Rentlover

Does anyone know the best places in New York to get "fake" merchandise (handbags, rolexes, lacoste)etc. I'm going with my girlfriend at the end of June, and this sort of shopping, she says will be the hightlight of her trip! Thanks.

Amy

I recommend first that you get her a genuine copy of the book "Fake Factor" by Sarah McCartney.

HowardR

"This sort of shopping....will be the highlight of her trip!"
Damn, I wasted all my time at the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island Ferry, Broadway shows, great restaurants, Central Park, Metropolitan Museum, Lincoln Center, etc., etc., etc. Why didn't someone tell me?

Waldo

I don't know about fakes, but on Canal Street, I bought a real ROLLEX watch for a song.

Ryan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/support/c...eitgoods.shtml

If your idea of a trip highlight is supporting organized crime and terror organizations, then try Canal Street. However, if you're concerned about where the money from counterfeits will go, then save your money or buy a smaller item from a legitimate retailer.

ekscrunchy

Do a search for "Canal Street knock-offs" here and you will find more than you ever wanted about this subject. The short answer is "Canal Street." Most of the stuff sold is real junk.

nytraveler

I really feel sorry for anyone whose idea of the highlight of a trip to New York City is shopping for trash on Canal Street. (It's either super trendy stuff for teens that you throw out at the end of the season or knock-offs so bad they look silly. There were a few places selling slightly better knock-offs - which are illegal - but the police have been raiding them and closing them down - due to the aforementioned ties to organized crime and terrorism.)

How about doing something other than shopping? Maybe something you can do only in New York - and not at every mall back home?

You know - the theater, a museum, a world class restaurant, the Statue of Liberty - anything but Canal Street.

cwojo99

I went to New York and shopped in China town. We went into one of the little purse shops. Very small, just purses. We asked if they had any Coach purses. after ensuring that noone was outside watching, they swung open the back wall of the shop, and behind pegs of purses, to our amazement was a secret room of purses. They pulled us in, closed the wall, and proceeded to show us some Burberry, Coach and Louis V. purses (all knock offs).

Just lucky I guess.

8-)

Grcxx3

I guess I just don't get the appeal of knock-offs and fakes. We live overseas and you can get all sorts of stuff - but it just doesn't interest me. I have had friends have their "fake" LV luggage broken into.....probably because some bag handler thought anyone with a LV suitcase would have good stuff inside....who knows!

Personally - I don't even like the original stuff that much. Guess I'm just not into wearing labels.

Gekko

Rentlover, I apologize for and please ignore the ridiculous alarmists. Locals and tourists have been purchasing knock-off goods in NYC for decades. Jeez, people, get a life!

The best place to find all kinds of knock-off goods, from oakley sunglasses to watches to purses, is Canal Street between Mulberry and Broadway. If you or your girlfriend don't see the "brand" that you want, be sure to ask. Often the vendors keep a lot of stuff in the back.

Also ignore the comment that 'most of the stuff is junk.' The watches generally will last for years if you simply replace the batteries (which can die in a few months after purchase), and the oakleys are about identical to the genuine (hey, it's just plastic). Handbag quality does vary -- but it's obvious, so shop around if the goods look cheaply made.

Enjoy NYC!

offlady

I came home with several Canal St knock-offs and I rotate and use the bags once in a while. The quality isn't there -- my Kate Spade "sewn on" tags were stuck in place with sticky glue and have since fallen off, but it is still fun changing bags for different occasions. By the way, my "real" Gucci bag's handle broke this week, and I haven't used it all that much. I am wondering if Gucci will do a repair on it? Gee, none of the handles on my fakes have broke yet.

MikeT

You should make sure to stop by the sweatshops where the fake merchandise is manufactured. That will be a highlight of the trip too. Talk to the folks who make subminimum wages, treated like virtual slaves, all to help gangs that run the fake merchadise rings. It should be loads of fun.

Ryan

Alarmist? Is it ok then Gekko to refer to you as an ostrich who'd bury his head in the sand rather than face the reality of the knock-off industry?

HowardR

Or how about the logic that it's okay merely because people have been doing it for decades?

iceeu2

The OP asked a question. Not, for a lecture.

nytraveler

The OP did ask a question. And got a LOT of information. If some of the information is not what he/she wanted - well that's the risk of a public forum - having to face the facts as others with more information may see them.

(And yes - if your Gucci handbag broke you should bring it back and have it repaired for free - if it's real.)

nytraveler

And yes - people have ben puchasing illegal knowck-offs for years. Does that make it right? For years there was racial segregation, women weren't allowed to vote, and slavery was legal.

Does that mean all those things are moral, ethical and just fine? Or do you just not care - as long as you have the opportunity to waste your time and your mind shopping for rubbish?

MFNYC

offlady, gucci will repair it, but at a hefty fee (although not as hefty as a new purse). I bought a gucci 20+ years ago in Rome for about $50. The strap fell apart. yaers later I took it to a Gucci store. $60 later I had a new strap. about a year after that the bag started falling apart in several place. I didn't get it repaired, I threw it out.

Most knockoffs are junky, the leather of suede is fake. The clip on the designer labels after you make the purchase (on display is some other label like pagoda instead of prada). It's an experience going down to canal street. I couldn't imagine spending more than 1/2 hour shopping down there, but it's worth a visit just to see for yoursrlf.

ekscrunchy

Gucci should repair that bag for free. I have never purchased a bag from them but have had my old (25 years or more) Fendi bags repaired more than once...just took them to the Fendi store in NYC and they had them fixed without charge. Did the same thing with Marc Cross (no longer in existence) lizard wallet and handbag. Gucci certainly should do that for you....I think you should bring the bag to a Gucci store, rather than a department store with a Gucci department, for better service.

offlady

Today we took my Gucci bag to the Gucci store that it was purchased at. The clerk charged me $25 for a "diagnostic fee" which would later be credited to my "repair fee." My husband (who bought the bag & matching wallet for me last Christmas) tried to explain to the clerk that it is clearly a design flaw and we shouldn't be charged at all. The bag is like new with hardly any wear & tear. I won't take the time to explain how the strap came undone, but I was surprised at poor construction design.

In years past I've had my Coach bags repaired for free. Now they too charge a diagnostic fee which party covers shipping cost.