Instead of looking like you can afford a luxury piece, you’re going to be perceived as fake too. Seasoned collectors can often catch telltale signs that a piece is a knockoff, which means each time you’re wearing your fake, you’re risking being found out. Obviously, the goal of a replica is to look like the authentic piece, but counterfeit watches don’t always pull it off well. That money has to come from somewhere, which unfortunately means brands can wind up charging more than necessary for authentic goods, just to keep the knockoffs at bay. Moreover, counterfeit goods can impact the cost of authentic goods.Īs brands have a reputation to uphold, they not only have to focus on innovative ways to differentiate their products from the fakes, but also have to invest in detecting, confiscating, and prosecuting fraudsters. On the one hand, once the piece leaves your wrist, there’s always some chance someone else will mistake it for an authentic piece, and wind up getting scammed because of it. The ramifications of buying replica watches create a ripple effect. Had the watchmaker gotten involved, the man would have likely had to reimburse the brand $100,000 per fake.
The Department of Homeland Security tried a number of avenues to reach the man after, essentially chasing him for months to get him to pay more than $50,000 in fines.Ī lawyer interviewed for their piece says the man was lucky. “Customs agents had no problem with the one on his wrist, but had issues with the other seven they found in his bag, and seized them,” the report says. The Seattle Times shares a story of a local man who picked up a few for his grandkids on a trip to China. However, looking at the value of the items, watches soar above all others with a value of $460,162,145 had the pieces been authentic.įor comparison, apparel sits at just $74,880,617 in goods seized.īear in mind, having your fake watch seized could actually be the least of your worries. Research presented by USA Today concludes that watches make up the second-largest group of counterfeit goods seized by volume.įake watches account for 12.6% of all goods seized by customs, coming in just behind apparel at 15.3%. It is treated similar to drugs and comes with harsh legal penalties. Those who buy replica watches online aren’t safe from legal scrutiny either.Īlthough the feds have stated you’re probably in the clear if you purchase a single item for yourself, if they believe you’ve purchased with the intent to resell, it’s called “trafficking.” However, the agencies see counterfeit goods all day every day and they’re incredibly familiar with what to look for. Some wear their items intending not to declare them, while others tuck them away in suitcases hoping they won’t be noticed. US Customs is just one, catching these items as people cross the border.
Many agencies work together as watchdogs for the industry. Remember, if it seems like a steal, it is.” 2. Purchasing counterfeit goods supports criminal activities such as money laundering and trafficking in illegal guns and drugs. “Bringing them into the United States may result in civil or criminal penalties. “It is illegal to purchase counterfeit goods,” says the US Customs and Border Protection office. Logos, names, and so forth are typically trademarked and designs are routinely patented. Despite their prevalence, replica watches are illegal. Some also purchase them for more nefarious reasons, such as hoping to resell them as authentic pieces.īut, whether your intentions are pure or not, buying a replica watch is a mistake you can’t afford to make. For others, it’s an opportunity to “test drive” a piece before committing to the real thing. People buy replica, counterfeit, and fake watches for a number of reasons.įor some, it’s to get the look without the luxury price tag.
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