# Brands that used to be prestigious, and now are cheap **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900 "2012-09-16T17:35:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/21 "2012-09-17T02:16:12Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Coach has been downmarket for years. When you regularly see mulleted fat women carrying (ugly fabric logo) Coach bags while wearing their Patriots Starter jackets, well… > > Ah, for the days when Coach made fine leather goods, as opposed to mediocre leather trim crap. I used to have an absolutely lovely tobacco colored leather Coach bag. It was beautifully made and I adored it. I carried it for years, because it looked great for years. When I went to replace it, Coach was like a different place. I definitely didn’t want a fabric bag with huge buckles that said COACH COACH COACH all over it. We had to break up. ---
**Author:** ![Leonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/22 "2012-09-17T02:25:06Z")
About 20 years ago I had a SOG knife that was one of the best I’ve ever had. I bought one of their knives a couple of months ago and it already has a bent clip and a loose blade. The quality is not even in the same league. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/23 "2012-09-17T02:38:58Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > I used to have an absolutely lovely tobacco colored leather Coach bag. It was beautifully made and I adored it. I carried it for years, because it looked great for years. When I went to replace it, Coach was like a different place. I definitely didn’t want a fabric bag with huge buckles that said COACH COACH COACH all over it. We had to break up. FWIW the outlet store is shitty, but if you go to an actual Coach store there products are still high quality leather goods - no hideous letter bags. The difference between bags from each is basically like different brands. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/24 "2012-09-17T02:40:23Z")
Bud Ice was initially marketed as a premium beer, including sponsoring the NHL. Now, it is a discount beer found next to the college beers. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/25 "2012-09-17T02:40:35Z")
I’ll agree with the nomination of Coach. It’s just expensive enough to be sold in department stores, but really not expensive enough that every woman who can throw away $150 on a purse doesn’t have at least one. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/26 "2012-09-17T03:07:36Z")
Pyrex used to be made out of borosilicate glass, now it’s just tempered glass. But its quality still seems very good, I hit a bowl while chopping some bones and it only got a barely visible chip, the knife got dented. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/27 "2012-09-17T03:22:59Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Coach has been downmarket for years. When you regularly see mulleted fat women carrying (ugly fabric logo) Coach bags while wearing their Patriots Starter jackets, well… > > . Because we all know \*fat \*women cant be fashionable…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/28 "2012-09-17T03:28:38Z")
Gilligan & O’Malley lingerie and sleepwear used to be a top brand. Now found at Target. ---
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/29 "2012-09-17T03:35:54Z")
> [@FrancisCastle](#): > > Airwalk shoes. When I was in grade school, my mom bought me a pair for $80!! Now I can pick them up at Payless for around $20. Yes, in the late 90s, they weren’t cheap and I loved them. Probably $50 or more for any that I bought then. Now, I can’t even find them. And when I do, they’re nothing like I remember (cheap and low quality), might as well go to Wal-Mart and get generics as compared to them. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/30 "2012-09-17T03:39:44Z")
Remember when Godiva Chocolates used to be sold at exactly two places in the United States (one of which was South Coast Plaza)? Now they are in freaking Walgreens. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/31 "2012-09-17T03:49:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Because we all know \*fat \*women cant be fashionable…:rolleyes: Of course they can, just not in a Patriots jacket carrying a tacky-ass purse while sporting a mullet. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/32 "2012-09-17T03:51:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Because we all know \*fat \*women cant be fashionable…:rolleyes: I don’t think that’s what she meant. She was just painting a picture, and I see what she means…a certain kind of dumpy walmart style that some chunky women who aren’t very fashion conscious wear. There is a skinny version of non-stylish too, but that isn’t the picture she was expressing at the moment. I am here to defend Coach. Coach used to be very exclusive, (and expensive!) but they did ‘sell out’ so to speak…becoming more affordable. I don’t think they ever started making crap though…Macy’s still carries very nice, soft leather bags (as does the Coach store). Full leather, not just leather trim. You can find the leather trim bags, but those will more likely be found at Marshall’s or some other outlet. Even the leather trim bags (which I don’t like) aren’t crap though. The whole “Coach” logo all over the place is seen as obscene and gauche, I know, but it really isn’t any different than what Louis Vuitton and others do on their very highend stuff. It’s just that there is a section of society where having brazen logos can be seen as trying way too hard, so you are judged harshly. If you are rich, that danger becomes less, and you can get away with it. In other words, Elizabeth Taylor could drip in diamonds and not be scene as vulgar, but if a woman who hits the lotto does it, she will be looked down on. Interesting to me to watch that sort of thing. Anyway, I just want to say, as the owner of exactly one classic black leather Coach bag that I have had for about 13 years, they are still well made, very nice bags. They are definitely not on the level they used to be though; I agree with that. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/33 "2012-09-17T04:00:09Z")
Gerber knives. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/34 "2012-09-17T04:38:51Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Anyway, I just want to say, as the owner of exactly one classic black leather Coach bag that I have had for about 13 years, they are still well made, very nice bags. They are definitely not on the level they used to be though; I agree with that. I with you - I’m getting this one for my birthday: [http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/-handbags\_feature\_legacy-10551-10051-5000000000000305805-en?t1Id=62&t2Id=5000000000000305805&tier=2&LOC=LN#113090](http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/-handbags_feature_legacy-10551-10051-5000000000000305805-en?t1Id=62&t2Id=5000000000000305805&tier=2&LOC=LN#113090) it’s…delightful. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/35 "2012-09-17T04:46:47Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Of course they can, just not in a Patriots jacket carrying a tacky-ass purse while sporting a mullet. Then why mention fat? Cant a skinny woman be wearing the same jacket with the same hairstyle? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/36 "2012-09-17T04:52:11Z")
Why mention that she was a woman? Or that she had hair, or liked the Patriots? ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/37 "2012-09-17T10:02:43Z")
Hunter wellies. Once made famous by Princess Diana, they were THE wellies to be seen wearing, they were helluva expensive too. They are still expensive ~ €100 a pair, but the quality of them had gone downhill, apparently they were made in Scotland originally (and one pair lasted you an adult lifetime) now they’re made somewhere else and fall to bits or spring leaks within hours/days/weeks. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/38 "2012-09-17T10:19:03Z")
> [@Lucky\_13](#): > > I remember when Burberry was a prestige brand, and only fashionable people wore a Burberry raincoat or scarf. I vaguely remember reading something a few years ago about how Burberry’s status had declined because British folks with more money than class had been wearing Burberry clothing all over the place. UK Dopers, can you elaborate on this? I’m not sure it fits exactly with the OP, because Burberry is still VERY expensive, but the Burberry check certainly suffered an identity crisis, thanks in large part to fake copies appearing. The combination of [people with more money than taste draping themselves in Burberry check](http://leblow.co.uk/oh-boy-riri-and-the-rise-of-the-monogram-trend/ex-soap-star-daniella-westbrook-seen-out-in-londons-trendy-bond-street-london-uk/), alongside the brand becoming a popular part of [gang/yoof culture](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=burberry+chav&rlz=1C1CHFA_enGB485GB485&aq=f&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D14&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=8_hWUNT5GKqb0QXNxoCYBw&biw=1354&bih=1319&sei=9fhWUPetItCa0QX_koG4BQ) led to a partial downfall in its cred. The brand has worked hard to overcome this and in itself is still very upmarket. It downplays the Burberry check these days. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/39 "2012-09-17T11:01:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Then why mention fat? To give you something to rage about. I was worried you were having a dull evening. Nzinga, Coach does still make some beautiful leather bags, but IMO they’ve profoundly diluted the brand with all the fabric logo stuff. To be fair, the same applies to Dooney and a few other brands that decided to start marketing brightly colored, poorly made, obscenely expensive (relative to quality) purses to fourteen year olds. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900/40 "2012-09-17T11:15:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Then why mention fat? Cant a skinny woman be wearing the same jacket with the same hairstyle? But then you need to include the meth descriptors. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brands-that-used-to-be-prestigious-and-now-are-cheap/634900.md?page=3)