I mean, you see headlines like “$25 MILLION in fake Rolexes busted!” and “$11M in fake designer watches seized!” and you’re just like, “Woah. Okay. That’s… a lot of fake bling.” It makes you wonder, how many people are actually trying to pass off these things? And are they *really* fooling anyone? I mean, come on, a Rolex for a dollar plus bubble wrap? That’s a dead giveaway, right? I’d hope so, anyway.
And apparently, this isn’t just a little thing. We’re talking about a HUGE increase in seizures. Like, one article mentioned a 152% jump in intellectual property violations from 2020 to 2021! That’s a crazy increase, and I guess the US Customs is doing its job. So, you know, maybe think twice before ordering that “Rolex” from that super-sketchy website.
But here’s the thing that gets me. Like, why are so many people trying to buy fake watches in the first place? Is it just the price point? Because a real Rolex is, well, *expensive*. Or is it more about the status symbol? Like, wanting to look like you’ve “made it” even if you haven’t, you know? Kinda sad, if you ask me. Just buy a nice Seiko or something! They make good watches, and you don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not.
I saw one article about 460 fake Rolexes heading to Brooklyn. Brooklyn! What’s going on in Brooklyn? Are people just swimming in fake watches over there? I mean, no offense to anyone from Brooklyn, but it seems like there would be a bit more self-respect than to buy a fake Rolex.
And then there’s the logistics of it all. Like, how do you even ship 1,280 fake watches to Salt Lake City?! Seriously, that’s a lot of wrist candy, even if it’s fake. And the poor customs officers having to sift through all that… must be a really boring job, except for the occasional massive fake watch bust.
