Is Coach considered a luxury brand?

[Galaxygrrl]

Coach by it's price point is a mid-level brand. I think it's called a bridge brand in retail speak.

But you know, I've been buying coach since about 2000 and I've really only bought the flagship or higher end of Coach. I have some 65th anniversary legacy, (Gigi and Mandy) some 70th anniversary Carolines, a few Rogues, and the gathered Madison shoulder bag, the Anna Sui dragon fly duffle, the calf hair duffle, the Candace and large Phoebe calf hair and a few more.

All of them are well made (the 70th anniversary Carolines are not as well made as the other though), all of them have or will last for years. All of them are beautiful bags that I would put up against the premium bag brands in terms of quality and style.

But, I have only bought the high end coach bags. And I have bought them all at the outlets, on sale, or on eBay.

They are an affordable luxury for me. I've had a few Kate spade bags - they never hold up and I have not had the other bridge brands.

What was funny, is I'm visiting my dad and he said he saw a commercial for www.rebagg.com and mentioned it to me. I said, really, I only buy Coach for the most part these days and they are not expensive enough to make it to rebagg.com and my step mother said she does not spend more than $50 on a bag and she said, what is your limit and I said a little more than that - lol/

Then, I asked my Dad how much he thinks an LV or Channel bag sells for and he said $500. Most of my Coach bags have been in that range. It made me stop and think that Coach is expensive, and it's a luxary to have for sure, but not anywhere need the price tag of the high end bags.

But, in any event, a number of people have said, buy and wear what you love. I love my coach bags, I think they are beautiful, and are fine

 

[whateve]

Coach by it's price point is a mid-level brand. I think it's called a bridge brand in retail speak.

But you know, I've been buying coach since about 2000 and I've really only bought the flagship or higher end of Coach. I have some 65th anniversary legacy, (Gigi and Mandy) some 70th anniversary Carolines, a few Rogues, and the gathered Madison shoulder bag, the Anna Sui dragon fly duffle, the calf hair duffle, the Candace and large Phoebe calf hair and a few more.

All of them are well made (the 70th anniversary Carolines are not as well made as the other though), all of them have or will last for years. All of them are beautiful bags that I would put up against the premium bag brands in terms of quality and style.

But, I have only bought the high end coach bags. And I have bought them all at the outlets, on sale, or on eBay.

They are an affordable luxury for me. I've had a few Kate spade bags - they never hold up and I have not had the other bridge brands.

What was funny, is I'm visiting my dad and he said he saw a commercial for www.rebagg.com and mentioned it to me. I said, really, I only buy Coach for the most part these days and they are not expensive enough to make it to rebagg.com and my step mother said she does not spend more than $50 on a bag and she said, what is your limit and I said a little more than that - lol/

Then, I asked my Dad how much he thinks an LV or Channel bag sells for and he said $500. Most of my Coach bags have been in that range. It made me stop and think that Coach is expensive, and it's a luxary to have for sure, but not anywhere need the price tag of the high end bags.

But, in any event, a number of people have said, buy and wear what you love. I love my coach bags, I think they are beautiful, and are fine

DH pointed out the same Rebagg ad to me. On a lark, I submitted my Balenciaga and they said it didn't meet their standards in terms of condition. It is actually in excellent condition and has all the parts (including all tassels intact and the mirror). On their sister site Trendlee where they sell them, there are Bals in much worse condition.

 

[whateve]

I'd say it's casual or affordable luxury. When I was a kid, around middle school or so, Coach was HUGE. The Coach C was slapped on everything. Some of their designs are a bit tacky IMHO and geared towards mass appeal. Luxury to me is something special, exclusive, something that first and foremost benefits YOU and makes YOU feel special. It's that fine touch of a true artisan, NOT mass appeal in just a higher price range. Turning half of suburban America into walking billboards is not my idea of true luxury. That said, I'm not trying to diminish them. I like most of their leather goods.

Do you realize that Coach has moved away from signature? They still make a few signature items because customers demand them. They never stopped making leather bags. Have you looked at Coach recently? Too many people think all Coach has to offer is signature. The reason they made so much of it was because it was flying off the shelves. They would have been stupid not to give the customer what she wanted. Many premium brands also make signature items, including LV and Gucci. These signature items are a major part of their business.

 

[kbell]

I'd say it's casual or affordable luxury. When I was a kid, around middle school or so, Coach was HUGE. The Coach C was slapped on everything. Some of their designs are a bit tacky IMHO and geared towards mass appeal. Luxury to me is something special, exclusive, something that first and foremost benefits YOU and makes YOU feel special. It's that fine touch of a true artisan, NOT mass appeal in just a higher price range. Turning half of suburban America into walking billboards is not my idea of true luxury. That said, I'm not trying to diminish them. I like most of their leather goods.

I consider Coach a mid level brand. While I do not like a lot of signature, some luxury brands have always used them and there is history behind them - look @ Louis Vuitton ( I am a huge LV fan) who started in luggage - their monogram pattern has been around since 1896 and is still going strong. The GG logo for Gucci was a tribute to it's founder Guccio Gucci. When I was young Coach made very high quality leather bags. One of my 1st bags as an adult was a leather Coach bag. It lasted for ages & seemed indestructible. Everyone's idea of luxury is different. The material alone does not dictate luxury to me. You can purchase a silk scarf from Gucci or a silk scarf from Walmart - they're both silk.

 

[crazyforcoach09]

for ME anything I spend my money on is luxury....

 

[Johnpauliegal]

In my opinion I feel that Coach is an affordable luxury brand.

 

[Black_Cat]

Been fascinated by the talk on this forum about Coach's business model. Especially the comments about how fast they bring the boutique designs to PCE and MFF. We live in Asia, so only see the boutique stores.

Selling the same brand at two different price points is misleading. Making cheap knockoff copies of your own products and selling them a discount is lying. My wife has seen bags that she likes, but won't buy them because they are Coach.

For those wishing MFF will go away, outlet store space has actually increased since 2014, when the company announced they would "reduce discounting". The only bright spot is that they have increased at a slower pace:

I don't see any way they can reverse it.

My wife won't buy the bags at full price, no matter how nice they are. And I won't buy the shares of this company, no matter how good the financials.

I'm interested in this forum for any signs that Coach's discounting really is reduced.

 

[pjhm]

I would say "low end luxury", like Dooney & Bourke.
Both designers have a reputation for making good products, but not really considered status symbols like Chanel, LV or Hermes.

 

[whateve]

Been fascinated by the talk on this forum about Coach's business model. Especially the comments about how fast they bring the boutique designs to PCE and MFF. We live in Asia, so only see the boutique stores.

Selling the same brand at two different price points is misleading. Making cheap knockoff copies of your own products and selling them a discount is lying. My wife has seen bags that she likes, but won't buy them because they are Coach.

For those wishing MFF will go away, outlet store space has actually increased since 2014, when the company announced they would "reduce discounting". The only bright spot is that they have increased at a slower pace:View attachment 3574808

I don't see any way they can reverse it.

My wife won't buy the bags at full price, no matter how nice they are. And I won't buy the shares of this company, no matter how good the financials.

I'm interested in this forum for any signs that Coach's discounting really is reduced.

You said your wife won't buy bags because they are Coach. Then you said she won't buy bags at full price, no matter how nice they are. What bags does she buy, and where does she find them on sale?

 

[skirtl]

Most people in the world consider Coach a luxury high-end brand.

Coach convertible satchels are $200something. A doctor working full-time in Ghana makes $8 a MONTH. So, yes, to billions of people in the world, "even Coach" is a (very very) pricey designer brand.

People on this forum who throw down WAY more money on bags than most people in the world even dream of consider it a "mid-range bag" or "starter designer bag."

In the fashion and luxury circles with high disposable income, Coach is a "more affordable brand." Coach is "at least" cheaper than Prada, Berkin, etc.

I can't, without giggling, NOT call Coach a "non-luxury brand." It is is a luxury indulgence, and one that most people in the world- literally billions- can't afford. Most adults across the globe simply don't have a few hundred to thrown down on a bag, but on fashion designer forums like this, a few hundred is "cheap" compared to a $3000 Prada bag. And a $3000 Prada bag is "cheap" compared to a $13,000 Berkin bag. Still, all bags $100+ are luxury items most people in the world don't have, can't afford, and don't buy. If bags are your hobby and you have the discretionary income that many on this forum have, a $200 Coach bag is "cheap" compared to some other bags-- and if you enjoy designer bags, whether Coach or Berkin, like the style and can afford it,... go for it. "Even Coach" is considered pricey opulence for most of the world outside of this niche designer purse forum.

Coach, Michael Kors, and Dooney & Bourke are about as "pricey" as I'm willing to go-- "cheap" compared to some purchasers on this forum, but still more pricey than most people in the world spend on purses. It's my disposable income luxury indulgence.

 

[skirtl]

Desensitization and perceptive, all very relevant terms.. the 'average' person does not buy car payment handbags let alone some pushing mortgage payments.

This forum is NOT the real world, fun place but not just your average place

Definitely.

Coach, Dooney, Berkin, LV, Prada... all of the bags on here are considered luxury brands to most of the world.

They're pricey bags for most people in the world, relative or not. But to some of us they're relatively affordable in that we have some disposable income like that. They're not the normal price most people in the world would dream of paying for a bag, "not even" the "cheap" $200 bags. A doctor in Ghana making $8 a month would be spending a relatively huge sum for a $0.80 cent handsewn drawstring bag at the local farmer's market. It's all relative, but a $200 Coach bag isn't "cheap" by definition-- some of us just "feel" that Coach is "cheap" compared to other (even more) pricey brands.

 

[alina_is_perff]

I guess it's kind of the more affordable bag. It's in the same class as Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Furla, and Tory Burch. Furla and Kate Spade targets more on the younger peple (teenagers) while I think coach's leans more to the "more-adult" people. Hope this help xx

 

[Black_Cat]

You said your wife won't buy bags because they are Coach. Then you said she won't buy bags at full price, no matter how nice they are. What bags does she buy, and where does she find them on sale?

She wouldn't buy Coach bags at full price. Meaning she never bought them at all.
In years gone by, she used to buy LV. Ended up with a cupboard full!
Now she's grown up a bit more, and no longer buys expensive status symbol bags.
Just the occasional Hello Kitty bag. Around the USD 50 to 200 range. Much better!

 

[Purse FanGirl]

She wouldn't buy Coach bags at full price. Meaning she never bought them at all.
In years gone by, she used to buy LV. Ended up with a cupboard full!
Now she's grown up a bit more, and no longer buys expensive status symbol bags.
Just the occasional Hello Kitty bag. Around the USD 50 to 200 range. Much better!

Hopefully she's enjoying those LVs. If she is not buying Coach (which I think is a "grown up" bag along with LV), at least she should enjoy them. Hate to see nice things gather dust. [emoji4]

Many of us on the Coach threads like the retail Coach bags (especially 1941) because they hopefully will last for decades...to be passed on for a loving niece, sister, daughter, etc. I have a basic leather bag that is 15-20 years old from Coach that has well stood the test of time. The retail price on a full leather bag of this quality...well, no one else comes close to (retail bag not outlet) Coach these days. I do think that makes us smart ladies and gents.

As far as owning the stock, Coach stock currently pays almost a 4% dividend if you are considering why people might like the stock as well as the quality of their retail bags...

 

[whateve]

She wouldn't buy Coach bags at full price. Meaning she never bought them at all.
In years gone by, she used to buy LV. Ended up with a cupboard full!
Now she's grown up a bit more, and no longer buys expensive status symbol bags.
Just the occasional Hello Kitty bag. Around the USD 50 to 200 range. Much better!

Funny how you say she has grown up a bit more and now buys Hello Kitty bags! I don't think of Hello Kitty as mature! I used to take my kids to the Hello Kitty store when they were toddlers.

Most of us don't buy Coach as a status symbol. Since it is ubiquitous in the US, it doesn't lend much status. We buy it because we like it. For me, it is a level of quality that I enjoy. There are other lesser known brands that sell in a similar price range that also have the quality I like. The most important factor to me is the leather. If price were no object, there are premium brands I would buy for the leather and styling.