Comments on: In the News: Retailers Limit Purchases of Designer Handbags

By: Underwear

Underwear — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:46:26 +0000

i’ve had a busy couple of weeks, so i’m glad to just sit at home and lounge this weekend =) Twitter: Sanderlees

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:11:11 +0000

i think it’s funny that these luxury brands (gucci, louis vuitton, etc) are seeing foreign customers (resellers) as the problem instead of seeing their own prices in foreign countries as the problem.

customers aren’t stupid.

if you sell the SAME item at a ridiculously higher price in europe/asia, can you expect those people in europe/asia to just accept your higher price when they could simply travel to the states and buy the same thing at a lower price? and of course they would want to buy more than 1 item so that they could resell those extra items – the “profit” would certainly help to cover some of their travel expenses (i have a friend who does this and she’s just another fashion victim that these brands helped to create). anyway, i think it makes sense for people to do so.

capitalism and freedom of choice should allow people to buy whatever they can afford. wherever they choose to buy it. let’s face it. these are LUXURY items. i don’t think rich americans are complaining about the price, and i don’t think poor americans care about the price of these items at all.

By: CoCo

CoCo — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:08:37 +0000

BINGO! I was wondering why they only limited uggs to 4 per household. I thought it was stop the ebay sellers but I see as well the problem is the weak dollar and re- selling overseas. I know Sample Sales are starting to say “NO EBAY SELLERS” Sample Sales are probably a gold mine for foreign shoppers and re-sellers! This is not good for the Young Broke and Fabulous American.

By: Purse-N-Boots

Purse-N-Boots — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:52:41 +0000

There were limits on bag purchases before the dollar started to weaken. But it was aimed at preventing the same thing, the gray market. However, I don’t think the gray market would result in lower prices on designer bags, at least not in the US. The handbags are selling at US prices, people are just using different currencies instead of buying in their own country. It seems there is is 20-40% price difference from the US to other countries in Europe and Asia. How much would someone have to save to make it worth it? 10% after travel expenses? As long as the price difference pays for the trip as well it sounds like a GREAT idea to travel to me! These international shoppers are coming to the US and boosting our economy as well. They need plane tickets, a hotel, a car, food, gas, etc. I would love to see the numbers on the additional purchases the international customer are making while here shopping for bags. The weak dollar has been a good thing for our economy by keeping exports high so that we don’t drop even lower. Its very complex and thats my two cents

By: jennifer

jennifer — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:45:00 +0000

Does this have to do with them limiting the amount of ugg boots people can buy? Many sites and their stores (nordstroms, uggs australia, etc..) are saying that you can’t buy more than 4 per household!
Just curious.

By: Bitten

Bitten — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:49:18 +0000

Actually Karolynka, you can purchase from these sites and use a service like ‘International Checkout’ or ‘Shop Any American Store’ to ship the item to you for a cost. Just a thought.

I agree shopping in American currency does seem good at the moment. In Australia, the prices for luxury designer goods are finally starting to settle, at last!!

By: stephanie

stephanie — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:30:27 +0000

wow, really facinating! knowing this, i’m very surprised it took the premium designer brands to respond. R&D should have caught on eons ago!

By: karolynka

karolynka — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:51:24 +0000

it’s undoubtely true. i spent 4 months in florida (amazing!!!) last year and everything was so *cheap* to me and my other european friends..here life is very expensive and wages are not proportioned..the situation is very bad here too..as for the shopping.. i’m from italy and sometimes i’d just fly to the states for a weekend of wild shopping..too bad saks or nm don’t ship internationally…

By: lisa

lisa — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:55:58 +0000

That was a really interesting article- I thought those online bag quotas were strictly to keep people from reselling on ebay- it never occurred to me it had to do with the weak US dollar. its a shame that American shoppers will suffer the consequences and see ridiculous price increases. Its also interesting to think about how difficult it is for the luxury retailers to protect their brand, even if it means limiting retail sales in order to keep the products from being resold. I thought fakes were the biggest obstacle to protecting the brand, I never figured that reselling would also be a problem.

By: babe

babe — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:47:52 +0000

I think they limit quantity of per customer can purchase is not how many bags we can afford or need but because of “gray market”. Since US dollar is getting weaker and for further prediction, US dollar will be even weaker in 2008, travelers will be more than happy to shop in states to purchase THREE bags and re-sell in their own countries. I think that is the matter!! And of course none of luxury brands will want to take this risk to see the value of their products has reduced. So, guess that might be the reason.