Check places like Ross, TJ Maxx or Marshall's religiously. If you hit the right days you can find some decent brands at fair prices on occasion. I just got a huge Harajuku Lovers bag for $40.

But as someone else said, if you can't afford a designer bag, you just can't afford it. And those who know their bags can tell immediately if someone is carrying a fake. Besides, it's totally obvious when someone who is dressed head to to toe in Old Navy clothes is carrying an LV bag--it's fake. Either that or their priorities are screwed up and they spent their rent money on a purse.

And Coach does have some outlet stores where you can find some of their stuff cheaper, but I think most of it is slighty different styles than what you get at full price.

Another place to check is craiglist.com, but BE CAREFUL there, a lot are fakes. But I did get a brand new authentic Coach off of there for only $50. I got lucky, though, because it was a former Coach store employee cleaning out her closet.