Being Banned From Coach Stores - Did You Read?
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I'm so sorry you are going through this! It's pretty normal that for the holidays, I find something that I think is a nice small gift (keyfob, charm, etc) and buy it for multiple people. How can Coach really know if customers are doing that versus selling on eBay. Something is just not right! It's like assuming guilt without ANY investigation.
The lady did say in the TJ Maxx thread ( see post 21 there ) that she bought a lot of wristlets and bags of the same in excess because it was on sale and the outlet is right across the street. I don't blame her, it was a good deal.
Coach doesn't have any signs saying that you can only buy 3 of the same items, just that they reserve the right to limit quantities. I guess this is why it would be better to shop in a group so everyone can get what they want.
However I can also see where Coach is coming from. I'm sure they get complaints from customers if 1 person just comes in and swoops 15 of the same item because they like it and want to give it away as a present or resell it. Like there would be no Legacy Leather bags left if people were allowed to buy them in mass quantities.
Coach doesn't have any signs saying that you can only buy 3 of the same items, just that they reserve the right to limit quantities. I guess this is why it would be better to shop in a group so everyone can get what they want.
However I can also see where Coach is coming from. I'm sure they get complaints from customers if 1 person just comes in and swoops 15 of the same item because they like it and want to give it away as a present or resell it. Like there would be no Legacy Leather bags left if people were allowed to buy them in mass quantities.
What if you go to a boutique & purchase in cash? You are not required to give your name, etc. to purchase are you?
You can refuse to give the info, but they ALWAYS ask for it. They do enter what you bought into the system also. I think that CA lawsuit should be nationwide so we can all get our discount!
^ No, it is not illegal as long as they are not refusing to sell to you because of your race, gender, or age (and in some places (like Washington D.C.) your appearance (i.e., your weight, etc.)). Other than that a retailer can refuse to sell to you for whatever reason they want really.
I think the downside to this for Coach is that it can get them negative publicity (as evidenced by this thread!!!) and the ultimate impact could be that other customers voluntarily stop purchasing Coach items simply because they view what Coach is doing as unfair. Additionally, as many others have already stated, this is really hard to enforce because there is really no way for Coach to truely know whether you are purchasing multiple items as gifts or for resale.
Wow - this is just ridiculous! I purchased 3 skull keyfobs when they first got them at the outlets because I'd been looking for this forever and I knew my best friend wanted one too plus I got a backup in case I lost the first one
Well, I got two more last weekend at the outlet just for the heck of it - probably give as gifts! I've also purchased a lot of Coach over the past couple of years and returned a decent amount primarily because the store I like to shop at is small and I have to order sign unseen and Coach's pictures/descriptions are horrible! To anyone who gets this letter, this isn't something that is terribly enforceable unless you only have one store near you where they know you personally. Otherwise, you just pay cash and politely decline to give them your info. However, if Coach was unwise enough to send me this letter, I would be in touch with their corporate management right along with the local (and I live in a huge metro area so my local is most people's national media) tv channel who has a program that loves to investigage injustices! After that, I'd most likely never purchase their products again - this is a terrible way to attempt to prevent "unauthorized resellers"- it's not effective and generates a lot of ill will towards Coach. Personally, I have no idea why they have not set up an online outlet for Coach - that alone would get them the profits - they could even sell higher than the Factory outlets and not harm that business and it would effectively put the bigger resellers out of business if that is a problem for them. I think that the casual sellers who are merely cleaning out their closet have as much right to resell on Ebay as they do to sell at a garage sale!
Well, I got two more last weekend at the outlet just for the heck of it - probably give as gifts! I've also purchased a lot of Coach over the past couple of years and returned a decent amount primarily because the store I like to shop at is small and I have to order sign unseen and Coach's pictures/descriptions are horrible! To anyone who gets this letter, this isn't something that is terribly enforceable unless you only have one store near you where they know you personally. Otherwise, you just pay cash and politely decline to give them your info. However, if Coach was unwise enough to send me this letter, I would be in touch with their corporate management right along with the local (and I live in a huge metro area so my local is most people's national media) tv channel who has a program that loves to investigage injustices! After that, I'd most likely never purchase their products again - this is a terrible way to attempt to prevent "unauthorized resellers"- it's not effective and generates a lot of ill will towards Coach. Personally, I have no idea why they have not set up an online outlet for Coach - that alone would get them the profits - they could even sell higher than the Factory outlets and not harm that business and it would effectively put the bigger resellers out of business if that is a problem for them. I think that the casual sellers who are merely cleaning out their closet have as much right to resell on Ebay as they do to sell at a garage sale!
Please define the 3 limit rule. That you are only allowed to buy 3 of a certain item? That kinda makes no sense. 10 maybe, but 3??? I bought 3 identical mini skinnies, all for presents (one for my sis and 2 for particular friends) and it seems ludicrous that buying one more would have sent up a flag that I was trying to resell. Especially on accessories, not high priced bags.
I think limiting is silly unless someone is obviously hoarding (in attempt to resell). I know several people on this board are collectors of the bag and like to get one in each color of the same style. I see nothing wrong with that.
Different colors might be okay I think, as they aren't the exact same item. I have to wonder also how large of a role the SA plays in getting you flagged, since sometimes they are the ones that give the "heads up" to corporate.
I was at the outlet a few weeks ago and this woman was on line in front of me w/ a shopping bag (you know those HUGE brown bags they give you?) FULL of bags (at least 20), maybe 5 of each kind. I was like WOW its pretty obvious that this woman is reselling, I wonder how they will treat her at the register? She went to pay and the cashier was like oh let me get the rest of your order. 3 SA's went to the back and got at least 6 HUGE shopping bags full of bags & accessories. The woman must have bought at least 60 bags + keyfobs, etc. The woman didnt speak English and was not from america, and it was clear that she was taking the items back overseas where she could sell them at a huge profit (since the US dollar is so weak). You would think the SAs & the manager would be annoyed at her or limit her purchase but it was just the opposite- they were fawning over her like she was the greatest thing to walk through the doors of the store. Meanwhile, Im standing in line holding only 2 keyfobs even though I wanted 3 (to give 2 as gifts), afraid that getting 3 would put a red flag on me. I have seen other shoppers get limited or told that a manager had to come over to approve their sale when they had too much of one item, but that didnt happen at ALL to this woman (whose total, by the way, had to have been at least $10,000.) I guess when you are spending so much money they don't care? I thought it was totally unfair that someone like that wouldnt be banned right off the bat when, meanwhile, regular shoppers like us TPFers are scared to buy a couple of gifts when we find a great price, since the banning seems so arbitrary. 
I was pulled aside and given the letter... I had no idea that Coach even had a limit.
They have a 3 limit rule, none of the SA even told me this.
The lady the I called about it... said it was b/c the limit and I went over.
I was soooo mad!!! B/c I didn't even do anything wrong!!
And now coach doesn't want my money... I guess!!!
Now I am just trying to deal with it..... I LOVE COACH & I get sooooo sad now! I can walk to my outlet and knowing I can never shop there again... I dunno... It's really upsetting to me!
I went in there about a week ago... to ask for advise.... on how to clean my purse.
She asked if I had the coach fabric cleaner, I don't!!
I asked if my BF could come in and get it for me and she said yes!!
It's just really upsetting!! I want a Coach purse for christmas & now not even sure I can get that!!
I cannot believe this!!! You were actually told you couldn't come back for six months because you bought 3 of the same KEYFOBS??? That is CRAZY!!! When I go to Coach I always buy my mom and sisters something small, something like a keyfob! So you're telling me that if I bought us all the same keyfob, I'd be banned for six months!!??? That is crazy. And the SAs never said anything to you??? They should be held liable for not disclosing their policy to you. I'd maybe take it a little further, like corporate? You'd think they would be happy people are buying their products w/ all of the economic problems we are having lately! Well, I for one love Coach, but I'd have to say that if this happened to me, I'd stop giving them my money.
That would not stop anyone from buying Coach at TJ Maxx, Macy's, Dillards, etc. etc. nor by paying with cash and not giving your name. Sometimes they are so busy at the outlets, they don't even care what you get. I suppose only if you frequent the same store.
Dooney & Bourke does the same at their outlets (very strict 6 items PER YEAR!), yet you can order anything on the sale items unlimited quantities on line--go figure. First time they will tell you okay, that's enough, then the next time you go in they won't sell to you.
Dooney & Bourke does the same at their outlets (very strict 6 items PER YEAR!), yet you can order anything on the sale items unlimited quantities on line--go figure. First time they will tell you okay, that's enough, then the next time you go in they won't sell to you.
Well on the other thread she said she bought something like 10 wristlets and 4 totes, so it's not just the keyfobs. Maybe it was a pattern of buying extras.
6 times... that is strict! They also don't have very many outlets or have the amount of business that Coach does.