Why Goldman Sachs Believes Coach's (COH) Turnaround Is Alienating Consumers
- Thread starter momtok
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I was there over the weekend and my local store was totally empty; in fact, at one point, I was the only customer in the store. This is why the SA's are so pushy. But, they did it to themselves by creating too many restrictions and taking away the very perks that brought customers in.
ITA! In fact SAs have mentioned this exact point to me. Same at the Reed Krakoff store when it existed. It's about the bang for the buck is their point, and sometimes I agree. But as for Coach, until they start controlling the dept store issue, I don't see it getting any better, and even then, I'm still far from convinced. I have to say I did see more people this weekend in one of the stores I usually see very few people to nobody, but all of the customers walked out without buying except for one couple, and I think they had a return. I might be wrong and it might have been an exchange, but something was definitely returned. However, I'm seeing more people in stores anyway- around here people have already started holiday shopping.
I also chatted with our Nordstrom SAs, and I was told they quit carrying Coach in store because Coach would only send them bags that "nobody wanted". I guess I thought they had some selection since they do have a buyer that buys for their dept, but she said no, and that was the problem so some stores have just quit carrying their products. I admit I never saw much Coach traffic there, and the bags didn't appeal to me either, but then I've also been relatively over Coach for a while now myself. I'm still over full price for the most part too- so far so good with my only one fp Coach bag per season rule, but as always, we'll see how long that lasts!
Most of the Nordstrom in my area have quit carrying Coach too - very minimal in one. However, we have a new-ish Nordstrom Rack - and they are carrying quite a few - which are horrible quality - not even MFF quality. It surprises me Nordstrom Rack would even carry them (albeit the fact Nordstrom doesn't have enough merchandise to stock the Racks, so much of what they have is specially made for them).
That's interesting! I visited two of the higher end Nordstrom stores a few weeks ago and noticed they both had also lost their Coach sections. I only found two duffles in the whole dept and at one of stores only, and those bags were lost among other brands. I see some Coach online and also from their catalog, but I wonder how many stores dropped the brand? We are getting a Nordstrom Rack next spring, which I am excited about, but def not for Coach! The one I go to now is a bit of a drive, but I've noticed the same thing about the Coach products as you have. It's also true at our TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and DSW stores around here. I know that we all like different things, and that's fine, but honestly, I don't like the quality of that kind of stock either, and I think this turns me off even more with Coach in general. Not that other brands aren't doing this as well (MK, RM, etc), but I don't find the quality as much of a turn off with others, I guess. I also don't see the volume in those stores with the other brands as I do with Coach.
I agree! I actually avoid my FP store now because it's always empty and the SA's are so pushy and follow me around the store while I shop. They try to tell me that everything I pick up is the last one in stock. I highly doubt that so I try to stick to department stores now.
Oh how obnoxious of them! I know; their desperation is written all over their faces. If they were doing well as a business, they wouldn't stalk the customers. There is one bag that I want to get that only FP has right now, but I would definitely order it online and ship it back if I decided to return rather than return to a FP store.
Funny how we're all seeing the same thing at our stores. SAs who follow us around and say that everything is the "last in stock." Guess they go over that tactic in orientation.
Me too, lol! 😄
Obnoxious for me were the SAs in the handbag dept at one of the Neiman Marcus stores I go to. I would go there and one of the SAs would literally follow me everywhere, and if I even hesitated and stopped to look at something for two seconds, but not touch, she would grab something and start hyping it up. I couldn't even look or concentrate on anything other than her behavior. Complete distraction with the stalking! After about 2 min each time of trying to lose her unsuccessfully, lol, I would just get fed up and zoom out of there. I noticed recently they have dialed that way back, and I was able to look at all brands except Bal fairly comfortably. When I got to the Bal section and it started, I just quickly left. I have to say they definitely lost sales because I would have bought something multiple times but just can't stand being stalked like that. Forget it- I'll buy elsewhere or something else totally different!
I have always had that problem at Coach, so that is why I would rarely shop in the FP store...I would do department stores or online. Even if they were just being friendly, I find it very distracting to have people "help" me when I really just want to look without feeling like someone is watching me the whole time.
The other problem is that though they have tons of stock online and in department stores, at the FP store, they rarely had any in back and claimed to only have the floor model. I just don't like to pay all of that money for an item that has been touched by everyone coming in the store--that is just my personal preference, and it would cause me not to buy from the FP store when that is the case.
The other problem is that though they have tons of stock online and in department stores, at the FP store, they rarely had any in back and claimed to only have the floor model. I just don't like to pay all of that money for an item that has been touched by everyone coming in the store--that is just my personal preference, and it would cause me not to buy from the FP store when that is the case.
I agree about the stalking. I have experienced this as well. I have not walked in my Coach store for 6 months! I have to be in the mood to deal with it.
I've experienced this in Neiman Marcus, but I thought it was because they thought I was going to steal something. I've never had this problem at Coach. It doesn't take them long to realize I know more than they do about their products.
Speaking of copying, this MK looks like someone was spying on Coach.
http://www.michaelkors.com/rhea-studded-suede-shoulder-bag/_/R-US_30H4SRGL5S?No=6&color=0602
This one is reminiscent of studded Edie:
http://www.michaelkors.com/rhea-stu...oulder-bag/_/R-US_30F4GRAL5L?No=12&color=0230
I had the opposite happen with me at the full price store. The display was perfect. The bag they brought from the back, no so much - all wrinkled, bad leather, etc. They brought it out bagged in the dust bag and shopping bag and apparently thought I would just take it and walk out with it. Fortunately, I asked to look at it first. They said it was the last one. I took the display. It was on the top shelf of the display case, so may be it hadn't been handled much.
