Hey, you COACH ladies!

[eliza61]

Not entirely true. I have 4 bags from the outlet and I have carried them all for a long time (I also have 4 from regular coach stores).The outlet also carries bags that are overstock items. All my bags are well made. The one issue I had with a snap on a bag, the outlet sent it out to be repaired free of charge.

Coach discounts and has the outlet stores because volume of sales is what makes them money. It's that simple.

I have a black leather Coach shoulder bag that DH bought me several years ago for Christmas and I still carry it, but you can't find anything as nice anymore. This year I'm getting a leather D&B shoulder bag for Christmas (I picked it out). New Coach stuff doesn't do it for me anymore.

extremely, extremely rare. ( I know this from an executive in NYC. long story how I met this women).

Back in the good ole days they only had 4 "outlet" stores and you would find all their off season, off spec and overstock items from their front line stores.

You are absolutely right as the demand grew and outlet malls started popping up all over like mushrooms they contracted out.

Most of your high end designers have done this. NO way in creation could ralph lauren, coach, etc etc supply all the supposed "outlets" simply by overstock.

I was told (and I am not affiliated with coach in any manner, so I could have been told wrong) that some department stores like Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms and Saks have contracts with coach that anything they carry in their stores NOT end up in the outlets. Think about it NM is all about high end, if you shop there it's not likely you want your bag in an Atlantic city outlet.

LOL, I repeat, I was told this from an executive I met at a fashion week event in NYC. She told me specifically never to purchase the outlet stuff.

Now I'm sort of off the "outlet" mall stuff, first imo the prices are never really that great especially nowadays with main line stores having great sales. and the quality is definitely different.

 

[rszdtrvl]

I bought my Coach from an outlet store. Embossed patent leather "Leah" in navy. Paid $119 plus tax after $30 discount (the "retail" on it is $398).

LOVE my purse. It is the perfect size to carry all the crap I need to carry, plus in a rainy area like ours, the patent leather does great! It was purchased 4 1/2 years ago and is starting to show some wear on the strap edges (where the waxy type stuff is) but has held up very well.

I have the small clasp wallet that goes with it - bought in "walnut" color instead of the blue but the same embossed patent leather. Paid around $50 for it. But it has also held up very well (and no issues with the clasp - my mother had to send her purse away to Florida to get fixed when the clasp broke too).

I have purchased lanyards from the local (an hour away) Coach store too. We use them when traveling - keep your ID and boarding pass safe and always within reach while at the airport (I have a bit of OCD and would be checking my purse every 5 minutes if my boarding pass and ID were not where I could see them at all times)!

Never had an issue with outlet mall Coach purchases, and will definitely go back when I want another purse!

 

[bcla]

extremely, extremely rare. ( I know this from an executive in NYC. long story how I met this women).

Back in the good ole days they only had 4 "outlet" stores and you would find all their off season, off spec and overstock items from their front line stores.

Their "Coach Factory" stores back then were actual boutiques located in upscale shopping districts. I noted the ones I've been to were in Carmel and Santa Barbara (State Street) as well as the one I couldn't quite get to in St Helena.

I checked over the stuff my wife bought as potential gifts. Four seem to be factory store designs. The workmanship seems very good. However, the materials seem thinner and less durable. She's got one that's waxed canvas and looks like it will last longer. The workmanship doesn't seem any better or worse, but the materials are definitely nicer.

 

[sonnyjane]

extremely, extremely rare. ( I know this from an executive in NYC. long story how I met this women).

Back in the good ole days they only had 4 "outlet" stores and you would find all their off season, off spec and overstock items from their front line stores.

You are absolutely right as the demand grew and outlet malls started popping up all over like mushrooms they contracted out.

Most of your high end designers have done this. NO way in creation could ralph lauren, coach, etc etc supply all the supposed "outlets" simply by overstock.

I was told (and I am not affiliated with coach in any manner, so I could have been told wrong) that some department stores like Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms and Saks have contracts with coach that anything they carry in their stores NOT end up in the outlets. Think about it NM is all about high end, if you shop there it's not likely you want your bag in an Atlantic city outlet.

LOL, I repeat, I was told this from an executive I met at a fashion week event in NYC. She told me specifically never to purchase the outlet stuff.

Now I'm sort of off the "outlet" mall stuff, first imo the prices are never really that great especially nowadays with main line stores having great sales. and the quality is definitely different.

I'm not really sure about that. There are kind of two factions of coach products - the higher end and the more "outlet" stuff covered in logos, etc. At the outlets, I frequently find the higher end stuff that I've seen at the actual Coach stores the previous season/year at the outlet - still costing more than I'm willing to part with typically, but a lot less than original price. I've got some nice luggage and a great coat that way.