New York City attracts millions of tourists from across the globe each year. The Statue of Liberty, Broadway, and Central Park are just a few of the iconic experiences to see. For bargain hunters, a famous (or rather infamous) hot spot lures them in like a moth to flame: Canal Street.
What Is So Special About Canal Street?
Located in Lower Manhattan, Canal Street is a bustling thoroughfare with it’s open air bazaar. Vendors at every corner offer a variety of goods: souvenirs, jewelry, clothing, and even ‘designer’ products. If you’re unfamiliar with Canal Street, many of the high-end brands, such as Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Chanel (among others), sold there are often counterfeits.
Over the years, Canal Street has been the center of controversy. Law enforcement frequently raids these sections and confiscates the counterfeit merchandise. Nevertheless, this hasn’t deterred vendors and consumers. Because people want designer products without the four-figure price tag, they still negotiate for the lowest possible price.
However, the quality of Canal Street items is often questionable.
What Happened To This Woman’s Dior Dupe?
In an attempt to ‘de-influence’ over 266,000 viewers from Canal Street, Texas-based TikTok creator Amber (@alivebutunwell) unveils her broken leather Diror Saddle Bag.
“My 60-dollar Canal Street purse just broke,” she says, showing where the strap broke. Upon closer inspection, the metal piece connecting the “C” and “D” is missing. “Who would have thought? 60 dollars on a fake purse?” she asks, laughing. When she picks up her purse, the metal signature letters hold the strap together.
“Thought she was holding up,” the content creator says, as she lifts and spins the bag. “Turns out, she didn’t.”
Instead of being angry, Amber found the situation humorous. “I just know someone from Dior is laughing at me rn as they absolutely should be. IM SORRY I learned my lesson!” she writes in the caption.
What Did Viewers Think?
Many weren’t phased. As a matter of fact, they believed Amber had been scammed.
“60!? Oh girl you got ripped off badd. My dad got 5 rolexes for 100$ in canal,” one viewer commented.
“You should have paid only $20 for that though,” another remarked.
Meanwhile, others didn’t understand the hype and encouraged alternatives.
“I don’t understand buying fakes when you get vintage or preowned for the price of a MK or Coach bag!” one commenter urged.
“Yuppp that’s why you negotiate, and sometimes it’s not even worth it. Tj maxx lol,” a second stated.
“And this is why you don’t buy DUPES. You wait until you get enough money to buy the real thing,” a third said.
Does The Location Of Canal Street Determine Quality?
Indeed, it does. According to the fashion blog Betsy Bags, the street sells lower-quality merchandise. In the comments section, Amber stated that this is where she purchased the counterfeit Dior. “The street cause the ladies weren’t going below $150, perhaps for good reason LOL,” she said.
However, Chinatown is the place to find the most convincing, high-quality knock-offs. When walking through this area, hearing a dealer list designer names suggests they carry the brand names buyers are seeking. If the buyer agrees, what comes next may seem straight out of a Dateline episode. The Mary Sue covered a story where a buyer was led to a secret room containing the finest, most luxurious faux handbags, wallets, and purses. Apparently, these are of higher quality than those found on the street.
@alivebutunwell I just know someone from Dior is laughing at me rn as they absolutely should be. IM SORRY I learned my lesson! @Dior PS: Please ignore the fact that I sound like Ive been chain smoking… I just lose my voice easily #canalstreet #nyc #dior ♬ original sound – alivebutunwell
The Mary Sue reached out to Amber via TikTok comment and direct message.
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