Coach Outlet Quality… not so good…

[susan49]

I think it depends on the type of bag. I always avoid the signature bags which are, I believe, primarily coated canvas mixed with leather trims. These mixed material bags just don’t seem very well made to me. I also avoid the stiff, cross-grained leathers as they feel and look like plastic to me. I do have have two outlet bags, however, that are very supple pebbled leather. I have the Jes hobo in Evergreen (solid color without the giant heat-stamped logo on the front), and the Abby Duffle in Chalk. Both of these bags have heavy, smooth zippers, nice seams and stitching, and solid feeling hardware. I love these bags and carry them often. They’ve both held up beautifully after frequent use.

I would not buy anything from the outlet website, though, unless you’ve seen it in person first.

 

[BowieFan1971]

I was in the Coach outlet today Tomsk a return and had to take store credit for items I bought online. I looked and found nothing because all their leather was thin, brittle and hard feeling and looked like it was spray painted/coated. I was really disappointed. I had money in my pocket and left empty handed....

 

[PAINTEDEDGE]

The quality is definitely not what it use to be! I bought a messenger bag for my husband and the snaps on the straps fell apart after 3 months (he only carries a 13" mac laptop and other small daily essentials). The leather on the edges scraped very fast. Coach is no longer the quality leather brand they used to be known for

 

[Alexa5]

The quality is definitely not what it use to be! I bought a messenger bag for my husband and the snaps on the straps fell apart after 3 months (he only carries a 13" mac laptop and other small daily essentials). The leather on the edges scraped very fast. Coach is no longer the quality leather brand they used to be known for

Technically they are. It is just that outlet merchandise isn't as nice as the retail merchandise. I have never had any issues with any of my Coach bags from retail--even after use, they still often look like new.

 

[PAINTEDEDGE]

Indeed, the retail product is better than the Outlet, but even within their premium retail product their quality isn't what it use to be years ago. This is not unexpected as they once produced with italian leather, through the hands of artisan craftsmen. Now has all been transferred to China factories. I own a few glove leather bags from over 10 years ago and they are holding up better than the ones I purchased 4 years ago.

 

[Alexa5]

Indeed, the retail product is better than the Outlet, but even within their premium retail product their quality isn't what it use to be years ago. This is not unexpected as they once produced with italian leather, through the hands of artisan craftsmen. Now has all been transferred to China factories. I own a few glove leather bags from over 10 years ago and they are holding up better than the ones I purchased 4 years ago.

They have been doing the bags in factories for quite a long time. The vintage bags are nice, but are a completely different type of bag, and Coach has moved on to different styles, etc. People can still get the vintage bags on the resale market, so that is an option but not everyone wants the vintage bags. I honestly have never had any of the more contemporary bags from Coach have any issues at all. They are a different leather, etc, of course, but I feel like when people compare the quality they are sometimes comparing apples to oranges as the bags they are making now wouldn't be made the same way, with the exact same leather, etc. They are just different bags for the most part. There aren't many large companies that would be making bags handmade by craftsman at this point.

 

[PAINTEDEDGE]

My point exactly as you put it- 'they are just different bags for the most part'- quality included from my experience.

 

[Chihua5]

My point exactly as you put it- 'they are just different bags for the most part'- quality included from my experience.

I have a variety of bags - vintage to the newer models, I have never had an issue with the quality on any of them. I agree with Alexa5 with trying to compare the vintage with the new as “comparing apples to oranges”. The vintage have that delicious thick leather, the “army tanks” of the bags, but with that, they are quite heavy for some. Thus, the newer ones are lighter due to the different leather used. To me, the occasion is what makes me decide what bag to carry. I love most of my vintage bags for days when I’m not carrying them all day. Other times, I need an all-day bag so I opt for one of my lighter ones. Overall though, as I mentioned before, I have never had issues with the quality of any of my bags, vintage or new.

 

[BowieFan1971]

My point exactly as you put it- 'they are just different bags for the most part'- quality included from my experience.

The outlet bags are not what they used to be...I have had several from a few years ago that had thick, supple, beautifully finished leather. What I saw today was not even close....looked and felt cheap, thin hard and shiny. I have seen richer looking vinyl bags for half the price of the outlet bags I saw today.

 

[p3b]

If you read similar type threads in other brands, even luxe brands, they all sound the same. People complain that retail items are not made of the same quality as they used to be. I am not excusing it, but a lot of brands are cutting corners with lower quality materials while raising prices. If consumers purchase despite that fact, they have no reason to "go back to the quality of the good ol' days".

 

[BowieFan1971]

If you read similar type threads in other brands, even luxe brands, they all sound the same. People complain that retail items are not made of the same quality as they used to be. I am not excusing it, but a lot of brands are cutting corners with lower quality materials while raising prices. If consumers purchase despite that fact, they have no reason to "go back to the quality of the good ol' days".

Or just buy vintage and older pre-loved, like I do...

 

[Alexa5]

Or just buy vintage and older pre-loved, like I do...

I don't think she was saying she doesn't like the newer bags...just that Coach can't be exclusively blamed for cutting any corners. and like we said further above, it doesn't mean the bags are poor quality. Just different. Again, not everyone wants vintage and preloved--I appreciate them, but I like my collection to have newer bags as well.

 

[BowieFan1971]

I don't think she was saying she doesn't like the newer bags...just that Coach can't be exclusively blamed for cutting any corners. and like we said further above, it doesn't mean the bags are poor quality. Just different. Again, not everyone wants vintage and preloved--I appreciate them, but I like my collection to have newer bags as well.

My point earlier was that the bags currently at the outlet are poor quality at the price point they want. They are not just a cheaper version of Coach made for the outlets, they are just plain cheap...look and feel. I was just there yesterday and was shocked, having bought there as recently last year. To the point of having a merchandise credit for $53 in my pocket and leaving empty handed. That is not “comparing apples to oranges” since I have never expected to get the same bag as I would get at a full price Coach store...I know the outlet scam...but $129+ for a bag that looks like coated plastic and feels like cardboard? That’s ridiculous.

 

[p3b]

I don't think she was saying she doesn't like the newer bags...just that Coach can't be exclusively blamed for cutting any corners. and like we said further above, it doesn't mean the bags are poor quality. Just different. Again, not everyone wants vintage and preloved--I appreciate them, but I like my collection to have newer bags as well.

Exactly my point.

My point earlier was that the bags currently at the outlet are poor quality at the price point they want. They are not just a cheaper version of Coach made for the outlets, they are just plain cheap...look and feel. I was just there yesterday and was shocked, having bought there as recently last year. To the point of having a merchandise credit for $53 in my pocket and leaving empty handed. That is not “comparing apples to oranges” since I have never expected to get the same bag as I would get at a full price Coach store...I know the outlet scam...but $129+ for a bag that looks like coated plastic and feels like cardboard? That’s ridiculous.

The quality of exclusively MFF (Made for Factory/Outlet) bags has never been great IMO. I have been shopping at the outlet on and off for 15 years and have never purchased one because I didn't like the feel of the materials used. I only buy items that were once at the retail store when I shop the outlet (deletes). My mom and aunt have purchased MFF, but it was many years ago (Zoe bags) and they loved them.

If you do not like the quality of bags, whether outlet or retail (you can use the credit at a retail store instead), perhaps you should consider other items. They do sell keychains/bag charms, umbrellas, gloves, clothing, shoes, and mens items. Some people swear that the mens items are a lot better quality. If that still does not work for you, maybe you should gift the credit or sell it to someone (some people will pay $5-10 less for that to help you get rid of it so that they can get a deal in exchange).

**Some people feel that way about paying over $1,000 for a canvas LV bag btw. Hopefully you can find something that makes you happy.

 

[BowieFan1971]

Exactly my point.

The quality of exclusively MFF (Made for Factory/Outlet) bags has never been great IMO. I have been shopping at the outlet on and off for 15 years and have never purchased one because I didn't like the feel of the materials used. I only buy items that were once at the retail store when I shop the outlet (deletes). My mom and aunt have purchased MFF, but it was many years ago (Zoe bags) and they loved them.

If you do not like the quality of bags, whether outlet or retail (you can use the credit at a retail store instead), perhaps you should consider other items. They do sell keychains/bag charms, umbrellas, gloves, clothing, shoes, and mens items. Some people swear that the mens items are a lot better quality. If that still does not work for you, maybe you should gift the credit or sell it to someone (some people will pay $5-10 less for that to help you get rid of it so that they can get a deal in exchange).

**Some people feel that way about paying over $1,000 for a canvas LV bag btw. Hopefully you can find something that makes you happy.

Um, BTW, was that supposed to be some kind of dig because it falls flat since I don’t pay $1000+ for a canvas bag either. Not even remotely close. I was not trashing Coach as a brand either...I own and carry Coaches, some of which are MFFs, some not. I carry a lot of different brands, LV being one of them, though it has become my favorite. All I was saying is that the quality of what is currently for sale in the outlets is shockingly bad and a decline from what I saw in store as recently as last winter.

As far as my comment about buying vintage/pre-loved, in response to your comment, a way to get manufacturers to up their quality to what they used to be is to show their is a market for that quality. If people stop buying new and bought vintage/pre-loved, manufacturers would have to either lower their prices or up their quality in response. It’s true for any brand.

I’m doing my part...I but vintage/pre-loved. Some people may turn up their nose at it, and have on this thread, but I easily get what I pay for, if not more. I have no complaints about the value for my money. Can they say the same? I could sell any of the bags I own at a profit, and have. Can they say the same? I don’t, and have not, made digs on anybody based on the on the bag they carry. Can they, or you, say the same?