Fool's Gold: Bou-Cheeky Boutiques

Sorry about the terrible pun in the title. It's better phonetically, try saying it outloud and you'll understand why I had to go with it!

Being a native Wellingtonian, I do love a good quirky boutique. Buying locally made products and supporting small businesses is awesome, plus they're basically like Etsy IRL.

Every city has a shop almost identical to this.
Unfortunately, just like Etsy, I've noticed (credit to my friend Rose) a lot of products that have been bought for cheap, say $2, from a site like eBay or AliExpress and sold on for a huge mark-up. Businesses need to profit to survive and marking things up is common practice, but it seems unfair to put something that's been made in China under sweat shops conditions next to hand-made and thoughtfully designed products.

To price them the exact same amount and chuck some branding on the Made in China product is a bit cheeky. If I buy a $50 necklace from a Cuba Street boutique, I expect it to have been made in San Francisco by a girl wearing vegan-friendly Doc Martens (in my mind, her boyfriend has a matching pair, a fine moustache and makes novelty fridge magnets...). That is what I'm paying for.

It is possible, of course, the boutique owners have been duped into buying these el cheapo goods, but I think they sell them to support the low profit margins their other products have.

In Wellington, there's a boutique called Matchbox (pictured above) who are a perfect example of a Boutique Gone Bad. I have nothing against them and actually quite like a lot of their inventory, but in the interest of the everyday consumer, I feel I have to point this stuff out.

Here are some examples of products you can get for MUCH cheaper online (all in $NZ):

Cat Ring

Dinosaur Necklace

Arrow Necklace

Superhero Socks

And I haven't even calculated for bulk buying, which would lower the AliExpress prices significantly.

What you're paying extra for is being able to physically examine the item before purchase, plus the convenience and experience of a local store. However, this is more of a quality issue than anything else. A $5 necklace is simply not a quality item! It's going to break or wear out pretty fast, and by slapping a $30 price tag on it, you're promising a higher quality than the necklace can fulfil. Plus the store is implying these goods are something they are not by re-branding them.

Matchbox, I like you, but I am certifying you Bou-cheeky!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Review x Fool's Gold: Mise-En-Dior Earring Dupes

[If you're new here, Fool's Gold is a regular segment in which we examine dupes. Because it mightn't be real gold, but in this case, it's just as good!]


These Dior earrings have been around for a few months and have been worn by such people as Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna, Cara Delevigne, Emma Watson and Charlize Theron. They're pretty hot right now, suffice to say.

From the Mise-En-Dior earring product page

I think they're pretty great, so I headed straight to AliExpress the first time they appeared on J-Law and found that there are loads of them to be found for very cheap prices. You can find them in every colour imaginable and in a few different sizes to boot.

I had no idea which to get, so I bought three pairs, from this page. I got 16mm Champagne, 16mm Pink and 18mm Pearl, all of which I thought would be nice and understated varieties. I might buy a more bold pair, because, spoiler alert, I totally love these!

Left-to-Right: 18mm Pearl, 16mm Champagne, 16mm Pink

These are the parts


Looking at photos of the Dior originals, they actually look much heavier than mine. In the above photo of Jennifer Lawrence, you can see that her earlobe is slightly bent to accomodate the extra weight of the back section. This doesn't happen with the dupe versions, as they're very light. I think the Dior ones would actually be very uncomfortable!

18mm Pearl
16mm Pink

As for prices, Mise-En-Dior retail at about $450 (USD). The dupes can be found for under $2 a pair. Sure, you're never going to convince anyone that they're the real thing, but that's not really the point. If you like the style, you can get it for dirt cheap!

I'd totally suggest getting a couple of pairs. You can play mix-and-match with the balls, swapping around the front sections. Hour and hours of fun.


Ratings
Product Quality: 5/5
Accuracy of Description: 5/5
Similarity to Original: 4/5

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Top 4 Dupe/Haul Videos

"Damn, I also need a photo for this post!"

I'm really into watching 'haul' videos about things people have bought of Aliexpress/eBay. Especially when people can compare originals to dupes, sometimes to amazing results.

Here are some good ones (note: if you're not into people rambling, you will not appreciate this):


1. $20 Triangl Swimwear Dupe Comparison by MsPinkaholic0405


I really don't know if she's right about dupes and originals being from the same wholesaler, but I have often suspected it. I have a couple of dupes that are spot on too. She does note that the swinsuit design isn't good (that zip seems like a terrible idea), which just goes to show that money doesn't always equal quality.


2. Haul/Review: Black Milk vs Aliexpress Dupes/Knock-Off (Leggings, Dresses) by Oxana124


Black Milk dupes are a big thing on Aliexpress. I've had good experiences (check out our leggings review here), and I totally believe that it's a waste of money to buy the original. Unless you're heinously wealthy.


3. UNIF Hellbound Dupes + Jeffrey Campbell Dupes Collection by CherrysLittleSecret


I have seen HEAPS of Jeffrey Campbell knockoffs, usually in chain stores. They're another thing I wouldn't pay full price for, but that's just because I'd only wear them once and they look very uncomfortable, no matter the quality. 

4. Fashion Dupes by Lily Melrose


I like it when popular bloggers discuss dupes, because it's becoming a big part of the fashion world. Dupes used to be frowned upon, but they've started to become acceptable. Probably because they've started targetting smaller brands aimed at people who can't really afford them. Like those Charlotte Olympia flats are coverted by heaps of young women, such as myself, but I can live without a Louis Vuitton handbag. I guess it comes down to product vs brand value. Charlotte Olympia is a great brand, but I couldn't even draw you their logo.

Phew, I am exhausted! Haul videos are super long and there are some very tedious ones out there! I watched them, but I'll spare you. If you've done a dupe/haul videos about online purchases, or you've seen one you really like, link it below!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Fool's Gold: 'Cross My Heart...' Sunglasses

I've seen these sunnies making their way around a few fashion blogs, usually courtesy of an online store called "Choies". Who are selling them for US$11, not including shipping. 


Surprise, surprise: they're far cheaper on AliExpress. I'd be extremely shocked if they weren't the exact same sunglasses, plus they come in lots of different colours.

The cheapest version of the product I found was under US$4, but the best option I found was this one. $4.04 per pair and loads of colour choices.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Personalized-letter-2014-HARAJUKU-sunglasses-vintage-round-box-sun-glasses/2011035907.html
From Product Page

If you want to find a cheaper version, a different colour or the above link has expired, click here for a pre-made search and you'll find the best results!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Fool's Gold: Is Buying Dupes Immoral?

When writing for Absolootely, a common issue I find myself facing, and ignoring, is whether or not it's ethical to purchase a product that has ripped off another. Is it unfair to the original designer/brand?

I don't think it is, to be honest. Most of what is in chain stores has trickled down from major brands, so it's actually hard to avoid buying clothes ripped off, or just 'inspired' by, other designers. It's a part of the fashion industry that is generally accepted. Chanel are doing just fine, don't worry.

A bigger grey area, I find, is whether buying fake merch is okay. I have a collection of band tees that each cost me over $30 each. I love supporting my favourite artists by buying their products, and I also have a dream that someday I will make a new BFF when some random notices the Devendra Banhart logo on my shirt. It hasn't happened yet, but I remain hopeful.

I do have three band t-shirts that aren't official merchandise, but I feel as if I can justify owning them because I've already given money to the bands. I own an official The Vaccines baseball shirt, three of their cds and four vinyl singles, so it's okay for me to also own this tee. I have all three of Vampire Weekend's cds, so I'm justified in owning this top. If I haven't given money to an artist, I don't buy fake merch. I'm not sure what logic that is, but it works for me. Spent $100 on an Arctic Monkeys ticket. Spent $6 on this t-shirt...


Fool's Gold: Is Buying Dupes Immoral?


Dupes are unavoidable, because upholding copyright is difficult. If a brand is confident in itself, it should be fine with dupes. However, there is a problem where people might hold the brand culpable if the fake item isn't high quality, so it should always be clear whether an item is the real thing or not. If you want to check for yourself, running an image through Google's Image Search is a fast way of checking.

I guess what it comes down to is whether or not you want to support the brand (or band, etc), both financially and through using your body as a billboard. As a consumer, you have the right to decide. I know companies make a big fuss out of buying legally, especially with the rise of piracy and all, but ultimately it's THEIR fault for not providing a superior product and by having an inefficient business model. They are responsible for their own failings. For most of us, the opportunity cost (second best alternative) to buying a dupe isn't buying the original, and is actually just not buying anything, so it's not like they're losing sales.

Someday, we'll all be wealthy beyond measure, and then we can just buy originals and fund the people who deserve it the most, but until then, we're just regular people trying to make the most out of our short lifespans. It's not our responsibility to maximise the profits of others.

Unless those 'others' are The Vaccines. They can just take my money.

"Get outta the frame, Dupe Scum!"


Have a think about this issue and let us know your thoughts. Hopefully, I've at least given you an excuse to buy dupes without feeling guilty!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Fool's Gold: Return of the Pizza Necklace

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a Fool's Gold comparing a very expensive Pizza Necklace to a cheaper alternative. In that post, the necklaces were quite different, though similar in pizza-ness.

Browsing an Etsy store, I stumbled across the exact same necklace as the Aliexpress one, but for twice the price and far fewer the quantity!



Here's the one sold via ShopSpaceTrash:


Not only is it supremely cheeky that they sell 5 for around $40 (USD, inc shipping costs), they also sell ONE necklace for around $15ea! It's likely that they bought these necklaces from a wholesale site like Aliexpress, so the sheer amount of profit they make per purchase is ridiculous.

Here's the one sold via Aliexpress:


See, it's exactly the same!

Over Aliexpress, 20 pieces will cost you $22 (USD, inc shipping).
Over ShopSpaceTrash, 20 pieces will cost you $156.

That's a difference of $134! And on ShopSpaceTrash, you can't even buy 20 so easily, as they have a maximum order of 3 sets of 5. ShopSpaceTrash is a very popular store, and just the 5 piece Pizza Necklace set has over 100 favourites on Etsy. But they are really having a laugh with the price tag.

I love Etsy, but a lot of the stuff for sale can be found for much cheaper elsewhere. They buy in bulk, take nicer photos and sell amongst their handmade guff. All is fair in love, war and e-stores, and it's not illegal, just good marketing. However, we're on the consumer's side, so screw it, it makes us angry.

ShopSpaceTrash, consider yourself absolootely called out.

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield


Fool's Gold: Screw You, Samsung!

My laptop screen has been broken for a while and I finally got around to getting a quote from Samsung's repair centre as to the cost of getting a replacement LCD screen. They said it would be $280, which is outrageous.

They can charge that much because people buying repairs want their item fixed ASAP, and tend to just throw money at the problem, putting speed and reliability before price. I'm in that camp. I was perfectly willing to pay them whatever they wanted, so I could finally be reunited with my Sims 3 family.

At the advice of my super geek brother, I had a peak around the web to see if I could find a cheaper alternative. I found my way to aliexpress, which I've never used for electronics before, and they had the absolute cheapest options. There were multiple stores offering the exact same LCD screen that Samsung would've sent me, but for $100 instead of almost $300!

The moral of this story is that stuff is cheaper online. Groundbreaking, I know.

If you do decide to buy replacement parts online, be SUPER careful. It's really easy to accidentally order the wrong part! I have a Samsung NP300V5A-S04NZ, and I almost bought a screen that would fit an NP300 laptop, but not the exact one I have. Check all the numbers and letters! Make sure the photo looks right.

Also, if you don't have a tech genius sibling, you can order the part yourself and use a PC fixing service to replace it, if you're not confident.

Fool's Gold: Screw You, Samsung



Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Pearl of Wisdom x Fool's Gold: A Pair of Fake Chanel Earrings

Guys, I totes read an academic paper and I think you'll be interested in what it's about.

"Omg, what is this, what sane person actually reads academic papers?!" We're called students.

I get forced into reading a lot of marketing papers for my course, and they are very tedious most of the time, but sometimes they are absolute gold. I swear 90% of a marketing degree is consumer tips, backed up by great research.

This study* is an example of some knowledge that is actually very useful to have up your sleeve. It basically provides solid evidence that people will treat you better if you're wearing a luxury brand logo.
"A person who displays a luxury-brand label, not an ordinary label, is indeed perceived as wealthier and receives higher status ratings than a person who does not display a label, as predicted by notions of conspicuous consumption." *
Conspicuous consumption means that a good or service is used by you in front of an 'audience'. Like, lots of people are going to see you driving your car, but a lot less people will see you using your shampoo. We tend to focus more on the things we consume in public, because of associations and branding and all that stuff.

Note the blu tack in the reflection...
I'm a huge fan of psychology and I love employing little Life Tricks. For example, the more you show your palms, the most trustworthy you're perceived as being (fun fact). But I don't have any luxury brand items, unless you count a pretty sweet colour screen Casio calculator or a Samsung Galaxy from three generations ago. Oh, I have prescription Ray Ban glasses, but I think they're pretty embarrassing these days. Thanks, hipsters.

Enter Aliexpress.

Designer knock offs are super common, I don't need to tell you that. I've seen more fake Louis Vuitton wallets than wallets of any other sort. It's very frowned upon to buy fake, because that's kinda a sign that you're trying too hard and being fake yourself. However, we don't really feel the same way about dupes from less expensive brands or dupes that don't have a logo on them. I have a fake Lazy Oaf shirt and a lot of the stuff I own is 'inspired' by designer brands via trickle-down trends or plain ol' copying.

I guess the difference is aesthetics vs brand equity (value). I have a pair or three of fake Mise En Dior earrings, that I bought before J-Law and Rihanna started wearing the real things and alerting me to Dior's originals. I bought them for sheer aesthetic reasons. Most of Dior's earrings are, to be honest, kinda awful, but seem pretty because they have the brand name attached to them. Buying a fake pair of this variety would be for brand equity reasons and that's a little shady.


HOWEVER, I'm all for shady, in small doses! I've already ordered myself a pair of fake Chanel earrings (hopefully more convincing than my DIY ones, pictured above), and I intend to use them for practical reasons. The study found that wearing luxury brands helps in job interviews and collected donations, and other cases. It's a very small investment for some pretty great benefits.
"Seven laboratory and field experiments supported the prediction that people treat a person who displays a luxury brand more favourably than a person who does not or, more accurately, than the same person when he or she wears identical clothing without a brand label." *
Sure, the paper does make it clear that the reason luxury brands make people seem higher status is because they seem like they have more wealth, which is totally offset by having a fake pair of earrings. But who is really going to ask "Are those real?" And if some punk does ask you that, I give you permission to lie.

I'm recommending that everyone should have a convincing, logo emblazoned, piece of fake designer wear, to pull out when you feel like you might need a bit of a boost. Earrings are really great, because they're usually just logos and they're small enough to not be noticeably fake. Also, I think a pair of Chanel, etc, earrings is something a lot of girls would have, even if the rest of their outfit was from Glassons or TopShop. It's something a wealthy grandmother would pass down, or a special birthday present from some very nice parents.

Below, you shall find a wonderful collection of the best fake earrings I found. Bar the ones I made, of course. I went for ones that were very simple and looked expensive, because they're more convincing. If you want to search for more over on Aliexpress or eBay, searching with the brand name won't get you far. Use "brand earrings" or "logo earrings", and scroll through some pages.






*Nelissen, Rob and Marijn HC Meijers (2011), "Social Benefits of Luxury Brands as Costly Signals of Wealth and Status," Evolution and Human Behavior, 32 (5), 343-55.


Further Quotes from Nelissen & Marijn, 2010:

"Participants in the brand-label condition found the applicant more suitable for the job... and also suggested he should earn more than the applicant in the no-label condition."

"Participants in the brand-label condition complied with the request on 52.2% of the occasions, compared to 13.6% in the no-label condition."

"Average donations were higher in the brand-label condition than in the no-label condition."

"Transfers in the luxury-label condition exceeded those in the ordinary-label condition."


Fun .gif Google made for me...
Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Fool's Gold: Pizza Necklace

So, these aren't exactly the same necklace, but still! Buy 1x pizza necklace from the Nylon shop or 20x pizza necklaces for a lower price?

This necklace has been very popular since I clipped it to Polyvore, btw. I guess it's pretty cool? It's much cooler as a friendship necklace, I think. If you have a group of six besties.

Because how much is a pizza necklace really worth to you? Keeping in mind that it is not actually edible (sad face).


Fool's Gold: Pizza Necklace



Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Fool's Gold : Crazy Sexy Cool Beanie



Cos I'm looking like class,
and he's looking like trash.
- TLC, No Scrubs -

My friends showed me the Mombasa Rose version of this beanie a few days ago and I knew I'd be able to track the exact same hat down for less than $20. It only took a moment for me to creep online and discover one for just $10! I didn't imagine I'd also find a store selling one for nearly $50. Can you imagine spending that much money on a beanie? That is so unpretty.

I can't guarantee they're all the exact same hat, but I'd say considering that 99% of the world is made in China these days, it's pretty safe to assume so. The other perk? Ali Express has free shipping, the other two don't. As if you needed any more convincing. 

Just don't go chasing waterfalls in this, because I'm not sure how waterproof it'll be. 



Fool's Gold : Crazy Sexy Cool Beanie



Contributor: Rachel, @RachelElsewhere

Fool's Gold: Dupes vs Originals



Rachel and I regularly swap examples of items that are $10 on Aliexpress and up to 10x that price on other sites, so we thought we'd share our finds and show how savvy shopping can save you some serious cash.

Sometimes it is worth buying the original. If you're buying foundation, don't skimp on quality, for example (read about that Pearl of Wisdom here). Things like a good pair of jeans cannot be replicated at the same quality for $10. However, there are companies such as Black Milk that sell novelty clothing for $100 a pop, which is too much to spend on a gimmicky, wear-once-a-year item for us poor students.

We'll also feature examples of online sites trying to rip you off majorly by selling dupes at inflated prices. When we find them, we'll call them out for sure.

Here are some dupes that we think are worth buying over the originals (or 'Fool's Gold', because even though it ain't 'real', in this case it's still gold). Click here to view the full collection and price details over on Polyvore. Note that all prices are in $US, with shipping not included in the price...

                                    Original                                                             Dupe