Dubai: Knock-offs sell only because of the huge price difference with the originals, some Dubai residents say.
While the government is at war against counterfeit products and their sellers in the UAE, some buyers say it is the only option for low-income residents to own “branded” stuff.
Authorities in Dubai seized more than three million counterfeit products of more than 30 renowned brands within a week in March after raiding four warehouses.
The products included phone accessories, ladies’ handbags, clothes, leather goods, ink, printers, cosmetics, watches, perfumes, and contact lenses.
At around the same time, Sharjah police busted a huge quantity of counterfeit goods worth millions of dirhams.
The haul included cosmetics, perfumes, smart phone batteries and accessories, as well as health and food products.
Despite the crackdown, some items are still available if the buyer knows where to look. But when Gulf News tried to interview patrons, many are unwilling to open up about it.
For Sheena, an Indian expatriate who regularly buys product copies, if there is no demand for fake products there will be no supply.
“Like most people, I buy copies because that’s what I can afford for now. But I’m picky with what I buy because I live with people who can make out whether it’s fake or not. Sometimes, I can buy products that are as close [as possible] to the real ones. These are AAA copies of bags and watches for the fraction of the cost of the original ones,” Sheena, who is a media professional, told Gulf News.
It’s not only the huge price difference that lures people to buy fake goods.
“Fashion is fast moving and I don’t think it’s feasible to buy something expensive now, and then it would be out of fashion in a while. So long as it’s cheaper, it looks real and it serves its purpose, it’s fine. You can throw it away later on guilt-free.”
Naveed, from Pakistan, agreed. He said buying expensive branded stuff is not worth his hard-earned money.
“They Class A ones have very good quality. The original ones are a rip-off. For people with average income, why would we spend Dh50,000 on a watch when we can buy a counterfeit one for Dh750? It looks good and tells the time, no difference.”
Not all buyers can be as lucky, however. It takes time and trust to find the good quality counterfeits, Joy, a Filipina mother of three, said.
“I do buy the Class A ones only if I am sure of the quality. The original ones are expensive. I can only shell out Dh100 for a bag. But if the quality is an issue, I wouldn’t waste even a Dh100 on it.”
