less than "genuine" merchandise... (Full Version)

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kernsfamily -> less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/10/2008 11:10:13 AM)

I was at a "community" garage sale recently....a particular church has one at least once a year, and it's quite popular (since the church is located on a main thoroughfare through our area).....the church earns money, as they charge a small "fee" (something like $20ish or so), for someone to have a booth.....then, when it's all done, it's "suggested" that you also donate a bit of your proceeds, as well (not required, though)......all in all, they get a great turn out of both sellers AND buyers....and, they get alot of people that come to their church grounds that just may not have come there for any other reason......

but, that's all beside the point.

Here Iam at a "community" garage sale thing....at a CHURCH.....and, someone has a "booth" set up with some kids clothes, kids toys and all....no big deal. Then, on one end are a few stacks of men's shirts....packaged up and "labeled" "Ralph Lauren Polo", and, at first glance, they simply look like "new" shirts (in the "packaging" and everything...NOT being sold as "used" and "typical" garage sale fodder). But, me, being quite a "fan" of Ralph Lauren button-down sport shirts (they just fit me great), I recognize some "inconsistencies", and quickly realize that they are FAKES!

about that time, my wife called me over to another person's "booth", got me distracted, and I didn't have the chance to go back....

FYI...knowingly manufacturing/distributing/selling counterfeit merchandise is a CRIME....a crime that I, as an art director/graphic designer, am NOT very "lenient" about in my mind....(don't get me started on the thugs who sell fake Disney stuff at the malls or flea markets....)

Above all....this was going on in a church parking lot....

SO....

what would YOU have done...upon finding "counterfeit"/knock-off merchandise at a "church garage sale"? Whether it was Ralph Lauren or whatever?



WesP -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/10/2008 11:15:22 AM)

Called the police. That would teach them a bit of a lesson.



Kath -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/10/2008 11:43:23 AM)

quote:

FYI...knowingly manufacturing/distributing/selling counterfeit merchandise is a CRIME....a crime that I, as an art director/graphic designer, am NOT very "lenient" about in my mind....(don't get me started on the thugs who sell fake Disney stuff at the malls or flea markets....)


Do you think they actually knew they were selling fakes?



rcjames -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/10/2008 1:19:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kath
Do you think they actually knew they were selling fakes?


I am sure they did, and I am sure that anyone that bought a knock off knew exactly what they were buying.

Thanks
RC



legalnicki -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/13/2008 1:49:52 AM)

I dunno... perhaps the items were some irregulars/seconds that were purchased at a RL outlet? I've shopped at outlet stores, and left more than a couple disgusted b/c a majority of what I was interested in purchasing were seconds (poor stitching and off-center screen printed T-shirts at Hilfiger and Nautica stores).

And I wouldn't say that the customers necessarily knew what they were buying. People who don't normally buy brand names likely wouldn't b/c they aren't familiar with the product. Embarrassing case in point: I once purchased a fake Dooney & Bourke bag at a garage sale, never having ever purchased a purse over $30 before. I was awestruck at my find, and specifically asked the owner if it was real. He said it was, but it was a gift that his wife just never used it. I excitedly purchased it and a matching wallet for $30. A couple of months later the strap got these unattractive cracks around the edges, and that was when I learned the difference between vinyl and leather. Hey, I was young and naive, but you can bet I've never made *that* mistake again!



Szaftoo -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/13/2008 10:24:53 AM)

It would be no big deal to me at all. It's a garage sale and you can expect just about anything. Sometimes people pay too much and sometimes they pay too little, like buying something and later finding out it's really valuable.



rnershigh -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/13/2008 11:07:58 AM)

I have a problem with it for several reasons. One, this person labeled the shirts as being Ralph Lauren shirts when clearly they weren't. Could they have been fakes and the person didn't realize it and thought they were real? Possibly. Two, the shirts were new/like new quality at a garage sale. Now, I've been to garage/community sales and I wouldn't be suspicious of finding a new item, but a whole stack of shirts would make me wonder.

Could it have been like someone else stated, shirts from a factory outlet Ralph Lauren store? Also possible. BUT, since you state that you are quite familiar with this brand and can spot a fake, I think these could have been counterfeit. It's one thing for it be be manufacturer error, but if one knows the what the "real deal" should look like, a counterfeit is easy to spot.

I don't think it would have been as much of a problem to kerns if it wasn't at a community church garage sale. It's one thing for it to be just some person set up in their front yard, another for the church to be behind the sale of these items. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it was labeled "fake", to let the consumer know, but even then counterfeiting of legit brands is a crime and the church shouldn't be selling the items, even if it's to benefit a worthy cause.

Counterfeiting of goods is not a laughing matter, many of the more upscale fashion houses like Louis Vutton or Gucci have a huge problem with it and they go after the people that do this with the law behind them.



Ps103 -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/13/2008 2:56:15 PM)

Counterfeit merchandise is a crime, and the goods are *supposed* to be confiscated by the police and destroyed.

This rarely if ever happens, however. I have called the police to report counterfeit merchandise being sold several times in the parking lot of a local shopping center, and to my knowledge nothig was done (I say this because the next day they were still in operation, with handpainted signs proclaiming "_______ _______ shirts--$5.00"

I do not think our local police understand the concept of counterfiet merchandise. After one call, the next day I did see an officer there--but he was making a purchase. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was making the purchase to check its authenticity....

Walmart, unless they have stopped recently, has routinely sold counterfeit merchandise, and has even lost court cases about it, but refused to remove the merchandise from their shelves[sm=aside.gif]

For the record, I did contact one of the companies whose label was being counterfeited and was told that unless the merchandise was in one of their stores or one of their own outlets, it was either counterfeit or stolen. Any merchandise that became "out-of-fashion" in the US was then sent to third world countries. I supposed that it were possible that someone from the third world *might* possibly bundle up the articles and send them back to the US for sale, but I doubted it. I checked one shirt once, and the label said "Jerzees."[;)]

(I do also want to point out that I do not wear "designer" clothing, real or counterfeit. If a company wants to use my body to advertise, they can pay *me.* But, if I have a product and a brand name, I certainly do not want someone to buy a poor-quality knock-off and be under the impression that my company produces shoddy materials and charges top-dollar for them.)

[edited--what? you have to actually hit the keys for the letters to appear??!!]



sjd2008 -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/13/2008 9:00:43 PM)

AFAIK, clothes that are not sold at major stores are usually bought by retailers like TJ Maxx or are sent to outlet stores. It is possible that the items were bought from an on line wholesaler (do a Google search on wholesale clothing). Also, if you live close to a factory outlet it is possible to get clothes designed for a major label with an off label sewn in. I used to work 2 blocks from a lingerie factory and factory outlet. I was talking to one of the ladies who worked in the factory she told me that they made clothing for most of the major brands including Victoria's Secret. She told me that the over runs were sold in the outlet. So some clothes could be legit.



zoebob -> RE: less than "genuine" merchandise... (4/18/2008 10:08:50 PM)

As for the church's liability/responsibility: if they are just renting parking lot space are they really responsible for everything that is sold there?



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