Am I too poor for Hèrmes?

[periogirl28]

Please refer to my previous post. This is not a budgeting question. It is an exclusivity question. Am I too poor for Hermes... as in am I not worthy to enter because I’m not a .1%er

In a nutshell then, no, I personally don’t think you are too poor for Hermes.

 

[laurasaprincess]

to

The 1%er's in the world are not what most business plans are based on.
As far as being "worthy" because you may not consider yourself to be a 1%er, that really is something that
you have to come to terms with.
While H is being thought of as being so exclusive, they probably sell more scarves than handbags because
more people can afford that price point than 10k+ on bags. The inventory on H scarves in the stores that
I have been in including FSH are plentiful..
And not every 1%er wants H or for that manner any high end designer bag.
There are many wealthy people who consider spending that kind of money on a bag absurd.

.1%. Not 1%

 

[eckw]

An interesting question and one that seems more psychological to me than financial. After reading all the responses, it sounds like the question is not so much “can you afford” but are you mentally prepared to “pay for H”.

Personally I think luxury price desensitisation has a lot to do with the H game. For many, we start with other fashion houses at lower price points and move up. Personally I moved on to H from Chanel after Chanel’s price hikes became too aggressive and bag quality didn’t seem to match up. (Also collected all Chanel classic styles that I wanted and still love/use.)

My first bag was a Lindy (non-quota bag) from my home H store and I fell in love with CSGM scarves and leather double-tour bracelets. Didn’t want to play the H game so I bought a Birkin from a trusted reseller to take that out of the equation. But recently I started appreciating their fine jewellery and then it became much easier to get quota bags (fancy that!) from my home store - especially after I met a lovely SA. But that’s just my own experience.

I have noticed that after moving to H, my luxury spending has gone up astronomically and it’s happened quite unconsciously. I spend within my means so it’s manageable but I do get guilty twinges at times when I think about it. I think your question is therefore quite a wise one as it’s not something many of us (not me anyway) asked ourselves before starting our “H journey”.

Btw, I’m curious to know what is it that interests you from H? (I think you said it wasn’t a quota bag?)

 

[chicinthecity777]

I am surprised to see 8 pages of debate on this. To me, it's really simple. Know your budget, (seems like OP does) then if you like the product Hermes offer, go and buy it. If you don't like it, or you don't like how they conduct their business, don't buy from them. Nobody said one has to be 0.1% to be a Hermes customer. Their smaller scarves are around £200 and I am sure a lot people buy those are just hardworking ordinary people like me. End of story.

 

[keodi]

Pre-loved is certainly a wonderful way to go for the H connoisseur, practically bargains

I agree, I got my 38cm Trim I for a song!

 

[laurasaprincess]

Thanks for your response. I appreciate you reading the posts prior to commenting! Congrats on your collection. As for your question, I am interested in their shawls, enamel jewelry, shoes and home goods (blanket, tableware). I admit I admire Birkins when I see them, Kelly’s are beautiful but don’t do it for me. I haven’t done research on exactly what type of Birkin I would like... I don’t think I am quite ready.

An interesting question and one that seems more psychological to me than financial. After reading all the responses, it sounds like the question is not so much “can you afford” but are you mentally prepared to “pay for H”.

Personally I think luxury price desensitisation has a lot to do with the H game. For many, we start with other fashion houses at lower price points and move up. Personally I moved on to H from Chanel after Chanel’s price hikes became too aggressive and bag quality didn’t seem to match up. (Also collected all Chanel classic styles that I wanted and still love/use.)

My first bag was a Lindy (non-quota bag) from my home H store and I fell in love with CSGM scarves and leather double-tour bracelets. Didn’t want to play the H game so I bought a Birkin from a trusted reseller to take that out of the equation. But recently I started appreciating their fine jewellery and then it became much easier to get quota bags (fancy that!) from my home store - especially after I met a lovely SA. But that’s just my own experience.

I have noticed that after moving to H, my luxury spending has gone up astronomically and it’s happened quite unconsciously. I spend within my means so it’s manageable but I do get guilty twinges at times when I think about it. I think your question is therefore quite a wise one as it’s not something many of us (not me anyway) asked ourselves before starting our “H journey”.

Btw, I’m curious to know what is it that interests you from H? (I think you said it wasn’t a quota bag?)

 

[SDC2003]

.1%. Not 1%

Think you may be referring to a percentage of the .1 because the average .1 percenter makes about 2-3 mil. That’s high earning but not enough to have your own private jet. Regardless in response to your question you don’t have to have a certain income level to shop at H which I think others have said. If you want to buy a bag from the store there is an expectation you spend a certain level but it depends on the store and sa. There are clearly plenty of tpfrs who don’t spend gobs of money but get bag offers.

I haven’t read every post but seems like you have this impression that H is ultra exclusive and only for certain people who’ve met a certain economic threshold. That mindset needs to change if you want to get into the brand. Even when someone meets that threshold they could be in debt up to their eyeballs. I have seen it happen with the lower .1 percenters. They will buy the enormous house and nice cars and have that second weekend house and have kids in private school but are hardly putting anything away for retirement. They can pay for items in cash and pay for their mortgage but should they get sick and not be able to work for a year or even less they would be in some serious trouble. Do you think these folks should be buying a bag in their scenario? But if they do decide to what does it matter? It’s their money.

There are clearly lots of people on here and on Social media who don’t meet the .1 percent threshold and so what? Think you may have put the brand on a pedestal and it does not need to be there. Realize there will be some people with gobs of money shopping there but those people also shop at other exclusive brands like Chanel etc. H also isn’t that exclusive if people are able to purchase bags from resellers. As others have said if you just want a bag go the reseller route. If you really love the brand and can get over shopping there then find an sa and build a relationship. Life is too short to be thinking about whether you’re worthy of something. I think you will find that many folks that love and shop the brand are not the .1 percent. And again, if they are at your store, who cares?

 

[Dany_37]

@laurasaprincess I think I totally understand how you’re feeling. I have two Birkins that I worked hard for and just adore and love to wear but I often wonder if I’m “worthy” of them. We (hubby and I) are very upper class and likely wealthy by many standards, but we have to keep working for what we have, we have a mortgage, expenses etc, still saving for retirement, all the things that the upper class but not .1 % have to worry about. I have friends in that .1% who look at my bag and say things like “I could never afford that” when clearly they can if I can. So I ask myself am I supposed to own a Birkin if she won’t even buy one? Do I need to be in the uber wealthy first? Does it not make sense to have one and have a mortgage? Is Hermes only for the billionaires and celebrities and not for people like me? I struggle with this and wonder if people look at my bags and think I look “off” or that I don’t make sense because I’m not in that .1%. At the end of the day I try to tell myself I worked for it and I earned it so I shouldn’t have these insecurities but they are still there. I wish I could be one of those people who doesn’t care what others think!

Wow!! This is very insightful and I never thought of it that way. I would say my situation is such as yours so I can totally relate to this so much and now it makes me wonder too...hmmm

 

[Daosabao]

@laurasaprincess I think I totally understand how you’re feeling. I have two Birkins that I worked hard for and just adore and love to wear but I often wonder if I’m “worthy” of them. We (hubby and I) are very upper class and likely wealthy by many standards, but we have to keep working for what we have, we have a mortgage, expenses etc, still saving for retirement, all the things that the upper class but not .1 % have to worry about. I have friends in that .1% who look at my bag and say things like “I could never afford that” when clearly they can if I can. So I ask myself am I supposed to own a Birkin if she won’t even buy one? Do I need to be in the uber wealthy first? Does it not make sense to have one and have a mortgage? Is Hermes only for the billionaires and celebrities and not for people like me? I struggle with this and wonder if people look at my bags and think I look “off” or that I don’t make sense because I’m not in that .1%. At the end of the day I try to tell myself I worked for it and I earned it so I shouldn’t have these insecurities but they are still there. I wish I could be one of those people who doesn’t care what others think!

I am in your category and I really don’t care what my colleagues, boss, neighbor, relatives, real friends or fake friends thinking about my H bags. I am also middle aged now and don’t feel I need to justify my decisions or how I spend my hard earned money to people. My good friend spends US$5,000 on a bed and I think she’s crazy. My bed probably costs US$500. In turn she thinks I’m crazy spending $$$ on a ‘just a bag’ We all laugh it off in good humor.

I used to think I should never buy a Special Order bag from a reseller because I’m ‘not worthy’ or have not ‘earned it’ from the store. But seriously who cares? The so called ‘uber rich’ reveal Special Order bags 2-3 times a year. Do they all get their SO bags from the H store? I seriously doubt so.

 

[CrackBerryCream]

I didn't have any prior spending at the respective stores before getting my two Bs (well, at FSH I purchased a leather bracelet years before, but the SA couldn't possibly know as the appointment wasn't under my name and she had no passport before showing us the B).

So I would say: screw what other's think is "necessary in terms of economic status" and just buy what you like as long as you have enough funds.

 

[AnnaE]

I have been a luxury buyer since I was in my teens. I’ve always been lucky to be able to buy what I want without worrying about prices/ having to save up. I’d never purchase anything if I could not buy it cash and be completely comfortable. I’ve recently started to be interested in Hèrmes. However, in perusing the Hèrmes thread, I feel as if there’s a reason it is difficult to get a Birkin or Kelly... do they only want to sell to extremely wealthy people? How much does one need to make to start shopping at Hermes? Does it even make sense to start a relationship with the brand if you’re not ready to drop 10k every couple months? Please advise!

The wealth question is always so interesting to me. No matter how affluent you are, someone will be wealthier than you. I work in tech in Silicon Valley and see all sorts of crazy money -- someone was literally telling me over lunch today how stressed out he is he doesn't have his own private jet and has to do a jetshare.

The problem with Birkins / Kellies is that most newcomers to the brand only want them (and then, in a certain size / color combo, depending on trends). Hermes is very good at capitalizing on that, especially at a larger, established store like Toronto, where there are a lot of consumers better knows to SAs. If you only want a Birkin or a Kelly, go the reseller route. If you want to explore the brand, there is no such thing as too wealthy or too poor. Just go for it.

 

[craielover]

The wealth question is always so interesting to me. No matter how affluent you are, someone will be wealthier than you. I work in tech in Silicon Valley and see all sorts of crazy money -- someone was literally telling me over lunch today how stressed out he is he doesn't have his own private jet and has to do a jetshare.

The problem with Birkins / Kellies is that most newcomers to the brand only want them (and then, in a certain size / color combo, depending on trends). Hermes is very good at capitalizing on that, especially at a larger, established store like Toronto, where there are a lot of consumers better knows to SAs. If you only want a Birkin or a Kelly, go the reseller route. If you want to explore the brand, there is no such thing as too wealthy or too poor. Just go for it.

I hope this is not considered off-topic, but there can totally be a separate thread discussing what is considered proper wealth for either private jet or jetshare

 

[Coconuts40]

I am well aware of the Toronto store, SA's may be distant at first because they have people asking for quote bags all day long. Don't be intimidated by the store. Also, for your first time you may feel more comfortable going in and not being bothered anyways, which will allow yourself to acclimate to the store and culture. You don't need to be of any economic status to go into the store, go inside and walk around to see what they have. You may be surprised and like what they have and want to purchase something you may have never considered.
If you only want a quota bag, go the resale route.

Regarding your comment on exclusivity and not wanting to be part of a group that everyone can't be part of : You say you have purchased other luxury goods and handbags for many years already - do you realize you already are part of the exclusive upper class society that can afford to do so, as most people can't even afford LV, Gucci, etc.... So in all honesty you already are part of an exclusive group that everyone can't belong to.

 

[dooneybaby]

If you can comfortably purchase a few Birkins a year, then what are you concerning about? Don’t want to spend $5K or so a month but still wanting a Birkin (or Birkins)? Maybe looking into the resale route? There are many options just pick the one that makes you most comfortable.

Please check out the following threads for some interesting answers how others (wealthy or not ) spending / funding their hermes additions.

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/how-do-you-fund-your-hermes-addiction.299092/page-17

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...-around-the-world.967155/page-3#post-33313279/

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/h-boutique-or-reseller.986517/

Seriously.
She can "comfortably" buy a few Birkins this year? What is the problem?
I definitely wouldn't purchase things I don't really love just to be considered to be offered a Birkin. That's crazy, regardless of how much a person earns.
I agree. Go the pre-loved route.

 

[dooneybaby]

I have been a luxury buyer since I was in my teens. I’ve always been lucky to be able to buy what I want without worrying about prices/ having to save up. I’d never purchase anything if I could not buy it cash and be completely comfortable. I’ve recently started to be interested in Hèrmes. However, in perusing the Hèrmes thread, I feel as if there’s a reason it is difficult to get a Birkin or Kelly... do they only want to sell to extremely wealthy people? How much does one need to make to start shopping at Hermes? Does it even make sense to start a relationship with the brand if you’re not ready to drop 10k every couple months? Please advise!

I've seen people on YouTube show off their Birkins, and they've spent a lot less than I have on Hermes. Some of them purchased a Birkin after buying just a couple of H items - ever.