Anybody been to the outlet mall lately?

[ribica]

Outlet vs. Retail

Ultimately, does it really matter? What most people are really paying for is the social status that carrying a Coach bag implies.

Totally agree with you there! I'm pretty sure it's not about the quality, but the social status with any label/brand names Because if you think about it, styles changes so why would you want to have the same purse/pants or whatever for 10 years? So usually when people claim that quality is the driving factor, it's not really true for most

 

[si-am]

Can someone explain the appeal of Coach bags to me, please? Do people just really love the big Cs plastered all over? Is it just the name that draws people in?

As for outlet shopping, most of it is a ripoff unless you happen to go during a great sale. I tend to get the best deals at Gap Outlet, but a lot of the stuff fits kind of weird, so I go in the dressing room with an armful and end up buying just one or two things.

 

[Lucille1963]

Totally agree with you there! I'm pretty sure it's not about the quality, but the social status with any label/brand names Because if you think about it, styles changes so why would you want to have the same purse/pants or whatever for 10 years? So usually when people claim that quality is the driving factor, it's not really true for most

My best purse is a high end brand and I've carried it off and on for nearly 10 years. It looks brand new, not because I baby it, because the leather is exceptional. It is a classic style that doesn't date, only someone really in the know would guess was older. Though the retail on this bag nears 4 figures, part of me thinks that once it does start to wear, that I might consider another. The cost per use is very low.

As far as Coach bags, made for outlet or not, they are a sad shadow of what they once were. I have quite a few dating back to the 1970's that are made like iron, and I buy them when I can. A friend recently showed up to a party with a 1960s Cashin Coach that we all got giddy over. That being said, I wouldn't consider buying a new one. Heck, I don't even browse their stores unless I just found an vintage piece that is still being produced to compare. They are not made to last and they have been quoted saying so.

If I'm going to spend any more than $10 for any item of clothing, quality is a huge factor.

 

[Pigeon]

Oh, and it's true about Coach and Coach themselves will tell you. They make Coach Retail and Coach Outlet. The Coach Outlet stuff is absolutely of an inferior quality.

Having spent some time inside a Coach factory in China, the difference between manufacturing a mall or outlet bag is neglible. It's sweatshop labor either way and costs them next to nothing. There may be some difference in the materials.

 

[NYCDiane]

Can someone explain the appeal of Coach bags to me, please? Do people just really love the big Cs plastered all over? Is it just the name that draws people in?

I've always like Coach because of their quality and their customer service.

I dislike the Coach bags with a "C" all over them. To me, that's just "tacky mcmackey, look at me, I have Coach". Same goes for those silly boots and sneakers they sell now. Any Coach bag I've ever had is just leather. That goes for the wallets, too.

I have one Coach that I've had for well over 10 years. Still in excellent shape. Those who know Coach, know the bag. This bag was one of the last Coach bags made before they shipped their operations over to China. It's excellent quality in leather and hardware.

I recently purchased a bag at the Coach store in Manhattan. It's a nice bag, but when you compare the quality of this bag to my older bag, it's not nearly as good. I think I'm at the end of the line as far as Coach is concerned.

 

[kirstenb1]

Can someone explain the appeal of Coach bags to me, please? Do people just really love the big Cs plastered all over? Is it just the name that draws people in?

As for outlet shopping, most of it is a ripoff unless you happen to go during a great sale. I tend to get the best deals at Gap Outlet, but a lot of the stuff fits kind of weird, so I go in the dressing room with an armful and end up buying just one or two things.

Just me, but none of my Coach bags have the big C's. I know exactly what you mean, and I prefer the leather bags that are low-key. I like it that if one of my bags wears out prematurely, Coach will stand behind it, and either repair it or replace.

 

[NYCDiane]

Outlet vs. Retail

Ultimately, does it really matter? What most people are really paying for is the social status that carrying a Coach bag implies.

I, for one, would never carry a Coach bag with the Cs plastered all over it. I don't need to advertise that I carry a Coach or a Prada. People who know quality will know what it is without asking.

 

[Purseval]

My best purse is a high end brand and I've carried it off and on for nearly 10 years. It looks brand new, not because I baby it, because the leather is exceptional. It is a classic style that doesn't date, only someone really in the know would guess was older. Though the retail on this bag nears 4 figures, part of me thinks that once it does start to wear, that I might consider another. The cost per use is very low.

Louis Vuitton bags are made like that. You'll never see an LV outlet store, or a website that sells LV closeouts or blemished bags unless they are fakes. If an LV bag is made with a defect they destroy it.

If you go to, say, Saks Fifth Avenue and there is a LV kiosk in the store the people in that kiosk work for LV, not Saks. They strictly control their inventory so you will never see LV bags at Saks Off Fifth. Although they do try to be trendsetters and occasionally flop with a style (those hideous printed initials they put on their bags come to mind) many of their bags are classics that never go out of style and can last a lifetime.

You can occasionally find a deal on a new LV purse at the world's largest purveyor of stolen goods, Ebay. These are bags that are purchased from legitimate outlets using stolen credit cards then resold for the cash. Every couple of years they bust up a theft ring but until they do you can get lucky. Other than that if someone is trying to sell you a bag for a price that seems too good to be true ask to take it to a LV store and have the employees check to see that it is genuine. I actually got a fantastic deal on a Damier Alma for my wife when some girl sold me an unused one for less than half of retail. I thought she was desperate to pay some bill but it turns out that she just wanted some cash to go shopping with her friends

As far as Coach bags, made for outlet or not, they are a sad shadow of what they once were. I have quite a few dating back to the 1970's that are made like iron, and I buy them when I can.

We do that with the old D&B All-Weather leather bags. Their modern bags are mostly junk.

 

[tomthebarncat]

Outlet vs. Retail

Ultimately, does it really matter? What most people are really paying for is the social status that carrying a Coach bag implies.

What social status is there to carry a bag made in China that cost less than 2 dollars to manufacturer???? I am confused, but then again I live in Europe!! where Coach is not known and hopefully never will be.

 

[tomthebarncat]

Louis Vuitton bags are made like that. You'll never see an LV outlet store, or a website that sells LV closeouts or blemished bags unless they are fakes. If an LV bag is made with a defect they destroy it.

If you go to, say, Saks Fifth Avenue and there is a LV kiosk in the store the people in that kiosk work for LV, not Saks. They strictly control their inventory so you will never see LV bags at Saks Off Fifth. Although they do try to be trendsetters and occasionally flop with a style (those hideous printed initials they put on their bags come to mind) many of their bags are classics that never go out of style and can last a lifetime.

You can occasionally find a deal on a new LV purse at the world's largest purveyor of stolen goods, Ebay. These are bags that are purchased from legitimate outlets using stolen credit cards then resold for the cash. Every couple of years they bust up a theft ring but until they do you can get lucky. Other than that if someone is trying to sell you a bag for a price that seems too good to be true ask to take it to a LV store and have the employees check to see that it is genuine. I actually got a fantastic deal on a Damier Alma for my wife when some girl sold me an unused one for less than half of retail. I thought she was desperate to pay some bill but it turns out that she just wanted some cash to go shopping with her friends


We do that with the old D&B All-Weather leather bags. Their modern bags are mostly junk.

Be careful about taking bags into their stores if they are not real. I had a friend who bought a Chanel bag from Ebay, I told her it was fake! We then went to the Chanel store in Frankfurt, and yes the bag was counterfeit and they seized the bag. My friend started to cry and the manager just handed her a copy of a Interpol memo that gave them the authority to do so. I don't know if they can or would do this in the states but in Germany they can and will. Brands work hard to develop their products and counterfeits to me are just wrong! just my 2 euro cents!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

The only real good deals at outlet malls I have found are
the Cosmetic Store outlet. Very nice discount on dept
store cosmetics.

 

[bpesch]

My experience over the years at outlet malls is that unless you hit a major sale, it's barely worth a long drive. I can remember years past that an outlet mall meant really big savings. I think that has all changed. Now they are usually places the major brands take all their stuff that doesn't sell in their retail stores.

I still go and look around, I just don't make a special trip.

 

[MickeyDisneyFan]

Louis Vuitton bags are made like that. You'll never see an LV outlet store, or a website that sells LV closeouts or blemished bags unless they are fakes. If an LV bag is made with a defect they destroy it.

If you go to, say, Saks Fifth Avenue and there is a LV kiosk in the store the people in that kiosk work for LV, not Saks. They strictly control their inventory so you will never see LV bags at Saks Off Fifth. Although they do try to be trendsetters and occasionally flop with a style (those hideous printed initials they put on their bags come to mind) many of their bags are classics that never go out of style and can last a lifetime.

You can occasionally find a deal on a new LV purse at the world's largest purveyor of stolen goods, Ebay. These are bags that are purchased from legitimate outlets using stolen credit cards then resold for the cash. Every couple of years they bust up a theft ring but until they do you can get lucky. Other than that if someone is trying to sell you a bag for a price that seems too good to be true ask to take it to a LV store and have the employees check to see that it is genuine. I actually got a fantastic deal on a Damier Alma for my wife when some girl sold me an unused one for less than half of retail. I thought she was desperate to pay some bill but it turns out that she just wanted some cash to go shopping with her friends


We do that with the old D&B All-Weather leather bags. Their modern bags are mostly junk.

I hate to burst your bubble but new LV is now made in China too, so it doesnt matter about a kiosk or if the employees can verify if its real. They are also now being produced in India as well, you will never get the same craftsmanship from the new ones that you will from the vintage ones.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/opinion/23thomas.html

http://www.luxurylaunches.com/fashion/louis_vuitton_soon_to_get_made_in_india_tag.php

 

[marie1203]

I hate to burst your bubble but new LV is now made in China too, so it doesnt matter about a kiosk or if the employees can verify if its real. They are also now being produced in India as well, you will never get the same craftsmanship from the new ones that you will from the vintage ones.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/opinion/23thomas.html

http://www.luxurylaunches.com/fashion/louis_vuitton_soon_to_get_made_in_india_tag.php

And as the coach bags they have their logo everywhere. I refuse to pay for a purse so I can be walking advertising.

 

[OhMari]

Back to the OP question,
I find great buys usually in the shoe stores.
Nike has been going down hill with their shoes lately,
but you can usually buy Nike t-shirts for $4.00, swim suits and work out gear are usually a bargain too.
I like the Addidas store and if they don't have my size, I go online and usually find them for about the same price.

I like the Fossil store-they have the rehab watches in the store and they are clearly marked. Also be careful that you don't pick up a "Relic" brand instead of the Fossil brand. 2 years ago, the "white band" Fossil watch came out and it was priced at $110. The following year I picked it up for $45 because it was last years brand.

We also have a Columbia and North Face stores and you can get their coats and fleece for a lot less. 2 of my kids picked up North Face winter jackets and both wore only "one of a kind" in the store. Both were $350 jackets and they paid $55 each. That store is definately a hit or miss, which I think most outlet stores are. Some days you can find great sales, the next time, nothing.

 

[si-am]

Ah, I never even knew Coach made bags without the Cs. I would carry one of those if they are well made and I found a deal. I dislike any clothes or accessories with logos, though. I guess the exception for me is shoes because I do love my Tevas and TOMS and they both have the branding.

 

[Purseval]

I hate to burst your bubble but new LV is now made in China too

They can make them on the moon as long as they maintain the same quality control and so far there hasn't been anything to show otherwise. Coach, etc., combine Chinese labor with cheap materials to make an inferior product for a premium price. If LV wishes to save money on labor as long as they don't sacrifice quality that's a business decision on their part. If the quality drops and they cheapen their brand reputation that would be an unfortunate step and maybe the next one would be to see LV outlet stores. That hasn't happened.

BTW, just to ease your mind: http://www.louisvuitton.com/us/flash/index.jsp?direct1=home_entry_us

"The Louis Vuitton Leather Goods collections are produced in our workshops located in France, Spain and the United States"

That is from today on the LV website as opposed to your 2007 article.

 

[Totoro]

Whenever we have gone to outlets, we have been able to obtain a coupon book at customer service with AAA. I believe Tanger and Premium Outlets have AAA discount books. I know AAA has a standard discount (20%) at any Reebok/Rockport outlet stores.

We have had good luck finding some bargains at children clothing stores and shoe stores. I also find that it helps when we have to buy $50 or more in merchandise to combine it with the discounts. So if there is something that the whole family needs (ie. shoes, socks, or school clothes), that seems to be when we get some good discounts.

 

[Purseval]

Ah, I never even knew Coach made bags without the Cs.

They used to have a small tag on a chain or a label on the inside. They were also built to last. Here is a messenger bag my wife has:

 

[Lucille1963]

I hate to burst your bubble but new LV is now made in China too, so it doesnt matter about a kiosk or if the employees can verify if its real. They are also now being produced in India as well, you will never get the same craftsmanship from the new ones that you will from the vintage ones.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/opinion/23thomas.html

http://www.luxurylaunches.com/fashion/louis_vuitton_soon_to_get_made_in_india_tag.php

Neither of those articles state that LV is being made in China. I lurk in handbag forums fairly regularly and I've never seen an authentic LV piece made that was made in China, nor could I find any info in a google search.