Coach Is Closing 70 Full Price Stores

[HesitantShopper]

They can probably eliminate 90% of the problems by eliminating the lower priced bags/lines, (less than $500) which are made with lesser quality leather, and they have already said they plan to do this.

So they cannot make a quality leather bag under 500$? that is ridiculous. I am not massively bothered by the made in China aspect, it is what it is.. but generally as said i don't have problems with their bags and realistically while i do use my bags it's not something i'll use for decades.

 

[bag-princess]

So they cannot make a quality leather bag under 500$? that is ridiculous. I am not massively bothered by the made in China aspect, it is what it is.. but generally as said i don't have problems with their bags and realistically while i do use my bags it's not something i'll use for decades.

ITA!!! all of it but especially the bolded.

 

[Alexa5]

Well, I personally hope they keep the lower price lines ( I am talking about FP merchandise, not MFF ), as those are pretty much all I own-- the 300 or less and bought with some kind of discount. I have found the quality of all of my bags to be great, so for me personally I think they can definitely keep those price points and the quality. If you look at many of the threads here, the bags that are being discussed are the lower price bags or bags bought on FOS or the department store.

I just think Coach would do very poorly if you could only buy it at FP or the occasional SAS. For a while many of us thought we could no longer get Coach at a discount but once it was determined that the department stores had good sales still, and that FOS had some good deletes here and there it seems to me like the buying has continued like usual.

 

[whateve]

So they cannot make a quality leather bag under 500$? that is ridiculous. I am not massively bothered by the made in China aspect, it is what it is.. but generally as said i don't have problems with their bags and realistically while i do use my bags it's not something i'll use for decades.

I don't know if good leather has become scarce or if Coach accountants have decided that they can make more money by selling coated canvas, pebbled leather or saffiano, but I'm not seeing Coach bags made of good quality leather anymore. The classics I saw at the outlet were horrendous.

 

[theFlip#2]

I don't know if good leather has become scarce or if Coach accountants have decided that they can make more money by selling coated canvas, pebbled leather or saffiano, but I'm not seeing Coach bags made of good quality leather anymore. The classics I saw at the outlet were horrendous.

The leather quality at coach has definitely deteriorated over the years. Thinking back, the last leathers that appeared to be 'drum-dyed' all the way through was the 2006 65th Anniversary Legacy collection. Drum-dying was a process that coach was proud of many years ago now. Since 2006 it seems they have continued to cut corners with thinner leathers & treatments that have resulted in over-processed surfaces. Granted some of these have turned out beautifully, but you can see the decline in quality when the surfaces peel or scratches reveal white underneath. Maybe there's no way to manufacture unique surfaces on thicker leathers, but the price points suggest that the product should have been a better quality.

Their hardware used to be actual brass but in recent years (at least since 2006), the hardware has some filler inside with an applied coating. (Remember the quality issues with the original Kristin collection's hardware flaking off?) Maybe this was the answer to ladies wanting more lightweight bags? It just seems to me that with technology a better solution could have been attained.

I still enjoy carrying my XL Lily satchels with the heavy thicker leather & brass hardware. That's what coach needs to go back to the re-establish a core legacy collection. Keep the styles smaller but the materials high quality.

It's really sad to this company searching for its identity when it's right in their own history.

 

[HesitantShopper]

I don't know if good leather has become scarce or if Coach accountants have decided that they can make more money by selling coated canvas, pebbled leather or saffiano, but I'm not seeing Coach bags made of good quality leather anymore. The classics I saw at the outlet were horrendous.

Not what it used to be, but same can be said for a lot of things. I know My country Roots brand is capable of producing genuine leather bags made in Canada, without a 500$ price tag so it's doable but Coach like to be more decorative, which in turn raises costs, i also think they are looking at ways to get more profit from the goods.

Honestly, pretty much most of the higher end & luxury items have fairly hefty markups.

 

[Jacvanity]

Awh, the Southern Park Mall coach store is closing? I use to live at that place years ago when I lived in Boardman. I use to love coach, but they're too trendy and tacky lately. I like classic looks. I think that's why I strayed away from Coach. Michael Kors and Furla has my attention now.

 

[LVCoffeeAddict]

The leather quality at coach has definitely deteriorated over the years. Thinking back, the last leathers that appeared to be 'drum-dyed' all the way through was the 2006 65th Anniversary Legacy collection. Drum-dying was a process that coach was proud of many years ago now. Since 2006 it seems they have continued to cut corners with thinner leathers & treatments that have resulted in over-processed surfaces. Granted some of these have turned out beautifully, but you can see the decline in quality when the surfaces peel or scratches reveal white underneath. Maybe there's no way to manufacture unique surfaces on thicker leathers, but the price points suggest that the product should have been a better quality.

Their hardware used to be actual brass but in recent years (at least since 2006), the hardware has some filler inside with an applied coating. (Remember the quality issues with the original Kristin collection's hardware flaking off?) Maybe this was the answer to ladies wanting more lightweight bags? It just seems to me that with technology a better solution could have been attained.

I still enjoy carrying my XL Lily satchels with the heavy thicker leather & brass hardware. That's what coach needs to go back to the re-establish a core legacy collection. Keep the styles smaller but the materials high quality.

It's really sad to this company searching for its identity when it's right in their own history.

Thank you for this post. I started making my way back to Coach (love my new Boroughs) but I have definitely noticed a decline in the hardware they are using and the leather is just not the same.

 

[whateve]

The leather quality at coach has definitely deteriorated over the years. Thinking back, the last leathers that appeared to be 'drum-dyed' all the way through was the 2006 65th Anniversary Legacy collection. Drum-dying was a process that coach was proud of many years ago now. Since 2006 it seems they have continued to cut corners with thinner leathers & treatments that have resulted in over-processed surfaces. Granted some of these have turned out beautifully, but you can see the decline in quality when the surfaces peel or scratches reveal white underneath. Maybe there's no way to manufacture unique surfaces on thicker leathers, but the price points suggest that the product should have been a better quality.

Their hardware used to be actual brass but in recent years (at least since 2006), the hardware has some filler inside with an applied coating. (Remember the quality issues with the original Kristin collection's hardware flaking off?) Maybe this was the answer to ladies wanting more lightweight bags? It just seems to me that with technology a better solution could have been attained.

I still enjoy carrying my XL Lily satchels with the heavy thicker leather & brass hardware. That's what coach needs to go back to the re-establish a core legacy collection. Keep the styles smaller but the materials high quality.

It's really sad to this company searching for its identity when it's right in their own history.

Exactly! I love the leather on my 2007 Bleeckers too and 2009 Parker leather is to die for! I have no complaints about the leather of my Bleecker studded mini Preston, which is very recent. I love the colors and classic styling of the 2012 Legacy collection and but the leather isn't dyed all the way through.

Coach stopped using solid brass on most styles back in the 80s but the 90s brass plating was still great quality. You can shine it without cleaning down to the base metal. Not true of 2006 Legacy or 2007 Bleecker.

They started experimenting with thinner leather in the late 80s to create bags that were lighter in weight. Some of the styles are nice but the dyes were horrible. At least the leather was nice. The quality of the leather of classic bags has steadily declined since the mid to late 2000s. The most recent classics I saw looked worse than a Walmart plastic purse.

 

[theFlip#2]

Exactly! I love the leather on my 2007 Bleeckers too and 2009 Parker leather is to die for! I have no complaints about the leather of my Bleecker studded mini Preston, which is very recent. I love the colors and classic styling of the 2012 Legacy collection and but the leather isn't dyed all the way through.

Coach stopped using solid brass on most styles back in the 80s but the 90s brass plating was still great quality. You can shine it without cleaning down to the base metal. Not true of 2006 Legacy or 2007 Bleecker.

They started experimenting with thinner leather in the late 80s to create bags that were lighter in weight. Some of the styles are nice but the dyes were horrible. At least the leather was nice. The quality of the leather of classic bags has steadily declined since the mid to late 2000s. The most recent classics I saw looked worse than a Walmart plastic purse.

Agreed about the 2007 Bleecker collection, totally forgot about those bags! I still enjoy wearing my Elisas & Felicia. I never try to clean / polish the hardware on these. Just like the '06 Legacy, the hardware can tarnish some and I'm OK with that.

I have the Cherry American Icon tote from 2012 and as much as I love the details of this bag, I do wish that the leather was drum-dyed through.

I haven't seen the recent wave of 'classics' but it sounds like they're on the cheap side from your impression, lol!

 

[abwd]

The leather quality at coach has definitely deteriorated over the years. Thinking back, the last leathers that appeared to be 'drum-dyed' all the way through was the 2006 65th Anniversary Legacy collection. Drum-dying was a process that coach was proud of many years ago now. Since 2006 it seems they have continued to cut corners with thinner leathers & treatments that have resulted in over-processed surfaces. Granted some of these have turned out beautifully, but you can see the decline in quality when the surfaces peel or scratches reveal white underneath. Maybe there's no way to manufacture unique surfaces on thicker leathers, but the price points suggest that the product should have been a better quality.

Their hardware used to be actual brass but in recent years (at least since 2006), the hardware has some filler inside with an applied coating. (Remember the quality issues with the original Kristin collection's hardware flaking off?) Maybe this was the answer to ladies wanting more lightweight bags? It just seems to me that with technology a better solution could have been attained.

I still enjoy carrying my XL Lily satchels with the heavy thicker leather & brass hardware. That's what coach needs to go back to the re-establish a core legacy collection. Keep the styles smaller but the materials high quality.

It's really sad to this company searching for its identity when it's right in their own history.

Well said. Although I want to mention that the swagger has VERY nice hardware and it is heavy. The zipper does not feel like it has filler. I was much more impressed with the quality of this bag than I have been with some of their other bags over the past year. Perhaps they are turning a corner???

 

[Alexa5]

I agree I don't like the look of the harder leathers in some of the previews. For me my recent bags have been mini preston, small toasters, and a rhyder and they all have nice leather.

 

[swags]

Many years ago the logos for each were completely different. Not sure why that changed.
I think there is a market for each line. My problem with Coach is that FP often looks EXACTLY like MFF. Make the styles completely different.
It also seems no sooner does a new line come out than it goes on sale. No incentive to pay full price when you know it will go on sale. Soon.
I do like the return to semi-annual sales. Twice a year should be enough.
And I for one would pay more for a USA made bag that was a classic style that never went on sale.
Just my 2 cents.

This has been me for the past 7 years or so. I just purchased a borough bag at the last FOS. I would not have paid over $600 for it but have no problem paying $200.
The pce's use to get me into the coach boutique around 2005-2007 but then I started seeing most of those bags at the outlets for less so I started waiting.

 

[Reitelle]

I was saddened to see the store I bought my first Coach bag from close in Sanford, FL only a few months after I ordered a new bag from them Very sad.

 

[lvmk]

I don't know if good leather has become scarce or if Coach accountants have decided that they can make more money by selling coated canvas, pebbled leather or saffiano, but I'm not seeing Coach bags made of good quality leather anymore. The classics I saw at the outlet were horrendous.

Saffiano is the same leather Prada has used for decades and decades...