The mentality of "beautiful and cheap is good" contributes to counterfeit goods in Nghe An

At a shoe stall at Vinh Railway Station Market, a pair of Hermes logo shoes was introduced as the “latest 2024 model”, priced at only 250,000 VND. When asked about the origin, the stall owner said bluntly: “It’s just a fake, how can the real thing have that price? But the model is 90% similar, very popular with students, workers, and office workers!”

In fashion shops in Vinh City, Chanel and Dior bags “exactly like the real thing” are also hung on shelves. Each bag is only 270,000 - 350,000 VND. Under the lights, the logos are shiny, the stitching is sophisticated, it is hard to tell that these are not genuine products if you just glance at them and the price is given. In Do Luong, Dien Chau, Nam Dan markets... RayBan glasses and Rolex watches are also “flooded” on the shelves, priced at only a few hundred thousand VND.

Not only traditional markets, the counterfeit goods market on the internet is even more vibrant. On Facebook, Zalo, Shopee, TikTok... hundreds of livestreams every day offer "authentic" bags, shoes, watches, "as beautiful as the real thing", nationwide delivery, free returns. Orders of a few hundred thousand dong easily give buyers the feeling of "owning a brand name" without having to spend too much money.

It is worth mentioning that most buyers are not fooled, but they actively choose to buy fake goods because they are pleasing to the eye and fit their financial level.

Ms. Dinh Thuy Luong, an office worker in Vinh City, shared: "I like Dior bags but don't have enough money. Buying a fake one for 300,000 VND still looks classy, ​​it's fine for a few events. No one checks whether it's real or fake." Not only young people, middle-aged people are also gradually getting used to using fake goods. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a teacher in Hung Nguyen, said: "I bought a pair of Nikes online for 280,000 VND. I know that at that price it's definitely a fake, but the important thing is that it's beautiful, fits my feet, and is affordable."

Ms. Phan Thi Oanh, a long-time handbag shop owner in Vinh City, frankly said: "If customers do not demand genuine products, we dare to sell fake products. Nowadays, everyone just wants beautiful, cheap products similar to the genuine products to buy, so fake products are on the market."

The psychology of preferring cheap branded goods, combined with a lack of awareness about the harmful effects of counterfeit goods, is unintentionally "fueling" the counterfeit goods market. Many people think that these are just external products, do not affect health, so they do not care.

A representative of the Nghe An Market Management Department said that to determine whether a product is counterfeit or not, it is necessary to appraise and get confirmation from the manufacturer, this process is both time-consuming and costly. Meanwhile, counterfeit goods are increasingly sophisticated, with small and scattered quantities making it difficult to handle thoroughly.

According to Decree 98/2020/ND-CP, individuals who trade in counterfeit goods may be fined from 20 to 70 million VND, and organizations from 40 to 140 million VND. In serious cases, criminal prosecution may result, with fines of up to 1 billion VND or 5 years in prison.

However, many shop owners are willing to “pay the fine and continue selling”. It can be said that in this war, consumers are the decisive force. Counterfeit goods will continue to exist if consumers continue to compromise. Only when buyers actively refuse “cheap beauty” of unknown origin, will the market have a chance to become clean, transparent, and fair. And only when consumer habits change, will counterfeit goods truly no longer have a place to live.