Am I too poor for Hèrmes?

[etoupebirkin]

I've been buying Hermes for 40+ years. I started as a college kid with no $. I did not start buying bags until I was in my 40s and settled. I've bought any number of Birkins or Kellys at the store. But I've also purchased lovely pre-loved or vintage bags at places like Yoogi's Closet or The RealReal. And you don't have to spend a ton of money. I recently purchased a 28 Vibrato Plume in close to perfect condition for $1,595. While that is not cheap as compared to other brands, in terms of Hermes $ it is a steal.

I have come to view the resale market as the first place I go to look for a bag because I do not want to spend upwards of $15K on a handbag at the store.

Plumes, Drag bags and others come up regularly in the resale market and they are much easier on the wallet.

 

[fdc]

I used to work for Hermes in a developing country, not as an SA but in communications dep. At first there was only 1 store in the whole country so the demand far excessed the supply and there was no way you can buy quota bags without buying other things at at least 1:1 ratio, I believe it was often much more. Now there’re 2 stores but it’s still the case. Some customers paid crazy price to get the Himalayans from resellers cause couldn't get it from boutique. Before each holiday there’s literally nothing in the store, no merchant left as everyone grabs everything they can. Customers who get B/K often give a gift to their SA to thank them for offering the bag! I used to find all of that so upside down. As an employee I got 30% off up to 1.000$ per year but all I could afford at that time was perfume.

I’ve since moved to Paris and am now much more financially comfortable but I limit my luxury budget to 10K€ a year. I want a Constance mini (~6k€ here in boutique) and later a Kelly (7-8k) and have been questioning myself the same, should I even start (or restart) the H relation now or better invest that money and wait until I’m much more wealthier to buy H.

 

[Love Of My Life]

I've been buying Hermes for 40+ years. I started as a college kid with no $. I did not start buying bags until I was in my 40s and settled. I've bought any number of Birkins or Kellys at the store. But I've also purchased lovely pre-loved or vintage bags at places like Yoogi's Closet or The RealReal. And you don't have to spend a ton of money. I recently purchased a 28 Vibrato Plume in close to perfect condition for $1,595. While that is not cheap as compared to other brands, in terms of Hermes $ it is a steal.

I have come to view the resale market as the first place I go to look for a bag because I do not want to spend upwards of $15K on a handbag at the store.

Plumes, Drag bags and others come up regularly in the resale market and they are much easier on the wallet.

Agree.. So many styles that H has done over the years look "fresh" now & so I think the reseller market
is a great way to explore vintage styles of H bags as well as more recent style
I also like some of the vintage styles mostly to be carried on your wrist or hand held that
have very interesting clasps that are almost magical in a away..

 

[laurasaprincess]

Things might be changing with this pandemic.. many have expressed how uneasy they now are feeling about spending $$$$ for luxury in general

This is so true!

 

[demicouture]

To be honest, I believe you should only buy if you are comfortable spending the amount of money. It has nothing to do with how "rich" or "poor" somebody 'feels' but rather if something from the brand excites you enough to elevate your everyday life and makes you feel better overall AND of course if you have the funds to pay for it. The rest is confidence! Dont ever feel intimated by Sales staff, ever! And do not fall for the game of buying tons of stuff of unwanted items in the hope of being offered a bag. I never fell for that and just bought what I really wanted.
I must say though that I see that in the US, Hermes seems to operate differently and Sales Staff seem to want you to play that game much. In France, it mainly matters that you live where your local store is and build s friendly relationship with one SA.
Best of luck

 

[louise_elouise]

To be honest, I believe you should only buy if you are comfortable spending the amount of money. It has nothing to do with how "rich" or "poor" somebody 'feels' but rather if something from the brand excites you enough to elevate your everyday life and makes you feel better overall AND of course if you have the funds to pay for it. The rest is confidence! Dont ever feel intimated by Sales staff, ever! And do not fall for the game of buying tons of stuff of unwanted items in the hope of being offered a bag. I never fell for that and just bought what I really wanted.
I must say though that I see that in the US, Hermes seems to operate differently and Sales Staff seem to want you to play that game much. In France, it mainly matters that you live where your local store is and build s friendly relationship with one SA.
Best of luck

As an American living on Europe, I echo this. I appreciate this is a huge generalisation, but in Europe, they appreciate your love of the brand more while in the US, I feel I have to 'prove I am worthy' a bit more i.e. have the money to drop.

 

[Classy Collector]

Thanks. I certainly try my best to be kind and courteous to all wherever I go. It’s not that I’m worried about wealth - I just feel like it’s a brand for the extremely wealthy. I wanted some advice from Hèrmes shoppers. Congrats on your collection!

It’s not. I’ve seen at least 2 neighbors carrying an H bag. We live in the same city Laura, and my neighborhood is not Rosedale (#1 wealthiest).

 

[laurasaprincess]

It’s not. I’ve seen at least 2 neighbors carrying an H bag. We live in the same city Laura, and my neighborhood is not Rosedale (#1 wealthiest).

Okay....

 

[Classy Collector]

I agree with many here that don’t feel pressured to buy just for quota. Buy what you love.

 

[costa]

I’ve been only buying things I like.
For years only birkins or kellys and just once a year. But I was going often to the boutique just to look at things, discuss leathers and colors and learning new things on the brand.
They knew I loved Hermes. And they were offering me very special bags.
I never bought rtw for years, but they were really happy to know bags would go to someone that really appreciated the difference of box, chevre, barenia....
So, just walk in and build a relationship based on your love for the brand and not on how much you spend

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

I’ve been only buying things I like.
For years only birkins or kellys and just once a year. But I was going often to the boutique just to look at things, discuss leathers and colors and learning new things on the brand.
They knew I loved Hermes. And they were offering me very special bags.
I never bought rtw for years, but they were really happy to know bags would go to someone that really appreciated the difference of box, chevre, barenia....
So, just walk in and build a relationship based on your love for the brand and not on how much you spend

agree 100%

 

[880]

But I was going often to the boutique just to look at things, discuss leathers and colors and learning new things on the brand.
They knew I loved Hermes.

This, ITA!

 

[keodi]

I’ve been only buying things I like.
For years only birkins or kellys and just once a year. But I was going often to the boutique just to look at things, discuss leathers and colors and learning new things on the brand.
They knew I loved Hermes. And they were offering me very special bags.
I never bought rtw for years, but they were really happy to know bags would go to someone that really appreciated the difference of box, chevre, barenia....
So, just walk in and build a relationship based on your love for the brand and not on how much you spend

Very sound advice!

agree 100%

me too!

 

[katriona]

I like Hermes for the traditional values associated with its quality, and its history as a family owned company—at a time when Louis Vuitton is gobbling up every luxury brand, Hermes has steadfastly refused to be assimilated, even to the extent of some years back suing the Chairman of LV for covertly trying to buy up majority shares under shell investors (!). They are true to their values, and they treat their artists and artisans very well. I don’t expect them to be affordable for everyday...they aren’t JC Penney, they are SPECIAL. They are considered purchases, and intended to be so. I remember reading somewhere that when a French girl in the early to post-war 1900’s became a young woman, it was something of a tradition that she went with her parents to an Hermes shop to pick out her very own Hermes scarf. It may have been the only one she ever owned, but it was carefully chosen with her colouring and style in mind and worn on special occasions. Like the bags it was passed down to her daughters and nieces. Affluent collectors now buy lots more, sometimes every season (including me), but it’s the association with earlier times when articles of clothing were not simply disposable fashion items, but beautiful, functional artisanal expressions of taste and skill that looked better with every passing year, that really makes me appreciate their store.

 

[Joybingebirkin]

I am middle class , so nowhere near the wealth as most on this forum. while I had help buying my first birkin , I don’t think there is any wealth class that is needed. I grew up lower middle class and since adult hood became upper middle class due to my work in fashion. So affording luxury items a few times a year is good for me. If you can buy a few birkins a year I think you have answered your question. Luxury fashion is classist by nature but if you look past that and find a good SA you will be able to shop comfortably. Also I live in nyc so maybe this is why classism with luxury don’t really faze me. I grew up seeing kids in public school with LV and Gucci bags and the mothers dressed to the nines . I have even been shopping with some of them in boutiques. Peoples perceived wealth isn’t really anyone else concern. I say if you can afford it , buy it. Regardless of what people think. I drive an old 15 year old bmw and live in a So-so area And still buy luxury goods. Mainly because I like luxury fashion and well like I said I work in fashion. I think a lot of people think I can’t afford my goods but considering my cost of living is super low because I don’t live in a expensive area or drive a fancy new car , I can exactly afford extra income to shop freely.