Why do people buy luxury goods when there are so many fakes on the market?

[Anonymous]

Buying a $500 Gucci shirt doesn't mean much when you can buy a counterfeit one for like $20. I went to an open-air market, where I saw about 30 Dior tote bags placed carelessly on the ground. They were obviously fake, only $150 each, and nobody would place an authentic thousand-dollar designer bag out in the open like that. Designer clothes aren't special anymore if anyone can have them.

[Dinklex3]

Why buy a fake one though? What does that do?

When I buy one it's usually a treat. "I accomplished ______ so I want to treat myself to a really nice new wallet/ bag"

You're not treating or awarding yourself if you buy a counterfeit item. That defeats the whole purpose.

Just get the real one. Buying fakes makes no sense to me unless you want something you can't afford for fashion or something. But even then, just get something similoar what isn't pretending to be something else.

[Asker]

I'm talking about people who buy luxury goods to flaunt that they have money. Like celebrities and stuff. Why do it, when someone can buy a counterfeit for like 1/5 of the price?

[Dinklex3]

Celebrities usually get paid to wear that stuff.

People get real items because they like that brand and can actually afford them.
A counterfeit is not the same product and its not the same quality. It's an imitation. Why buy something fake, pretending to be something else when you can afford the real thing?

It's the people who buy counterfeit that flaunt and put on this facade about having money (when they don't) that's weird.

[slatyb]

The knock-offs may match the look but they don't match the quality.. My wife buys designer clothes at resale shops. Most often they are as new -- worn once or maube twice. Sometimes never.

[Guy13]

Cause they are not smart with their money...

[TroyDT]

Certain luxury goods are of extremely high quality. But for those that are not? Probably to impress others.