Evidence that clothing at outlets/off-price retailers are not the same

[virgode]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I've noticed a trend among some retailers, like Coach and Dooney & Burke, toward setting up "outlet" sites online, to clear out their unsold post-clearance-sale items. You can get Coach handbags on their outlet site for $25-$40. So this raises the question: what are they selling at the Coach outlet stores? There's one in my town, and I've noticed that some of the items there are not of the same quality as the "regular" Coach items. Some of the items are of the same quality, though. I don't know why they'd pay for a bring-and-mortar location, if it were competing with their online post-clearance "outlet", so they must be using their outlet stores to sell a cheaper/lower-quality line. That's all I can figure.

Not sure if still true of Coach;
flawed bags had a tiny circle within a circle ( like a tiny bullseye ) above creed and serial number those bags go to outlet.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by emm74

It's not some secret that clothing is specifically produced for outlet stores and is different than the brand name stuff intended to be sold for full retail. You don't have to sleuth to find evidence.

Having said that, some off price stores that are associated with full line retailers - Nordstrom Rack for example - do carry a certain amount of clearance items from the full line stores. But it's a small percentage, IIRC, it was about 10-20%. The rest is purchased specifically for the outlet stores.

Right! Outlets were traditionally a place for retailers to sell goods that didn't fly off the shelves last season, get rid of overstock, or sell off factory seconds.
But now, many retailers are manufacturing specific lines of products for their outlet shops which may not be the quality consumers expect from higher-end brands.
Outlet stores are configured to try and nicely mislead most people into thinking they're getting amazing overruns, amazing bargains, but while a certain percentage of the inventory may be clearance merchandise from the regular retail store, the majority of products were made for the outlets. That means stuff is largely made just to be sold cheaply - made with less durable leathers and different fabrics than the comparable products sold at the retail stores. Indicators are differences between labels on retail and outlet products, overall hardware and/or simpler hardware, may not have an exterior pocket, or may have a narrower gusset, may have a simpler (non-branded) lining, etc...etc...

If you're unsure whether the store sells 'made-for-outlet' only merchandise or how to tell the difference between it and regular retail merchandise for sale, ask the staff or check here:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/20...r-moneys-worth
When is a sale really a sale? Some bargains are not the real deal - Marketplace - CBC News

and here:
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/life...outlet-stores/