Author: Rosa Falcão

Source: Diário de Pernambuco - Economy - 16/04/2010

Pirate products fell in the Brazilian taste. Regardless of income, sex, education and social class, the population goes in search of generics, whose supply is abundant in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (RMR). Consumer stars are CDs and DVDs, but pirated designer clothes and watches are also high on the consumer list. The advancement of illegal trade is proven in the research Consumption of pirated products in RMR, from the Group of Studies of the Macroambiente Empresarial de Pernambuco (Gemepe) of Fafire. Of the 661 interviewed in ten municipalities, 82% stated that they consume pirates sometimes and always. The argument: prices on average 50% lower than the original product.

Research coordinator, Professor Uranilson Carvalho, says that the study demystifies the thesis that the consumption of pirated products is exclusive to the low income. These potential consumers are in all salary ranges, especially in the middle class whose income ranges from two to five minimum wages. "There is a widespread consumption in all social classes, all levels of education, between men and women", he summarizes. What draws attention is that 51% of respondents leave home to purchase these products.

Just a stroll through the streets. Carts of CDs and DVDs are spread around every corner of the city. You can take home movie releases before you even get to the cinema. There are three and even four films for R $ 10. This is what Maria José Campelo, 43, a student in public tenders, usually does. “We buy because it is cheaper and the quality is the same. I think I save at least 50%. Here you have the advantage of buying, watching the movie and then exchanging for another one for only R $ 1 ”, he points out. She spends an average of R $ 20 per month on CDs and DVDs.

Sport supporter, autonomous Cláudio Gomes da Silva, 23, already had an official shirt of the heart team. Now with the shortest money, go to the street vendor to buy the shirt for a lower price. “I already bought it at the store for R $ 130, but it was very expensive. Here I buy the similar one for R $ 20. I take advantage and take other standards ”, he justifies. Cláudio thinks that the consumer gains with the possibility of having the object of desire at a low cost.

Fake watches are also successful and attract consumers by the pocket. Vigilante Felipe Cesário da Silva, 26, says he only buys watches in the street market. He has his eye on a generic Nike model. It costs R $ 300 in the street vendor. It costs over R $ 800 at the store. “I don't even go into the store because I know it is much more expensive. I come here and take it with me, my girlfriend and my mother. So far I have had no problems with quality ”.

The survey shows that 89% of the people interviewed buy generics for their own consumption and 9% for gifts to relatives. In addition to the lower price factor (92%), the consumers interviewed cite other advantages: practicality (5%) and convenience (2%). But they know the risks. Only 1% consider that pirated products have the same result as the original product.