| As long as there has been a market for | | | | production and the imitation goods live up to their |
| consumer goods, there has also been a section | | | | reputation as being an inferior product. However |
| that has demanded counterfeit goods. You can go | | | | this is changing as counterfeit products are |
| back as far as the 18th Century when there was | | | | becoming harder to spot. This is due to the fact |
| a great demand for the precious materials such | | | | that the quality has reached to a level where to |
| as gold, silver and copper. People would pass off | | | | an untrained eye; there is no difference between |
| inferior metal as the precious materials in an | | | | the two. This is bad news for owners of the |
| attempt to profit from the fake metals. This | | | | original products, as they are competing with a |
| document will examine the impact fake products | | | | product that is similar in production design, yet a |
| have on the consumer market. Cost, Quality and | | | | lot cheaper in price. |
| the keeping up the joneses all contribute to the | | | | Keeping up with the Joneses has been on of the |
| proliferation of fake goods. | | | | major reasons for people investing in fake |
| The main reason that there is such a demand for | | | | products, Many people feel as if they have to |
| counterfeit goods is the cost. Often times fake | | | | have certain products in order to be among the |
| products are sold for a fraction of their true | | | | trendsetters in society. Even if they cannot afford |
| value. This is extremely popular with a segment | | | | it, they will still spend their money to attain this |
| of the society that is unable to afford the real | | | | product. Fake goods can help people to be in the |
| thing. When expensive high end products are | | | | race, as it is cheap, but still gives the impression |
| released likes designer clothing, designer bags, | | | | that they have it. |
| certain electronic devices and jewelry; there is | | | | In the end there will always be a market for |
| sure to be a knock off waiting to be purchased | | | | counterfeit goods. There will be a segment of |
| also. When an original product is released and it is | | | | society that can afford the original products and |
| a hit on the market, then the counterfeit is sure | | | | another segment who will gladly buy the fake one. |
| to follow. People would rather spend money on a | | | | This is because the cost is usually a lot less than |
| product that costs one tenth the cost of the | | | | the real thing. With the quality of the goods |
| products true price. This enables people to still feel | | | | reaching a level where it is almost the same, |
| as if they have bought a wonderful new product | | | | people will still continue to purchase it. Finally there |
| for a fraction of the price. | | | | is keeping up with the Joneses which will always |
| The quality of fake goods is another reason | | | | push people to have the latest product even if |
| many people continue to purchase and invest in | | | | they cannot afford it. |
| fake products. Many times you have shabby | | | | |