I would imagine prespend isn't as high in austin as it is in say Madison or BH. My home store is in Houston and I experienced something similar to you for my first QB. I took an unintended break from H but my SA didnt forget about me while I was away. I picked back up this year but the second QB isnt coming as quickly as the first.
Spend threshold for B/K/C
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How long have you been waiting for your second QB since you picked back up? I’m working on my second QB at my store (also second QB of 2024) and keep reading that the second one will be harder and/or take longer…
I started back up at the beginning of January and received an offer for a C18 today that I respectfully declined. YMMV especially since you already received an offer this year. Two a year is not a hard and fast rule.
I purchased my first Birkin (B30 gold on gold) from my SA in August 2022. I purchased my second Birkin from them in April 2024. However, they had offered me numerous bags (7 or 8) in the interim. My first offer after my gold Birkin, a B25 in orange which I declined, was about five months later.
I suspect that perhaps the second offer can 'seem' to take longer in coming because we now have at least one bag and thus are slightly less eager and can also be more discerning. While I did decline a couple of offers before I accepted my gold Birkin, I was terrified I might not get another offer. Once I had accepted an offer, I had no problem declining offers of bags that weren't quite right hence a lengthy wait between accepted offers.
Makes sense. Was the B25 in orange a surprise offer or did you have something similar on your list?
total surprise - I declined because I had a B25 (from FSH) and, more importantly at the time, it had PHW which was a dealbreaker for me. Somewhat embarrassingly, I accepted a K28 in orange with PHW a few months later in Paris
In my home store in the US, I had the first quota bag, Birkin 30, back in November 2023. I am still waiting for my second QB. The second QB will be in box leather (i.e., BBB 35), which is only offered through "push offer" according to this Forum. Does the "push offer" mean a longer wait time? TIA!
Yes and your store may never get those specs since it’s a push offer. If you’re looking to get something sooner you may offer your SA other options in terms of leather and/or color.
Thank you. If that's the case, I may have to tell my SA that I would no longer be interested in the box leather. Not sure why this leather is so hard to get... Oh well.... Thank you for your insight...!
Of course! I have box leather on my wishlist as well but it’s more of a “would be amazing” and not something I am holding my breath for. I know how hard they are to get.
I’ve been told that box leather is relatively scarce bc much of what is produced doesn’t meet quality control, and epsom is the result (of failed box). At Duret, a leather artisan in Paris, I’ve seen his collection of hides, among which is 50 year old Box leather, and it’s amazing.
In addition, the boutiques do get complaints from clients who unrealistically expect their box bags to remain pristine. New clients may not understand that the patina arises from the inevitable network of scratches that are repeatedly polished and burnished into the box leather glow. Hermes spa is always pleased to see well cared for vintage box.
To tie this back into prespend, these characteristics of box is why box leather doesn’t get offered simply to those that spend more. It’s really for those who love it. And, some of us who do love it really feel that vintage* box is the best.
*I prefer box Kelly bags that are early 2000s, so have the beginnings of patina but also the double rings for the strap. So technically not vintage
Years ago, Claude at Madison replaced a 1985 BBK28 handle and provided double rings, but I’ve been told differing reports as to whether Spa will do that today. Have not had a handle replacement recently, so haven’t tested this.
In addition, the boutiques do get complaints from clients who unrealistically expect their box bags to remain pristine. New clients may not understand that the patina arises from the inevitable network of scratches that are repeatedly polished and burnished into the box leather glow. Hermes spa is always pleased to see well cared for vintage box.
To tie this back into prespend, these characteristics of box is why box leather doesn’t get offered simply to those that spend more. It’s really for those who love it. And, some of us who do love it really feel that vintage* box is the best.
*I prefer box Kelly bags that are early 2000s, so have the beginnings of patina but also the double rings for the strap. So technically not vintage
Years ago, Claude at Madison replaced a 1985 BBK28 handle and provided double rings, but I’ve been told differing reports as to whether Spa will do that today. Have not had a handle replacement recently, so haven’t tested this.
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I would extend what @880 said about box not being offered to everyone to other heritage leathers like Barenia. So spend thresholds for B/K/C don’t necessarily apply when discussing heritage leather QBs.I’ve been told that box leather is relatively scarce bc much of what is produced doesn’t meet quality control, and epsom is the result (of failed box). At Duret, a leather artisan in Paris, I’ve seen his collection of hides, among which is 50 year old Box leather, and it’s amazing.
In addition, the boutiques do get complaints from clients who unrealistically expect their box bags to remain pristine. New clients may not understand that the patina arises from the inevitable network of scratches that are repeatedly polished and burnished into the box leather glow. Hermes spa is always pleased to see well cared for vintage box.
To tie this back into prespend, these characteristics of box is why box leather doesn’t get offered simply to those that spend more. It’s really for those who love it. And, some of us who do love it really feel that vintage* box is the best.
*I prefer box Kelly bags that are early 2000s, so have the beginnings of patina but also the double rings for the strap. So technically not vintage
They will add the double rings if there is leather available. I bought a beautiful vintage kelly in ardoise box, but after a thorough search after being sent to Paris spa, they didn’t have enough leather to remake the handleI’ve been told that box leather is relatively scarce bc much of what is produced doesn’t meet quality control, and epsom is the result (of failed box). At Duret, a leather artisan in Paris, I’ve seen his collection of hides, among which is 50 year old Box leather, and it’s amazing.
In addition, the boutiques do get complaints from clients who unrealistically expect their box bags to remain pristine. New clients may not understand that the patina arises from the inevitable network of scratches that are repeatedly polished and burnished into the box leather glow. Hermes spa is always pleased to see well cared for vintage box.
To tie this back into prespend, these characteristics of box is why box leather doesn’t get offered simply to those that spend more. It’s really for those who love it. And, some of us who do love it really feel that vintage* box is the best.
*I prefer box Kelly bags that are early 2000s, so have the beginnings of patina but also the double rings for the strap. So technically not vintage
or to make a strap, so I ended up rehoming her. Next time if I buy pre-2000, I would def stick with black box bags.Thanks for the helpful comments. I just want a black Birkin 35 w/ palladium hardware and am pretty much indifferent in terms of leather types. (I want to avoid togo if possible as I already have 3 bags in togo.) My SA, on the other hand, has emphasized that I should get a Black Box Birkin. (I then said yes to this.) But, if no one knows when it would come, I would rather get the same bag in a different leather type and move on. I think it still depends on the SM though... Thanks, all!
Anyone that got a MK2 recently mind sharing your spend? Just want to gauge the market, thank you!