Unlocking the Secrets of Costco's Black Friday Handbag Deals

Unlocking the Secrets of Costco's Black Friday Handbag Deals

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I’ve been quietly tracking Costco’s Black Friday handbag deals for the past few years, and when I say there’s a strategy to it, I’m not exaggerating. The markdown patterns, the timing, even how fast certain brands vanish from the warehouse floor — it’s almost like a sport.

This isn’t a list of random “omg best deals!!” hype. I’m going to walk you through how I actually shop these handbag deals, what’s worth it (and what isn’t), and how Costco’s model lets them undercut department stores on bags from brands like Coach, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade.

How Costco Even Gets Designer Handbags (Without Being Fake)

When I first saw a stack of Marc Jacobs totes sitting next to a tower of toilet paper, I was suspicious. So I dug in.

Costco’s model is all about:

• Limited SKUs (around 3,700 vs 100,000+ at a typical supermarket, according to Costco’s 2023 annual report)
• High volume
• Low margins (they famously make most of their profit from the membership fees, not the merchandise)

That means when they bring in handbags, they’re usually:

• Overstock or off-season styles from major brands
• Special “for outlet/warehouse” lines made for off-price channels

Retail analysts like Steven Dennis (former Neiman Marcus exec) and reports from The Wall Street Journal have discussed for years how brands quietly move excess inventory through wholesale and off-price partners rather than discounting heavily in their own stores.

So when you see a Michael Kors leather crossbody for 40–60% below the MSRP at Costco, it’s usually legit — just not the brand’s newest launch.

In my experience, the handbags I’ve bought there have checked out in terms of stitching, hardware, and materials, but I always do a quick authenticity sanity check:

• Metal logo is clean, not peeling or rough around the edges
• Zippers are smooth and branded properly
• Lining is neatly sewn, no ripples or loose threads

I’ve compared one Costco Coach tote to the same model at a Coach outlet and couldn’t spot any meaningful difference besides the price tag.

When the Real Savings Hit: Black Friday Timing

Costco doesn’t just flip a switch on Black Friday and suddenly dump all the handbags. The real secret is the timeline.

From watching this for several years, here’s how it usually plays out:

1. Early November: The Quiet Handbag Drop

Around the first or second week of November, I start seeing pallets of handbags appear:

• Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, sometimes Guess or DKNY
• Prices already 30–50% below MSRP

The 2023 Black Friday Savings Book (Costco US) showed handbag deals starting as early as Nov. 13, even though the "Black Friday" banner was focused on electronics.

This is when I do my first scouting mission. I don’t always buy yet, but I:

• Snap photos of tags and item numbers
• Check online at Costco.com to compare prices
• Note which brands are going fast

2. Black Friday Week: The Stealth Markdowns

Here’s where it gets fun.

When I tested this in 2022 and 2023, I noticed a pattern: a few styles get extra unadvertised markdowns the week of Black Friday.

You won’t always see giant “BLACK FRIDAY” signs. Instead, you’ll find:

• Price tags ending in .97 – a long-known Costco clue that it’s a manager markdown
• Executive savings or promo lines in small print on the price card
• Occasional instant savings listed in the app or online that match what you see in-store

One example from my own cart history:

• Michael Kors pebbled leather tote – MSRP $348
• Early November at Costco: $159.99
• Black Friday week: dropped to $129.97 in-store (unadvertised)

That extra $30 made the difference between “cute, but I’ll think about it” and “okay, she’s coming home with me.”

3. The Weekend After: Clearance Roulette

If something doesn’t move as fast, I’ve seen prices get even more aggressive the weekend after Black Friday — but inventory is very hit or miss.

One year I gambled on a Kate Spade backpack I’d been eyeing. I waited until the Sunday after Thanksgiving:

• Original Costco price: $149.99
• Sunday price: $119.97
• Inventory: down to two pieces, one with a tiny scuff on the base

I bought it anyway and still use it as my “travel and don’t baby it” bag.

That’s the tradeoff: waiting can save you another 10–20%, but you risk your favorite color or style disappearing.

What Kinds of Handbags Costco Actually Discounts

Not every bag at Costco is a unicorn-level deal. When I combed through several seasons of deals (and irritated my friends by texting them price photos), patterns popped up.

• Mid-range designers: Michael Kors, Coach, Kate Spade New York
• Contemporary brands: Calvin Klein, DKNY, Guess
• Travel & utility: Samsonite, High Sierra, Travelon anti-theft crossbodies
• Leather totes & crossbodies: especially pebbled leather styles in neutrals

What I rarely see genuinely worth chasing:

• No-name “fashion bags” with made-up brand names
• Ultra-trendy designs that look suspiciously like dupes of current luxury styles

I’ve tested a couple of those mystery-brand bags and honestly, they looked cute for a month… then the straps started cracking. For the same money, a slightly older-season Coach or Calvin Klein is usually the smarter buy.

How to Spot a True Deal (Not Just a Shiny Price Tag)

I lean a bit obsessive about this, but it pays off. When I’m standing in the aisle debating a handbag, here’s the quick mental checklist I run:

1. Compare to Real-World Prices

I pull out my phone (yes, right there by the pallets) and check:

• Brand’s official site
• Department stores like Macy’s or Nordstrom Rack
• Outlet pricing if I can find it

For example, in 2023, a Coach city tote I saw at Costco for $139.99 was listed at:

• Coach Outlet site: $175 “on sale” from $350
• Macy’s: similar style around $199 on promo

That’s when I know Costco’s price is actually strong, not just “marked down from a fake MSRP.”

2. Look at Materials, Not Just Brand

In my experience, Costco does a decent job labeling materials, but I still watch for:

• Genuine leather vs “PU leather” or “vegan leather”
• Lining quality (thin, crinkly polyester can be a red flag)
• Handle and strap attachment points (weak spots tear first)

One Black Friday I passed on a gorgeous-looking “leather” tote after reading the tiny line: “Polyurethane with leather trim.” The same day, I grabbed a less flashy, full-grain leather Calvin Klein crossbody for the same price. No regrets.

3. Check the Return & Warranty Angle

Costco’s return policy is famously generous, and that absolutely applies to handbags. Their official policy (as of 2024) allows returns on most non-electronic items without a strict time limit, though abusing it is… not a good look.

For handbags, that means:

• You can bring it home, test real-life usage
• Load it up with your laptop, water bottle, kid snacks
• See if the straps dig into your shoulder

I did exactly this with a structured leather tote that looked perfect on the shelf but absolutely killed my shoulder when loaded with a 13-inch laptop. I returned it a week later, no drama.

Online vs In-Store: Where the Best Handbag Deals Hide

When I tested online vs in-store for handbags during Black Friday 2023, here’s what I noticed:

• Better for serendipitous finds and manager markdowns (.97 endings)
• You can inspect leather, zippers, and stitching up close
• Sometimes lower prices than online, especially on leftover stock

• Often a wider selection of brands and colors
• Occasionally higher-end designers pop up briefly (I’ve seen Tory Burch and Ferragamo appear, then vanish)
• Extra online-only promos, like “$30 off when you spend $150 on select handbags”

I usually do a combo approach: preview online, then visit my warehouse armed with item numbers and an idea of typical price ranges.

The Downsides Nobody Really Talks About

To stay honest about this, there are definite cons to chasing Costco Black Friday handbag deals.

• Selection is random: You can’t predict which brands or styles you’ll get at your local warehouse.
• Not the newest collections: If you want this season’s runway colors, you probably won’t find them.
• Crowds are real: I’ve literally watched someone pull a bag out of a cart that wasn’t theirs because they thought it was still on the pallet. (It got awkward.)
• No deep customization: You’re choosing from what’s there, not picking strap lengths, colors, or hardware options like you might on a brand site.

For some people, the tradeoff isn’t worth it. If you care more about having the exact current-season bag than about saving $100–$200, you might be happier shopping directly from the brand during their own Black Friday sales.

My Personal Black Friday Game Plan at Costco

Here’s the rough system I’ve refined after a few years of trial, error, and one truly regrettable glittery tote:

1. Early November – Scout the warehouse, snap photos, note item numbers.
2. Check online – See if the same or similar bags are listed; compare prices with department stores.
3. Black Friday week – Go mid-morning on a weekday if possible to avoid chaos, scan for .97 markdowns and new stock.
4. Stress-test at home – Before cutting tags, I load the bag with everything I’ll actually carry. If it fails the comfort or organization test, it goes back.
5. Optional gamble – If I’m on the fence and stock seems plentiful, I’ll wait until the weekend after Black Friday to see if the price drops again.

When I followed this pattern last year, I ended up with:

• A full-grain leather Calvin Klein tote under $120
• A Travelon anti-theft crossbody for under $40

Both have survived airport security, rain, crumbs, and my laptop without falling apart.

If you’re willing to accept a little unpredictability in exchange for serious savings, Costco’s Black Friday handbag deals can be wild in the best way. You won’t get the polished boutique experience, but you might walk out with a genuine designer bag at a price that feels slightly illegal — and that’s exactly why I keep going back every year.