topic Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL in Handbags

EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Mindy D — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:59:14 GMT

Just before Hurricane Irma I received my first email inviting me to a 50% off sale at The Coach Outlet online. I've been eyeing a bag, The Edie 31, for a few months, but held off because the bag doesn't zip closed. I'd been back to the regular Coach website numerous times trying to decide if I wanted to order. When the sale email came in I went to the outlet site to check for an Edie. None were left. I decided; heck, I haven't received a nice bag in a long while ( I did order an Oryany here at the Q, but that's another story 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻). Due to Irma's impact, mail from UPS was being held by UPS until they could get through the streets to deliver. I just received the two bags I ordered at 50% off. I was expecting Coach quality. Both bags are leather and the packaging was nice but....Let me continue, one bag, is supposed to be made from Coach's "Crossgrain Leather." After ordering, I found out that this was really just Coach's version of Saffiano, though nowhere near the quality of luxury bag Saffiano. The bag is nice, but it doesn't stand out by the virtue of high quality...which I was expecting. If it didn't have a Coach logo on it, I would have expected to be charged around $120-$150 for this quality at retail. The Coach price tag, still attached says $325. The second bag was purchased because I need a smaller black leather bag. This one is in pebbled leather. In the past, I have loved Coach's pebbled leather for its high quality. I've also loved the higher mid-price bags for their hardware. This bag will fit my needs for serviceability, but

it certainly doesn't smack of quality. I was so excited to get new bags. My reaction is better than "Meh," but it's nowhere near "Takes my breath away." I'll have to fork over bigger bucks to get the higher priced Coach bags. I'm still going to hunt ebay for two new bags that were discontinued about two years ago. The photos I have of these two look like the old Coach to me. EDITED for errors.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Vivian — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 22:04:50 GMT

Many manufacturers have a separate quality line, a lower one, for the items sold at their outlets. There's an outlet mall a little over an hour from where I live. I used to go there once or twice a year, but after buying a couple of items that turned out to be really bad after a short amount of time, I stopped wasting time, money, and gasoline. When I read about these separate outlet lines, I had my AHA! moment,

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Kachina624 — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 22:06:40 GMT

Doesn't Coach make a line of bags of lesser quality for their discount stores? Maybe if you want First Class Coach quality, you're shopping at the wrong place. IMO Saffanio leather always looks like cheap vinyl. I don't know how they'd make it look expensive. I'd return what you got and save up for bags that make your heart sing.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

GarlandGal — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 22:17:48 GMT

@Mindy D I live near a Couch Outlet and have found that most of it's bags are now made specifically for outlet stores, and they are not the same quality as those found in boutiques. I miss the days when good bargains could be found!

If you look at the lable inside the bag and the seriel number contains the letter "F", it was made for Couch's factory outlet stores. The retail price on the tag means nothing. According to a very helpful Couch sales rep, the bag never saw the inside of a boutique, and was never meant to.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Skyegirl21 — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 22:29:37 GMT

The Coach outlets sells lower quality, lower priced products that are similar design to their high end items, but don't cost hundreds of dollars- sorry, I know it's a little disappointing..

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

millieshops — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 23:18:07 GMT

My experience is also that what's offered at the outlets isn't the same quality that's offered elsewhere. I used to go, but not so often any longer. There are lots of sales - I'd rather wait for that than settle for what I can most often expect at the outlets.

I was in a Lord and Taylor today - first time in several years. They had lots of beautiful Coach bags, but the sale prices today were more for Dooney as well as Kors. I ended up with an Anne Klein that wasn't on sale, but the cashier "found" a coupon so I was happy. Hadn't intended to shop, but I'm glad I did.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

grandma petes — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 00:09:14 GMT

I worked at Macy's in handbags for several years. I can truly attest to the fact that the quality of Coach has suffered greatly. Many times we would unpack boxes of Coach, only to have to send them back to the vendor due to poor quality. Quite often there would be marks in the leather, the tops of the bag by the zipper or snap closures wouldn't line up causing the bags to be lopsided. It use to be such a desired brand, but when they became popular with all age groups, I think quantity outweighed quality.

When Saffiano leather was first introduced, we couldn't keep it on the shelves, now we can't give it away. Plus, Coach, Michael Kors and Dooney kind of blew it when they opened their Outlet stores. Many people don't realize that those brands make bags specifically for their Outlets and they are no where near the quality people think they're getting.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

jannabelle1 — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 00:13:32 GMT

I've bought two bags from a Coach outlet mall 3 years ago and haven't bought any since. I think I got caught up in the hype of the outlet mall and thought I was getting a great deal.....of course that wasn't so. The quality wasn't there. I used to love Coach when the styles were classic and the leather was beautiful. That ended a number of years ago.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

faeriemoon — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 12:58:18 GMT

In addition to selling "outlet only" inferior quality merchandise, I think their quality in general has gone downhill. Other than their really high end pieces, their quality does not justify their pricing.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Laura14 — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 13:09:41 GMT

I don't care for Coach's outlet bags. Instead I wait for the higher end bags to go on clearance at the department stores or take advantage of the invites to the Coach outlet website sales where you can usually score a great deal on the higher end bags. I just grabbed a Mercer at a steal at Macys because it was the last one. They also had a burnt orange Edie with a chain strap on clearance that was lovely!

I don't think it's much of a sale but Coach.com just came out with their Fall Sale so if you are looking for anything above the outlet level, depending on price, everything excluding Selena and their 1941 line is 20-30% off. Edies are included!

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Mindy D — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:25:55 GMT

@GarlandGal wrote:
@Mindy D I live near a Couch Outlet and have found that most of it's bags are now made specifically for outlet stores, and they are not the same quality as those found in boutiques. I miss the days when good bargains could be found!

If you look at the lable inside the bag and the seriel number contains the letter "F", it was made for Couch's factory outlet stores. The retail price on the tag means nothing. According to a very helpful Couch sales rep, the bag never saw the inside of a boutique, and was never meant to.

Will this F also be on the price tag? Thanks, I was trying to remember this. I'll be checking. At least I have two serviceable black bags. First I spend nearly $300 for a not-so-hot Oryany and then I spend $270 for some just O.K. Coaches. Live and learn. I'll wait and get a great bag later. One trend I notice though, is that many new styles don't zip closed. I can't stand when my bag tips over in the car and things fall out.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Katcat1 — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:14:19 GMT

@Mindy D, Some of the Coach bags today are very expensive $500 range which is not for me. Beautiful bags but too pricey. I have had luck with Kate Spade bags. I own several pebble leather that are truly beautiful bags. I could probably use one more black bag crossbody but I always wait for their sales. Last Christmas I bought an iridescent leather wallet that was $100 for $40. I receive many compliments on that wallet. I prefer the more conservative look of bag because some Kate Spade bags are way out there in design.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

magicmoodz — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:28:09 GMT

Always window shopping online, there was a time I was totally enamoured by the Edie silhouette. That is until I went to a department store and saw this handbag "up close and in person". I immediately fell out of infatuation. I would not consider this a quality bag---it was rather stiff and didn't have that lovely drape that I look for in a bag.

My bucket list includes a "real" designer bag. I personally would rather have one beautiful bag than several of a lesser quality.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Mindy D — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:41:31 GMT

@GarlandGal wrote:
@Mindy D I live near a Couch Outlet and have found that most of it's bags are now made specifically for outlet stores, and they are not the same quality as those found in boutiques. I miss the days when good bargains could be found!

If you look at the lable inside the bag and the seriel number contains the letter "F", it was made for Couch's factory outlet stores. The retail price on the tag means nothing. According to a very helpful Couch sales rep, the bag never saw the inside of a boutique, and was never meant to.

Now I'm really steaming. Price tag says F36675

$295. What a rip off.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Mindy D — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:44:37 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
I don't care for Coach's outlet bags. Instead I wait for the higher end bags to go on clearance at the department stores or take advantage of the invites to the Coach outlet website sales where you can usually score a great deal on the higher end bags. I just grabbed a Mercer at a steal at Macys because it was the last one. They also had a burnt orange Edie with a chain strap on clearance that was lovely!

I don't think it's much of a sale but Coach.com just came out with their Fall Sale so if you are looking for anything above the outlet level, depending on price, everything excluding Selena and their 1941 line is 20-30% off. Edies are included!

I bought the bags from an invitation to the Coach Outlet website sale. The regular Coach store online is having a sale today. The only reason I didn't buy the Edie 31 at the regular Coach online store is that it can't be zipped closed. So I chose a couple of other bags from the online Outlet Store. Stupid me.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Mindy D — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:58:01 GMT

@magicmoodz wrote:
Always window shopping online, there was a time I was totally enamoured by the Edie silhouette. That is until I went to a department store and saw this handbag "up close and in person". I immediately fell out of infatuation. I would not consider this a quality bag---it was rather stiff and didn't have that lovely drape that I look for in a bag.

My bucket list includes a "real" designer bag. I personally would rather have one beautiful bag than several of a lesser quality.

In my long term research on the Edie 31 (I want feet on my bag, so I didn't want a 28), I wanted to see how they look once they are used or once the stuffing was out of them. I checked on eBay and watched YouTube videos. This bag looks much better before you take out the stuffing or even use it for a couple of times. This factor, plus the lack of a top zipper, made me hesitant to buy one. I sat in the fence about it all year. EDITED for many errors.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Laura14 — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 21:34:29 GMT

Not to enable anyone but rumor has it Dillards is having a 30% Coach in store through Sunday (not on website) and Macy's is having 30% Coach starting Sunday. Belk has been on sale for a while and I think goes through next week but check their site.

Just in case anyone wants to check something out in a department store near you.

@Mindy D There is a site called Purse Forum which has some wonderful threads on the different authentications of Coach bags. Just google it if you really want to know what level a bag is or what the numbers all mean. I just buy what I like and almost always in person but if you are debating sight unseen, the girls there are really great about helping people out.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

GarlandGal — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 23:29:15 GMT

I've never notice the "F" being on the price tag, @Mindy D, only on the leather label affixed to the inside of the bag. The print on the label is usually fairly large and the number is easy to read. If the "F" is there, you won't miss it.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

Mindy D — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:21:41 GMT

@GarlandGal wrote:
I've never notice the "F" being on the price tag, @Mindy D, only on the leather label affixed to the inside of the bag. The print on the label is usually fairly large and the number is easy to read. If the "F" is there, you won't miss it.

There's an F inside on a label, but its imprint is very difficult to read. It is pressed into a leather label.

Re: EVEN COACH HAS GONE DOWNHILL

CHIP62 — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 02:51:54 GMT

@Mindy D,

I am sorry that you had a bad experience however Coach is not what it was. I used to love most of their bags now they have lost their appeal. It is also true what everyone says about outlets selling low quality items🌻