Hermes Repair/Refurbish policy - Official Spa Thread

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I wasn't asking for authentication. The sales associate brought it up. I just wanted to purchase spa services for my authentic bag.

The SA told me that they were "cracking down" on accepting Birkins without paperwork. I asked what paperwork she was talking about and she said, "your authentication paperwork." I was puzzled because I didn't understand what she was asking for -- then she said that I either needed to be the original purchaser or have the receipt for them to even consider my bag for services. I told her that my aunt was dead, and this piece was part of her estate. I didn't know how I would come up with any sort of authentication paperwork, and she said - we cannot accept your bag. That's harsh.

I would try another Hermes store. I asked Hermes FSH and customer service and they said no receipt necessary, although I do have the original receipt. You can also email Hermes customer service, have them reply and show the email to your store....
 
I just emailed customer service and told them I purchased my Birkin bag from a friend I have no receipt and if I will be allowed to have repairs done. I told them I want the handles resin redone and I was advised to take it in to the nearest boutique and that they no longer allow bags to be mailed in.
 
Hi, I purchased an Hermes Evelyne and it was pretty much destroyed. The trim/binding was hanging off, it was originally a dark navy, but it was so faded that it looked grey-ish, and the strap was just about grey it was so washed out. Surprisingly, the leather on the strap was in great shape, showed the true navy color and the hardware wasn't so bad either, just needed to be polished. So I sent it to Rago Brothers to restore. They assured me that this was not the first time they'd seen an Hermes in that state and could re-dye it and sew the binding back on. I am comfortable with Rago because they've done repairs on my Chloe Marcie and Prada messenger previously, each time with wonderful results.

So, I said all that to ask.....

Does that disqualify or void the authenticity of the Evelyne because I'm having it re-dyed/restored? Or does is reduce the value of the Evelyne?

I appreciate your feedback.
 
Hermes won't accept the bag for repair if work like dying or stitching or hardware replacement/repair has been done elsewhere. As to it affecting authenticity, if your repair person removes, changes or obscures details that are used to assess authenticity, then yes, potentially. Extensive repairs generally affect resale value, no matter what you are selling, unless the item is so rare or in demand that a potential buyer might not care as much. Evelynes are plentiful so I doubt someone would pay market resale rates for a heavily restored/repaired item.
 
Hermes won't accept the bag for repair if work like dying or stitching or hardware replacement/repair has been done elsewhere. As to it affecting authenticity, if your repair person removes, changes or obscures details that are used to assess authenticity, then yes, potentially. Extensive repairs generally affect resale value, no matter what you are selling, unless the item is so rare or in demand that a potential buyer might not care as much. Evelynes are plentiful so I doubt someone would pay market resale rates for a heavily restored/repaired item.

Thanks for your input. Though the bag was dyed, nothing was replaced. The trim was just hanging off so they're reattaching it. And they were careful around the Hermes gold stamp. I guess I'm ok with whatever the value is, I don't want to sell it, I plan to give it new life & carry it as long as I can.
 
I just received my black box Kelly 28 and the seller did not disclose cracks and scratches. After talking to the seller, he/she agreed to pay me $50 compensation for the undisclosed damage. Honestly I don't think this is fair considering the repair price from H, but I'm also curious to know if this can be fixed on my own... please let me know you thoughts. IMG_1490475970.593712.jpgIMG_1490475984.124213.jpgIMG_1490475996.937350.jpgIMG_1490476007.132799.jpgIMG_1490476017.124501.jpg
 
I just received my black box Kelly 28 and the seller did not disclose cracks and scratches. After talking to the seller, he/she agreed to pay me $50 compensation for the undisclosed damage. Honestly I don't think this is fair considering the repair price from H, but I'm also curious to know if this can be fixed on my own... please let me know you thoughts. View attachment 3645909View attachment 3645911View attachment 3645912View attachment 3645913View attachment 3645914
I'm sorry to say this (and to go OT), but this damage can't be repaired without replacing the entire piece of leather - cracks are permanent (scratches are normal on box) and there seems to be dryness also. The repair will be high. I would never buy a bag with cracks unless it were literally at a flea market price. There are SO many beautiful black box K28s with GHW at resale. Can you return this?
 
Good point! Thanks for sharing your experiences, this is really great to know :flowers: Black is quite forgiving anyway, and if it is only about the appearance of the handles, I don’t have much a problem with them (at least yet). I feel I can’t make an informed decision on the basis of what Hermès have given me so far, so if there is no way of getting through to them, I might as well skip the handles this time around.
Hi again - a belated update on my preloved Birkin 40 that was sent off to spa:

The SA was actually able to get back to the H workshop about why the handles needed replacing. I was told there were cracks in the leather after all, so took the decision to let them go ahead.

Not entirely sure I shouldn’t have gone with QuelleFromages suggestion to leave them be anyway, especially since the artisan seems to have made an effort to find equally smooth, worn-looking leather, while there is really nothing wrong with the grain on the rest of the bag - that really had me laughing. And with scuffed corners e.g., there is of course only so much you can do.

With an extra investment of this magnitude, I certainly could have gone for a bag in better condition from the start. But hey, water under the bridge, and I did get everything else right - size, colour, leather and HW. I really like my bag, and at least I am safe in the knowledge that I have done everything there is to be done, and that it now is as structurally sound as possible.

Frankly, there is not that much of a visible difference, so maybe not much point in before-and-after pics. But perhaps this helps:

Cost?
Approximately €935 for new handles (Clémence).

Time?
3 months all in all. About 1 month to get an estimate, then another 2 months until the bag returned from Paris.

Here is what else they did:
  • Clean + make up + finish
  • Reglue + finish side straps
  • Stitch + top gussets
  • Stitch top front panel
  • Redo 3 stop stitches (inside pockets)
  • Replace inside leather tab
I could easily post the exact charges for all the items in the list, but would just like to know if that would be ok before doing so.

Oh yes, and as most of you will already know, the original dustbag was replaced with a new one.

Now I have just sent off my Kelly Sellier 32 in Box Noisette for a clean (= item 1 in the list above). It has some water stains from a light shower and I already know that those will unfortunately not come out, but then they are not that bad. Funny though how such a sturdy little thing can also be so delicate.

No receipt required in either case btw.
 
I'm sorry to say this (and to go OT), but this damage can't be repaired without replacing the entire piece of leather - cracks are permanent (scratches are normal on box) and there seems to be dryness also. The repair will be high. I would never buy a bag with cracks unless it were literally at a flea market price. There are SO many beautiful black box K28s with GHW at resale. Can you return this?
I think I will return this, thank you so much for your input!
 
Hi again - a belated update on my preloved Birkin 40 that was sent off to spa:

The SA was actually able to get back to the H workshop about why the handles needed replacing. I was told there were cracks in the leather after all, so took the decision to let them go ahead.

Not entirely sure I shouldn’t have gone with QuelleFromages suggestion to leave them be anyway, especially since the artisan seems to have made an effort to find equally smooth, worn-looking leather, while there is really nothing wrong with the grain on the rest of the bag - that really had me laughing. And with scuffed corners e.g., there is of course only so much you can do.

With an extra investment of this magnitude, I certainly could have gone for a bag in better condition from the start. But hey, water under the bridge, and I did get everything else right - size, colour, leather and HW. I really like my bag, and at least I am safe in the knowledge that I have done everything there is to be done, and that it now is as structurally sound as possible.

Frankly, there is not that much of a visible difference, so maybe not much point in before-and-after pics. But perhaps this helps:

Cost?
Approximately €935 for new handles (Clémence).

Time?
3 months all in all. About 1 month to get an estimate, then another 2 months until the bag returned from Paris.

Here is what else they did:
  • Clean + make up + finish
  • Reglue + finish side straps
  • Stitch + top gussets
  • Stitch top front panel
  • Redo 3 stop stitches (inside pockets)
  • Replace inside leather tab
I could easily post the exact charges for all the items in the list, but would just like to know if that would be ok before doing so.

Oh yes, and as most of you will already know, the original dustbag was replaced with a new one.

Now I have just sent off my Kelly Sellier 32 in Box Noisette for a clean (= item 1 in the list above). It has some water stains from a light shower and I already know that those will unfortunately not come out, but then they are not that bad. Funny though how such a sturdy little thing can also be so delicate.

No receipt required in either case btw.
Oh wow that was pretty quick! I dropped my Kelly off in London in November and I can't wait to get her back so fingers crossed I'll get a call soon :) She was advised to have a new handle too and like you with the total repair bill I could possibly have got a better condition bag in the first place, but then I'm no Hermes expert and they found things I'd never have noticed so may have ended up with a big bill anyway. Either way I love her and will cherish her for many years to come so it's money well spent. I'm interested to hear you got a new dustbag. I didn't think they provided them anymore? I don't have an original one so it would be lovely if they do!
 
I just received my black box Kelly 28 and the seller did not disclose cracks and scratches. After talking to the seller, he/she agreed to pay me $50 compensation for the undisclosed damage. Honestly I don't think this is fair considering the repair price from H, but I'm also curious to know if this can be fixed on my own... please let me know you thoughts. View attachment 3645909View attachment 3645911View attachment 3645912View attachment 3645913View attachment 3645914
The leather here looks far too dry to bring back to life. Hope you can get a refund.:sad:
 
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