Lifers, When Will You be Done With Hermes?
- Thread starter etoupebirkin
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
I can't believe it's been 14 years! Fourteen for me, too!! That's The Cap'n's entire schooling---he's off to college next week.Also, being here for 14+ years, I’ve developed friendships and community here. Very few people in my friend group IRL understand Hermes or luxury shopping. Coming on TPF Hermes and VCA is a fun, generally judgement free zone where I can share pics and comments. I NEVER post pics of my luxury goods on Facebook et al.
All I can say is come here for H info, and stay here because of the peeps.
This is a great place to find others who also appreciate somewhat niche, definitely frivolous, beautiful things.
This leads to another possibly unpopular opinion, I love all the little strange H things that would not be appealing to most people. My favorite place to browse is in the home/office/misc. areas in the stores. I love to see the absolute creativity of the brand.
Ok....Here we go.
Hermes if it carries on like this will kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
By that I refer to its aura of exclusivity and luxury and timeless elegance.
I was introduced to the brand in my early teens by my mother who loved the perfume and silks and told me the bags and clothing were the epitome of elegance and quiet luxury (I use the term quiet as in not bedecked with logos like the other luxury brands of that era Dior,Chanel and LV) I am 62 now so I'm going back to the early 1970's.
Once I started to earn my own money I would always 'treat' myself to a small affordable piece of H (a notebook, bracelets, perfume, silks etc..)
Hermes felt 'special' going into the stores up until around 5 years ago felt special.
Now I can't bear going into the stores ,my home store I can still just about handle because I message my regular SA ask if they're around and usually manage to get round the stupid queuing system by arranging a set time-even then the experience is not what it once was because it feels a bit manic with other customers interrupting us.
The new visibility of the brand and popularity with 'influencers' Kardashians, and the like is actually becoming a turn off.
The multiple resale sites selling BNIB at vastly inflated prices makes the brand a symbol of wealth rather than elegance and quality.
The fact my friend got mugged getting out of her car and the gang that mugged her took her Rolex and literally emptied the contents of her Birkin onto the pavement leaving Laptop, iPad , two mobile phones and wallet containing cash and cards But kept the empty bag says a lot to me.
Hermes is putting out the message that to have a bag requires a vast pre-spend.
Therefore as a brand it is starting to yell "MONEY!!!!"
Not taste not refinement not even luxury just money.
This makes me sad.
Hermes if it carries on like this will kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
By that I refer to its aura of exclusivity and luxury and timeless elegance.
I was introduced to the brand in my early teens by my mother who loved the perfume and silks and told me the bags and clothing were the epitome of elegance and quiet luxury (I use the term quiet as in not bedecked with logos like the other luxury brands of that era Dior,Chanel and LV) I am 62 now so I'm going back to the early 1970's.
Once I started to earn my own money I would always 'treat' myself to a small affordable piece of H (a notebook, bracelets, perfume, silks etc..)
Hermes felt 'special' going into the stores up until around 5 years ago felt special.
Now I can't bear going into the stores ,my home store I can still just about handle because I message my regular SA ask if they're around and usually manage to get round the stupid queuing system by arranging a set time-even then the experience is not what it once was because it feels a bit manic with other customers interrupting us.
The new visibility of the brand and popularity with 'influencers' Kardashians, and the like is actually becoming a turn off.
The multiple resale sites selling BNIB at vastly inflated prices makes the brand a symbol of wealth rather than elegance and quality.
The fact my friend got mugged getting out of her car and the gang that mugged her took her Rolex and literally emptied the contents of her Birkin onto the pavement leaving Laptop, iPad , two mobile phones and wallet containing cash and cards But kept the empty bag says a lot to me.
Hermes is putting out the message that to have a bag requires a vast pre-spend.
Therefore as a brand it is starting to yell "MONEY!!!!"
Not taste not refinement not even luxury just money.
This makes me sad.
@Cinderlala
The Cap’n’s going to college!!! Yikes, where does the time go…
DD is a medical resident and DS is 31. Ouch.
Back to topic. I am not through with Hermes per se, I just buy things on reseller sites. I found a grail Shawl this morning and bought it so fast your head would spin.
The DC store is a pain in the neck to go to, parking is dicey and expensive, and it takes an hour to get there. Unless I have a reason to be downtown, I’m not going there.
Whoops, ETA, my reading comprehension is off today. I come to TPF because I like reading about Hermes. Sometimes I read the struggle journey posts like watching Gomez Addams crash model trains — irresistible and awful and entertaining all at once. As I said before, the OGs and many, many members are great friends.
The Cap’n’s going to college!!! Yikes, where does the time go…
DD is a medical resident and DS is 31. Ouch.
Back to topic. I am not through with Hermes per se, I just buy things on reseller sites. I found a grail Shawl this morning and bought it so fast your head would spin.
The DC store is a pain in the neck to go to, parking is dicey and expensive, and it takes an hour to get there. Unless I have a reason to be downtown, I’m not going there.
Whoops, ETA, my reading comprehension is off today. I come to TPF because I like reading about Hermes. Sometimes I read the struggle journey posts like watching Gomez Addams crash model trains — irresistible and awful and entertaining all at once. As I said before, the OGs and many, many members are great friends.
Last edited:
Love of the brand may be how each of us found our particular subforum niche. But, I don’t think it’s the main reason why we stay. In fact, many OGs find the new member QB fixation (which is a form of brand love) tiresome. The Hermes subforum used to be a very tightly knit group that got to know each other and form real friendships. It didn’t matter if one had to give up a starbucks habit to save for a bag or if one had an unlimited shopping budget. I left for a number of years bc I became fatigued. And, I rejoined many years later, bc TPF distraction was very welcome especially with Covid SIP.
I will chime in with my unpopular opinion that Hermes doesn’t actually care if its customers buy across categories
And that there is no secret formula or magic, but the generic big business mentality of a premier luxury brand. The bottom line remains strong no matter what clients purchase.
ETA: While I generally agree with @maxroxxherhandbags, I don’t think Hermes is in any danger of killing the golden goose. I think it lost its aura of exclusivity and luxury a long time ago. IMO, by definition, a premier big brand cannot be true luxury. After paying their PR, Advertising, runaway and event costs; real estate; infrastructure; and appeasing shareholders, quality product is not exactly top of mind
for long time clients, I think it would have been very easy for Hermes to have a corporate policy of special orders.
Last edited:
Agree. There's so much to love at Hermes. I am enjoying the ready to wear now and don't mind spending on quality. I love getting bags... but I don't only shop there to be able to purchase bags. When your SA sends you photos of items for first opportunity to purchase or items that are not even on the website - that feeling of being special or having something not everyone can walk in and get... feels good to me.
I will be done with Hermes when they cart my lifeless body out of the King of Prussia mall. 
I enjoy seeing the new bags and other things that people share. Occasionally I see something that I would like and I either have an SA find it or I decide I don’t need it.
Most of the time I decide I don’t need it. If H goes down to 1 qb a year (but influencers keep posting 4 or more) I’ll probably quit the brand, but I’m not there yet.
I’m over 15 years of buying I have acquired almost 40 bags (quota and not) really, I don’t need much more stuff.
Most of the time I decide I don’t need it. If H goes down to 1 qb a year (but influencers keep posting 4 or more) I’ll probably quit the brand, but I’m not there yet.
I’m over 15 years of buying I have acquired almost 40 bags (quota and not) really, I don’t need much more stuff.
I'll admit, OP.. I had to read your initial post a few times to actually understand what you are asking. Based on the responses here thus far, I'd assume that a lot of what you are asking is still being missed. H*ll, maybe I missed it, too. Who knows. It's been a loooooong week already, ha! 
My interpretation here is that you are specifically referencing legacy buyers/collectors that have voiced frustration with the Hermes "game" as it exists currently, and that you are essentially asking - if it's so bad, and you are so over Hermes, why continue to frequent this forum? Feel free to correct me as, again, this is just my interpretation of your post.
So anyhow, to answer... I guess for me personally, I still like the community. I like to see what others are being offered. I like to see photos of new colours. I like to see action shots and wildlife sightings. I also like to read the shopping subforum as I do find others' experiences interesting. I also still really like to chime in when I actually know something about something, and I also like to read posts by my tPF friends when they chime in.
This isn't to say that I'm over Hermes - I just don't personally care for the vocab and isms used so constantly here. The use of the term "journey," referring to SAs as "H fairies," et al. The vibe is also kind of a turn off for me with respect to the constant rhetoric surrounding the quest for quota bags. Outside of that? I love this subforum. I love the usual posters. I love the sharing of information. That keeps me coming back, if only to read and admire.
My interpretation here is that you are specifically referencing legacy buyers/collectors that have voiced frustration with the Hermes "game" as it exists currently, and that you are essentially asking - if it's so bad, and you are so over Hermes, why continue to frequent this forum? Feel free to correct me as, again, this is just my interpretation of your post.
So anyhow, to answer... I guess for me personally, I still like the community. I like to see what others are being offered. I like to see photos of new colours. I like to see action shots and wildlife sightings. I also like to read the shopping subforum as I do find others' experiences interesting. I also still really like to chime in when I actually know something about something, and I also like to read posts by my tPF friends when they chime in.
This isn't to say that I'm over Hermes - I just don't personally care for the vocab and isms used so constantly here. The use of the term "journey," referring to SAs as "H fairies," et al. The vibe is also kind of a turn off for me with respect to the constant rhetoric surrounding the quest for quota bags. Outside of that? I love this subforum. I love the usual posters. I love the sharing of information. That keeps me coming back, if only to read and admire.
+1 with @jenaywins re why we stick around the subforum. A lot of us have moved to premier branded fine jewelry, so it’s nice to see friends there. There is a continuity; even if you take an extended hiatus of many years from TPF, when you return, you can easily slip back in. TPF is very brand oriented, so many find a niche that way. We used to meet much more in person a decade ago. Wall Street H, back then, was the relaxed friendly H, like the bar in Cheers, and it was literally almost a TPF weekly meet there. Some of us would also travel to see each other.
I’m nearing the end of H bag collection and I’ve collected since 2008. I’d like a smaller toile birkin, and some vintage pieces. I just told my SA specifically I’m not in a rush bc I carry almost nothing and don’t use the bags I own (I range from 23-30 H bags, mainly BK, including my prior favorite, 4 30Bs). This year, I got a 25B and 25K, both sellier, as is my preference, and sometimes even they are too big. BUT, mini K’s that I’ve seen are too precious and feminine for my style. I honestly carry a TPM or mini Loewe puzzle mainly to Whole Foods or errands. A real bag might come out when I hang out with TPF friends IRL (we go shopping or out to eat). Perhaps a HAC a Dos might be good, but I honestly like my mens saddle bag just as much. I would love to fall in love with a bag, but I’m not sure that will be Hermes.
Since Covid, I’ve given away my JPG Birkin to a dear friend. Currently a bunch are out on loan to another friend who is trying to decide what first h bag would be good. (She’s a working mom that lugs stuff around) so ive given her my 35 fauve barenia trimII, phw, that i elongated with a belt to be crossbody. I never wore it and it was a Covid deal for 600 USD. I also loaned her two B 35s (one toile); B30; K28 retourne; K32 sellier; Victoria 35; TGM picotin (the huge one). I don’t really miss them. They were all pretty heavy even empty. I told her to feel free to keep them this summer and use them until end of September. She‘s careful and responsible, and I kind of want them to incur someone‘s cost per wear even if not mine lol. ETA: I’ve gotten my own cost per wear out of the bags I give away, and I’d rather they go to a happy home.
I buy more H RTW now. It used to be a relatively good deal compared to chanel, dior, and brunello, but prices are climbing. the last piece I bought was 10K for a toile leather jacket that was well constructed (the head of RTW told me there were only 3 units for North America Which IMO means H is not yet really serious about RTW). I’m not entirely convinced the RTW in general (stretchy things, sweaters, big coats, t shirts) are as well made as chanel or as nicely fitted as dior, but a few pieces are really cute. i like H St Louis crystal, and H furniture, but since Paltrona Frau used to manufacture much of it, it might be just as easy to buy PF. I am thinking about one or two H benches. I don’t want to wait two years for dishes, so I bought hand painted custom ones from Marie Daag and Hering Berlin. The magnifying glass that is shaped like an eye might be a good gift for many in my life lol.
If I see something that I fall in love with, I would be absolutely thrilled to purchase. I adore my local SA. He has great taste and knows mine. When I told him I didn’t know where to go from here re bags, I meant, I didn’t want to collect a bunch of neutrals in size 25 as I did with size 30. That would be drudgery, like ticking a box. And a specialty piece would end up as a closet ornament aKa for my imaginary life. I’m cheap about some things, so no inclination towards exotics at retail prices. I also have a RTW appt with my FSH SA in the fall; hopefully I will see something new and fun there. They have a more expansive RTW buy than Madison. I have to be careful bc if you have shopped and curated RTW since the 1990s, closet space is always an issue.
i used to own a lot of chanel bags (1990-2008 mainly), until I started with Hermes. i rehomed most of those to friends and family, but then I saw a cute so black mini chevron reissue, so I bought that in 2020. I like reseller bc I love deals and patinated heritage leather, but I try now to buy only what I know I will use.
ETA: when H started making nail polish and lip gloss. . . That was a big tip off that corporate is after something besides luxury lol. When my first SA left Hermes, I stopped shopping the boutique for 9 years? (I bought a lot of fabulous reseller deals and commissioned art bags) If my current SA were to leave, I might not stop cold, but I’d certainly make room for wherever he went next.
I’m nearing the end of H bag collection and I’ve collected since 2008. I’d like a smaller toile birkin, and some vintage pieces. I just told my SA specifically I’m not in a rush bc I carry almost nothing and don’t use the bags I own (I range from 23-30 H bags, mainly BK, including my prior favorite, 4 30Bs). This year, I got a 25B and 25K, both sellier, as is my preference, and sometimes even they are too big. BUT, mini K’s that I’ve seen are too precious and feminine for my style. I honestly carry a TPM or mini Loewe puzzle mainly to Whole Foods or errands. A real bag might come out when I hang out with TPF friends IRL (we go shopping or out to eat). Perhaps a HAC a Dos might be good, but I honestly like my mens saddle bag just as much. I would love to fall in love with a bag, but I’m not sure that will be Hermes.
Since Covid, I’ve given away my JPG Birkin to a dear friend. Currently a bunch are out on loan to another friend who is trying to decide what first h bag would be good. (She’s a working mom that lugs stuff around) so ive given her my 35 fauve barenia trimII, phw, that i elongated with a belt to be crossbody. I never wore it and it was a Covid deal for 600 USD. I also loaned her two B 35s (one toile); B30; K28 retourne; K32 sellier; Victoria 35; TGM picotin (the huge one). I don’t really miss them. They were all pretty heavy even empty. I told her to feel free to keep them this summer and use them until end of September. She‘s careful and responsible, and I kind of want them to incur someone‘s cost per wear even if not mine lol. ETA: I’ve gotten my own cost per wear out of the bags I give away, and I’d rather they go to a happy home.
I buy more H RTW now. It used to be a relatively good deal compared to chanel, dior, and brunello, but prices are climbing. the last piece I bought was 10K for a toile leather jacket that was well constructed (the head of RTW told me there were only 3 units for North America Which IMO means H is not yet really serious about RTW). I’m not entirely convinced the RTW in general (stretchy things, sweaters, big coats, t shirts) are as well made as chanel or as nicely fitted as dior, but a few pieces are really cute. i like H St Louis crystal, and H furniture, but since Paltrona Frau used to manufacture much of it, it might be just as easy to buy PF. I am thinking about one or two H benches. I don’t want to wait two years for dishes, so I bought hand painted custom ones from Marie Daag and Hering Berlin. The magnifying glass that is shaped like an eye might be a good gift for many in my life lol.
If I see something that I fall in love with, I would be absolutely thrilled to purchase. I adore my local SA. He has great taste and knows mine. When I told him I didn’t know where to go from here re bags, I meant, I didn’t want to collect a bunch of neutrals in size 25 as I did with size 30. That would be drudgery, like ticking a box. And a specialty piece would end up as a closet ornament aKa for my imaginary life. I’m cheap about some things, so no inclination towards exotics at retail prices. I also have a RTW appt with my FSH SA in the fall; hopefully I will see something new and fun there. They have a more expansive RTW buy than Madison. I have to be careful bc if you have shopped and curated RTW since the 1990s, closet space is always an issue.
i used to own a lot of chanel bags (1990-2008 mainly), until I started with Hermes. i rehomed most of those to friends and family, but then I saw a cute so black mini chevron reissue, so I bought that in 2020. I like reseller bc I love deals and patinated heritage leather, but I try now to buy only what I know I will use.
ETA: when H started making nail polish and lip gloss. . . That was a big tip off that corporate is after something besides luxury lol. When my first SA left Hermes, I stopped shopping the boutique for 9 years? (I bought a lot of fabulous reseller deals and commissioned art bags) If my current SA were to leave, I might not stop cold, but I’d certainly make room for wherever he went next.
Last edited:
Yes, the mods moved my question over to this new thread from the "lessons learned" thread, so some of the prior context got cut out. Actually, my question isn't so much about "lifers, when are you done" - there's the thread about "how many bags is your limit" for that. My question was posed after a bunch of lifers were saying that they were disgruntled with the way they were being treated these days - having to fight with newbies for BKCs - after 6- or 7- figure lifetime spend.
My question, then, to these folks was this: if you're really unhappy with H and are saying you'll swear off H, what keeps you coming back to these forums? Do you think you'll go back to H in the future if their selling practices change?
And I like the answers that I got above, which reflect my own experience - these forums are highly addictive, and we're.... kinda cool to be around, even if we're all anonymous and spread out all over the world.
My question, then, to these folks was this: if you're really unhappy with H and are saying you'll swear off H, what keeps you coming back to these forums? Do you think you'll go back to H in the future if their selling practices change?
And I like the answers that I got above, which reflect my own experience - these forums are highly addictive, and we're.... kinda cool to be around, even if we're all anonymous and spread out all over the world.
I'm not sure I would be considered an old-timer since I've only been shopping at my local H for about 3 years, but I am one that can see H's standpoint of prioritizing a new client that has spend potential. I think most can relate in that after your first birkin or kelly, or first special order, that you ended up spending even more with the brand after that. They have to continue to build their customer base to make up for those that, for whatever reason, are done shopping or have moved on.
I think what gets me though, as time goes on, is a lot of these new clients -- a lot of them just turn around and sell anything and everything that they are getting from the store, completely brand new, with tags -- within days, minutes, or often proposing to others that they'll go buy what they want from the store and just immediately sell it to them (glorified personal shopper). It all degrades my perception of the products and the brand, and even more so when you then see these same folks getting coveted items, bags or regardless. It's all just a little oxymoronic for a brand that will tell you it's about your "love" for the brand, loyalty to store/brand, etc to me. It sometimes can feel that H takes advantage of those truly loyal customers, and they firmly place their bet that they will just continue shopping, because heck -- the reality is that most of us do.
As far as when I will be "done" -- I have a specific list of items that I do want to still acquire, over time. But my desire for adding bags has really quickly waned, especially this year due to the above and I do see my shopping interests continuing to wander elsewhere the longer this all goes on.
I think what gets me though, as time goes on, is a lot of these new clients -- a lot of them just turn around and sell anything and everything that they are getting from the store, completely brand new, with tags -- within days, minutes, or often proposing to others that they'll go buy what they want from the store and just immediately sell it to them (glorified personal shopper). It all degrades my perception of the products and the brand, and even more so when you then see these same folks getting coveted items, bags or regardless. It's all just a little oxymoronic for a brand that will tell you it's about your "love" for the brand, loyalty to store/brand, etc to me. It sometimes can feel that H takes advantage of those truly loyal customers, and they firmly place their bet that they will just continue shopping, because heck -- the reality is that most of us do.
As far as when I will be "done" -- I have a specific list of items that I do want to still acquire, over time. But my desire for adding bags has really quickly waned, especially this year due to the above and I do see my shopping interests continuing to wander elsewhere the longer this all goes on.
Last edited:
I’ve posed this question elsewhere - esp since I can never seem to get anything online - they sell out in nanoseconds, literally! Where are these resellers taking all these items? I mean, surely the resale websites have a lot of inventory they’re working through as well? Are they really selling that fast, without the assurance of direct-from-h.com or boutiques?
