Thoughts on this Coach Bag

Hey everyone, I'm in the market to upgrade my current everyday work bag. I really think I like this Coach bag, but I'm looking get some advice from the SF experts. What do you think about this bag:


It's called the Coach Transatlantic Large Commuter. Here is a link to the website:

http://www.coach.com/online/handbags...&tier=2&LOC=LN

Any comments are appreciated.

Originally Posted by norymeoreason41

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Hey everyone, I'm in the market to upgrade my current everyday work bag. I really think I like this Coach bag, but I'm looking get some advice from the SF experts. What do you think about this bag:

It's called the Coach Transatlantic Large Commuter. Here is a link to the website:

http://www.coach.com/online/handbags...&tier=2&LOC=LN

Any comments are appreciated.

Not bad, certaintely not the best option, but if you ditch the strap it is ok. I would perfer a Tusting, or an SAB though.

I have the version of this bag from about 2 years ago - it has changed slightly. I like it because it effectively straddles the line between a real briefcase and a more casual everyday bag. So if I'm wearing a suit and going to court, I carry it by the handles and it works very well. But on other days I use the shoulder strap and wear it crosswise like a messenger bag.

I also like the configuration. I find the pocket layout very handy for a book, papers, blackberry, iphone, sunglasses, earphones, pens, etc.

However, the leather is not the best quality. Not awful, but not great. I like the way the bag is aging in general but it has appeared to lose a bit of color where the bag rubs against my body (belt = offender?) and at the bottom corners. I guess given the looks that I really like, the layout, and the quality, I would say that it it just barely worth the $500, but I am sure others who are more knowledgeable will have other ideas.

Originally Posted by viator

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I have the version of this bag from about 2 years ago - it has changed slightly. I like it because it effectively straddles the line between a real briefcase and a more casual everyday bag. So if I'm wearing a suit and going to court, I carry it by the handles and it works very well. But on other days I use the shoulder strap and wear it crosswise like a messenger bag.

I also like the configuration. I find the pocket layout very handy for a book, papers, blackberry, iphone, sunglasses, earphones, pens, etc.

However, the leather is not the best quality. Not awful, but not great. I like the way the bag is aging in general but it has appeared to lose a bit of color where the bag rubs against my body (belt = offender?) and at the bottom corners. I guess given the looks that I really like, the layout, and the quality, I would say that it it just barely worth the $500, but I am sure others who are more knowledgeable will have other ideas.

Oh, your comment about the leather worries me. $500 is about the max I would want to spend, but I want the best "bang for the buck."

Any other suggestions for something similar?

Originally Posted by norymeoreason41

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Oh, your comment about the leather worries me. $500 is about the max I would want to spend, but I want the best "bang for the buck."

Any other suggestions for something similar?

I would look into Tusting.

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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I would look into Tusting.

I'm browsing online. Nice looking stuff. Any preferred vendor in the US?

it's OK.

I have the much older, made in the USA version of that exact same-look bag from Coach.

Originally Posted by norymeoreason41

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I'm browsing online. Nice looking stuff. Any preferred vendor in the US?

I bought straight from them. They can send you swatches and such too.

I like my Hartmann, the Coach is nice as well.

One of my close friends bought one and I consider it a pretty solid bag for the price. Honestly you can't compare it to $2500 bags seen around this forum.

Here's a (terrible iphone) photo of one of the top corners. I should note that the photo exaggerates the issue. It's really not as noticeable in real life

I misspoke earlier. I've had this bag for about a year as I returned two earlier ones for replacement that exhibited this same problem. Maybe I am being too harsh, but for $500 I wouldn't expect this to happen. The bag gets lexol or other conditioner every few months.

Other than that, though, I am happy with it.

For $500, how about the M&W traveler? Leather from Horween; should age beautifully.

When did Coach move their production abroad, and did that correspond with an overnight decrease in quality?

I have a coach dowel brief from about seventeen or eighteen years ago. I don't use it much anymore, but both the leather and the workmanship have held up to almost two decades of horrible abuse.

Not bad looking, but I think you could do better.

-LR

http://usa.hermes.com/webapp/wcs/sto...56621&nbItem=0

obviously