Across Hundreds of Industries, the Real Version of a Product Is Still in High Demand, Even Though Customers Can Easily Buy the Fake Version at a Lower Price

Quick Research Project

I just spent about 4 minutes using ChatGPT and Google to find industries where a low-cost "fake version" of its product was introduced, but demand for the more expensive "real thing" remained strong. In that short time, I easily identified about 200 industries that met these criteria.

After that, I spent five times longer on ChatGPT and Google, searching for the opposite outcome—an industry where a "fake version" of its product was introduced and demand for the "real thing" disappeared. It was hard to identify a single example!

Conclusion

So, what's my conclusion? It seems there's something hardwired into the human brain that makes people prefer the real version of a product over the fake. Not everyone has the extra money for the real thing, but those who do are often willing to pay more for it. Therefore, the results of this quick research project supports my claim that demand for modeling photos featuring real-life models will remain strong for many years to come, despite the availability of more affordable AI-generated modeling photos.

Examples of Industries Where Customers Continue to Buy the Real Version of a Product, Despite the Option to Buy the Fake Version at a Lower Price

Jewelry with Diamonds

  • Real: High-end jewelry with real diamonds

  • Fake: Jewelry with fake diamonds (cubic zirconia stones)

Leather Goods

  • Real: Leather jackets, shoes, and wallets

  • Fake: Fake leather jackets, shoes, and wallets, which are made with fake leather (e.g., polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride)

Books

  • Real: Original, published books

    Fake: Pirated copies of books

Watches

  • Real: Luxury timepieces (e.g., Rolex, Omega, TAG Heuer)

  • Fake: Counterfeit watches designed to look like high-end brands

Fashion (Clothing, Handbags, Shoes)

  • Real: High-end designer clothes, shoes, and handbags (e.g., Gucci, Chanel, Dior, Prada, Louis Vuitton)

  • Fake: Knock-off versions of designer apparel, which you can buy online or from a street vendor

Cosmetics

  • Real: High-quality makeup and skincare (e.g., MAC, Estée Lauder)

  • Fake: Counterfeit makeup products, often sold online

Perfume

  • Real: Luxury fragrance brands (e.g., Chanel, Dior)

  • Fake: Knock-off perfumes that are trying to copy luxury fragrances

Toys

  • Real: Branded toys (e.g., Lego, Barbie)

  • Fake: Imitations of popular toys, often made with lower-quality materials

Food

  • Real: Organic fruits and vegetables, which are real food

  • Fake: Genetically modified (GMO) fruits and vegetables, which many health enthusiasts view as fake food

Footwear

  • Real: Branded shoes (e.g., Nike, Adidas, Converse)

  • Fake: Imitation shoes that resemble popular brands

Movie DVDs

  • Real: Official movie releases sold on DVD

  • Fake: Pirated versions of movies sold on DVD

Art (Paintings, Sculptures)

  • Real: Authentic artwork from famous artists (e.g., Van Gogh, Picasso)

  • Fake: Counterfeit and reproduction art pieces from famous artists

Car Parts

  • Real: Genuine car parts sold at the BMW and Land Rover dealerships

  • Fake: Aftermarket car parts sold online (e.g., eBay, RockAuto), which some people view as fakes

Music Instruments

  • Real: High-end musical instruments (e.g., Fender guitars, Steinway pianos)

  • Fake: Counterfeit musical instruments, especially cheap knock-offs sold as premium brands