Coach and Other Purse Knockoffs in New York City

My sister, Linda, and her daughter, Tori, had heard rumors. They were in New York City for a week to see some Broadway shows and do all the normal touristy things. But most of all, they were there to shop.  According to rumor, diminutive Chinese women stand on the sidewalk in front of their shops in Chinatown, whispering furtively to passers by, offering to sell brand-name purse knockoffs.

Hoping for the best, they walked around Chinatown, slowing their pace and listening very closely whenever they passed a shopkeeper lingering on the pavement. Once, twice, three times their hopes were dashed. Just another rumor with no substance, they decided. They were headed back to the hotel when Tori stopped in her tracks.

“Did you hear that?”she asked her mother? “I’m sure that woman whispered the word purse.”

“Purse?” the woman whispered again. They turned and made eye contact. “Coach purse?” a little louder this time. Linda nodded. With a slight head tilt of her head, the woman motioned for them to follow her. Without another word, she led them through two interconnected stores. In the rear of the second store she stopped at a blank wall and pressed a cleverly hidden button. A hidden door flew open to reveal an enormous room filled with purse knockoffs of Coach, Louis Vuitton, and other brand name handbags.

Half an hour later they retraced their steps to the street, laden down with four purses and a tote bag that looked like the real thing, yet had cost only $100 total. “I think I died and went to heaven,” said Linda. Chinese purse heaven. Only in New York City.

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18 thoughts on “Coach and Other Purse Knockoffs in New York City”

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  4. This is terrible. If you only knew what really went on behind the scenes to make these knock-off bags. Not only that, how would you feel if you designed something and someone you do not know hires people to knock it off and make money off of? You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself to support such an industry. You might as well be promoting animal abuse.

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  5. Yes, this is true, but when I was in NYC with my son’s senior class March 16-20, the police were patroling heavily so we were unable to get into the back rooms. I did get a couple of nice bags but they had G’s on them instead of C’s for Coach. I really wanted Prada but none were to be found. Then a couple of weeks later I heard that a local school was allowed into the back rooms and got gorgeous Coach bags. I was totally jealous!

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  6. Good article. I’ve bookmarked this blog so I can follow your follow-ups. Thanks for taking the energy to share this.

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  7. I’ve been looking around Knockoff Coach Purses in New York City and actually am impressed by the awesome content here. I work the night shift at my job and it is so boring. I have been coming here for the previous couple nights and reading. I just wanted to let you know that I have been enjoying what I’ve seen and I look forward to reading more.

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  8. You sure are bag/shoe addict. lolz. And I must say,those are really cheap yet fancy bags you got from the Chinatown. Nice nice! Really good deal.

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  9. A lot has been written about the knock offs in Chinatown and how to stop it…That the purses are made in sweatshops by children…The designers believe that they are losing money by women buying in Chinatown. Anyone that would buy a purse in Chinatown wouldn’t buy the designer bag in a retail store.

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  10. Pingback: Knock-Off purses in the streets of New York | Fabulous After 40
  11. Thanks for this interesting article. If you are after knock-offs then it looks like this place is a way to go. Thanks again for sharing, interesting story.

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  12. I have mixed feelings about knock-offs. They can be a great souvenir of a fun shopping adventure, like your sister’s story. But I enjoy a high-quality product and I don’t mind spending money on a designer item if it’s going to last me a long time.
    .-= Stephanie´s last blog ..It’s been a heck of a year =-.

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