“Coach employees be like ‘if I can’t have it no one can’”: Texas dumpster diver hits ‘jackpot’ behind Coach store. Then she sees what the workers did to the handbags
Back in the early 2000s, the nickname “dumpster diver” would be taken with great offense. Now, however, what used to be an insult has become a flex. In 2025, TikTok dumpster divers are racking up views by showing off high-end goods rescued from the trash—and followers can’t get enough.
Well-known dumpster diver Ella, who goes by @glamourddive on TikTok, has a whopping 2.3 million followers. Her recent video is already at 193,000 views as of Monday. However, her clip is a bit different from what her followers are used to. After hitting the “jackpot” behind a Michael Kors store, Ella tries to continue her winning streak, only to find out that some people don’t like seeing others get lucky.
What happened behind this Coach store?
Ella’s clip begins by showing a plastic bag filled to the brim with scarves, hats, slides, and mini-wallets from Michael Kors–all seemingly mint condition. As she shows off her grandiose haul, Ella says, “This bag is loaded, it’s insane.” And she’s right– this haul certainly calls for the jackpot title. Nonetheless, as the dumpster diver expert goes on to try her luck behind the Coach store, she discovers a sight that angers viewers.
“I thought I’d show you guys this is what Coach’s dumpster looks like… they slashed everything up,” she says.
It honestly looks like someone went a little too trigger-happy with a boxcutter. Ella shows purses, shoes, and even mini-wallets slashed through beyond the first few layers of fabric. It seems Coach employees wanted to get the message across: “If I can’t have it, then no one can,” according to one commenter.
Does Coach really destroy unwanted goods?
Back in 2021, Coach went viral for admitting that it destroys its own bags when TikToker Anna Socks (@thetrashwalker) called them out for slashing unused purses. Instead of directly referencing her clip where she says it is done for tax purposes, Coach put out a statement stating “we have now ceased destroying in-store returns of damaged and unsaleable goods…” citing their commitment to sustainability. However, it’s now 4 years later, and we’re still seeing the slashing, so did they really stop it? TikTok viewers weigh in.
“What a waste. If it doesn’t get sold it should go to employees and homeless,” one viewer wrote.
Another commented, “I don’t get it, why throw it away??? Just donate it!”
Some call out Coach’s agenda: “But yet Coach claiming they recycle damaged bags,” while another said, “They charge so much but then cut them up and throw them out??? Ridiculous.”
Dumpster diving woes
In reality, Ella has actually scored lots of times–and handsomely too. Within her 194 videos of her dumpster diving playlist on TikTok, she shows her hauls from T.J. Maxx, Nike, and Ulta, to name a few. Each time is a surprise with goodies you wouldn’t ever think would be thrown away. That doesn’t mean the hobby always goes smoothly, however. In one story the Mary Sue covered, one dumpster diver had the cops called on her.
@glamourddive Dumpster diving at the mall & scoring at Coach VS Michael KORS.. #dumpster #dumpsterdiving #mall #insane #glamourddive ♬ original sound – GlamourDDive
The Mary Sue reached out to Ella via email and Coach via website contact form.
Update Oct. 3, 2025:
In an email to the Mary Sue, Ella revealed that this was not the first store where she has encountered slashed bags or merchandise.
“I sent the bags to someone who was able to reuse the leather for other crafts/purposes!” she wrote. “I can’t say for definite this was an employee stash, but I have personally seen it in the past with other stores.”
She cited an experience she had where an Ulta employee grabbed a stash she found and refused to give it to her. “So I do believe that employees stash things for later!”
Ella wants readers to know that there are many great items–not only in dumpsters–to be saved.
“I don’t believe a lot of things that stores throw away belong in landfills, but unfortunately this is where it will end up unless dumpster divers save it first,” she said.
In a statement to the Mary Sue, a Coach representative shared how the company is “committed to reducing product waste and promoting sustainability.” They cited its Coachtopia and Re(Loved) program as proof of that ethos. However, when asked specifically whether there is a policy stating unwanted goods must be destroyed, the representative shared the following statement:
“We sincerely apologize, but we are unable to confirm or deny the statement regarding the disposal of unwanted bags, as this is not information provided to our department. We understand the importance of your inquiry and regret any inconvenience this may cause.
The Mary Sue reached out to another representative via phone call, but has yet to receive a response.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
