How to Buy a Designer Purse for Less

All women want to have a great looking purse, but in today's economy the price tag can be a little daunting! Ladies, never fear! Whether you are looking for Coach, Dulce & Gabbana, Gucci, or Louis Vuitton, with a little bit of knowledge you can have the purse of your dreams at the price of your dreams, too!

Shop Outlet Malls

Shopping at Outlet Malls is one of the best ways to get a great deal on a name brand purse! Simply type the name of the brand you are looking for and your local area into your favorite search engine, and voila! you have the location of your favorite purse at a price you can afford. Why do these outlet stores sell name brands at such ridiculous rates? When a store has inventory it needs to sell, it ships the excess items to an outlet store. Many of these items are discontinued or have only one or two colors or styles available. Sometimes items are returns and occasionally damaged.

In Ohio, Coach has an outlet store at the Prime Outlet Mall in Jeffersonville, just outside of Cincinnati. Prices are already 40-50% of what you would find at a regular Coach retailer. But the big kicker is during the day, sales people stand outside giving out coupons for number of different percents off (depending on the day and the current promotion). With these added benefits, you can rack up some serious savings!

Browse Flea Markets

Flea markets are a great place to find deals on designer purses. Any flea market with a history of repeat vendors should have at least one of two decent purse booths! I have never yet visited a good flea market or trade show that did not have a purse booth geared toward the ladies of the crowd! Because you are at a flea market, prices are expected to be below resale and you can often times find a great deal. The vendors generally buy their items in bulk, so they get a great savings that they pass on to you! Spring and summer are the busiest flea market seasons, but some indoor flea markets are open year round. These flea markets especially should have vendors who come every week, and may even advertise vendors ahead of time so you can find exactly who you are looking for.

Don't Knock the Knock-Offs

Sometimes you just can't find a good store that offers a name-brand purse near your budget price. In that cause, consider buying a purse that looks like the designer you desperately crave. Look-a-like purses are often 80-90% less than designer retail prices, and most times people won't even know the difference!

I was recently approached by a sales lady at Home Depot who said, "Oh my gosh! What a gorgeous purse! I've never seen anything that beautiful color!" When she saw my Dolce & Gabbana emblem she stopped in her tracks. "Well no wonder," she marveled. "That's a $1,000 purse!" I didn't have the heart to tell her I paid $35 at my local tanning salon. I was too excited that she thought I could afford a $1,000 purse!