Since I obviously didn't see the rejected Birkins, I cannot speak to the experience of the OP, but speaking in generalizations, I think perhaps there is a bit of overreaction among some buyers. Yes, it is each customer's right to hold whatever standards of perfection he wishes, and of course when purchasing something as expensive as an Hermes bag, any of us would expect an item in flawless (undamaged) condition. That said, I am a little troubled when folks post, for example, that they would never deign to purchase a bag not presented to them in a shrink-wrapped box, or when someone expresses outrage that a new bag shows some slouchiness. When I find myself obsessing about every tiny sign of wear and tear, I remember that the thing is not a trophy: These are handbags, meant to be handled and carried and filled with stuff and even--gasp--occasionally put on the floor, and the minute you drive a bag off the lot it is no longer pristine, so perhaps a little tolerance for the variability of leathers and the idiosyncrasies of handmade leather products might be indicated? Just a thought.
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