Whether it’s the quality workmanship or trendy designs almost every woman desires to own a Coach purse. Over the last several years the brand Coach has been the most popular designer when it comes to handbags. Unfortunately, the poor economy has forced the average woman to cut back on discretionary spending, often times this includes high priced designer clothing and accessories. This in turn has significantly increased the demand for discounted designer items. Let’s face it, most woman aren’t going to stop buying designer items altogether, but instead will seek out places where they can buy discount Coach Bags and other designer goods for cheaper prices. eBay and Coach Outlet Stores are two popular places that these smart shoppers frequent.

Customers anxious to find a cheap price on their next coach handbag often turn to the Outlet Stores. You can usually find a location near most large cities in the US. It is a known fact that the Coach Outlets do offer discounts, but there are some potential pitfalls to shopping at these stores. If you have to drive a long distance to reach one of their locations you may want to consider giving it a second thought.

Based on my experiences, the outlet stores feature older styles with not much of a variety to pick from. Remember, a lot of the styles sold in these stores didn’t do well in the retail stores. What does that tell you? I also noticed that the discounts that were being offered weren’t that major. Due to these factors and more, shoppers are always on the look out for other places to save on Coach items.

The top destination for saving the most on designer handbags is eBay. You may not know this, but designer handbags are one of the hottest selling categories on eBay. That’s because they host the largest selection of designer handbags at marked down prices. They also offer the added advantage of having the option to buy used coach bags, which can save you up to 95%. If you know how to properly clean and restore a purse this may be a great alternative for you. You can also purchase slightly used handbags that have only been worn a handful of times, most of these items look brand new with discounts up to 75%. As far as buying new coach bags go, you should be able to find discounts in the range of 25 – 65%. EBay is free and easy to use. There is a wealth of information online which covers the INS and OUTS of using their service to save big on just about anything, including coach purses.

When shopping at eBay its a good idea to take a few precautionary steps to verify that the coach purse you are considering buying is really authentic and not a replica. Odds are you have nothing to worry about, but take a few minutes just to confirm that that bag is really authentic. If you are new to verifying authenticity then just perform a search online using the phrase “verify coach authenticity at ebay” and several articles will be returned covering this topic.

EBay has a very strict policy against people trying to sell replicas. If a seller is caught selling fake designer handbags their account is immediately shut down and they are banned from using the site. EBay has gone to great lengths at removing most of these thieves; however, there is a slight chance that you could come across one of these replica bags. So before you decide to purchase a designer handbag it’s suggested that you take the time to verify it’s authenticity by reviewing the pictures included within the auction listing.

The most important step you can take to ensure that you will always have a positive experience on eBay is reviewing the “seller feedback” rating. If you are having a difficult time verifying the authenticity of a purse than this can be your second line of defense. I wouldnt suggest purchasing a high ticket item from anyone that has less than 35 reviews and a positive feedback score less than 98%. Most reputable sellers wouldnt risk having their feedback score damaged by selling someone a replica.

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.