Vintage Coach Photos & Chat

[whateve]

I live in the San Gabriel Valley area of LA and have had no luck thrifting around here.

Awhile back, there were a few good stores in Van Nuys. One was the Valley Value Center and the other was the Jewish charity a few blocks away.

 

[whateve]

I also had 0 luck finding ANY coach purses in the 2 goodwill stores that are available at a reasonable (~35 miles) driving distance from my home. No other thrift stores available either, so my only source really is the internet. For some reason, I do not think that the prices are ever coming back down to what they were even 5 yrs ago, so my tendencies are to grab the ones I really want, when I see them anywhere near the prices that I'm willing to pay.

For carrying purses I will hunt the vintage offers, because it seems to me that the newer purses simply are not of the same good quality. Someone on here mentioned that those vintage purses were "little tanks" and I fully agree. They might look beaten up and ugly and abused, but can be restored to full glory with some TLC. There is not much around nowadays about which one can say the same thing. Quality just simply tells.

I have a Coach bag made in 2013 that is built like a tank. It is pebbled leather that is super thick. I like to take it on trips because it can take anything.

I still buy new bags for the colors and styles.

 

[LunaSilver]

It is hard to find stores that still price things cheaply. You would have more luck in smaller towns. There was a great store in El Paso the last time we were there. Actually I did great in Albuquerque in June at the St. Vincent de Paul - everything was $2 and buy one, get one free. I found 3 Coach bags, but nothing vintage. There are some bargains in Oregon and Utah. California is generally overpriced.

I might went to the same store but couldn’t remember the name. Bought 3 bags for $2 each but all none Coach. One is a very old real Gator clutch, one is a small Fossil handbag, and one is a beat up red Kate Spade made in Italy tote. Also bought a nice light blue formal dress there $5. By the way Albuquerque bus is free till next year.

 

[Narnanz]

Ha

 

[Lake Effect]

It is hard to find stores that still price things cheaply. You would have more luck in smaller towns. There was a great store in El Paso the last time we were there. Actually I did great in Albuquerque in June at the St. Vincent de Paul - everything was $2 and buy one, get one free. I found 3 Coach bags, but nothing vintage. There are some bargains in Oregon and Utah. California is generally overpriced.

There are two places by me where I see prices for vintage Coach at $20 to 30 and a few at $10. It is hit and miss as I am not there every weekend. I bet if I was there every Saturday at opening, I would find more. They may not be in the best shape, but at least not DOA. And there is a flea market by me where a vender sells vintage Coach. Her bags are usually really rough but at least they are cheap and she is open to offers. I get the impression she out scouring garage sales and finding the bags that are WYRTB quality.

I know a few years ago I was complaining about the lack of vintage Coach thrifting around me but I should not, seeing that others have nothing around them or if it is, it is over $50. My complaint was meant I was not finding amazing colors or style. Then I did find one doozy, so while I do not find amazing bags regularly, I can't complain.
Of course, I did find a Pony, but was not willing to wrestle it off the owner. Which I could have done easily

 

[Lake Effect]

Goodwillfinds website went live yesterday- it’s a non auction platform for goodwill similar to thred up and Poshmark. Everything is BIN, but unlike Posh there are no individual sellers and no options for offers. Price listed is the only price.

Apparently I was already late to the party because almost a third of the Coach bag listings had sold already- in ONE DAY!!! There were some vintage, mostly black and brown, but a few good ones in there and they obviously went fast.

The site was glitchy, clearly not a top dollar site, and one would need to search frequently to snag the good stuff- similar to searching in the stores. All in all, I think it will be fun to shop, but probably not competitive with Posh, eBay or thred up because Goodwill is usually the last stop for items people want to get rid of. If it can’t be sold on other platforms, it gets donated.

This explains why the stores have been so painfully empty lately

A few years ago, I saw bags being listed on GW online from my regional center and pretty much wrote off my local GWs. And for this Finds site, somebody scored a Marketing Tote, albeit in need of quite the rehab, for $12! I will be looking for it on Etsy haha.

 

[pammbw]

Ha

View attachment 5627104

Oh boy do I relate to this! I really need to downsize my collection, lol

 

[Morgan_Bellini]

I just panic purchased a spendy rust large Courier and I need my bag buddies to tell me it will be alright. Please begin.

ETA: my intent is to either rehome my current rust Courier or to actually start carrying it knowing that I now have a back up rust Courier. It is my holiest of Holy Grails and I've only carried it twice to preserve its rusty magnificence.

 

[pammbw]

I just panic purchased a spendy rust large Courier and I need my bag buddies to tell me it will be alright. Please begin.

ETA: my intent is to either rehome my current rust Courier or to actually start carrying it knowing that I now have a back up rust Courier. It is my holiest of Holy Grails and I've only carried it twice to preserve its rusty magnificence.

Keep the one in best condition and list the other for what you paid for the new one. If it sells, you’ve made money, if it doesn’t that’s ok too.

 

[pammbw]

While perusing the vintage catalogs in the reference section, I saw this jacket. Absolutely gorgeous! Lamb Napa leather and 1994 retail was $845. That’s $1688 today. Has anyone found vintage Coach jackets in the wild?

 

[VintageEnthusiast]

There are two places by me where I see prices for vintage Coach at $20 to 30 and a few at $10. It is hit and miss as I am not there every weekend. I bet if I was there every Saturday at opening, I would find more. They may not be in the best shape, but at least not DOA. And there is a flea market by me where a vender sells vintage Coach. Her bags are usually really rough but at least they are cheap and she is open to offers. I get the impression she out scouring garage sales and finding the bags that are WYRTB quality.

I know a few years ago I was complaining about the lack of vintage Coach thrifting around me but I should not, seeing that others have nothing around them or if it is, it is over $50. My complaint was meant I was not finding amazing colors or style. Then I did find one doozy, so while I do not find amazing bags regularly, I can't complain.
Of course, I did find a Pony, but was not willing to wrestle it off the owner. Which I could have done easily

WYRTB?

 

[Morgan_Bellini]

WYRTB?

Would You Rehab This Bag. There's a thread for bags that make even the most seasoned rehabbers cringe.

 

[Tilis]

I have a Coach bag made in 2013 that is built like a tank. It is pebbled leather that is super thick. I like to take it on trips because it can take anything.

I still buy new bags for the colors and styles.

I agree with you about the colors of the newer bags, some of those colors are incredibly attractive to me. I probably would buy newer bags as well, if I could feel the leather, or even just see the purse irl. However, buying on-line most often does not permit returns, and, unless the purse was very cheap, I would hate to be stuck with something I did not like.

 

[Yrelle]

While perusing the vintage catalogs in the reference section, I saw this jacket. Absolutely gorgeous! Lamb Napa leather and 1994 retail was $845. That’s $1688 today. Has anyone found vintage Coach jackets in the wild?

View attachment 5627376

That jacket is sure gorgeous. But, no. Don’t give me any more ideas! I’m having trouble keeping up with bags already. Lol!

 

[Morgan_Bellini]

While perusing the vintage catalogs in the reference section, I saw this jacket. Absolutely gorgeous! Lamb Napa leather and 1994 retail was $845. That’s $1688 today. Has anyone found vintage Coach jackets in the wild?

View attachment 5627376

That is a really pretty jacket. I've seen some on ebay but not quite like that. I love how it looks with the Trail Bag, too!