Are you a loyal customer of Coach leather goods? If so, you may be in for a rude shock. According to a recent report from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Coach leather customer service quality is abysmal. Incidents of poor interaction between customers and employees have come to the fore.
Animal Welfare and Cruel Practices
PETA is a non-profit organization that works to promote ethical treatment of animals and raise awareness about animal welfare. PETA has been using its platform to pressurize fashion brands and retailers to move away from animal-cruel practices, including the sourcing of materials from farms that indulge in cruel practices.
The organization’s campaign against Coach focuses on the retailer’s use of leather, a material sourced from the skins of animals like goats, sheep, and exotic animals. PETA alleges that certain suppliers for Coach use material from farms that don’t follow appropriate animal welfare protocols and practices, causing suffering to the animals.
Reports of Disgruntled Customers
PETA’s report is further backed up by customers who have reported poor customer service from Coach leather stores. Customers have complained about how they were treated indifferently and sometimes rudely when they raised questions about the sourcing of materials used in leather products.
These reports were further bolstered when veteran PETA activist, Mark Squigma, posted photos and videos of Coach stores in Spain. In the footage, customers were seen being treated poorly and rudely when they expressed concerns about possible use of unethical animal products.
Campaign Against Coach
The damning evidence has put PETA in a strong position to build a credible campaign against the iconic luxury brand. In its report, PETA has accused Coach of possible ethical and legal violations in regards to multiple animal welfare guidelines.
This looks to be more than just another commercial scandal and is likely to have far-reaching implications for the company. It is yet to be seen if brand loyalty, for which Coach is widely famous, will be enough to sustain the brand in the face of backlash from customers and pressure groups.
Call To Action: Avoid Purchasing Coach Products
Regardless of the outcome of further investigations, if you are a concerned consumer, the best decision may be to avoid purchasing retail products from Coach until the retailer is able to provide evidence of ethical practices in sourcing materials.
At the end of the day, as conscious consumers, we can choose to support companies that exhibit diplomatic, ethical and responsible behavior. It is our conscious consumerism that will create a world where animal welfare is valued by companies, and your vote lies in your purchasing decisions.