I have the ultimate story to share about my experience with shelf Birkins that many of you wont believe. After discovering Hermes Birkin in 2007 I went to FSH store in Paris and asked for the bag so I can get it as present. At that time I had no idea that the Birkin involves sizes, leathers, many colors etc. I asked an SA if I can get one and her reply was, "and who are you?". I was shocked to be honest! How can someone who works in a store benefit from this condescending manner? So I did my research about Hermes and especially the infamous Birkin. I found out about the waiting lists and how Birkins are available in "limited" quantities. I also researched how to obtain them. That research was extremely successful to this day. You can say that it was my life mission to obtain these bags without actually waiting LOL.
I used this research for the first time in the Dubai store during the end of that year. I walked into the store and found one walk in to be exact, it was a 35B in shiny black poro croc with diamond hardware. I asked the SA if he has any Birkins and pointed at the amazing black croc. I knew he was lying
After talking to him, using my new found knowledge, for a while and told him exactly what I want he excused himself for a minute to talk to the manager. The manager came and greeted us, I was happy that their attitude was different than the Paris store. Surprisingly he said, "We have three Birkins available and two Kellys". As this is a Birkin thread I will only share the Birkins. He had:
35B Orange with GDH
30B Black with PDH
30B Blue Roi Ostrich with PDH
We were interested in all three bags actually. All Birkins were welcome at that time and we left the store with 3 bags. This was the first story.
After a couple of months in London, we were in the Hermes store in Bond st. There were two Birkins available on the shelves:
30B a dark shade of green in shiny poro croc with diamond hardware
30B Meil in shiny nilo croc
They also had a 35B gold in togo with PHW in the back.
We left the store with the Meil croc.
During 2008 we were extremely lucky with Birkins. We left with a bag from every single store we visited. But they were never shelf Birkins always from the back.
2009 was an extremely different story and I can say it was the best year for us obtaining Birkins. It all started in Dubai once again. 30B Fuschia shiny poro croc with PWH on display. Left the store very happy with the bag
Second stop was VEGAS! The Hermes store in Bellagio shops which is relocated now.
On shelf was:
30B Etoupe (i think) with PHW
35B Havanne shiny poro croc with PHW
and a 40B Orange with GHW which came home with us.
They had both white and black in togo with GHW in the back.
Next stop was the Wynn Hermes store which is also in Vegas.
They had on display:
35B a dark blue shade and toile with PHW
and a 35B fuschia togo with PHW which was in the back but went home with us
Next stop was the South Coast Plaza Hermes store in LA.
These were on display:
40B dark brown with PHW
35B dark blue with PHW
25B ombre lizard with PHW
which went home with us.
They had a 35B rouge garrance in the back with GHW and a few neutral colors.
Next stop was the San Francisco Hermes store which was STOCKED very well.
They had these on the shelves:
30B vert anis in swift with GHW
35B gold togo with GHW
25B shiny red lizard with GHW
25B matte brown lizard with PHW
Two croc Kelly's were on display and a few birkins in the back.
Left with the vert anis, gold and the red lizard! It was a good day!
The next stop was a store on the East Coast. I wont share which store as I still frequently go there and have a close relationship with the manager. This stop was probabely the best Hermes stop anyone could imagine.
There was only a croc kelly in display in a horrible matte dark shade of brown which looked used. There was also a tiny 25B in black with PHW which didnt interest us.
I talked to the SA and was treated with a bad attitude. It reminded me of the Paris trip LOL. I asked her with some "Hermes" questions that she didnt know the answer to and excused herself with a smile. Seconds later the manager introduces herself and asks me if Im looking for something in particular and told her every single bag i was looking for LOL. She was surprised with my Hermes knowledge, which im sure many of you have and more, and said I might have a few of what youre looking for. She said few, remember that.
At first they came with two boxes.
35B Raisin togo with PHW
40B Raisin togo with PHW
I was interested in the the 35 and told them that we will take it. She told me, "Wait, we have more". It was the first time I hear that in a Hermes store.
They came back with 4 more boxes.
35B Rouge garrance with GHW
40B Rouge garrance with GHW
35B Blue Jean togo with PHW
30B Etoupe with PHW
I was interested in two of these.
I asked for the 25B in normal leathers and they had:
25B Jaune (yellow) with GHW
25B Vert anis with GHW
25B Orange with GHW
They looked cute but for the normal leathers i preferred bigger sizes
They took them back again and brought two more.
This time they were exotic...
25B Vert anis shiny lizard with PHW
30B gold ostrich with GHW
I was interested in both but ended up with one of these
They brought another box. It was a croc.
a beautiful 35B Shiny Rouge poro croc
I was definately interested!
I thought it was over. But there was one more. Maybe the most beautiful Birkin I have seen.
She brought the box. It didnt open like any other box. The top was like a cover and it remained open when you lifted it. The bag was suited inside perfectly fixated in a shell that was created for it.
a 35cm Birkin in Amethyst Shiny Porosus Crocodile with a pave diamond hardware.
What did I get after this trip?
35B Raisin
35B Rouge Garrance
35B Blue Jean
30B Gold ostrich
and of course the Amethyst diamond birkin! LOL who am I kidding I ended up getting the Rouge Croc which was still an amazing peice!
5 Birkins from one shop. Yes it is possible! I have shared this story with family and friends and at first of course they didnt believe me. Until they saw the actual bags.
Next and final stop of the year was the NYC madison av. store.
On display they had a Red Croc Kelly with diamond hardware
and on top of it was the Amethyst Croc again
they shipped it to NYC for display.
They had on display:
30B Vert Anis Croc with PHW
30B Etoupe (i think) with PHW
30B in a dark blue shade with PHW
I left with the Vert Anis Croc!
I think I had enough Hermes for that year and I promised myself the madison store was the last ill go to until the following year. Like I said 2009 was an amazing year for me with Hermes. I still cant believe my luck with the stores that year.
And like everybody whos familiar with Hermes you cant just leave with the Birkins. You need to buy other Hermes items for them to continue to give you Birkins. And thats exactly what I did. It wasnt a good year for my bank account though LOL
Anyways this is my first time sharing this story on TPF and I wanted to for a long time. This thread was perfect in sharing this story and I hope you have enjoyed it.
Never give up! If you cant find it on the shelf its probably in the back
happy a TPFer got it!
