where to buy Tumi?
 

Tumi consistently offers no discounts on its classic models (generation 4.4 http://www.tumi.com/business_laptop_...?modelid=57431) not only on its sites and in its stores but actually anywhere in the internet. Any experience on getting a better than the standard price? Does it ever happen?

Yup. Go to a Tumi outlet or check with the standard retail shops to see if they're getting new models.

The only time that I've seen discounts from non-outlets are when Tumi introduces a newer version. If so, they'll allow luggage or department stores to lower prices on the older models.

I got a Tumi rolling carryon garment bag for about $200 off retail in socal several years back. It was when they were introducing a new line, so I was able to get a decent deal on it.

I rarely use it though. I'm using it Friday morning as I'm travelling with several suits. I prefer my Samsonite rollaboard for regular travel, and my Akona giant dive backpack for trips with quick turnarounds.

Sometimes, you can ask for promotions at a Tumi store. I've received $50 and $100 off cases from them, as they realized that I needed some incentive to buy it there and then. Thus, I got the best prices from the company branded store.

I know some MBA students that were selling Tumi at discount prices a few years ago, but I've long since lost any connection to them. I've done internet searches a while back and found a site or two that found creative ways to take off $50 or so, as Tumi will not allow resellers to advertise below MSRP. The vast majority quoted MSRP, as do local shops. Thus, anything off is nice.

Macy's are currently having a sale on some Tumi stuff. Don't know if it's the ones you're interested in but might be worth having a look. Plus Macy's do a visitors discount card that give 11% off everything.

Macy's offered me 20% off last time they had a sale.

I think Tumi's an exception. Certainly is at Bloomie's in NY.

I'd re-think the decision to buy Tumi at all. I am currently having some issues with one of my bags (T3 22inch) and realize its just poorly constructed and more importantly, poorly designed. Each contact that I've had with Tumi about this has been terrible, on the phone, in the store, etc. Their attitude seems to match with their absurd pricing.

I always though the point of spending $500+ on a small piece of luggage was for the warranty, yet they seem to make it extremely difficult to get repaired and refuse to admit any fault. Anyway, I'd recommend Briggs and Riley, as many others on this board seem to. However, if you are set on Tumi, they are currently having a decent sale on many items.

Contrary to the above, I've never had *any* problem getting my Tumi repaired quickly and cheaply (usually free). And the quality if much better than anything else, short of LV, MAYBE.

Macy's in NY offered me the 20% off. I also had a 20% off card from Macy's (2 months ago) that had an online code that worked.

I have also had no issues with getting Tumi bags repaired when they needed it. The service I received was fast and solved my problems.

I do agree that Tumi is priced at a significant premium, perhaps well above what it deserves. Still, I've had very good experiences with durability, thus justifying more Tumi purchases.

Glad to hear about the positive repair comments. I dropped my bag off today...we'll see how it goes.

A colleague got his Tumi Gen 4.4 Business Class backpack from this eBay seller. I don't know if they're cheap compared to the retail prices in the US - but it sure was 40% cheaper than the retail price here in Norway.

Plus, I don't think the product was fake as my colleague was able to sign up for the tracing program without problems.

We bought 1 Tumi carry on garment bag off of ebay (gently used) for about 25% of retail and a roller garment in an upscale resale store in Scottsdale for about $50 (I doubt it had ever been used - still had the tags on it). That being said we have found neither one to be really compatible with our type of travel (on the road for 6-8 weeks at a time). The little one is too small for more than 2 suits and no rollers and the big roller one is heavy to begin with and once you fill it up it generally ends up overweight. I have to admit though they sure are good looking bags.
I'm probably going to sell them off on ebay at some point when we'll be home long enough to do that.
We had an old Samsonite that worked perfectly but it somehow got mangled on the way back from Mexico a few months ago and I've been looking for the right replacement ever since. We just bought one from Wilson Leather at the kiosk at ORD....we'll give that a try for a trip or two and see how it goes. So far this one looks like it will 'suit' us the best.... ;)