Early last week we wrote about Chanel raising their prices 30% this coming month. Due to the world’s financial whirlwind and retail downtrend the company apparently decided not to be so hasty. Many Chanel experts explain the Walmart-type rollback to the weakening Euro, which is down about 20% since highs in July.
This about face has caused mass confusion among Chanel fans. And the trouble is that shoppers are not the only ones confused. Even sales experts can’t agree about what the double C icon is doing with their pricing.
Mad-Spy fan and Chanel customer:
Med/Large Caviar: $2,350 –> $2,495 (up 3%)
Med/large Lambskin: $2,495 –> $2,695 (up 8%)
Jumbo caviar: $2,650 –> $2,675 (up 1%)
Jumbo lambskin: $2,850 –> $2,875 (up 1%)
Reissues:
225: will go up 11%
226: will go up 4%
227: will go up 9% ($2,850 –> $3,095)
Madison Avenue Chanel
Betsy 212-535-5505
Chanel Classic Jumbo Flap Caviar is $2650 and will be $3000. The increase was going to be 30% and then they lowered it. You should, of course, come in and buy it now. (We say: But of course!)
Soho Chanel
Erma Store Director 212-334-0055
The Jumbo Caviar is not going up in price and the medium is going up like $100. We are told that the 2.55s will be going up in price as they receive them for next season. However, the cruise collection of bags is actually going down because of the strengthening dollar.
N15 @ 57th St. Chanel
Ermam 212-355-5050
The Jumbo Caviar is $2650 and Nov 1 it’s still going to be the same price. The 2.55s are going up a bit more around $100 to $200.
Ermam rattles off the same story as our Soho Chanel store managers, “There was going to be a bigger increase but with the strength of the dollar they decided not to move forward.”
Saks
Elmira 212-940-4347
“They [Chanel] said that it [the increase] will be about 20% in November.” Saks doesn’t have the new price sheet for the cruise collection but the Jumbo Classic Flap in patent leather will be $3000. The 2.55 that is $2695 will be $2995.
Bergdorf Goodman
Barbara 212- 872-2858
“The Jumbo is not going up in price and is staying at $2650.” The medium lambskin and caviar are going up a bit. The 2.55, which $2695 is going to be $150 more.
Bloomingdales
212-705-2856
Call and put on hold for over 5 minutes.
Call again and put on hold for 5 more minutes.
Call again. No answer.
Call again. No answer.
Call again. No answer.
Call again. No answer.
Nobody ever shopped in Bloomingdales for their great customer service.
Photo Credit: China Doll Stuff The picture was too cute to resist.