This Coach factory store has such a boutique/retail store feel now that it is all remodeled w/ new wall art + plants +cushy furniture & rugs + other furnishings. I love it! The staff is really willing and eager to help you too. I was constantly asking them for more colors/styles, and they were glad to help me look in the drawers & in the back for additional inventory.
ONE STAR: Variety
You can find something for any woman (maybe not every man, though) here, and at so many different price points. They sell keychains for around $17 to wallets for $99 to purses ranging from $100- about $500. As opposed to higher-end luxury brands, this Coach outlet offers a wide variety of styles & items like:
WOMENS
-contact lens & pill cases
-wallets
-clutch wallets
-umbrellas
-iPhone 4/5 cases
-perfume
-scarves
-shoes
-PURSES OF COURSE :)
-scarves
-outerwear
-backpacks
-jewelry
-keychains/charms
-passport cases
-jewelry boxes
-belts
MENS
-wallets
-universal travel adapter
-messenger bags
-crossbody bags
-USB thumbdrive
-backpacks
-belts
ONE STAR: Pricing
This week, they were having a 50% off sale in their entire store and many items were already marked down (except the items from the retail store were just full price + discount). The shelves towards the register were a 30% off + 50% off which made a lot of purses such bargain buys for this brand.
ONE STAR: Friendly & helpful SAs
The sales associates who work here are smiling, complimenting, polite & professional. I never feel "judged." They work hard and every time I come, I always ask stuff like, "Do you have this in brown or black? Does this come in a different color trim? How much is this? Do you have more of these? Do you have these shoes in a different size?" and of course, my signature question is, "Does this purse have a matching wallet?" Yes. I'm one of those shoppers. No one has gotten annoyed at me so far (that I can tell, haha) and have answered all my questions.
ONE STAR: Proximity to parking lot
If you're a shopaholic, this is key. You want this store as close to the parking lot as possible, because the last thing you want to do is lug all your heavy purchases through the entire mall and to your car! I'm definitely giving this store 1 star for its location in the outlet. San Ysidro, not so much...
ONE STAR: Quality
Who doesn't love a Louis, Gucci, Prada, or Chanel, but Coach is the most accessible designer brand for the average American woman. I like Michael Kors, don't get me wrong, but Coach has an enormous variety of new prints/different materials/range of price points that it's hard to say no to all of them, and it only takes 1 bag to hook you in! For me, it was a Coach Hampton Patchwork shoulder bag that got me, years ago. Ever since then, I've been a victim to a lot of their simple, yet functional styles. I have a small collection now, and I've found their quality to be excellent.
HOWEVER- that being said, beware of the Coach purses made JUST FOR THE FACTORY/OUTLET stores. One way you can distinguish the retail bags from the outlet bags is the retail bags are usually in a separate section in this store and may come with dust bags. Another way to tell is sometimes there's an "F" following a dash in the serial number of the bag, indicating that that particular bag was designed specifically for the outlet, which you don't want, b/c I find the quality is markedly different in those styles. In addition, the resale value of your purse will be significantly lower.
***SHOPPING TIPS FROM ONE SHOPAHOLIC to ANOTHER (Yes, you! Don't deny it. Why are you still reading this, then, huh?)***
-Too far for you to drive, but still want to check out the styles on sale? Buy on CoachFactory.com (the official Coach Outlet website)
-Definitely buy what you want in a certain collection. Get the matching wallet/keychain/shoes/whatever other accessory to your purse if you can find it. Coach changes styles & materials often, and if you want to get the matching wallet later, it will be very difficult to find, especially if you want it new. So buy what you want, and you can always return the items at any retail/outlet store :) Get it before it's gone, I'm serious. Otherwise, you may suffer from reverse buyer's remorse. It's a real thing I promise.
- Buy the PEYTON styles if you want a long lasting and durable bag. The PEYTON collection uses a type of coated canvas/saffiano leather material similar to that used in the classic Louis Vuitton monogram purses, which will last you like a decade (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/coach-outlet-san-ysidro?select=HE0Tk9VB-Jiurt6yB0sHww#3iav1RbYcSwqzLO0dADc9A). I'd stay with a leather style, at least, and avoid the cloth/regular canvas type of bags which can get dirty easily and can get snagged 0_0
-My top pick: Madison Lindsey satchel (many colors/materials & convertible too! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/coach-outlet-san-ysidro?select=HE0Tk priced at ~$300) & the Peyton clover phone case & wallet (2 in 1 baby! priced at $4 read more