I somehow knew this was happening all along!!!

[chicinthecity777]

Interesting reading. But unless we find out his source (which I think it's resellers), it's not really proving anything that we don't already know... I am surprised nobody has grassed your SA already. Is running a side line business along your main job OK in the U.S. ?

 

[newmommy_va]

Interesting situation OP... I'd be shocked too!!

With that being said... I don't see anything wrong with what this SA is doing, given the known facts. Of course, there are a lot of unknowns. Nevertheless, I personally wouldn't jump to conclusions about this SA, yet.

In any case... the only "inside job" here is the connection between an SA and their client list. I don't see how this is substantively different than an SA recommending a great restaurant to visit. Do we assume a kickback in that case, too? Who knows? Is it wrong if there is? At this point, I don't see a problem with the referral system in place.

As for the reseller... given the volume of brand new birkins in hot new colors available through any number of businesses... access to a reseller doesn't seem terribly difficult. Maybe this one prefers to be quiet? Then again... M.T. started the reselling of bags quietly, too. Maybe that's the model that this reseller prefers?

In any case... as long as the reseller is a business that acknowledges its lack of affiliation with Hermes... it's doing the same business that many other resellers are doing. Alternatively, I was recently looking for a Hot Wheels car for my son online and could only find it on eBay. In stores, it's $0.99. Online, it's $50!! That's a significantly bigger markup than most Hermes Birkins on the reselling market.

For many of us, we know very little about SAs personal lives in general. So, who knows how many other SAs act as referral systems, between one client who has something another client may want to purchase... with a concierge fee included? It's not reselling when personal shoppers charge a fee, is it?

Good luck Amacasa... certainly I understand the reluctance to purchase a Birkin this way or find out that one's SA is a go-between for a reseller. Of course... if you try your luck at a boutique or purchase from a reseller... in the end, that's ultimately a personal decision. There are advantages - either way.

 

[jmen]

. . .if you try your luck at a boutique or purchase from a reseller... in the end, that's ultimately a personal decision. There are advantages - either way. [/QUOTE]

Normally I wouldn't advocate going reseller route but let me clarify the term reseller. Anyone who resells is a reseller. However there are professional resellers who do it for a living and who jack the prices sky high. If I had no qualms about the amounts charged by professional resellers, I probably would go this route without hesitation. Reason being, one circumvents all the crap dished out at the boutiques. DH has traveled abroad and has seen it himself as have we here in the U.S. Is it worth the aggravation, the lies, the rudeness just for the privilege of handing over $$ for a luxury good.?

If anyone wants to avoid the H boutique insanity, you may want to consider starting a relationship with Cuffs. Btw, they do charge and sends on leather goods. They carry scarves, sweaters, purses, wallets -- the whole shebang. I have worked with them in the past and will continue to do so, especially after the debacle last weekend at Tysons. The KD bougainvillea that was supposed to be on hold was sold to someone else. I found out when I got there --4 hours of driving for nothing.

 

[am2022]

Thanks for all thoughts ladies! At this point I probably would wait until my next trip to get to an H store as I personally love walking around and window shop anyways. It's the flying and driving that I hate!
Jmen I'm sorry about your ordeal!
I'm just 3 hours from seattle and I refuse to be tempted into driving there unless I am in the area for something else ... I personally know myself... I can get friendly and addicted easily .. if an SA starts holding things for me, my life will turn upside down ... Hence a casual text here and there is fine for now!

 

[ninunani]

Good morning H ladies!!!
I have read several threads with regards to Hermes Resellers getting brand new colors and putting it up on ebay with a huge mark up.
Having done some travels in the past few years ( no H store locally), I had somewhat felt that there is a big game going on as far as who gets this most coveted H bags ... but never had direct evidence... well until last night.... And I wanted to share this with everyone as Im still dumbfounded ..

I have a big love for anything Phoebe Philo - I respect her talent and followed her at her time at Chloe and then she disappeared from the limelight... When she reappeared at Celine, obviously I followed each and every collection... she's a breath of fresh air when it comes to RTW, Shoes and bags.. She does have her misses here and there... But she is an artist so she is totally forgiven..

Anyways, I usually get my Celine stuff from Barneys - I have SAs scattered in New York, Arizona, California...

Each time a new Celine bag/ shoe becomes available , my Barney's SA will usually text me pictures ... Last night - I had told my SA ( can't divulge name for now) that Im really not over my duffel yearning - Been waiting for 2 years for my next Europe trip so i can get a Sophia Coppola bag - but then the YSL Duffel 12 in Gray is so lovely - so I asked him about that...
And he said that the YSL was indeed lovely in person...
He then texted me a new vuitton bag that hasnt even reached the floors and he was able to snag for a customer..
After that, he asked me if I liked H bags as well ( as we usually talk everything and anything Celine) ... and I said perfect if he can get me an H bag.. then I don't have to fly then if I can use my H credit from my last trip...
Then what he texted were all brand new Birkin bags in all the New Colors and also a brand new CDC in ombre lizard which I so adore... and then the prices that he texted were all marked up....
Im so shocked I haven't even texted back..

Well.. That is quite normal down here in london .
I know a SA who is working in harrods shoes department getting hermes bags all the time for resell purposes .. He has connection to H store in every london boutique.
So.... I guess they do have some sort of 'deal' going on between SAs..
Also I had a friend who works in the H store .. He sells B/ K to customers with a marked up price privately..so ....I am not surprise at all.
Even a manager of one H store sells bag to all customers privately with a marked up price all the time.
That is why I prefer FSH .. At lease we stand a slim chance to get a bag by walking in.

 

[QuelleFromage]

This doesn't really surprise me. I mean, we know in every H boutique the resellers come every single day to hang around and try to get bags. It makes sense that they'd work in the area (a high end area with a Barneys, etc.) and/or that they'd work in retail.
The first time my husband bought me a Birkin he had to go to the boutique constantly to try to wear them down and he saw the SAME guys there every day (yes guys)...the SA told him she was giving him the bag because she knew all the others hanging around were resellers.

I can't fault the guy really - he has a client list that loves bags and probably gets a better "commission" from the H reseller than from Barneys. It's all up to us as customer whether we want to pay!

 

[lulilu]

I do find it hard to believe (or I guess I just don't want to believe) that Hermes SAs are selling bags at high prices. Every boutique seems to be closely monitored by the SD, who has to approve sales of birkins and kellys (and perhaps other bags).

 

[QuelleFromage]

It's not necessarily Hermes SAs selling bags. Some do, and many are slipped a kickback when selling to a reseller.
There are also prime H customers - I know one, married to a billionaire- who make secret pocket change by offloading Bs (and some Ks) to resellers. Doesn't matter if you have a jet - it's nice for them to have untrackable cash, and their SA will never know if they wear that UV/RT SO Birkin.
Then there are the pro resellers, who "live" at the boutiques, and while I would think most of them are slipping cash to SAs, I am sure they have all kinds of methods.
This is just how it works. We love the maison, but we also deserve to know what internecine arrangements are being made.