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All Possibility, Made Of Custard
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ratbastid
You know, as fads go, this one's pretty benign. At least every bracelet you see on a vapid, chain-smoking teenager represents a donation to research cures for cancer.
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Except that at the mall two weeks ago, I saw yellow knockoff ones that said things like "BE STRONG" and "BEST OF FRIENDS" on them - people capitalizing on this trend - it makes me sick.
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Quote:
Band in Boston: Counterfeit, look-alike LIVESTRONG wristlets siphon funds from cancer foundation
By Mary Jo Palumbo
Thursday, December 2, 2004
It's a fashion craze with a noble goal: a silicone rubber wristband that pledges support for cancer research.
But knockoffs of the coveted yellow LIVESTRONG bands are flying off the shelves at convenience stores nationwide.
And the only cause being funded is profit.
``There are counterfeits out there and our legal team is pursuing it,'' said Michelle Milford, spokeswoman for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which runs the LIVESTRONG campaign. ``If you bought (a bracelet) for $5 from a convenience store, it's not the real thing.''
The only authorized venues selling the genuine wristbands, priced at $1, are Niketown outlets, the Discovery Channel Stores and Build-A-Bear shops, Milford said.
The rubber wristband phenomenon began in May when Tour De France champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong introduced the bright yellow LIVESTRONG band, which quickly became hot property among children, teens and college students.
Wearers demonstrate support for cancer survivors, and proceeds fund public health and research programs at the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Celebs, pols and sport stars have upped the cool status of the LIVESTRONG bands. They've been spotted on Halle Berry, Matt Damon, Roger Clemens, Pamela Anderson, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. John Kerry [related, bio] wore one during his DNC acceptance speech. Jay Leno handed them out on ``The Tonight Show.''
The Herald found convenience stores in Boston and Somerville selling exact replicas of the LIVESTRONG band, or an almost-identical knockoff that reads ``BE STRONG,'' for about $3 each.
At the 7-Eleven on Stuart Street in Boston, the $2.99 yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands disappeared from a behind-the-counter shelf less than an hour after the Herald inquired about them.
``We are not selling these anymore,'' said an employee, who requested anonymity. ``We found out they are associated with a fund-raiser, and 7-Eleven doesn't want to get involved. We sold red ones for the Red Sox, and those were fine. We are sending these back.''
At the Mini Mart in Davis Square in Somerville, an employee said he had no idea that the ``BE STRONG'' yellow bracelet was an imitation of the Armstrong fund-raiser.
``I don't know what you're talking about,'' said the employee who did not give his name.
Store owners say the demand for the bracelets is high, and they'd like to be able to offer the authentic ones to customers.
``People are looking for them, and you can't find them anywhere,'' said Dino DiGiovanni, owner of Gateway Newsstands in the Transportation Building on Charles Street South. ``I'm not surprised to hear there are knock-offs. There's a lot of that going around.''
Counterfeiting isn't the only abuse that concerns the LAF.
Online shops are reselling the bands, and people are auctioning them on eBay.
Sites such as collectorsparadise.com and hotyugioh.com sell the LIVESTRONG bracelet for $4.99. Myjewelthief.com gives one away free with any order.
The LAF Web site opposes the reselling of the wristbands, calling it ``an abuse of a valid fund-raising campaign for a nonprofit organization.''
``This is an unauthorized reselling,'' said Milford. ``People are taking a valid fund-raising campaign and profiteering. It's disappointing. It's not illegal, but it's unethical.''
So far, LAF has sold more than 20 million LIVESTRONG wristbands at www.laf.org and www.wearyellow.com.
Because of the overwhelming demand for the bracelets, buyers wait four to five weeks to receive them. But that's no reason to go out and buy a knockoff, said Milford.
``There is no shortage,'' said Milford. ``We want people to get them here, where all the money benefits our programs.''
``Demand (for the wristbands) has outstretched availability,'' said Huvar. ``This has led the way for thieves to come out and sell them (in) retail (stores). They are really stealing from the foundation.''
One knockoff of the band is not seeking LIVESTRONG fans.
A black wristband being auctioned on eBay for $2.50 seeks to make an anti-trend, nonconformist statement: ``LIVEWRONG.''
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