Unless you get a walk in through Paris or some other location, you will need to spend a fair amount, shop reasonably consistently, shop across categories (ie non leather goods) etc. So if you love H products and there are other things you would buy over a period of time, the store route makes more sense. If not or if the colour you want is rested, the reseller route makes more sense. I am waiting for my quota bag and I am kinda of out of H things that I want except bags (which don’t generally help you get a bag). Maybe the new S/S offerings will tempt me but I am sort of getting sick of the whole game but too far into the process to go reseller now.
Is it worth it to get a Kelly bag in-store vs. pre-loved?
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So well put! And a total reminder that the private room experience < so many other milestones in life! Thank you!Here's my personal feeling....yes, it's really nice to have that "magic moment" of unboxing your bag in a private room at Hermès, anywhere. But is it worth playing some huge purchase game? No. It's just a cool moment of brand experience which frankly is part of what they are selling.
If you don't want a bunch of other things, keep trying the boutiques and yes try Paris if you're going to be there anyway or it's an easy trip...but to me a moment at retail is not a reason to avoid resellers.
Kelly 25 is definitely hard at retail. Green and yellow will be easier than any pink.
In the end, what lasts is that you have and love and enjoy the bag. At the prices we pay it has to be something you love that much. The moment of obtaining it fades pretty quickly. It's not like actual important moments in life like meeting the love of your life, a wonderful achievement at work, a wedding, finding out you are pregnant, a huge promotion, time with your child or your parents
ETA: Of my Kellys that I currently own, three are boutique (plus a mini K) and two are not only pre-loved but vintage. I get equal joy from each.
Well said QuelleFromage!Here's my personal feeling....yes, it's really nice to have that "magic moment" of unboxing your bag in a private room at Hermès, anywhere. But is it worth playing some huge purchase game? No. It's just a cool moment of brand experience which frankly is part of what they are selling.
If you don't want a bunch of other things, keep trying the boutiques and yes try Paris if you're going to be there anyway or it's an easy trip...but to me a moment at retail is not a reason to avoid resellers.
Kelly 25 is definitely hard at retail. Green and yellow will be easier than any pink.
In the end, what lasts is that you have and love and enjoy the bag. At the prices we pay it has to be something you love that much. The moment of obtaining it fades pretty quickly. It's not like actual important moments in life like meeting the love of your life, a wonderful achievement at work, a wedding, finding out you are pregnant, a huge promotion, time with your child or your parents
ETA: Of my Kellys that I currently own, three are boutique (plus a mini K) and two are not only pre-loved but vintage. I get equal joy from each.
I am in a similar situation except I got my dream quota bag (black K25) from my SA last month so not on a bag hunt right now. Personally I do enjoy the H store shopping experience (bag and non-bag items) and I have a great SA that I bond well with. But I’m also at the point now where I am happy with what I’ve collected (bag and non-bag items) and a bit tired of all the ramped up spending. After a while i’ve noticed this almost obligatory, push-pull dilemma where we don’t want to spend anymore unless it’s something we truly love but at the same time we hope to find things to love so it gives us a reason to spend at H.
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Here's my personal feeling....yes, it's really nice to have that "magic moment" of unboxing your bag in a private room at Hermès, anywhere. But is it worth playing some huge purchase game? No. It's just a cool moment of brand experience which frankly is part of what they are selling.
If you don't want a bunch of other things, keep trying the boutiques and yes try Paris if you're going to be there anyway or it's an easy trip...but to me a moment at retail is not a reason to avoid resellers.
Kelly 25 is definitely hard at retail. Green and yellow will be easier than any pink.
In the end, what lasts is that you have and love and enjoy the bag. At the prices we pay it has to be something you love that much. The moment of obtaining it fades pretty quickly. It's not like actual important moments in life like meeting the love of your life, a wonderful achievement at work, a wedding, finding out you are pregnant, a huge promotion, time with your child or your parents
ETA: Of my Kellys that I currently own, three are boutique (plus a mini K) and two are not only pre-loved but vintage. I get equal joy from each.
Gotta requote this.
Same sentiment.
But of course it's all because I don't have the patience. Life is short; get the bag now.
I think it depends on your preferences. Some don't care much for the H brand; or at least, they do not perceive the ancillary objects sold to be worth the price tag. For instance, one may like the bracelets but perhaps not to the tune of $600+. Arguably those that feel this way are not the ideal Hermes customer 'deserving' of the Kelly bag. These customers should stick with the resale market, if only for their own sanity of not spending thousands of dollars on things they don't particularly like just for the mere chance of getting offered a bag. I'm personally in this subset: I appreciate and admire Hermes, but in spite of my ability to afford their goods I find their items waaaaay overpriced. I have zero shame admitting this.
On the other hand, you may have no problems building up a beautiful collection of items that you love. You may be willing to take as much time as needed to get offered a bag of your exact choosing. Maybe you are flexible about the kind of Kelly you're willing to take with regards to size/color, or at the very least can exercise even more patience to be offered a bag to your liking. If this is you then yes, wait for the in-store offer. If you want 0 doubts about the bag's authenticity then the store route is the only option--for me personally, if it's good enough for Bababebi then it's good enough for me. But again, this ain't about any of us and our preferences.
On the other hand, you may have no problems building up a beautiful collection of items that you love. You may be willing to take as much time as needed to get offered a bag of your exact choosing. Maybe you are flexible about the kind of Kelly you're willing to take with regards to size/color, or at the very least can exercise even more patience to be offered a bag to your liking. If this is you then yes, wait for the in-store offer. If you want 0 doubts about the bag's authenticity then the store route is the only option--for me personally, if it's good enough for Bababebi then it's good enough for me. But again, this ain't about any of us and our preferences.
I know that getting an Hermes Kelly bag in-store is no small feat. I've read that if you want to buy one in the US, you need to build up a sales record with an SA, and that if you want to get a bag in Paris, it's a pretty big gamble whether or not you'll get an appointment.
(Honestly, that kind of excites me haha -- it feels like the bag would hold more meaning if you have to work for it.)
But I also know you can just buy a Kelly bag online. My gut feeling is that going through the process of getting one in-store would be a lifelong memory. But is it really worth it to go through the trouble just for the in-store experience?
I'd love to hear your personal thoughts and what you think.
If all you are interested in from Hermes is a Kelly, then I would suggest going to a reseller. Sure, you can get lucky and get offered one at FSH or at your local boutique, but do you want to potentially spend thousands of dollars on things you don’t care about? I feel like I see posts to the tune of ‘I spent X this year, when will I get my offer?!’ all the time. And what if your SA is not helpful? Or leaves the company right after you built a relationship? The process is only truly enjoyable if you would be doing it anyway because you are interested in all the other Hermes items.
I think etrier’s comment was said “tongue in cheek,” ie, sarcastically. All you have to donus get an appointment. Yes, good luck with that. I’m looking for a Kelly too. 28 cm for me. I have a 32 sellier and a 35 retourne from the preloved market. The 28’s are marked up several thousand dollars. I wish I could get one from H!You mean, "if you get an appointment"![says me who tried 6x and failed to get any (appointment, that is) in October]. Good luck though and keep us updated on whichever route you decided on!
Yes, I know and I was being naughty as well!
Say, how do you find your K35? Do you carry lots of stuff in it? I know what you mean about K28 - I'm waiting for mine, which hopefully will come in sooner rather than later.
Hi WKN. I love my K35 in Togo. I do not overload my bags in the least. Nothing is stacked on top of another. I like that I can carry a water bottle or small purchase or scarf, yet still find everything without digging. I don’t worry so much about the durable leather & retourne style, I enjoy splaying her wings out casually, so it serves a very different purpose than my K32 sellier, which is more “proper” and elegant. I still believe that a K28 sellier in etoupe would be one I would carry most frequently. I’m not sure if I would sell one of my others though (including B30), as I truly love them all! But I definitely prefer Kelly to B.Yes, I know and I was being naughty as well!