How to spot fake goods
Whether you're after a new watch, a designer handbag or a pair of sunglasses, here's how to spot a fake.
Sections
Watches
The easiest way to tell whether a watch is a fake is the price. If it’s ridiculously low, it’s unlikely to be genuine (even if it's in the Black Friday sales!).
A Rolex watch should be fairly heavy so if it’s feeling a little light, chances are you’re not holding the genuine article. Real Rolex watches also won’t make a ticking sound and the second hand should appear to be moving smoothly and continuously, rather than once a second.
Genuine Cartier watches, meanwhile, will have the brand name inscribed on the movement – you’ll be able to see this if you remove the caseback.
Again, the watch should be quite heavy and if it’s genuine, it will have scratchproof glass. There should also be a cabochon stone on the winder.
And if you’re looking for a Breitling watch, the logos should be embossed, not printed, onto the dial if it’s genuine. The caseback will also be engraved, not stamped.
Handbags
Many women adore designer handbags. But if you’re going to splurge on one, make sure it’s genuine.
The genuine article should be made from top-notch material and, if it's a leather bag, make sure it actually smells of leather. It should also be fairly heavy and the leather should be a consistent colour all over.
The stitching should also be good quality. If there are any loose threads or wonky stitching, chances are, you’ve been stitched up!
Real designer bags are also likely to have the brand name in several places and this will be sewn in – not on a cardboard label hanging off the strap.
It’s also a good idea to look for the serial code which is often on a strip of material inside a pocket or the main compartment.
If you can look at the interior of a genuine bag, then that should help you be able to tell if the interior of a bag you're looking to buy is a fake.
Sunglasses
Counterfeit sunglasses are likely to feel cheap and the designer logo will look cheaply printed. The hinges will likely be flimsy and poorly aligned.
The real deal will feel heavier and more solid and will come with luxurious packaging, including a box, case and tags.
Be warned that counterfeit sunglasses usually don’t offer adequate protection from the sun’s powerful UV rays.
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Designer clothing
If you’re big on your labels, make sure the designer clothing you’re buying is genuine.
If it’s the real deal, it will be made from good quality material that won’t stretch or shrink easily and the stitching will also be spot on.
So try to examine the item closely before you buy.
Check for spelling mistakes on the brand name too and it’s also worth giving the buttons a once-over to see whether they have the correct logo printed on them.
DVDs
If you’re hoping to boost your film collection, watch out for counterfeit DVDs. These will usually have poor sound and picture quality and even though they’ll be cheap, they often won’t be worth the price.
If a DVD is marked Region 0 or Region Free, it’s likely to be a fake - the majority of genuine recently released DVDs are encoded for a specific region (Region 1 or Region 2 for standard DVDs, Region A/1 and Region B/2 for Blu-ray).
As for the cover, it might seem obvious but check for spelling spelling mistakes and that the images are clear. The cover should also contain a security hologram.
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Shop with care
Selling fake goods is illegal and many products are actually unsafe to use. If you purchase fake goods when you’re abroad, you may find your products are seized on the way home by the UK Border Agency and you may end up paying a fine.
So if you know the product you’re buying isn’t the real deal, don’t buy it.
If you’re shopping online, always carefully check the spelling of the website address or URL – if anything is misspelt, it’s likely to be an unofficial site.
It's also a good idea to type the name of the website into a search engine to see if there are any reviews or warnings about it.
Check to see whether the postal address is easy to find on the website – if it’s not, you’ll be better off doing your shopping elsewhere.
When you go to pay, always ensure the padlock symbol is shown on the screen when you fill in your payment details. The web address at the top of the page should also change to ‘https://’ as opposed to ‘http’ – the ‘s’ signifies it’s secure.
And finally, if your purchase is over £100, it’s a good idea to pay by credit card.
That’s because you’ll be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (1974), which will give you valuable consumer protection if there's a problem with your purchases. If your order is under £100, look to use a Visa debit card so you can make a claim under the Visa Chargeback scheme.
Your rights when things go wrong
Price glitches: your rights when shops get pricing wrong
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Comments
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The question we should really ask is why there is a need to be 'fashionable'? People should buy what they can afford, and be happy with their purchase. Why would anyone want, or need, a fake Rolex, or designer handbag? Is it because the advertising Gurus who market these items promote 'desirability' above all other attributes? There is money to be made, and the people behind the making of this money know every psychological trick in the book to trick people into believing that they are not complete without that 'masculine' or 'feminine' look. They play on our needs. Self control is the only way we will ever escape the clutches of this engineered evil. Do we need the most expensive watch, to try and prove our manhood, or the latest leather designer handbag, to prove our womanhood? No. Do we really need a Porsche, or Mercedes, or Bentley? There are plenty of cheaper alternatives, going all the way down to Skodas (they can be cool if we want them to be). A few years ago, I drove a Merc 5 litre drop top, and it was lovely to drive too, including the head turning ability. Today, I drive a 7 year old Jag X type (2 litre diesel). I have to say that while the Jag isn't as much of a head turner, it is more economical (700 miles to a tank of diesel), and far more comfortable at speed (the suspension on the CLK was so soft it swayed like a boat). Conclusion. Did I really need the Merc? Fashion, and image, is what drives us to better ourselves, but this is really only perception. Mutton dressed as lamb is an old saying, and it doesn't matter how much designer stuff you wear, or have, you are still you. You cannot change your overall appearance. On the flip side, the meek shall inherit the Earth, which basically means that if you are yourself, and behave naturally, people will respect you more than if you put on a show, have false bravado, or are generally cocky.
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A good way of getting an authentic designer piece as a reasonable price, is to source it on the 'grey market'. This is perfectly legal. For example, a Gucci Signoria watch is £650 from jewellers in the UK. It can be sourced from Amazon in the US (and not on the marketplace) for $395 (roughly £260). This is a completely authentic product, being sold legally...the only difference is that instead of getting a 'Gucci' warranty, you get an 'Amazon' warranty (which is actually better - should there be a problem with the watch, Amazon replace rather than repair).
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Acquisition of material wealth and the need to display it does not make for a civilised society surely? Off the track of the original article but some of the sentiments brought out in this article really make you question the point of buying these designer goods and why some people need to wear their success. I am fortunate to know many wealthy people who do not feel the need to reassure themselves by wearing designer goods. There is always someone wealthier who can afford a better version, but would that make them more civilised? I think not.
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20 September 2010