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ArtfulSlinger
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Yeah Canal Street is much different than how they sell them on 5th Avenue, with the bags all laid out on a blanket and them hollering at you.

Canal Street is interesting because there are two police precincts in the area, so a lot of the DVD, faux handbag, watches and other knockoff sellers will continue to cross the street throughout the day, mainly by Broadway & Canal, so they can avoid being arrested. This way they can get caught by the opposing district. It pisses the cops off, cause it hurts the bigger busts, but no actual bootlegger would ever sell that shit to you on CAMERA.
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angelmusic11
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
This is definitely fake. I was approached by MTV when I was walking through Union Square and they asked me if they could film me walking down the street for B roll stuff for "The City." Then I had to sign this agreement stating they could air it and what not. A real knock-off seller in Canal Street would have NEVER signed that agreement to have their face shown.
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JinxyMcDeath
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
I was just down on Canal Street with some out-of-town friends and we were practically assaulted by random people hawking their fake wares. "Come here, you want Fendi? Prada?" Every two steps was another person trying to get me to buy some fake designer bags on the street. So, the first part of the transaction looked real, but then the fact that he gave her the purses in the middle of the street did not. I especially like how shady Olivia was acting during it. She is one shady shady girl. Also, I hate her nasty attitute. Olivia, your prettiness will fade, but your reputation for being abrasive and self-absorbed will not.
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Flackette Goes Retro
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Many moons again in DC, I did buy a fake Kate Spade right in the middle of Eastern Market. However, that was before I knew that counterfeit bags fund crime - I don't do that anymore. And I'm wondering if they've since cracked down in DC, since I hear all these stories about counterfeit ring busts in NYC.
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Edited by Flackette Goes Retro at 10/07/09 5:02 PM

dialing_footnoterphone
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
My only experience with knock-offs was in Florence. Near the old bridge. With a guy from the Sudan (I believe) and a pair of "Versace" glasses. I don't think the Versace logo is a crooked sticker that comes off in the heat.... but hey, I needed a pair... even if they didn't fit my head quite right.
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sailor.saturday
10/07/09

@dialing_footnoterphone: There are so many knock-off guys in Florence, and you know when the cops are near because they fold their display into a sack and run down the street looking like Santa Claus.
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willwriteforfood
10/07/09

@sailor.saturday: And they are shameless about hawking their faux wares right there in front of the Duomo, next to the guys with the easels painting. It was kind of fascinating to see how quickly they could fold up and run.
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dumblonde
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
My mom had another shady knock-off buying experience in Canal St. She asked for a very specific purse from the guy in the store, the guy proceded to run to the back of the store, make a phone call, and then another man in a limo pulled up, handed the store attendant the purse, and my mother proceeded to pay for it. To say the least, it's obvious this is some sort of mafia and the deal went about like a drug deal. She's never going to buy knockoffs again.
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dj_chick
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
I confess, I came home from my NYC vacation with not one, but two knock off purses. They were both acquired in the back of a van on Canal Street. I kid you not. Other than him showing her the goods on the street, the whole thing went down a little bit like that. Or at least, it started with a dude muttering something about "Fendi, Chanel, Prada" and ended with me leaving Chinatown with a knock-off.
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Zombie Ms. Skittles
10/07/09

@dj_chick: You brazen hussy you. ;-)

I've bought "irregulars" but I don't think I've ever bought a straight up knockoff.
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joannabobanna
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
WTF? So, I've only ever gotten a knockoff in Venice (before I did research into how awful the trade is), and we did do the transaction in the middle of bridge. But... there were like 15 men selling crap and when someone whistled, they packed up their shit before I even realized what happened. The only other thing I remember was the insane amount of yelling in a language with which I'm not familiar.
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bibomaco
10/07/09

@joannabobanna: Please excuse my ignorance, but what is so bad with the knock-off trade?
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Zombie Ms. Skittles
10/07/09

@bibomaco: The groups who make knock-offs often use the money to support human trafficking and arms smuggling and the pieces are usually made by sweatshop labor (at best) and slaves (at worst). The money also goes to fund groups like the Taliban and militia groups in other countries.
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greengrey
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: This. It's disgusting that people will still support the counterfeit goods industry.
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dumblonde
10/07/09

@bibomaco: Well. The knock-off trade is intimately related to organized crime. By buying knock-offs you're putting money in the hands of organized crime which they will use for all their activities like prostitution, human trafficking, drug trafficking, arms trafficking...
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bibomaco
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: Oh wow. So depressing. I wonder if people who buy such products are aware of the impact of the knock-off trade. I've always known it was illegal, but I thought it was harmlessly so.
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RiloKilo
10/07/09

@bibomaco: I think a lot of people aren't aware of that. My aunt bought knock-offs in New York once, and I'm positive it would break her heart if she knew what her money was going toward in the long run.
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stuckingoshen
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: That makes a lot of sense. It's so shady and gross and what's the point, really, of a bag with a name on it?
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stuckingoshen
10/07/09

@stuckingoshen: Oh, and EVERY DAY I see tourist girls getting into BLACKED OUT shitty vans.

They probably really failed their Stranger=danger dontgetintoavanandgetkilled classes as kids. All for a bag!
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greengrey
10/07/09

@bibomaco: There have been ads. I can't find an example that runs in the US, but here's one.
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zelda_pinwheel
10/07/09

@bibomaco: I just read a tragic and horrifying article about who actually sews/constructs these knock-offs, and in large part, its kids. Little, sweet, slave children. In the account I read, one child had his legs broken for trying to go outside to play. I've been trying to forget about it for MONTHS but its permanently imbedded in my grey matter.
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greengrey
10/07/09

@zelda_pinwheel: I've read that story too. Sticks with me and I think of it whenever I read about counterfeiting.
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yvanehtnioj
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
My experience is always the furtively whispered, "Gucci? Prada? Louis Vuitton?" and if you show any interest being led for like 14 blocks into an underground/behind the shop wall location such as you described. Either way, nothing in the middle of the street. I also like how she's all, "Cross the street with me", dragging him between cars to look at the purses, and looking around like a suspect on Law & Order, while he's oblivious to the danger of the transaction. Completely ridic.
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Edited by yvanehtnioj at 10/07/09 4:31 PM yvanehtnioj was starred yvanehtnioj was unstarred

bananaballs
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Nuh uh. I SWEAR I saw that guy last week. Singing the song and everything.
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EkaterinaBallerina
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Wow, that sounds a lot more intense than the few times I bought fakes from Canal St. I just remember walking into stores and negotiating prices.

Of course this was before I did my research on the knockoff trade. It's absolutely appalling. I get that people hate that designers mark up their stuff so much. But counterfeiters support the drug trade, child labor and terrorism. I'd much rather live my life without a Louis Vuitton, fake or real, than know I supported any of the above with my dollars.
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Zombie Ms. Skittles
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Damn it, Tracie, I now have an overwhelming desire to go buy some fake Coach shit.
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Notes from the underwhelmed
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: Oh no, don't do Coach. It's not even that cute when it's real.
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Treeless
10/07/09

@Notes from the underwhelmed: You said it. The first time I ever saw a Coach bag, I said "This is what everyone's choking to have? Seriously?" . . . Though if someone gave me one for free, I suppose I might carry it. Maybe. But then they might think I'd paid for it, and having my priorities assessed as such might be unacceptable.

(Touching their $90 leather gloves is like petting a kitten though.)
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yvanehtnioj
10/07/09

@Notes from the underwhelmed: That's how I feel about Fendi. The opposite of beautiful or even interesting, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why so many people shell out for those bags!
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o-line
10/07/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: Pssst! Meet out back in a half hour. I have the latest designs from Conch.
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tetragami
10/07/09

@o-line: Do you have anything from Goach?
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willwriteforfood
10/07/09

@Treeless: I still like the old school Coach things, the buttery-soft leather purses that last a lifetime...I still have the leather briefcase my parents bought me at Coach when I finished grad school, not realizing I don't carry briefcases. But I won't give it up because it is so beautiful.
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Mary McCarthyite
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Another indicator of intense fakery is her exiting the SUBWAY at the beginning. Girlfriend probably takes taxis everywhere.
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Edited by Mary McCarthyite at 10/07/09 4:30 PM Mary McCarthyite was starred Mary McCarthyite was unstarred

Lymed
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
At least professional wrestling is real
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Bgirl_Hamster
10/07/09

In reply to The City: Designer Knockoff Shopping Scene Is A Fake
Dear Lord, it sounds easier to get heroin than a fake Prada bag.
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