My Experience with the "Letter"

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#106
peacocky said:
The key here, people, is an excessive buying pattern. The OP obviously displayed this and someone at Coach had caught whim of it. The problem with sending pictures of a "3 year" running collection, is there are not 6 same cases and 6 same keychains in the pictures. All they have to do, is look at the pictures and compare it to your buying history, this could easily backfire on you, OP. Yes, people buy gifts, but many do not buy 6 of the same thing when it's not for a Bridal party, that kind of makes the gifts look thoughtless (my opinion). There are only so many gift occassions to give gifts, too.

I'm not defending Coach. I'm just giving an opinion of what I am reading, that Coach could be seeing as well. There are always two sides to every story. When the internet is almost anonymous, it's hard for us to see the other side, especially when all we know about the new OP, it what we are told.
twocents.gif
Click to expand...

I agree. It just seems to me that there are THOUSANDS of people who regularly shop outlet, and probably hundreds of them are on tPF! Given that "the letter" is relatively rare, I just have a hard time accepting that there isn't a reason corporate has for this. As I've stated before, people have been banned from department stores (yes, ENTIRE department stores) due to excessive return patterns or other unusual (i.e red flags at LP usually) buying or return patterns, so this is not exclusive to Coach.

Coach still has one of the most lenient return policies in the business, and while every store stumbles with customer service, Coach is generally pretty good. Maybe I am in denial, but I just cannot accept that any one of us "average" customers could be in danger of "the letter" without some unusual behaviour first.
 
#107
Sorry if I have upset any seasoned members. I was only asking for advice and to warn others that it could happen to them. I honestly think this is a personal grudge--and I don't know why--that this sa has against me.

I know you only know my side but I thought that was what the forum was for--to share experiences, get advice, etc. I am not asking anyone to pass judgement on me. I can take a lie detector test if you have a machine. LOL

When I give someone a gift I would never know if they returned it or regifted it. Generally it is not for big purchases when I am buying for a sister, niece, coworker, etc. As far as me sending pictures of my collection and it backfiring that really doesn't make sense. The worse thing that could happen has already happened. All I can do now is try to present my side of the story. :sad:
 
#108
patchworkcat said:
Sorry Expy00...I didn't mean to make you feel you need to defend your purchases. it wasn't my intent. I just wish Coach would have a policy on quantities because when I hear about people wiping out a whole table, it's disappointing to say the least especially when it takes at least 3 hours out of my day to go to the outlet. I feel worse for the people who travel further and see this happen.
Click to expand...

No harm done or offence taken, Patchworkcat :smile1: I just wanted to let our fellow TPF members know that I wasn't purchasing the entire stock of gloves at my local outlet. My BF, dad, and mom greatly appreciated their beautiful Coach gloves. I too have seen my fair share of potential resellers purchasing multiple quantities of the same bag style at the Coach outlet.
 
#109
peacocky said:
The key here, people, is an excessive buying pattern. The OP obviously displayed this and someone at Coach had caught whim of it. The problem with sending pictures of a "3 year" running collection, is there are not 6 same cases and 6 same keychains in the pictures. All they have to do, is look at the pictures and compare it to your buying history, this could easily backfire on you, OP. Yes, people buy gifts, but many do not buy 6 of the same thing when it's not for a Bridal party, that kind of makes the gifts look thoughtless (my opinion). There are only so many gift occassions to give gifts, too.
Click to expand...

I thought of that too, and believe me I am usually the first to play devils advocate for Coach policy when they're just trying to protect themselves. I do have a problem with "the letter" though. The reason that I do have this problem is that there is no warning, no way to effectively challenge it, and it CAN happen to "innocent" shoppers if Coach's policy is not enforced at the register.

It seemed to me that her excessive purchases were done around Christmastime and were small relatively inexpensive items. That generally fits in with someone who is buying gifts for several people around Christmas. When giving gifts to coworkers, cousins, whatever, I almost always give them all the same gift so that nobody feels like I'm favoring anyone. Does that mean the rules should have been broken? No, but if a SA said it was ok, then she should not be banned because that SA violated policy.

I think that if they see her huge collection (no, it doesn't prove that she gave the items as gifts, but it certainly proves that she loves Coach and is a customer that they shouldn't want to lose!) and look at the fact that her multiple purchases were around Christmastime, they SHOULD reconsider. Yes, other companies do it too. Does that make it right?

I understand why they sent the letter and I know they are just trying to protect themselves but there's a better way to go about it. It doesn't seem like there are too many people who actually get this letter, so would it really be that difficult for them to at least be willing to review a case? I want to think that any company I buy from cares at least a little about its customers. This case seems to me like a customer is being punished for a mistake that an employee made.
 
#110
CoachGirl12 said:
I know, ITA w/you... I can't believe Coach sends out these letters... I have returned items plenty of times w/my receipt because I have changed my mind, I don't think there is anything wrong w/that.. I also don't think its a crime to buy more than 3 of something.. that is just ridiculous to even hear of such a thing! Who knew there was a limit? I know I sure haven't and have bought Coach for quite sometime! If they have the product, who cares if they sell 5 items to one person compared to 5 different ppl? They are still making their money, right?... If I received one of these letters I would be :censor: off! I'd definitely try to get more answers about this letter and how it came abouts to you getting it... I mean if its true that an SA can control on who can/can't buy coach by putting in their two cents, then the customers should have a say in who can/can't work at the coach store because there are PLENTY of SA's at the coach store I go to that I think shouldn't be working there... I think it should work both ways... anyone else agree?
Click to expand...
Amen to that sister!:woohoo:
 
#111
The thought that an SA, whether FP or outlet, has control over getting a person blackballed with Coach would be very disturbing. I hope that's not the case.
 
#113
suzysbags said:
Sometimes I wonder what people see in COACH. There are so many other good quality bags, even better made than COACH. They have such an arrogance about them, that it's a turn off.
Click to expand...

I buy Coach because I find the bags attractive and, thanks to the outlet, affordable. I don't buy because or in spite of the brand. I don't care what "arrogance" Coach has, although this seems like an odd thing to attribute to protecting your brand from massive reselling and manipulation. It's my personality, not Coach's executive policy, that comes through when I wear a bag.
 
#114
DangerousJade said:
I buy Coach because I find the bags attractive and, thanks to the outlet, affordable. I don't buy because or in spite of the brand. I don't care what "arrogance" Coach has, although this seems like an odd thing to attribute to protecting your brand from massive reselling and manipulation. It's my personality, not Coach's executive policy, that comes through when I wear a bag.
Click to expand...

IXXX Unnecessary rude comments and insults not tolerated
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#115
suzysbags said:
XXX
I'm glad that you have found bags you feel good about purchasing! I have, too.

I don't think Coach improves my appearance and I don't think it directly displays my personality. I think they make bags I like, and that carrying a bag I like helps me carry myself with confidence and therefore look better.

XXX Unnecessary comments.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#119
This is so ridiculous. What does Coach care if you DID resell it, did they not make money off of it? I guarantee they're making more of a profit of each bag then the resellers. So now if you want to buy multiple items for gifts you have to be paranoid about whether or not you'll be getting a letter saying you're blacklisted!!!!

If this happened to me, I don't think I could shop at Coach again. I would be extremely irate and chose to take my money and my "excessive" shopping elsewhere. I return things (elsewhere) ALL the time because I buy something if it's a good deal and then decide later I didn't want it, but what are you suppose to do? NOT buy it and then be upset you missed a good deal?

I'm sorry this happened to you but I would definitely write corporate a letter with pictures!
 
#120
I don't live close to an outlet, but my DD and I were on vacation lately and went to the outlet in Ellenton, FL early on a Friday morning. There was a couple there that was obviously known to the SAs, as two of them were bringing out bags from the back and working exclusively with this couple. They purchased 3 of just about every boutique style that was in the store. I am talking literally about 50 bags, wallets, wristlets, etc. DD and I left Coach, went and tried on prom dresses, bought one, came back to Coach, and the couple was still there at the check out. The man made 3 trips carrying bags to their car. It was OBVIOUS that they were resellers, but the SAs were catering to them...WTH. I am worried about even returning a wristlet that I decided I didn't want...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top