How to get my first Birkin (fast)?

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incrediblem3

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Mar 2, 2008
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#1
Hi! Firstly I'd like to thank all of you for this wonderful forum! I'm new to TPF and have already spent half a day here-I love TPF so much I can't even describe it!!!

Now secondly I've got loads of questions about Hermes and Birkin in particular. Any help from you would be much appreciated:)

I'm turning 22 next month and graduating from university in 3 months, and thought getting myself a Birkin would be the perfect way of celebriting all this. After reading posts here I thought a 35cm Rose Shocking/Fuchsia beauty would be great. However, since I am quite short (5" 1) and Asian (so rose shocking would go better with my skin tone?), I'm not entirely sure if this pick would be suitable for me, especially I'm due to start working in July (I'd like to use for both work and play).

Are the colour and size style/age appropriate? Can you please offer some advices/comments on this?

Also, from what I've read on the forum, it will be DIFFICULT for me to get a Birkin in London. And even getting myself on the waitlist could be quite a task. What else can I do apart from calling all 4 Hermes stores in London everyday? Should I go into the stores to show my 'loyalty' now and then?? And how much does it really cost if I go for a non-exotic version???

Sorry for asking SO many questions, but I'm on a really steep learning curve as this is the first time I've ever seriously thought about getting a Birkin. Please please please help me with my first Birkin purchase ever!

Thank you so much for your time! xx
 
#2
If you're in London, why not hop on the Eurostar to Paris for a visit to the "mothership"? It's much more likely you would get a Birkin on your visit, but you cannot be fussy about the colour – I don't think rose shocking / fuchsia is as easily available, especially since they are making the new colours now.

If you like rose, there is a muted salmon-pink colour called "rosy" that is new for SS08. The colour goes well with many oriental skin tones (you did not mention whether by "Asian" you mean South Asian or oriental – if South Asian, then rosy might not be as good as fuchsia). It would probably be easier to get rosy than rose shocking/fuchsia.

Leather birkins in 30 cm start from EUR4,900 and up.
 
#3
Congratulations on graduating soon.

The fastest way, you asked? Through resellers. It's the truth.

Whilst Roxane is right in saying that it's faster to get a birkin at FSH than most other H stores, it's probably worth mentioning that some times, walk-in customers are denied Birkins. Sorry to say this, but it's true.

Rose Shocking comes in Chevre Mysore only, and it's reserved for smaller bags and small leather accessories. You won't be able to get one in a 35cm, sorry.

As for Fuchsia, it's been a very long time since I've seen Fuchsia (the popular skin used in the past was chevre de coromandel) and chevre de coromandel is no longer available. It's left to be seen if the new skin chevre mangalore is going to come in Fuchsia.

Rosy as mentioned by Roxane, only comes in Swift. It's a pretty colour. If you like your birkin slouchy, then a Rosy Swift 35cm would be something worth checking out for yourself.
 
#4
fushia only comes in ostrich and croc these days(previously used non exotics were epsom and chevre de coromandel) and well rose shocking in a birkin is also impossible in a 35 as mrs rightfully said! and rosey well i have yet to see that color in a birkin only lindys clutches and small item until now . also getting these colors as a not regular customers (as it has to be a SO which are rare)will a be a task in itself seriously your best bet are resellers maybe they can locate your dreambag i am keeping my fingers crossed for you
 
#6
mrssparkles said:
^^ thank you for posting, lilach! I love it when you post. All the nuggets of H knowledge I am acquiring! :yahoo:
Click to expand...

thank you very much my dear my pleasure.
also you know rose shocking birkins are also quite rare only a couple of them have been made (and of them mostly are 25 ) ;)

to the opener. sorry that my answer sounded harsh or offputting but unfortunately that is the way it is and i believe each and every memeber onhere has her story of things one sets an eye on that are just very hard to get or sometimes not at all. so you see you are not alone as much as we all love H sometimes it can be frustrating so heads up :flowers:
 
#7
I don't think you'll have much luck in London or the UK stores and certainly no fast results. I should definitely try the eurostar or an easyjet flight to Paris and try your luck there. Even if it takes a few visits, afterall, it's no hardship to go to Paris is it! You might just hit the jackpot or fall in love with what you see, at the least you'll be able to try on for size. Read through and search all the posts in the forum about scoring in Paris, right times, stores etc.

I got my Birkin in Paris in January as a walk-in This was after about 18 months of waiting, asking and hoping in the UK not to mention the thousands of pounds spent. I don't regret a penny spent as I love all my scarves and accessories, shoes, bags even! and I only really wear Hermes accessories these days but unless you love the whole range then it's a false economy to try and 'buy' loyalty. If you truly just want a Birkin and no other Hermes, then Paris is the place to try or a trusted seller on ebay (please authenticate evrything on this forum) - even at the inflated prices, it is very likely to be cheaper than buying bits and pieces at the store to build up loyalty - they add up to the cost of several Birkins over the months!

best of luck
 
#9
forget to add regarding london. the problem with that store (or any store in a capital with a lot of spending power for that matter) is you are competing with a LOT of already established high spending VIP clients and naturally the store will prefer to cater to them before even considering a not known not high profile client . and it is not only h it is every and each "luxury" brand is it fair? probably not but this world is not fair and they are companys after all striving for profit and in order to do this they pamper their highest spending clients and try to do everything not to miff or upset them.

there once was (many years ago) an incident a store i frequent where a new sa sold a bag a regular was interested in to a walk-in.well the client found out the sa and the whole staff of that store got sacked and H lost millions of $ as that client of course informed all her friends etc. from that point on that particular store for example has the rule no birkins/kellys for walk ins all the bags coming in have to be offered to clients starting from top of the clientele list (again i am not judgeing that client and won´t comment if i find that behaviour or the corporate reaction fine or not just stating why some stores are unbelievable hard towards new customers )
 
#12
^^^ Very shy :shame:... but was intending to, since it is a new colour and everyone's curious. Unfortunately have been laid low (really low) by flu bug for past several days :crybaby:, and today, when I am beginning to feel better, the weather is not co-operating! Will try to take some photos in sunlight tomorrow :yes:
 
#13
so glad to take a look into this thread when I saw msS & lilach posting.... :tender:

& now I know about the 'pink' family & availability. Thanks!

Roxane, will you be posting here or start a new thread?
 
#14
Thanks everyone for the advices! Although I have to say i'm quite depressed about the London situation, I still appreciate so much for all your inputs!
And now a post-exam trip to Paris is under planning, since I don't think buying my way into existing client list in London is that practical (much of the accessories apart from few designs of scarves and boots are not age-appropriate for me really).
Hopefully I'll have much luck there despite it being May:) And I'll keep popping into the London stores to see if I get super lucky. After all, I've actually heard a story of a store in London selling one to new customer, though it was black...

And I'm just curious, as I don't really mind the wait, what are the chances of getting onto the waitlist in London? Do I need to buy 5 scarves in 1 week for that?
 
#15
And I'm just curious, as I don't really mind the wait, what are the chances of getting onto the waitlist in London? Do I need to buy 5 scarves in 1 week for that?

Hi, i called the bond st store in Aug and was put on their waitlist for a birkin without any hassle. i am not a regular client and not particularly fond of any other hermes items.
my mother purchased a birkin a few months ago and she was not on any waitlist. i think you should call ahead and talk to an SA, you never know what might be on offer. there is too much hype around waitlists and having to buy other hermes items, this is not always the case IMO.
good luck
 
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