by Cassie Grill
Coach bags have to be considered the most wanted designer handbags in the world. We all know Diamonds to be a girl's best friend, but Coach Handbags are definitely next in line! Known around the globe for their excellent craftsmanship and trendy styles these bags are worshiped by millions. However, with today's slumping economy the average shopper isn't prepared to pay full retail, instead they are on the look out more than ever for discounts and sales. Coach Outlet Stores and eBay are two of the most popular destinations that offer major savings on Coach Products.
One place where desperate shoppers hunt for discounts are the Coach Outlet Stores. You can usually find a factory outlet in most major cities across the country, each offering discounted prices that make these luxurious handbags affordable to the average consumer.
Based on my research and personal experiences with Coach Outlets I have noticed that there isnt much of a selection of bags to pick from. The types of purses being sold are usually older, unpopular styles that didnt sell well in the retail stores like Macys and Nordstrom. You also may be surprised to find out that the discounts being offered aren't all that big. These are some of the reasons why you may want to consider other options outside of the Outlet stores when looking for a discount coach bag.
My favorite place for saving on Coach Handbags is the one and only eBay. With eBay you have the option to buy new, used, and slightly used designer handbags at extremely discounted prices. Unlike the outlet stores, you also have access to a large variety of styles, colors, and designs. You shouldn't have a problem saving somewhere between 30 - 70% on a new Coach Purse and up to a staggering 90% on a used. You can even find used Bags for cheap as $20. Quite often you can restore a used leather purse back to it's original condition (and looking new again) by applying some simple cleaning and restoration techniques.
Before you decide to purchase a Coach product on eBay you might want to verify that it's really authentic. There is a very small percentage of people trying to sell knock-offs, but these can be easily spotted if you know what to look for. If you are unclear on how to verify authenticity simply go to any search engine and type in the phrase "Verify Coach Handbag Authenticity" and a plethora of information related to this subject will be returned.
EBay has taken several positive steps over the last few years to prevent fraudulent activity on their website. They are very proactive in monitoring sellers that could potentially be selling replica handbags. All sellers suspected of selling knock-offs are immediately shut down. Even though they have eliminated most of the fraud on their site it still makes sense to verify the authenticity of the coach bag you are considering buying.
When shopping at eBay one of the first things you should do before you buy an item is review the sellers feedback rating. When you are near the end of an auction and its impossible to verify authenticity of a Coach handbag due to the picture quality than you should verify that the seller has at least 40 reviews with a positive feedback rating of 98% or higher. If it's anything less then my advice is to play it safe and stay away, especially since you were unable to verify authenticity of the handbag itself.
Whether you shop for coach handbags at eBay or an Outlet Store, each place comes with its share of pros and cons. However, I feel the pros of shopping at eBay heavily outweigh the cons. Sure; you have to spend a little time verifying that your purse is authentic, but in the end you'll be rewarded generously by receiving a great handbag for a cheap price. With more choices and deeper discounts than any outlet store, eBay is definitely worth your consideration the next time you are in need of a discounted coach purse.
Filed under About Handbags by Fay Angeles
