Tikkok is full of viral videos that accuse renowned brands to secretly produce luxury goods in China so that they can be sold at spin prices. But while these “revelations” are wrong, there is a well -oiled machine for the sale of fake, which uses the confusion around the trading tariffs at most.
Chinese content creator, who represent themselves as workers: inside or subcontractor: inside in the luxury goods business, claim that Beijing has been confidentiality clauses for local subcontractors: in the inside to react to the higher tariffs that US President Donald Trump has raised to China. They say that this Chinese decision, of which the AFP has found no trace, authorize it to reveal the hidden dark side of luxury goods in China.
They ask western consumers: to buy directly on the websites that sell these goods that do not wear logos or labels, but supposedly have the same quality and the same design as the expensive originals.
The prices are also tempting and decreases of $ 38,000 for a luxury bag to $ 1,400. The affected brands-including Hermès, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, whose products are manufactured in Europe and the United States according to their websites-refused to respond to AFP questions about the claims in these viral videos.
For Jacques Carles, head of the French Luxury and Design Center, a management consultancy, the idea that luxury brands would produce in China is simply “absurd”.
“That would be suicide. If there were evidence – and it does not exist – it would be the end. These brands are not stupid,” he told AFP.
While the tictokers: in the inside to the skills of the Chinese workers: indicate inside that are presented as the small hands behind the large luxury names, “these counterfeiting workshops would not take all the necessary steps into account in the manufacturing process,” he said.
‘Sow doubts’
Carles gave the example of the Birkin Bag from Hermès, for whose production “hundreds of working hours” are required. He said the creators: In the inside of the internet clips, “by sowing doubts”, he actually try to “open an opportunity … to” get rid of “fake goods.
“It is a viral campaign that has spread on social networks and which is difficult to counteract,” he said. Luxury brands were silent and “treated the phenomenon with contempt”, which in his opinion was a mistake, he added.
The accusation that luxury goods that are officially produced in Europe would actually be secretly produced in China, “makes no sense,” agreed Michel Phan, professor of luxury marketing at the Emlyon Business School in France. He rejected the argument made on Tikkok that this was a Chinese reaction to the US trade tariffs.
“Nothing (for) the US government will change European luxury brands because they are not connected to these brands,” he said. “All videos on the Internet in which it is mentioned that luxury brands make their products in China and then attach the ‘Made in France’ label before they sell them are nonsense. It is illegal to do this, and no brand will take the risk of being caught.”
The e-commerce department of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement: “Any misleading marketing, injury or counterfeiting activities” by companies that pretend to be subcontractors: “are immediately referred to the law enforcement authorities for investigating and persecution”.
‘I’m such a fool’
Comments on the viral clips, as from internet users: inside and not from the creators: come inside of the videos themselves, seem to show that the message arrives. “I’m so angry. I paid the maximum price!” Said one in a video comment. “I’m such a fool,” said another.
Some leave comments in which you ask for the names of “Supplier: inside of luxury goods” in China, where you can buy the coveted articles cheaply. Meanwhile, Chinese dealers sell: also fake luxury goods directly on Tikkok, with links to their websites. These Tikok live reels each reach hundreds of calls. They show rows of shelves full of luxury items, all numbered.
“DHL delivery. Products identical to those in the shops. The only difference is the price,” says a voice that was generated by a AI in French.
Internet users: Inside, you are asked to scan a QR code or click on a link to complete your purchase via WhatsApp or PayPal.
AFP has found a number of similar live feeds that were also published in English and French, which indicates that the main target group are internet users: inside in Europe and the United States.
China is regularly accused of being the world’s largest producer of fake goods. Some estimates assume that 70 to 80 percent of all counterfeits will be produced there in the States of the European Union and a number of other countries there are high penalties for buying counterfeits. In France, for example, this could mean a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 300,000 euros ($ 340,600). The customs authorities can also take fake and buyers: inside the equivalent of the true value of the articles.
The Office of the European Union for intellectual property (EuIPO) estimates that counterfeits cost European industry a year 16 billion euros, with the clothing, cosmetics and toy industry being affected the most. (AFP)
This article was used with digital tools translated.
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