Why Consumers Buy Fakes

Peggy E. Chaudhry +  Stephen A Stumph's opinion piece on fakes was educational and insightful. Thank you.

Why consumers buy fakes
1. Quality and performance. Consumers would buy a fake if they thought it was just as good as a legitimate product.
2. Cost. Consumers would buy a fake because they cannot afford a genuine product.
3. Sentiment. Consumers would buy a fake because they do not like the big businesses that make the authentic products.
4. Ethics. Consumers would buy a fake because they do not think it is illegal or immoral to do so.
5. Ease. Consumers would buy a fake because it is easy to obtain.

What companies can do
1. Fakes Are Poor Substitutes.
2. Pirates Are Not Robin Hoods.
3. We’re Not Faceless Corporations.
4. Push Ethical Concerns.
5. We’re Making Things Tougher.