Coach Is Closing 70 Full Price Stores

[ktheartscoach]

This makes me feel sad, but not surprised. It's like a constant gamble, and my buying habits have changed a lot. I have more money to spend but it's almost stressful. Here's what I think my problem is - one of the biggest tools in sales is psychological ownership, right? I can't do that with Coach, because they churn through product lines so quickly that I can't make one of their bags and/or accessories a "goal" for savings. Wish them all the luck in shooting for a higher end customer (combined with a rude hand gesture for dismissing my brand loyalty for over 20 years), but how exactly do they plan to make that work without an anchor? Where is their Neverfull, Speedy, Luggage Tote, Stam? It's not the Borough, that's a very specific taste. Seems like they draw straws and the lucky winner gets to design their entirely new bag line every fiscal quarter, none of which share features with the previous line. Exceptions include "they liked the 2006-2007 Legacy stuff. It had heavy leather and cool turnlocks. GENIUS! Let's make turnlocks a thing! We can talk about how we've been turnlocky for like EVER! Then we'll abandon them in 4 months and send all of it to the Outlet! To the Coachmobile!"

Here is my experience, and I'm ticked because I planned to have a forever home with the Legacy line.

Scenario 1: "Joyous day! Item I've been stalking is on FOS! The closest outlet is 4 hours away, so this or department stores are my primary modes of buying. Do I get it today at 50% on FOS? Will it be cheaper tomorrow (like $50 which is a big deal to me)? Yes, it's cheaper today but now sold out because it is ridiculously low in price - let me look at eBay, yep, suddenly there are 72528362 of the same thing when yesterday there were 8, and all are priced at 25% off retail. I will wait and see what happens in the future because I'd never be ok with knowing I paid SO MUCH MORE than other people for the same thing, doesn't matter if I love it or not because it won't be new in another couple of months..." (See pictures below for illustration of price differences within about 4 days).

Andplusalso...

Scenario 2: "wow, I like that FP bag I saw on TPF. Does it fill a hole in my bag collection? (Am I kidding? I could never buy another bag and be set for life, thanks OCD!) FINE, SELF, does it fill a hole in my materialistic desires? Yes, absolutely. Well, let's research - how much? Seriously? Well, it's a day of the week ending in Y, so there should be a Facebook coupon. Yep, there it is, got it! Now to check it out in person...here we are! I like it! Now, I need to consider for a day or two, can't just make it rain every time I see something I like, because income. I'll think it over this week and come back next weekend if I decide it's a for sure. Next weekend is here! Yay! I'll lurk on TPF to see...what? At the outlet? For 50% off? Well, I guess I'll watch FOS and see what happens, then go through scenario 1 above."

Alternately: "I am so excited about the new Dooney Florentine colors this season. Love it that I have time to watch sales and make my choices without feeling rushed."

Coach, please just stop. Walk next door to Michael Kors store and remember why you are special. We love you for who you are. Stop trying to make "fetch" happen.

 

[jane]

^^^ A+++ post

 

[GA Peach]

I for one don't think Coach's problem has to do with the quality or the styling/attractiveness of the bags, else there wouldn't be so many of us fans. The majority of the bags are beautiful with great craftmanship and wonderful leather.
Are there occasional problems? sure, but what brand doesn't have quality problems sometimes? Just reading the other forums here is eye opening regarding quality problems in luxury bags.

In order to ride out the recent recession Coach introduced new lines of less expensive bags in the $300-$400 price range which when bought on sale, or at outlet, make very inexpensive "luxury" bags, something they are now trying to correct with their new lines at higher price points.

IMHO their biggest problems are caused by over production and having to send vast numbers of FP bags to the outlets three months later. We've learned not to pay full price and to wait to buy bags with PCE or at the outlets or even department store sales.
Also the vast numbers of inexpensive outlet bags out there, both mff and fp, makes Coach seem "less special" to a lot of people, so they are reluctant to, as they put it, "pay that much for Coach".

This all day! I've never paid full price for a Coach bag. I always buy with PCE or 50-70% off at the outlet, FOS, or department store sales.

 

[lizmil]

....

Coach, please just stop. Walk next door to Michael Kors store and remember why you are special. We love you for who you are. Stop trying to make "fetch" happen.

....
]

Awesome post: Stop trying to make "fetch" happen, Coach.

 

[noshoepolish]

Just look at this part of the forum and you can see how Coach love has declined. It used to be you would log in and there would be pages of new posts and authentications.

 

[ktheartscoach]

Thanks, Coachie friends! I kinda worried about posting that, but it's become a real disappointment, and I hope the latest "we're gonna change all the things!" plan doesn't materialize. The frenetic changes frustrate potential customers, too. How many times have people come to this forum and ask when the Gigi or Molly or Willis or Tourmaline Duffle will get restocked because they found it online or in a magazine and fell in love...then we have to break the news. How many are going to spend a ton of time chasing ebay?

Coach, we know you're reading what we're saying. We love you, but you're taking us for granted by trying to sit with the kids you think are a little cooler than us. We are your demographic, and we have quite a bit of money to spend. If we want a $1-2K bag, we know where to get it. We haven't been waiting around hoping you'd increase prices. Do the math - would you rather have 100 people buy about $300 every month, or $1K every 6 to 9 months? You have a customer base other brands dream of - we're taking time out of our lives to tell you what we want, and it sounds the same every time! We really care, and want you to be successful! 💐

 

[GA Peach]

Thanks, Coachie friends! I kinda worried about posting that, but it's become a real disappointment, and I hope the latest "we're gonna change all the things!" plan doesn't materialize. The frenetic changes frustrate potential customers, too. How many times have people come to this forum and ask when the Gigi or Molly or Willis or Tourmaline Duffle will get restocked because they found it online or in a magazine and fell in love...then we have to break the news. How many are going to spend a ton of time chasing ebay?

Coach, we know you're reading what we're saying. We love you, but you're taking us for granted by trying to sit with the kids you think are a little cooler than us. We are your demographic, and we have quite a bit of money to spend. If we want a $1-2K bag, we know where to get it. We haven't been waiting around hoping you'd increase prices. Do the math - would you rather have 100 people buy about $300 every month, or $1K every 6 to 9 months? You have a customer base other brands dream of - we're taking time out of our lives to tell you what we want, and it sounds the same every time! We really care, and want you to be successful! ��

+1........OK, it's funny that you mentioned this but after MONTHS of stalking I just scored a Tourmaline Duffle on eBay!


The frustrating thing for me is that it seems like Coach doesn't stick with plans or maybe they don't have many. It feels like they put an idea out there and if they don't see instant results they switch lanes. FOS, for example, was supposed to change the format and have some type of sale going each day. That lasted for a week. Then the announcement that no more deletes would be going to the outlets but outlets got deletes this week.


From what I've seen at my FP stores regarding the Semi-Annual sale is that they are gonna have to reduce prices to move all that merchandise. I really think Coach has a serious problem with manufacturing too much product.

 

[highrider9o9]

+1........OK, this is funny that you mentioned this but after MONTHS of stalking I just scored a Tourmaline Duffle on eBay!


The frustrating thing for me is that it seems like Coach doesn't stick with plans or maybe they don't have many. It feels like they put an idea out there and if they don't see instant results they switch lanes. FOS, for example, was supposed to change the format and have some type of sale going each day. That lasted for a week. Then the announcement that no more deletes would be going to the outlets but outlets got deletes this week.


From what I've seen at my FP stores regarding the Semi-Annual sale is that they are gonna have to reduce prices to move all that merchandise. I really think Coach has a serious problem with manufacturing too much product.

You hit the nail right on the head! A close friend of mine works at a fp coach boutique and this is something she has told me, is that just like you said they manufacture too many products. Im personally a fan of coach but also premier designers like LV and chanel, and I know when I go to purchase there they keep limited stock, and many times I have to order or am getting the only one. My chanel SA frequently tells me that they may only receive 1 or 2 bags of each style/color, and im constantly having to order things because of this. Where as my Coach friend told me in the back of her store they have 30 pink ruby sullivan hobos. Thats right 30!!!!! From what I was told is that yes deletes are supposed to stop going to the outlets, but at the end of the month they still have so many styles or colors of certain items that its ridiculous. She told me after christmas the scarlet/black violet didnt do as well and they had boxes and boxes and boxes of every style in those colors that were being sent to the outlets.

 

[shillinggirl88]

+1........OK, it's funny that you mentioned this but after MONTHS of stalking I just scored a Tourmaline Duffle on eBay!


The frustrating thing for me is that it seems like Coach doesn't stick with plans or maybe they don't have many. It feels like they put an idea out there and if they don't see instant results they switch lanes. FOS, for example, was supposed to change the format and have some type of sale going each day. That lasted for a week. Then the announcement that no more deletes would be going to the outlets but outlets got deletes this week.


From what I've seen at my FP stores regarding the Semi-Annual sale is that they are gonna have to reduce prices to move all that merchandise. I really think Coach has a serious problem with manufacturing too much product.

Hey - you must of got the duffle I was watching! Good for you. Since I have the Molly I wasn't going to get it and surprised it lasted as long as it did. Please do a reveal when it arrives!

 

[bag-princess]

This all day! I've never paid full price for a Coach bag. I always buy with PCE or 50-70% off at the outlet, FOS, or department store sales.

me either. never have - never will.

Coach, please just stop. Walk next door to Michael Kors store and remember why you are special. We love you for who you are. Stop trying to make "fetch" happen.

indeed!!!!

 

[abwd]

I am very confused by the comments in this thread. The one dominant theme is that people want consistency in pricing, yet they/we/some don't. People want Coach to change, yet don't want to pay FP even if deletes stop being sent to the outlets or are put on FOS.

Although I agree with a lot what is being posted, much of it is contradictory. From a business standpoint, it is not reasonable for the current customer base to have their cake and eat it too. Either the Coach beast continues as is and people live with deletes going to outlets and find discounts or the supply is limited and Coach raises prices.

I don't even know what I want Coach to be anymore after reading all of these posts! What I'd like is for shopping to be fun and less stressful. LOL.

 

[GA Peach]

Hey - you must of got the duffle I was watching! Good for you. Since I have the Molly I wasn't going to get it and surprised it lasted as long as it did. Please do a reveal when it arrives!

Oh, that's too funny! I've been wanting something Tourmaline forever. I was watching one duffle a few weeks ago but got distracted and missed it so I thought if another one shows up in good shape I'm getting it!


Yes, you scored that pretty Molly from FOS. I was surprised when I saw the duffle, too, that's why I said "Forget about a bid, I'm buying it!" I'll most surely do a reveal when she arrives. I hope she comes before we leave for the 4th..........

 

[GA Peach]

I am very confused by the comments in this thread. The one dominant theme is that people want consistency in pricing, yet they/we/some don't. People want Coach to change, yet don't want to pay FP even if deletes stop being sent to the outlets or are put on FOS.

Although I agree with a lot what is being posted, much of it is contradictory. From a business standpoint, it is not reasonable for the current customer base to have their cake and eat it too. Either the Coach beast continues as is and people live with deletes going to outlets and find discounts or the supply is limited and Coach raises prices.

I don't even know what I want Coach to be anymore after reading all of these posts! What I'd like is for shopping to be fun and less stressful. LOL.

Ha ha ha...........you are so correct and my problem is that I need to stop posting at 1am and go to bed!


For me, I love a deal and Coach has always supported the concept of waiting for what I want to go on sale. For me to even consider paying FP, Coach will have to change and stick to it. I love that Olive Carlyle but I keep telling myself "Just wait a few months and there will be a sale or PCE or something..........." but if Coach stuck to their guns and didn't offer PCE or didn't make them in mass amounts to sell later at huge discounts then maybe I would change my purchase behavior and jump on a bag I want when it's first released and pay FP.


As highrider9o9 mentioned, the luxury brands manufacture a limited number of items and people learn that if you want it, you'd better buy it today or it may never come around again or you will have to wait until they make more. I think Coach manufactures in mass up front because it's cheaper to make bags that way without thinking too much about demand. They churn out a ton of one bag then switch production and move on to the next one.

 

[abwd]

Ha ha ha...........you are so correct and my problem is that I need to stop posting at 1am and go to bed!


For me, I love a deal and Coach has always supported the concept of waiting for what I want to go on sale. For me to even consider paying FP, Coach will have to change and stick to it. I love that Olive Carlyle but I keep telling myself "Just wait a few months and there will be a sale or PCE or something..........." but if Coach stuck to their guns and didn't offer PCE or didn't make them in mass amounts to sell later at huge discounts then maybe I would change my purchase behavior and jump on a bag I want when it's first released and pay FP.


As highrider9o9 mentioned, the luxury brands manufacture a limited number of items and people learn that if you want it, you'd better buy it today or it may never come around again or you will have to wait until they make more. I think Coach manufactures in mass up front because it's cheaper to make bags that way without thinking too much about demand. They churn out a ton of one bag then switch production and move on to the next one.

This all makes perfect sense and yes, Coach produces too much. I think the sticking point is whether a lot of customers will pay full price regardless of limited production and the responses seem to be all over the map on this one. What I am getting from this thread is that Coach has a VERY broad customer base!!!

 

[crazyforcoach09]

This makes me feel sad, but not surprised. It's like a constant gamble, and my buying habits have changed a lot. I have more money to spend but it's almost stressful. Here's what I think my problem is - one of the biggest tools in sales is psychological ownership, right? I can't do that with Coach, because they churn through product lines so quickly that I can't make one of their bags and/or accessories a "goal" for savings. Wish them all the luck in shooting for a higher end customer (combined with a rude hand gesture for dismissing my brand loyalty for over 20 years), but how exactly do they plan to make that work without an anchor? Where is their Neverfull, Speedy, Luggage Tote, Stam? It's not the Borough, that's a very specific taste. Seems like they draw straws and the lucky winner gets to design their entirely new bag line every fiscal quarter, none of which share features with the previous line. Exceptions include "they liked the 2006-2007 Legacy stuff. It had heavy leather and cool turnlocks. GENIUS! Let's make turnlocks a thing! We can talk about how we've been turnlocky for like EVER! Then we'll abandon them in 4 months and send all of it to the Outlet! To the Coachmobile!"

Here is my experience, and I'm ticked because I planned to have a forever home with the Legacy line.

Scenario 1: "Joyous day! Item I've been stalking is on FOS! The closest outlet is 4 hours away, so this or department stores are my primary modes of buying. Do I get it today at 50% on FOS? Will it be cheaper tomorrow (like $50 which is a big deal to me)? Yes, it's cheaper today but now sold out because it is ridiculously low in price - let me look at eBay, yep, suddenly there are 72528362 of the same thing when yesterday there were 8, and all are priced at 25% off retail. I will wait and see what happens in the future because I'd never be ok with knowing I paid SO MUCH MORE than other people for the same thing, doesn't matter if I love it or not because it won't be new in another couple of months..." (See pictures below for illustration of price differences within about 4 days).

Andplusalso...

Scenario 2: "wow, I like that FP bag I saw on TPF. Does it fill a hole in my bag collection? (Am I kidding? I could never buy another bag and be set for life, thanks OCD!) FINE, SELF, does it fill a hole in my materialistic desires? Yes, absolutely. Well, let's research - how much? Seriously? Well, it's a day of the week ending in Y, so there should be a Facebook coupon. Yep, there it is, got it! Now to check it out in person...here we are! I like it! Now, I need to consider for a day or two, can't just make it rain every time I see something I like, because income. I'll think it over this week and come back next weekend if I decide it's a for sure. Next weekend is here! Yay! I'll lurk on TPF to see...what? At the outlet? For 50% off? Well, I guess I'll watch FOS and see what happens, then go through scenario 1 above."

Alternately: "I am so excited about the new Dooney Florentine colors this season. Love it that I have time to watch sales and make my choices without feeling rushed."

Coach, please just stop. Walk next door to Michael Kors store and remember why you are special. We love you for who you are. Stop trying to make "fetch" happen.View attachment 2669241View attachment 2669242View attachment 2669241

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