Buying Hermes at Auction at Hotel Drouot Paris?

[nomdesac]

I expect to be in Paris this summer with my family (we go every year--family trip), and I am thinking about trying to fit in an excursion to Hotel Drouot. On the website, I regularly see vintage Hermes handbags that seem, at least, to go for not entirely unreasonable prices. I've considered attempting one of their online auctions, but the shipping costs to the US are very high, and then, of course, there's the "buyer's premium," which perhaps moves those "not entirely unreasonable prices" back into "unsurprisingly high" territory. Still, a trip to Drouot has been on my bucket list since I read Diane Johnson's Le Divorce (a must-read novel for anyone who loves compelling fiction and/or Paris and/or Kelly bags).

I'd be grateful for any advice on this topic: Have you purchased Hermes at Drouot? Good experience? Bad? What should a newbie know before going? (For context, although I'm far from fluent in French, my shopping French isn't horrible.)

(I checked before posting to try to find a thread on this topic--I didn't see one, but I'm not sure I didn't miss something. Apologies if so. There are lots of threads on the LV Drouot . . . )

 

[QuelleFromage]

Sorry for late reply, but Drouot is a home for many (maybe most) small French auction houses, so your experience is going to vary depending on the house that is actually handling the auction.
I've bought from a few of these houses. No horrible experiences and some great finds. As always, check the buyer premium and remember, on taxes:
If a lot ships outside the EU/Schengen, VAT will be added on the entire purchase. You might get double-dinged with duties coming into the US, too.
If it does not ship outside the EU, VAT is added on the buyer premium only.
If physically brought into the US or elsewhere, of course duties are applicable.

It is well worth a wander around Drouot, anyway, even if there's no Hermès. It can be a WILD selection of everything from pure brocante/junk to the rarest treasures. Last time I was there, they had a million-euro dinosaur up for auction.

 

[nomdesac]

Sorry for late reply, but Drouot is a home for many (maybe most) small French auction houses, so your experience is going to vary depending on the house that is actually handling the auction.
I've bought from a few of these houses. No horrible experiences and some great finds. As always, check the buyer premium and remember, on taxes:
If a lot ships outside the EU/Schengen, VAT will be added on the entire purchase. You might get double-dinged with duties coming into the US, too.
If it does not ship outside the EU, VAT is added on the buyer premium only.
If physically brought into the US or elsewhere, of course duties are applicable.

It is well worth a wander around Drouot, anyway, even if there's no Hermès. It can be a WILD selection of everything from pure brocante/junk to the rarest treasures. Last time I was there, they had a million-euro dinosaur up for auction.

Sorry for late reply, but Drouot is a home for many (maybe most) small French auction houses, so your experience is going to vary depending on the house that is actually handling the auction.
I've bought from a few of these houses. No horrible experiences and some great finds. As always, check the buyer premium and remember, on taxes:
If a lot ships outside the EU/Schengen, VAT will be added on the entire purchase. You might get double-dinged with duties coming into the US, too.
If it does not ship outside the EU, VAT is added on the buyer premium only.
If physically brought into the US or elsewhere, of course duties are applicable.

It is well worth a wander around Drouot, anyway, even if there's no Hermès. It can be a WILD selection of everything from pure brocante/junk to the rarest treasures. Last time I was there, they had a million-euro dinosaur up for auction.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply--and many apologies for my late response. This is so helpful. We actually didn't manage to get to Paris this summer, but I'll will be sure to put Drouot on my list for the next trip. (Even my husband would have been thrilled to see that dinosaur.)

 

[shrpthorn]

Sorry for late reply, but Drouot is a home for many (maybe most) small French auction houses, so your experience is going to vary depending on the house that is actually handling the auction.
I've bought from a few of these houses. No horrible experiences and some great finds. As always, check the buyer premium and remember, on taxes:
If a lot ships outside the EU/Schengen, VAT will be added on the entire purchase. You might get double-dinged with duties coming into the US, too.
If it does not ship outside the EU, VAT is added on the buyer premium only.
If physically brought into the US or elsewhere, of course duties are applicable.

It is well worth a wander around Drouot, anyway, even if there's no Hermès. It can be a WILD selection of everything from pure brocante/junk to the rarest treasures. Last time I was there, they had a million-euro dinosaur up for auction.

Thanks for your detailed response. I was considering bidding on the upcoming Bonham's auction of "old" H-scarfs but did not expect that shipment to my country (Canada) would also incur VAT charges (as well as the 28% buyer's premium, the FX, & 5% duty & taxes under the CEUTA trade agreement plus shipping & prep by 3rd party packers). Wow......not so keen now.
Actually I was reading the fine print and did see the VAT notes but somehow just thought they would apply to EU residents.
Thx again.