Hermes lawsuit

[learieonthewildmoor]

Hermes is being taken to court because apparently they won’t even show you a Birkin bag if you don’t buy a bunch of other stuff.
Do any other high end brands hold you hostage? It seems extraordinary to me.

Do you have an article to link? I wonder if it will change Hermes' practices.

I heard about this earlier. As snotty as I think it is for Hermes to take this stance, I don't see how they are obliged to sell to anyone they don't want to sell to, tbh. It's not a human right to buy a bag!

However rich I was, I don't think I'd want to buy a Birkin if they are taking a view that only certain people are worthy! That people will still jump through hoops to be allowed the privilege of spending an extortionate amount of money on one, just illustrates their stupidity. I suspect that's not the look they were going for.

As snotty as I think it is for Hermes to take this stance, I don't see how they are obliged to sell to anyone they don't want to sell to, tbh. It's not a human right to buy a bag!

It's a US antitrust case (competition law, for us). Companies aren't just allowed to do anything they please. This is in effect a 'bundling' of items. You and I might think it stupid for anyone to spend $$$ on things they don't want just to buy something they do want (the Birkin bag), but the allegation here is that this is an anticompetitive practice by Hermes and a misuse of its market power.

I do wonder if other big brands will take notice - Rolex are known for having similar practices, people on here will say the importance of arriving wearing one of their watches to be shown the right styles for sale, that they often want you to buy cheaper watches to be “allowed” to buy the most desirable.

some sports car manufacturers have similar policies when they have limited production of particular cars, only people who are known to have bought others from the brand are allowed to go on the waiting list.

It’s always made me think the brands who do this are a bit tacky, and seeing someone with other Hermes accessories has always made me assume they have only bought it for the “right” to spend more money with them, which is pathetic however you try to frame it.

Thanks @Precipice , that was interesting to know.

I saw a YouTube video and googled “Hermes lawsuit”. So many came up I couldn’t choose.
From a marketing POV, are they trying to create a sense of bizarro customer loyalty? “I’m so special, they know me”. Surely they want new customers as well? Surely Not Selling Stuff to people defeats the purpose of a capitalist venture which exists to Sell Stuff?
I see how requiring people to buy stuff they don’t want, in order to be able to buy stuff they do, works for your profit margins; but surely selling stuff to whoever wants it is better idea?

I guess you're not just buying the bag, you're buying a visible symbol of being in the small club of people who are allowed to buy the bag. (Which is totally undermined by the fact that some people buy them and immediately resell them - often for more than they paid!) The customers they are aiming at are people who can usually buy whatever they want, so something exclusive and challenging to get holds an allure. This also means that extremely high prices are expected and even desired by this clientele, as part of the status symbol aspect, so the company wins as well.

I don't like the bags so would never consider going in to play their game. In the UK they apparently operate a 'wish list' system whereby you get a call when the bag on your wish list becomes available. I could not find a clear consensus on what bumps a person up to the top of said list to be offered the bag in the specs they are after.

Some people have had a wink and a nudge from their sales person to buy the shoes, clothes, trinkets they didn't really want in order to get to the top. Others have said no pre spend required. In America I think the relationship and buying all the superfluous things is required to get the quota bag. I am doubtful this lawsuit will change how they practice. For that reason, (amongst many other reasons!)several will continue to stay away.

Their selling practices are absurd. You essentially have to be interviewed if you want a Birkin. After you've made your appointment and they've decided if you're worthy, you might be shown a bag or two. If you don't make the cut, you will be sent on your way. I think they also like to vet you to make sure you won't just buy a Birkin and sell it. Due to the controlled supply, they're often worth more than retail on the second hand market.

People literally travel to Paris to have the "best chance" at getting one. There's a whole system for this nonsense - you can't just turn up at the store.

If someone has enough spare cash to drop in excess of £10k on a bag, then I think they should just be able to buy the bloody thing in whatever colour and trim they like.

Hermes have zero desire to be accessible. See also Chanel and their outrageous price increases.

I doubt they're losing out financially. They must make a fortune in scarf, purse, keyring and belt sales.

Not that i would spend 7k on a bag but it really puts me off the brand that you have to play their game, i bought a belt recently and I didnt want to even look at theirs as it's so off putting .

Here for more information re. the lawsuit

While I only buy very very small things, usually a scarf, this hasn't been my experience at all. The salesperson who always helps me has tried (and failed) to sell me a Birkin (although this was back in the day when one didn't need a mortgage to buy one).

I do think Hermès and other brands who take a similar approach are trying to stop resellers or people buying on behalf of others, buying goods.

Off topic slightly but have you watched their adverts on the website? They are very funny, I couldn't stop laughing at the della advert. It's a bit game of thrones/robinhood...

It's a bag, yes it's nice but the ad 😂😂 and no they are not worth the price tag.

Yes. Ferrari does this - you cannot buy one of the more desirable cars brand new unless you also order a less desirable one at the same time. The more limited edition cars have huge “must also buy” purchases attached. The result has been ever more frantic queues to purchase and each years allocation sells out at once. Bonkers.

People who indulge this shit are as thick as mince and deserve to be rinsed, frankly.

The luxury goods market is all a bit lame and tacky these days. It has nothing to do with style or fashion, that's for sure.

I was thinking yesterday that I really want to find a good dressmaker with an eye for fashion. Someone who can make me a few nice pieces per year. Basically going back to how most fashion "brands" started.

Yep.

Quota bags(Birkins & Kellys) appreciate more than solid gold. An 8/9k outlay will bring you an immediate return of at least double. There’s definitely no ‘thick as mince’ about it.

I haven’t spent anything more than I wanted to across the brand but I always purchase from the same store and have done for a very long time. I haven’t jumped through any hoops for bags. I’m just a long standing customer.

Orher brands will offer sought after pieces to loyal customers too. You won’t get a classic Chanel piece without being on good terms.
Nor a Porsche or A Patek Philippe. It is what it is and a lawsuit only serves to make the brand even more elusive.

They never used to be like this. Then they went on a big expansion drive and the quality is not what it was. I've got things from my Grandpa which are just as good as when they were first made, he died in 1975.

The SAs were always lovely and you didn't need to buy loads of stuff to be offered a bag. I never bothered with a B as I don't like them, although it would have made a good investment! I think H is way over priced now for what you get.

Their whole ethos used to be small batches of product which was handcrafted by artisans and earned them a group of loyal customers who appreciated the craftsmanship. That's long gone, but they seem to want to maintain that intangible appeal, whilst producing product on a mass scale. Restrictive purchasing practices are their way of doing that.

Thanks for posting your viewpoints! Will be watching for the outcome.
Never knew “we don’t sell our stuff to just anyone” was a thing!

A friend told me about this with Rolex and I could hardly believe her. Then I read it about these bags too. It is unbelievable that these brands can treat customers like this and the customers play along!
I think some people really do have more money than sense.

I just went and had a look. The Della Advert with the Prince who loves the bag not the girl so much?

And ends with the girl saying something like ‘they are never taking it from me.’

🤣🤣

I just saw today a clip of Sarah Jessica Parker talking about the time she was wearing the green strapless, Juicy Couture sundress and was carrying a big blue Birkin. She says how it was fake, and Patricia Field persuaded her to get it. Thought it was quite funny. Probably a good way to piss off Hermes.

Yes, my doctor’s wife (who is a successful business women) buys expensive bags. Wears them, and takes care of them, and will sell them when she tires of the style for more than she paid.

I love this outfit so much. I didn’t know the Birkin was fake - thanks for the trivia!

It would make sense, since SATC had a whole episode of Samantha scheming to get her hands on one only for Lucy Liu to keep it 😂

I visited the Hermes shop in New York.
Horrible experience.
It was like they deigned to let you in. 🙄
I was looking for a particular bag in a particular colour.
Not a Birkin I hasten to add.
I was left waiting and waiting.
And waited some more.
I was then escorted from one floor to another to get to the correct department.
A whole palaver 🙄🙄
A waste of my time.
In the end they didn't have the bag I wanted.
And the security. Oh my !
You'd think they were guarding the Crown Jewels.
I got it in their Dublin store, without all the nonsense.