Adolescents' Attitudes toward Counterfeits: Consumer Ethics & Reference Group Influence

Counterfeiting is a fast growing market worldwide. The purposes of this study were to examine adolescents' attitudes toward counterfeits, their ethical beliefs, and reference group influence on purchasing counterfeits. Two hundred thirteen high school students in Seoul and subside, South Korea, voluntarily participated in the study. As the results, approximately 30% of the adolescents had purchased counterfeits. Also, the adolescent buyers of counterfeits tended to purchase counterfeit goods as more alternative of genuine products than non-buyers, and did have more positive feeling toward counterfeits than non-buyers of counterfeits. In addition, adolescent buyers of counterfeits had lower consumer ethics than non-buyers. Finally, adolescents who have purchased counterfeits were more influenced by their peer group than those who have not. The findings would benefit marketers and educators in understanding of adolescents' purchasing counterfeit products, and contribute to develop strategies regarding counterfeits. Based on these results, some strategies for marketers and educators would be suggested.