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AIBU?

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Original poster

To counterfeit my daughters Christmas presents?

259 replies

Wazzitnow · 24/10/2023 21:21

OK, so she's into some obscure person ATM. Shes autistic and her people of interest changes bi yearly.

Right now it's this person who has a clothing range that is only available in the USA and is crazy expensive. $100 for a hoodie "$40 for a Tshirt type thing.

She's never seen his merch in real life and it's really cheap iron on kind of stuff.

And his inside label tag is very simple.

I have a printing machine and could very easily forge the items and make the label for inside the collar too.

I don't want to spend that much money on some obscure Tshirt with 1 word on just for the label.

But in true autistic teen style this is all she wants.

I'd get charged import fees too.

It's unlikely she would ever know because ei doubt she will ever come across a real piece of merch from him

And the style he has along with the label he has means it would be super easy to make and there would really be no way for her to know.

I wouldn't be selling them obviously. Just a few items, couple of Tshirts and a hoodie for her.

Would be around £35 quid instead of £200+!

And I know she won't be into him by summer either which makes me even more reluctant.

OP posts:
Poppysmom22 · 25/10/2023 06:29

Honestly just do it, the quality of the stuff these people pedal is so so poor they are just ripping kids off its probably all made in some Chinese sweat shop by exploited labour but 'influencers' don't care about that buy a plain hoodie from an ethical source and jazz it up yourself that way you get what you need for your daughter and you know you haven't been part of supporting exploitation

Dawny1879 · 25/10/2023 06:34

Can you see if you can purchase from Vinted? You have the option to select condition i.e. new with tags, new without tags and very good. You can sort by brand and will as a minimum save on expensive import fees. In my experience you will get a bargain 😀

Witchbitch20 · 25/10/2023 06:34

Do it!

Meadowdog · 25/10/2023 06:34

Don't do it because the massive online presence of these people means that probably part.of the joy for your daughter having these things is showing them off to her Internet friends. If any of them or the influencer himself get suspicious about the authenticity of the merchandise your daughter could easily be humiliated and might not forgive you.

BackToRealMe · 25/10/2023 06:39

I can't believe people are saying you should do it.
I'd lose all my trust in you for the rest of my life when I find out. And I'm sure she will find out.

DutchCowgirl · 25/10/2023 06:42

If you do it you must be honest about it!

You shouldn’t lie to her , if my mother had done this when i was young and i’d found out i would distrust her for years!

Goodornot · 25/10/2023 09:24

I'd say to her this person has just bought cheap t shirts and ironed a transfer onto it. How about we make one?

Just tell her you're not spending hundreds on cheap products and import duty just because she wants it.

Teach her the value of money for adulthood and that you can't have everything you want.

EmmaM84 · 25/10/2023 11:07

I wouldnt do it and try to pass it off as genuine. I'd tell her you are not buying the real thing because it's too expensive, might not arrive in time for Xmas if stopped at customs etc but you can create the exact same merch for her if she wants it, otherwise she needs to pick something else.

beanii · 25/10/2023 11:20

Absolutely do it.

Parents seem to have this strange notion now that it's a good thing to spend as much as possible, instead of spending as little as possible (on what they want obviously).

I remember telling the parents on the school playground about managing to get my sons main present for £20 - I was over the moon, he would be too - the parents looked at me like I was the worst mum ever 🤣

Private1980 · 25/10/2023 11:32

Why don't you explain like someone else has said on here that they don't ship to the UK and if they did it would be to expensive and offer to do it instead say to her I think we could print these together and see if she'd like that

thegreylady · 25/10/2023 11:42

Definitely do it it will give her the same pleasure as a real one and she will be none the wiser. What a lovely mum you are to go to all that trouble to make her Christmas.

Natbro · 25/10/2023 11:46

I personally wouldn't do it... i would be concerned she would find out or someone else would realise and tell her.

backtowinter · 25/10/2023 11:51

Merch is such a rip off I would absolutely do it.

As long as others don't notice and pick on her though - that's be my only worry

Pezdeoro41 · 25/10/2023 11:54

Candymay · 24/10/2023 22:40

I totally agree with this. I am surprised that so many people are saying do it. I could not trick my child. Especially as she would be so excited.
could you explain that you are happy to make her the same items? So that she can wear the clothes she wants without having to import them?
if it were me I’d buy them for her.

Show quote history

If you ever gave your kids things from Santa Claus, you have already “tricked your child”.

Natbro · 25/10/2023 11:57

Also what are you going to do for the packaging and labels? Unless she is under the age of 10 she is going to know... this just seems a great way to embarrass her 🤦‍♂️

Bellaboo01 · 25/10/2023 12:03

Who is the obscure person? I am assuming that they arent that obscure as they have merch etc etc.

I personally wouldn't. She will be embarrassed as a fruit of the loom t-shirt with Mum printing the copy logo on the front will be so different to the real thing. £40 for a t-shirt is quite normal for merch so i would just by the real thing or not.

But, you know your daughter so if you think that she will be happy with it then, thats great and go for it.

I also agree that it is a stupid amount to pay for these people's merch!!

Goodornot · 25/10/2023 12:04

Pezdeoro41 · 25/10/2023 11:54

If you ever gave your kids things from Santa Claus, you have already “tricked your child”.

Show quote history

Yes but this child is older and knows santa doesn't exist.

She is old enough to be told that hundreds of pounds is not being spent on poor quality clothes just because.

Sennelier1 · 25/10/2023 13:25

Make the "merchandise" yourself, I know I would. Over £200 is a lot for a few basic Tshirts and a hoodie. If you can afford so then give her the art supplies she asks for too, but then you can really see how much you get for your money.

Goodornot · 25/10/2023 13:59

OP has decided to do it so moot now. One other point to consider is the DD will think her mum spent hundreds on this rubbish merch and also bought the Nike trainers etc.

She'll be upping her budget of what she asks for next.

LovelyGreenCushions · 25/10/2023 16:10

what range is it?In the Usa next week and could pick up a t-shirt?

SchadenfreudeIstMeinMittelname · 25/10/2023 16:18

It's perfectly ok to tell a child 'no, I won't be buying you X because I can't afford to/it's overpriced'.

BethDuttonsTwin · 25/10/2023 16:23

My Mum used to do similar to this. I’d want one bag, one expensive bag or item of clothing but she’d refuse to buy it, but would buy loads of bits of crap that she thought were similar and spend near on the same amount. I hated it, I always knew and would never use the stuff. The only person who felt good about my gifts was my Mum and she would just have completely wasted her money.

I also have an autistic teen dd, she’d know and your dd probably will too.

LanaL · 25/10/2023 16:25

100% yes do it! I don’t see how you are hurting anyone if you aren’t selling them , or buying fakes . These people shouldn’t be able to get away with the prices they charge for such basic things !

My son is autistic and he’s the same - he has fads and it’s always something in America ! There was one show he was into and I paid loads for a T shirt of it from America one Christmas and he wore it about 3 times as a new fad started just after !
I used to have a cricut machine and he wanted a T-shirt that sounded just like you describe - it was a phrase just in a basic font and another was a brand , again a basic font so I made them myself - they looked exactly the same ! He knew no different, he loved them and I saved myself about £100!

Paperpurple · 25/10/2023 16:31

I'd feel too guilty to do this. You'd be lying to her basically.
I get that it makes sense financially though. Could you get just 1 real t-shirt plus the other gifts?

PostItInABook · 25/10/2023 16:31

I’m autistic and think this is an appalling, horrible thing to do.
Just don’t get it if you can’t afford it but don’t fucking go out of your way to deceive and trick her.