Did anyone hear the "Bagging a Birkin" story on NPR's Planet Money?

[hopingoneday]

I would love to hear others' reactions, if you have access to US radio or this NPR podcast on the Internet. I found it incredibly annoying. The reporter and one of her interviewees kept referring to Birkins as being, "on average," $60,000 handbags.

On the one hand, I guess who cares – so the numbers are wrong. On the other hand, the whole story was just so silly, it frustrated me. To say nothing of the fact that the reporter described the bags as hideous!

Would love to hear what others thought!

 

[hermes_obsessed]

Listening now and to be completely honest the entire podcast is ridiculous. I wouldn't say the average is around $60,000 it's probably more around $25k or $30k (still expensive for a handbag but also half the price of what they're stating). I don't think there is a strategy to reject and humiliate at all. Have I been completely ignored at certain stores? Yes, but I would never, ever say that Hermes has a "hazing process" for their customers.

I really don't see a problem with an established fashion house wanting to ensure it's (arguably) most famous and demanded item has somewhat of a clearance process. They also forgot to mention SA's don't get a commission, which, at least in my understanding, is part of the reason why they sell after you've purchased so many items from them.

Just my two cents

 

[MSO13]

I found this story so annoying and it's so badly done. They sound like twittering little girls instead of competent reporters. Also, they couldn't possibly speak about the actual average price of a Birkin without getting access to Hermes numbers so instead they just made up a number? Where do people come up with these numbers??

 

[billysmom]

NPR's accuracy is not on a par with its entertainment value.

 

[rosebud_7]

I listened to this podcast twice last night while (patiently) waiting to get out of O'Hare...
For me, it wasn't that these "reporters" and "experts" got their "facts" so inexcusably wrong...no doubt there are some very expensive Birkins out there...but I would argue that the vast majority are non exotic leathers, priced well below $60k... but it was their overall attitude towards the difficulty of buying a high demand bag.

First of all, to automatically assume that because someone is carrying an H bag is a stuffy, rich snob who will walk you into a trash can is absurd. Are bags status symbols? I would agree to a point, but most people, especially in NYC, are too busy minding their own business to care, let alone flaunt.

Second of all, to make remarks that allude to carriers of such bags were gifted these by rich husbands, SOs, or whatever, is downright insulting. Would I love to be fortunate enough to have someone I love gift me a bag? Oh heck yes! In fact, please share those secrets because my loved ones don't get the H obsession! But I have also met so many lovely ladies and gentlemen here on this forum who are doctors, lawyers, business owners, in a service industry, who can afford these luxuries on their own. Like many others here, I make, save, and spend my own money as I wish. And it is no one's business how anyone else does the same. Gift? Purchase? Something in between? Matters not to anyone else!

Which leads me to my final comment: the overall sour grapes attitude. I get it NPR reporters...you can't afford a Birkin, even if you took the time to actually learn and enjoy the history of Hermes and everything else it has to offer. But to criticize anyone who would spend their own money on an expensive bag, is quite hypocritical. Would they make the same comment about an expensive car, or boat, or vacation? And to close it out by calling the Birkin an "ugly box and the leather didn't even feel nice" is just petty and sour grapes. Actually....it sounds a bit like they're jealous.

Ok, rant over I was stuck in a snowed in airport watching flights get cancelled left and right so I had some extra time on my hands!

 

[chkpfbeliever]

I listened to this podcast twice last night while (patiently) waiting to get out of O'Hare...
For me, it wasn't that these "reporters" and "experts" got their "facts" so inexcusably wrong...no doubt there are some very expensive Birkins out there...but I would argue that the vast majority are non exotic leathers, priced well below $60k... but it was their overall attitude towards the difficulty of buying a high demand bag.

First of all, to automatically assume that because someone is carrying an H bag is a stuffy, rich snob who will walk you into a trash can is absurd. Are bags status symbols? I would agree to a point, but most people, especially in NYC, are too busy minding their own business to care, let alone flaunt.

Second of all, to make remarks that allude to carriers of such bags were gifted these by rich husbands, SOs, or whatever, is downright insulting. Would I love to be fortunate enough to have someone I love gift me a bag? Oh heck yes! In fact, please share those secrets because my loved ones don't get the H obsession! But I have also met so many lovely ladies and gentlemen here on this forum who are doctors, lawyers, business owners, in a service industry, who can afford these luxuries on their own. Like many others here, I make, save, and spend my own money as I wish. And it is no one's business how anyone else does the same. Gift? Purchase? Something in between? Matters not to anyone else!

Which leads me to my final comment: the overall sour grapes attitude. I get it NPR reporters...you can't afford a Birkin, even if you took the time to actually learn and enjoy the history of Hermes and everything else it has to offer. But to criticize anyone who would spend their own money on an expensive bag, is quite hypocritical. Would they make the same comment about an expensive car, or boat, or vacation? And to close it out by calling the Birkin an "ugly box and the leather didn't even feel nice" is just petty and sour grapes. Actually....it sounds a bit like they're jealous.

Ok, rant over I was stuck in a snowed in airport watching flights get cancelled left and right so I had some extra time on my hands!

So sorry to hear that you're stuck at the airport but hoping that you can get out soon. Many of my co-workers listen to NPR but I couldn't care less what people are thinking of my Bs & Ks. I work hard for my money and will spend it anyway I want to.

 

[JRTgal]

I found this story so annoying and it's so badly done. They sound like twittering little girls instead of competent reporters. Also, they couldn't possibly speak about the actual average price of a Birkin without getting access to Hermes numbers so instead they just made up a number? Where do people come up with these numbers??

+1

It's depressing to me that this piece, ill-conceived and sloppy, passes as reportage these days.

 

[rosebud_7]

So sorry to hear that you're stuck at the airport but hoping that you can get out soon. Many of my co-workers listen to NPR but I couldn't care less what people are thinking of my Bs & Ks. I work hard for my money and will spend it anyway I want to.

Thanks! I was actually one of the "lucky ones" who got out of there....but it was an all night affair! Opted to take a flight to a different airport, then rent a car, drive to my original airport to drop off rental, pick up my own car, and eventually make it home! It was certainly an adventure!!

 

[Dany_37]

Every other year or so the media puts out some stupid article or report bashing the brand and buyers of it! It's all to get people rawled up yet Hermes sales remain on the rise. Who cares...I say live and let live...these people have nothing better to report on. some people have to put things down to justify their own inadequecies.

 

[EmileH]

I just listened. I won't even comment on the inaccuracies of the story. Or the obvious sour grapes attitude. And this actually isn't even the most infuriating and insulting report that I have heard on NPR. That would be the report where the claimed that c sections were more common in women who were not physicians than in female physicians because physicians are basically just like unscrupulous auto repair people who perform services that aren't needed to get money and it's harder to trick a female physician into the scam. Yes, I'm a physician. Yes, I was cursing at the radio driving into work. NPR has a clear bias and agenda against anyone with any degree of success or wealth. This is yet another biased story where they act oh so above it all and intellectual that they don't even bother to get their facts straight. So next time they call asking for a donation I will once again turn them down with glee. And perhaps ask why the executives for their supposed non profit organization take home huge six figure salaries and why they built a multimillion dollar building extending over the Massachusetts turnpike complete with an enormous video screen that serves only to distract drivers. That usually gets them off the phone quickly.

 

[pierina2]

You go, Pocketbook Pup!

 

[Monceau]

What a juvenile and asinine report, the lack of professionalism is disturbing on so many levels. I have friends at NPR and I believe they would be ashamed to be associated with such dribble.

Beyond the condescending tone and gross ignorance of facts, the bigger issue here is a total lack of appreciation for heritage and craft. Yes, there are people who buy things for name recognition only, but so many of us recognize the romance of the heritage, the dedication to quality, and the years of apprenticeship that are required to create these beautiful pieces. Hermes is a great symbol of a dying breed in all areas of design. I doubt the girls in the report have any appreciation for anything of quality- art, furniture, music, etc. Sadly, so many people of this generation do not have the desire, nor probably the sophistication, to observe, study, and develop a respect for craft. It's why we marvel at ancient structures, beautiful art, sublime music- the joy in appreciating the effort that went into them is one of life's great pleasures. There is certainly no shame in not being able to afford an Hermes bag, or even in not wanting one, but not to appreciate the craft is quite sad.

 

[bluerosespf]

I heard this when it came out (I subscribe to the podcast).

First I listened to it and was completely like "WTF?" Then, I told my partner about it and made him listen. He's my worst enabler with H because he loves the brand and always likes to visit the stores. He was like "wow, this is so far off base, it's crazy."

I actually tweeted Planet Money and said the report was misleading and completely wrong about pricing.

My partner emailed them and said (very eloquently I thought), that the way to get a Birkin is to be a good customer and appreciate the brand, and that H is well within its rights to "reward" its best customers with its most coveted bags.

Needless to say, neither of us got a reply.

The story actually made me question to quality of their other reporting. The only reason I didn't just accept what they said about Hermès as fact is my own personal experience with the brand.

The funny thing is I'm a HUGE public radio fan, absolutely stereotypical (except apparently my bag collection) down to my kale smoothies. I really thought NPR knew its audience better.

 

[Kyokei]

I have not heard the story, but I frequently see the prices of the Birkin very exaggerated in media reports.

 

[Kyokei]

I listened to this podcast twice last night while (patiently) waiting to get out of O'Hare...
For me, it wasn't that these "reporters" and "experts" got their "facts" so inexcusably wrong...no doubt there are some very expensive Birkins out there...but I would argue that the vast majority are non exotic leathers, priced well below $60k... but it was their overall attitude towards the difficulty of buying a high demand bag.

First of all, to automatically assume that because someone is carrying an H bag is a stuffy, rich snob who will walk you into a trash can is absurd. Are bags status symbols? I would agree to a point, but most people, especially in NYC, are too busy minding their own business to care, let alone flaunt.

Second of all, to make remarks that allude to carriers of such bags were gifted these by rich husbands, SOs, or whatever, is downright insulting. Would I love to be fortunate enough to have someone I love gift me a bag? Oh heck yes! In fact, please share those secrets because my loved ones don't get the H obsession! But I have also met so many lovely ladies and gentlemen here on this forum who are doctors, lawyers, business owners, in a service industry, who can afford these luxuries on their own. Like many others here, I make, save, and spend my own money as I wish. And it is no one's business how anyone else does the same. Gift? Purchase? Something in between? Matters not to anyone else!

Which leads me to my final comment: the overall sour grapes attitude. I get it NPR reporters...you can't afford a Birkin, even if you took the time to actually learn and enjoy the history of Hermes and everything else it has to offer. But to criticize anyone who would spend their own money on an expensive bag, is quite hypocritical. Would they make the same comment about an expensive car, or boat, or vacation? And to close it out by calling the Birkin an "ugly box and the leather didn't even feel nice" is just petty and sour grapes. Actually....it sounds a bit like they're jealous.

Ok, rant over I was stuck in a snowed in airport watching flights get cancelled left and right so I had some extra time on my hands!

I’ve noticed a lot of this lately: people mocking people for buying certain high priced items and acting as if they are better people for abstaining. While it isn’t Hermes, other day a popular post came up in my recommended feed on Instagram, comparing people who buy Louboutins with Aldos, saying that Louboutin wearers were wannabe models who go on dates for money and are in debt, or something… The other day a barista in a cafe I frequent made an inappropriate comment about my Clic H.

I don’t know, I tend to be happy for other people when they get nice things, even when they are things I don’t have/couldn’t afford/etc. It’s one of the reasons I stick around here on TPF. I love seeing everyone’s reveals and hope everyone gets their wish list items.

On a similar note, I also don’t understand the assumption that all women can’t buy luxury items for themselves and only get them as gifts, yet men seem to be able to afford all of the Rolexes and luxury cars they want. Nobody ever questions if it was a gift from their wife. And there is nothing wrong with receiving a nice gift, but to assume that is the only way a woman can afford luxury items is faulty.

Listening now and to be completely honest the entire podcast is ridiculous. I wouldn't say the average is around $60,000 it's probably more around $25k or $30k (still expensive for a handbag but also half the price of what they're stating). I don't think there is a strategy to reject and humiliate at all. Have I been completely ignored at certain stores? Yes, but I would never, ever say that Hermes has a "hazing process" for their customers.

I really don't see a problem with an established fashion house wanting to ensure it's (arguably) most famous and demanded item has somewhat of a clearance process. They also forgot to mention SA's don't get a commission, which, at least in my understanding, is part of the reason why they sell after you've purchased so many items from them.

Just my two cents

Speaking as someone who loves Hermes and doesn’t own a Birkin or Kelly, I actually really like their strategies for B/K/C/other sought after items. I dislike the way other brands give walk ins the same chances at getting rare items as the loyal customers who always shop there when there are a limited number in production especially.

I’ve had nothing but positive experiences in my store so far, not just from my SA (who is fantastic) but from the others as well. Keep in mind I also shop at a flagship store and even received wonderful treatment before I started regularly going there. And I don’t look like the image of typical luxury shopper or drop nearly as much money as many do in the store. Still excellent service over at Hermes and I genuinely feel terrible for anyone who’s experience was subpar and was put off to the company because of that.