On Clones and Dupes...
I don't personally tend to buy high-end brands, usually they are not worth the money compared to often much cheaper items that are comparable on the market, and on digging around a bit it seems that capitalism is doing quite a good job of bringing us cheaper versions of high-end products in all sorts of areas....
Cookware, fashion and tech...
Le Creuset has been a mainstay of middle-class British kitchens since the first cast-iron casserole dish soared off the shelves of Selfridges in 1961. Despite the brand's many registered trademarks and designs the beloved French company is up against an army of less expensive "dupes" in the biggest battle in its 100-year history, with little assistance from the legal system.
A dizzying list of copycat casserole dishes are available online at steep discounts, some of which are ten times less expensive than the original and retail for as little as £34.
High-end brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel have fought for a long time with counterfeiters.
And social network sites now hype on the term ''dupes'' with Influencers very openly touting recommendation on dupes to their followers.
And those who make dupes, aren't dopes, they are usually able to dodge actual trademark infringement, and avoiding mentioning the the brands they are copying. One work around is that they market themselves as being 'inspired by' the original brand...
It is the same with the beauty industry. Urban Decay's Naked collection or Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk lipstick both have their more inexpensive versions. These dupes can be seen, reviewed, and recommended worldwide, even to shoppers, with some consumers opting for the cheaper versions, albeit the quality and ingredients might not always measure up to the original.
Another area hit quite hard by copycats is the sneaker market. The influence of brands like Nike and Adidas is so great that new designs almost immediately trigger copies. Some clones even replicate these models so closely that even enthusiasts have a hard time discerning the differences. Legal enforcement is difficult and costly, and many copycats operate out of legal reach.
Tech is also affected. Apple for example sees a very significant number of accessories, even the design of its iPhones and AirPods, copied or inspired by competitors. Some things are patented and trademarked to give security; however, generic "true wireless earbuds" have styled up and sold for less than $20 online.
Final thoughts...
Personally I see nothing wrong with companies creating copycat products, brands tend to price themselves so high they are out of most consumers' reach anyway, so fair enough if we can get similar products without the status-label for significantly cheaper!
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Cheaper, but not sure about their quality.
You just have to look around I guess!
My parents picked up some counterfeit items on their travels in China, but they were mostly pretty poor and not likely to be mistaken for the real thing. At least they didn't pay much for them. When it comes to electrical goods I've heard of some being dangerous. There are plenty of fires started by people charging their cheap scooters. Cheap stuff can have a price.
In 2021 I bought a set of Bluetooth ear buds for my Samsung phone called Soundpeats who I later learned were in some strife over some form of copycat issue. They worked really well, as good as Samsung, or Bose and the others? Hmm, I reckon they were ok but a purist may disagree. Admittedly, I'd bought the low-end model.
Anyway, last week I began to have battery-life issues and decided a new pair were needed. I looked online and saw some various Soundpeats models for around $100-$120 (AUD) and came across a pair of Samsung ones on "sale" from $199 now $99 and decided to purchase them. (They are not the latest model but they were at some point (2023), but they're good enough for me.) I've not received them yet but was planning to do some sort of comparison review-post or some such nutbaggery once I'd tried them out.
I like nice things but, like you, don't go out of my way to buy the "name brand" items just for the name. It needs to make sense from a value perspective and if it does then great, I'll pay a fuck load for it, if not then not.
I believe the copycat market should be shut down. China is doing it a lot in the automotive industry and some bright spark is allowing them into this country. The cars look almost like the cars they are copied off, enough to know which have been copied, but are slightly different I guess to avoid litigation. Fuckers.
Anyway, am interesting and thought-provoking post which I felt inclined to comment on.
All hail to TEMU
People paying for the brand instead of the item trying to keep up with the Jones family. It's freeing to not need to do such. 9/10 times I choose the more cost friendly options. The other 1/10 times is because the quality is noticably different. I see no point overpaying for a product or service just because it has a specific name attached to it.
I think that's about bang on, probably with that ratio too! Some brands are worth it, but not many!