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