Why You Should Be More Concerned About Counterfeit Items

Shoes are just something that you put on your feet and handbags are something that you hold on to. Whether they are name brands or off-brands does not define you as a person. On the contrary, a thousand dollars for a purse is insane. All for a product with just a brand logo stamped all over it. Even though name brand items aren’t worth it in my opinion, neither are counterfeit versions of those products. 

Counterfeit items are of low quality.

It might not be a huge issue if a shirt is counterfeited, but for items like beauty products or parts of machines it is a big problem. To cut costs for beauty products, chemicals that are typically banned for topical use are put in. This can lead to something small like acne and rashes, but other times burns and permanent disfiguration. One of the most popular ingredients in counterfeit perfume is horse urine. While not as bad as permanent disfiguration, it’s not a pleasant thought to have either. Counterfeit machine parts also pose a threat to those who buy them. The parts do not have to meet a high standard like legal items, so they could be made out of unreliable materials, not fit a product, or not be able to perform optimally. Car parts are often counterfeited, and relying on a counterfeit airbag to deploy when you need it the most is unsettling to say the least.

The effects of counterfeit in the countries making them.

Most counterfeit items are made in Asian countries, with China being the top provider along with Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand among many others. Sometimes, the counterfeit products are made in the same factory that makes the name brand item. Other times, there are factories solely dedicated to producing counterfeit goods. No matter where it is manufactured, most likely the items were made unethically. Sweatshops pose a real threat to society. They often rely on indentured servitude (practically slavery) and children to create products in dangerous working environments for very little pay. Places like these knowingly commit human rights violations should not be supported. Buying counterfeit goods only contributes to sweatshops, keeping them up and running so they can terrorize the community.

Where does counterfeit money go?

The counterfeit industry is very lucrative, but what are these millions in profits being used for? Most of the time, it supports organized crime. It might be hard to make the connection in the moment that buying a fake handbag may be funding sex trafficking, but it’s a connection worth making. Drug trafficking, terrorist organizations, gangs, child trafficking are some of the things that counterfeit money helps fund. These problems are not something exclusive to counterfeit producing countries, but are a problem for everyone. Don’t give terrorists the opportunity to buy expensive guns. Don’t give human traffickers the funds to transport people away from their homes. Don’t buy counterfeit.

Next time you go shopping, try a knockoff version instead of a fake. Much more affordable and legitimate with no annoying branding.