Spotting Fake Goods

Fake goods are so widely available in China that you can find imitations of any brand name you know. In the major cities, there are marketplaces that exclusively sell fake goods, anything from watches to apparel to antiques. The Chinese-made imitations are so identical to the originals it is very difficult for buyers to tell the difference, and many foreigners who buy them actually thought they were authentic. Due to the rampant increase in imitation goods, authentic brand name companies have taken measures to educate consumers how to distinguish the originals from the fakes.

The central reason people buy imitation goods is the brand name, but the quality of the item is also a good selling point. For the same item, there are different grades of imitations and they are priced according to how much they resemble the original item. For instance, a simple fake Rolex costs about RMB50, but a real good imitation with the littlest details included sells at RMB300 and it comes in a box quite similar to the original package. In general, the quality of the more expensive fakes is comparable to the original, and without very specific pointers, which vary from product to product, it is quite impossible to tell the difference.

The manufacturers of fake items take into consideration every detail of the original. The design, material composition, color, mechanism and even the label and the washing instructions are all copied in exact proportions. If you place an original and a fake side-by-side, it is very difficult to spot the differences. Therefore, some brand name companies give away instructions to teach buyers how to distinguish their authentic products from the fakes. If you buy an original Louis Vuitton bag, you are bound to find such a menu inside stating the special characteristics of an original LV bag, which include the color of the interior lining, the heat-adhesive label, the tag design and others.

Basically, if you wish to buy real brand name items, you should shop at branded boutiques where the prices are realistic. One thing you should notice when you go to street markets that sell fake goods is the ridiculous pricing. For example, if you wish to buy a round-neck T-shirt, you will be offered a price of RMB30 whether it is an Adidas or a Versace. However, the price will increase if it is a polo T-shirt or a pair of trousers. Most of the sellers do not even know the values of the brands and they just take the brand names as popular logos, just as if they are images of Che Guevara or Mickey Mouse. Do not be surprised too if you find a man farming in an Armani.

Chinese antiques can be very valuable if they date back to a considerable age, and many foreigners cannot resist the opportunity of bringing home a piece of Oriental history. Nonetheless, you should be very careful when buying antiques because there are a lot of fake antique dealers in China these days. Unless you have some archaeological background or other, it is very difficult to tell the difference between an authentic antique piece and an ordinary used kitchenware, because they both look just as strange or exotic to the foreign eye. To know for sure if the item in question is for real, you must ask the dealer to show you the certificate of authenticity. But since such a certificate can also be forged, you should note the reference number and the title of the certification authority, and then make a phone call to find out if the antique is indeed authentic. One thing you should know is that the Chinese government forbids exportation of any antique dating back to before 1795.

The Chinese are the top manufacturer of fake goods in the world, and their imitation technology is so advanced that some of the items are such flawless copies that major department stores sell them as originals. The only way to ensure that you get authentic branded items is to buy them from exclusive brand name outlets. For those items without a brand, very elaborate research should be done to ascertain the authenticity of the item. Sometimes in China, it is better to rely on your reason than your instinct.