... an expensive buy

Trade in fake designer labels is a lucrative business as (unscrupulous or unwitting) vendors enjoy a brisk turnover in imitation goods and customers, desperate to remain stylish on a melting budget, happily grab what appears to be the ultimate in a fashion statement bargain.

A walk through Durban's streets shows that our city is no more immune to the influx of illegally imported or manufactured fake goods than any other, with an array of cheap imitations bearing a close resemblance to the real coveted item - top label jeans, designer T-shirts, "the latest" running shoes, sunglasses, caps and team memorabilia - available on Durban's streets at 50 to 60% of the average retail price of the genuine article. 

But caveat emptor (buyer beware) … don't be fooled into buying these apparent bargains. Most cheap imitations are just that - cheap; and poor imitations of the original. The fakes are generally poorly made, using inferior material - or they are factory rejects. Generally they will not last more that a few weeks of normal wear and tear, and will cost you more in the long run.

Although trade in these fake goods is illegal, leaving the seller open to prosecution, the cheap fakes continue to be manufactured in or imported into the country, risking action from the Customs Law Enforcement Task Force and the Commercial Crime Unit.

In addition, few stop to realise the effect that these fake goods have on the price of the original items. With reduced genuine sales (as a result of lost volumes to cheaper, fake goods) the manufacturer of the real article is denied the true economies of scale in production and sales, and as a result, is unable to charge less for the coveted genuine item. The false declarations used to ship the goods to South Africa and clear customs also results in the loss of import revenue for the government.

Before you are lured into buying that cheap imitation of your favourite brand (be it clothing or the latest cellphone), remember it doesn't pay to fake it - that cheap "bargain" is probably not an original and therefore not a bargain at all!

Fake spotting tips

Chances are that the goods are fake if:

• The price is low

• The quality of workmanship is poor

• There are no care instructions or guarantee offered by the seller

• Inferior packaging, poor English or spelling mistakes in labels and packaging

And remember … by far the greatest percentage of fake merchandise is sold on the streets and at flea markets.

This article appeared in MetroBeat.