Hermes Repair/Refurbish policy - Official Spa Thread

[QuelleFromage]

I have a vintage 35 kelly that I have decided I don't need and will sell. But the handle is dry and has just recently come apart from the bag. I have some questions and wonder if anyone can help...

How much is it currently to replace the handle?

Is it better to replace the handle than to sell, or should I sell and let the buyer sort out the handle? I would rather just sell the bag as is, but if I am going to recoup the value of the new handle and quite a bit more in the purchase price, perhaps I should consider replacing the handle first.

Lastly, (and this is not related to the handle) I had the hardware on this vintage bag replaced w silver hardware some time ago. Does it hurt the resale value of the bag to have it be silver? I have the old brass hardware, and also could have it changed to gold if I have the handle replaced before I sell it.

Well, from my experience a Kelly handle is $1200-$1500 USD but I have seen lower quoted here recently. They are usually gentler on vintage repair. But it will also take time.

That said, a bag with no handle will be hard to sell.

Does a hardware change affect the value? If it isn't aligned with the stamp, IMO very much so. I'm assuming you have a gold stamp to go with the brass HW. I love palladium HW too - I feel like most vintage lovers prefer gold, but older PHW Kellys are much more rare.

In he end it is marketing. If a buyer thinks there are many repairs, they will expect a lower price, and most buyers don't have a great sense of what a repair will cost. So you want the bag as close to usable as possible. Ideally you want someone who will love the bag for what it is, not what it could be

 

[ccbaggirl89]

my mom has a bag from 2001/2002 and now wants to wear it crossbody... does anyone know if they will add length to an existing short strap? it's swift leather and not sure on the model name. she found a leather person who will do it but i said maybe just go back to Hermes if they offer the service. does anyone know? thanks in advance.

 

[nicole0612]

my mom has a bag from 2001/2002 and now wants to wear it crossbody... does anyone know if they will add length to an existing short strap? it's swift leather and not sure on the model name. she found a leather person who will do it but i said maybe just go back to Hermes if they offer the service. does anyone know? thanks in advance.

Most likely not, unless it is a bag with a detachable strap; then she can order a matching strap in a longer length.

 

[ccbaggirl89]

Most likely not, unless it is a bag with a detachable strap; then she can order a matching strap in a longer length.

thank you. it's not detachable, that would be ideal!

 

[LuxuryBagAdicted<3]

Hi everyone,
my dream came true last week. After many years of waiting I got my first birkin!
Black birkin togo leather with ghw in the size 30 [emoji177] I am so in love an so freakin happy [emoji7]
I wanted to tie a twilly on it and noticed little cracks on the left flap, the right one has nothing like this. Is this normal?
I would be very greatful for your help [emoji254]
First photo is the left side, second the right side without any problems

 

[MSO13]

Hi everyone,
my dream came true last week. After many years of waiting I got my first birkin!
Black birkin togo leather with ghw in the size 30 [emoji177] I am so in love an so freakin happy [emoji7]
I wanted to tie a twilly on it and noticed little cracks on the left flap, the right one has nothing like this. Is this normal?
I would be very greatful for your help [emoji254]
First photo is the left side, second the right side without any problems View attachment 3861016View attachment 3861017

To some members, this is normal. To others, they consider it "defective". The only thing you can do it bring it into the store and discuss with the staff if you feel it's an issue.

In my opinion, better cameras on phones combined with larger screens are emphasizing stuff that isn't visible from a foot away from the bag. Leather is a skin, it has texture and grain and when it is pulled tightly by the stitches, the grain can be emphasized. It's not cracking in my opinion, more like deeper grain or wrinkles. The edges of the sangles/straps look clean with good resin so I wouldn't worry about it but it's not my bag. Best of luck with it!

 

[PJW5813]

I have a vintage 35 kelly that I have decided I don't need and will sell. But the handle is dry and has just recently come apart from the bag. I have some questions and wonder if anyone can help...

How much is it currently to replace the handle?

Is it better to replace the handle than to sell, or should I sell and let the buyer sort out the handle? I would rather just sell the bag as is, but if I am going to recoup the value of the new handle and quite a bit more in the purchase price, perhaps I should consider replacing the handle first.

Lastly, (and this is not related to the handle) I had the hardware on this vintage bag replaced w silver hardware some time ago. Does it hurt the resale value of the bag to have it be silver? I have the old brass hardware, and also could have it changed to gold if I have the handle replaced before I sell it.

If the handle is in such bad condition that it has come apart from the bag, that calls into question the condition of the rest of the bag. You describe it as vintage - but what exactly do you mean by that? You need to consider what might the value of a similar bag be in good condition? Somewhere around 3000. It could cost you half of that to have the handle replaced and they might insist on doing a spa as well. This will take months. Would you not be better to cut your losses and try and sell it first; if that fails consider the prior repair/refurbishment option.
You really do need to be aware of the likely resale value before you spend anything on it.

 

[PJW5813]

Hi everyone,
my dream came true last week. After many years of waiting I got my first birkin!
Black birkin togo leather with ghw in the size 30 [emoji177] I am so in love an so freakin happy [emoji7]
I wanted to tie a twilly on it and noticed little cracks on the left flap, the right one has nothing like this. Is this normal?
I would be very greatful for your help [emoji254]
First photo is the left side, second the right side without any problems View attachment 3861016View attachment 3861017

You did not say where you sourced the bag.
Your concerns look more like natural grain lines in the leather than crack.
The only way to get comet peace of mind is to take it into Hermes and get an artisan to discuss it with you.

 

[LuxuryBagAdicted<3]

Thank you for your amswers.
I scorded my bag regularly in a boutique.
On the photo it looks like its the leather itself, thats what I thougjt first too. But when I touch this part it feels like there are cracks like you cut the leather with a knife, hard to explain. It looks and feels like there are cuts.
I am new to Hermes bags so I didnt know what this could be.
And ya MSO13 you are so right, you can only see this when you search for it. As I told you, I was tieing my Twilly and then noticed these "cuts".
I send the Pictures to my SA too and asked if this is normal.
I am not sad ird angry, I will definitely keep this bag, it was my holy grail Bag [emoji177] but as I said I am new and I just wanted to know what this could be
Thank you for your answers and advices [emoji254][emoji4][emoji4]

 

[MSO13]

Thank you for your amswers.
I scorded my bag regularly in a boutique.
On the photo it looks like its the leather itself, thats what I thougjt first too. But when I touch this part it feels like there are cracks like you cut the leather with a knife, hard to explain. It looks and feels like there are cuts.
I am new to Hermes bags so I didnt know what this could be.
And ya MSO13 you are so right, you can only see this when you search for it. As I told you, I was tieing my Twilly and then noticed these "cuts".
I send the Pictures to my SA too and asked if this is normal.
I am not sad ird angry, I will definitely keep this bag, it was my holy grail Bag [emoji177] but as I said I am new and I just wanted to know what this could be
Thank you for your answers and advices [emoji254][emoji4][emoji4]

I understand and you should bring it in if you're worried but as long as the resin and top layer of skin are in good shape, you should be fine! H will service it if there's a problem so while that's inconvenient it's nice to know they look after their products.

I currently have a bag heading to spa soon and a gold bracelet that is getting one tiny link repaired because I foolishly almost cut the diamond off with high carbon shears accidentally! It's nice to know they can fix these things we enjoy.

Enjoy your bag, it looks beautiful!

 

[LuxuryBagAdicted<3]

Here is my baby [emoji7]
Thank you so so much for your kind words and for the help and advices [emoji294]️
Its good to have this communinty to share things, ask for help, opinions and talk things out, especially when you are a newbie to some things
Thank you all [emoji177]

 

[ChloeSS]

some update from Hermes HK, the SA refused to service the vintage birkin bag that we want to send in. She said the leather is so dry and repairable! They will not touch this bag as the leather is going to crack soon. She told us the only way is to use the bag more often. Then I asked her about sending in my Kelly for conditioning as the togo feels a bit dry. She said the craftsman don't perform just leather conditioning. You must have something for them to repair in order to send in the bag to spa. Or something requires deep cleaning ie milk poured onto the bag etc. This is weird.

 

[PJW5813]

I believe that if a bag is accepted by H for spa or repair, H would expect to return it to the customer in 'good as new' condition. This is born out by the before and after reports posted here.
The way you have described both of your bags ('so dry and [ir]repairable' and 'feels a bit dry') suggests that the condition of the leather of both could be such that they are beyond what H would hope to be able to achieve.
Because of this, they would not be accepted.
Leather is amazing in many ways for its durability, but once dried out there is a point beyond which it cannot be brought back.

 

[okiern1981]

some update from Hermes HK, the SA refused to service the vintage birkin bag that we want to send in. She said the leather is so dry and repairable! They will not touch this bag as the leather is going to crack soon. She told us the only way is to use the bag more often. Then I asked her about sending in my Kelly for conditioning as the togo feels a bit dry. She said the craftsman don't perform just leather conditioning. You must have something for them to repair in order to send in the bag to spa. Or something requires deep cleaning ie milk poured onto the bag etc. This is weird.

An alternative would be to speak with docride in the leather care forums and see what she would advise to do since H won’t take either of them for refurbishment. You can also google and contact someone like leather doctors who are highly regarded in other threads as well.
Were I in the same situation, I’d start with Docride, and go from there!

 

[ChloeSS]

An alternative would be to speak with docride in the leather care forums and see what she would advise to do since H won’t take either of them for refurbishment. You can also google and contact someone like leather doctors who are highly regarded in other threads as well.
Were I in the same situation, I’d start with Docride, and go from there!

Thanks all. It’s not my bag. It’s a bag I planned the buy. But after seeing the bag. It is outside my comfort zone and I passed the bag at the end because the seller didn’t disclose the full condition of the bag before the trade. She said she will sell to another person

I am quite surprised that the Sa refused to take the bag for any further treatment. I assume nyc or Paris will take the bag to clean it probably? But since they don’t clean the interior. It won’t help much as there were so much white mouldy stuff inside the bag as well as a strong mouldy smell.