will keep decreasing. A $30 bag that last three months also has a 33c cost-per-wear, but at the end of the three months, you’ve got nothing to show for your money.
That’s why I think that a reasonably priced real designer bag is a good investment. I’m not talking about $20,000 Hermes Birkins here though — a few hundred is still the most I’d spend on a bag, but you can find fantastic quality for that price.
I don’t regret my fake purse years as I was very young and still working out who I was so my style changed all the time. Now that I’m a little older and more sure of myself, a fake bag doesn’t cut it. I know who I am and what I like, so wherever possible I buy good quality things and make them last.
Gorgeous real designer bags under $200
To prove my point, I’ve found a few great designer bags you can have for under US$200. Over the next couple of days, I’ll post all of the following:
- Longchamp striped shoulder bag, US$154
- Lulu Guiness coral beaded canvas handbag, US$183
- Fendi canvas shoulder back in black, US$200
- Kenneth Cole white stitched leather tote, US$170
- Furla silver leather shopper, US$117
- Via Spiga brown cut-out leather hobo, US$118
These are all real, top-quality designer bags and all more-or-less affordable.
(PS: Liz, only some of these ship to Sydney, but you can find similar good value bags in Sydney at David Jones and the Longchamp store. A Longchamp Les Pliages is a great starter bag and costs around $120.)
Where to find fake bags in Sydney
If I haven’t yet convinced you to consider buying a reasonably priced real designer bag, I guess I never will ;)
In Sydney, the place to go for fake designer bags is Chinatown, which luckily for you is located in Haymarket, a short walk from Darling Harbor. The places that sell fake bags come and go — what they’re doing isn’t exactly legal — so you’ll have to look around to find them.
Sometimes you’ll find fake bags in Paddy’s Market, and there are little fashion stores dotted around the arcades and side streets that sometimes also have them.
How to spot fakes
I’ve written a few articles on this already:
- How to spot fake designer bags on ebay
- Fake designer bags: the lowdown
- Fake designer bags, shoes… and clothes?
Happy bag hunting Liz! But please think twice about those dodgy back-alley fakes ;)
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I must say, I’ve been really, really impressed by the quality of my Longchamp bag. It seems to look better every time I use it (and it’s definitely getting more use than my other bags). I have no doubt that it will outlast my cheaper bags - many of which I’ve donated to Goodwill after a few uses because they were already looking bad.
Of course, finding my Longchamp bag at a 72% discount made it possible, because I still wouldn’t have paid the original price ($525). I just wish there had been more than one in stock so that I could have shared the bargain.
If you like your Longchamp bag for $200 that’s wonderful. I certainly would not consider them high end designer at all. When women are talking about designer handbags they’re talking about Prada and Fendi and Hermes, etc. If you purchase ANY handbag for $25 what do you expect? You can find fabulous high quality mirror handbags that are just like the original for around the $200 that you paid for your Longchamp. I own several and they are extremely high quality leather, hardware, stitching, etc. I guess that it’s all a personal matter but I don’t have any problem carrying a Prada handbag that I paid $250 for. After all, how many women have actually seen an authentic Prada bag? Not many I’d guess. So who knows the difference? I’m sure that I’m just as delighted with my Prada as you are your Longchamp. To each his own!
I don’t consider Longchamp to be “high end” designer, either, but their price and quality is certainly worth being called designer (then again, we can debate forever what constitutes “high end” or “designer”).
I do love the Longchamp bag I have — I bought it first and foremost because I love the design of the bag and the quality of the brand. I’m glad that you’re so happy with your bag! That’s what matters most, after all.
I suppose that I’ve seen authentic Prada bags (there are quite a few rich gals in my area), but then again, who knows. To be honest, I do assume that most high end designer bags that I see are fake, especially if they are covered in labels. Therefore, it’s a lot of money to spend if one is actually trying to convince others that it is a high end bag. It’s different, of course, if one is buying the bag for the love of the bag’s design and quality.
Most fake purses were made in sweatshops by people often payed under the minimum wage. I want to burn all fake purses. Plus, it is EASY to tell fake purses from the real things. All you need is a quick glance at someone passing with an LV bag to tell. So when you get a fake purse or watch, you honestly aren’t fooling anyone (except yourself if you think it looks just like the real thing). And, no offense but, carrying a fake purse, watch, or jewelry makes one look really cheap and shallow~!! <3
Well said, Gigi! I would not (knowingly) carry a fake for many reasons, yet some people still think that it’s a harmless fiction, or at least one that only hurts big businesses that they think can afford the fake competition. Perhaps the most convincing argument to them, though, will be the thought of being caught in the lie. While I do like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and I know that it is easy to get duped, I am forced to agree that I find carrying fakes just plain ol’ tacky — not what most people are going for, I hope. Those that knowingly purchase fakes should know, as you said, that they aren’t fooling anyone and save their money. There are plenty of great, low-cost bags out there that don’t pretend to be anything except what they are.