When it comes to buying H, how much risk do you take?

[addiCCted]

the consignor told us the color is —

Well there goes AFFs rep in my book….

11k sounds pretty reasonable for everything you described.

I told you, the color is _____”.

lol she actually sounds like a normal non professional person

eBay authenticate/pay with credit card so the fraud protection probably is your best bet if buying from store isn’t an option.

 

[880]

I am fond of reseller deals, but I agree with posters above. When in doubt, do without. There will always be others

 

[Love Of My Life]

All fair points.

A few thoughts:
The bag is from 2015. The seller has posted close up pics of the blind stamps. Obviously this can be faked but this isn’t a brand new bag

The bag is $11k. Not a “steal” where it seems off…but also not insanely priced.

It isn’t an exotic.

It isn’t a super desirable color (at least to most) but it is a color I’ve wanted for a while in GHW. majority of bags I see for sale in this color have PHW.

Seller has 99.8% positive feedback on eBay, been on eBay since 2009.

Downsides : tons of H inventory on her Instagram page which seems odd

Spotty communication

I asked for more photos to verify the color (it’s a color that changes a lot based on the light) and she responded back with “I told you, the color is _____”.

I will pass on this one. Too many concerns out there but I don’t have a local H boutique near me so relying on resellers is my option for now. Even the “best” are flawed.

Case in point, Anns Fabulous Finds has what I thought was the bag I wanted. When I did research, I realized that color I wanted wasn’t made in the year the bag was produced so it couldn’t have been the color it was advertised as. I inquired about that and although AFF was very kind about my inquiry, they responded with “the consignor told us the color is —— so we are taking their word for it…although we are not sure if she was the original owner” leaving the impression they blindly trust. Why not verify?

It just feels like if you don’t get it from a boutique, you have no way of knowing what you are getting, even from the most reputable of places …

Your other seller with spotty communication would leave me concerned
AFF should know every detail of the bag that is being sold.
A professional & responsible business should not solely rely on what a "consignor" says
Correct details speak loud & clear & reflect on a seller's reputation, JMO

 

[QuelleFromage]

I guess I have a high risk tolerance, but I don't have any issues with eBay. I have three bags I've bought on eBay (two Kellys and an HAC).
I buy from sellers with a long track record and perfect/near perfect seller feedback. Professional eBay sellers don't want to hurt their own reputations and will generally help solve any problems.
I usually authenticate with Bababebi prior to purchase (no, eBay does not use outside authenticators, they use their own team, one of whom apparently worked at Hermès - not that that is necessarily helpful). I always get a bababebi cert at some point, for any bag where I don't have a boutique receipt. I am also comfortable with my personal knowledge and ability to authenticate. (FWIW all my eBay-bought bags have been to spa.)
I always pay with PayPal using a credit card with purchase protection. Both eBay and PayPal will side with a buyer 99.9% of the time (just ask anyone here who sells on eBay). Amex and Chase Sapphire will cover purchases up to 10K with no questions asked.
I have purchased one H bag on eBay which was returnable; I did want to return it (this was a pure change of heart); it was a painless and easy process. I actually bought another bag from that same seller.
(I have also sold bags on eBay; the only reason I don't do this anymore is that it is too time-consuming and harder to do in the EU.)

I think it's very much up to one's comfort level with Hermès authentication; with knowing colors, leathers, and years; knowing the market and whether something is too good to be true; with assessing sellers; and with understanding payment recourse.

FWIW I have never seen a big reseller get H colors and leathers right 100% of the time; this includes Sothebys and Christies, where they literally have a team of "experts". So I don't necessarily get all bent out of shape if a description is off.

What I will not do is buy anything that's final sale (looking at you TRR) and I will never purchase from anyone who asks for bank transfer or any other irreversible payment method.

 

[880]

What I will not do is buy anything that's final sale (looking at you TRR) and I will never purchase from anyone who asks for bank transfer or any other irreversible payment method.

Agree with above. I also authenticate prior to purchase and pay with PayPal fee based service backed by Amex from well known, reputable resellers who accept returns. No bag of mine, from a reseller or boutique has ever been rejected by Hermes Spa, and by the time I pay for an item, I am 100% sure of its authenticity and condition.

 

[ClassicTwist]

I bought my Victoria off eBay, as my SA said he’d not seen one in store for years.
Terrifying but I used Bababebi and was comfortable with the risk once she’d authenticated.

 

[papertiger]

I am too risk adverse to buy anything I cannot inspect myself before purchase. IMO, the amount of money involved is just too great to be able to either 'throw away' and/or the amount of time and emotional stress should anything go wrong impossible.

 

[Jem131]

I am a risk averse person but lately, I am on a hunt for a B30 in a very specific color and HW combo and within my budget.

There are 2 sources who have the bag. One is Rebag (which I have read awful things about) and the other is a seller on eBay with good ratings but descriptions aren’t the best (I found that she listed the bag as a 2014 when it was a 2015), after I pointed it out, she fixed the listing title but not the description, and I have reached out several times with other questions and she isn’t responsive.

Part of me says with eBay authentication and using PayPal, what’s the worst that can happen…but I also suspect that is the desperation talking because I have been looking for this specific bag for over a year.

How much or a risk taker are you if you find the “perfect bag” under less perfect circumstances?

I only shop boutique to avoid the stress of wondering whether a purchase is authentic. I have no sense of desperation because I know what I want will eventually become available.
I am so glad I shopped with Hermes long before the current madness began. I remember what it was like to visit the store and see bags everywhere, even what it was like to see loads online once H’s website was developed.
I hate the current craze, which created the fake and super fake markets and wish the madness would die down for awhile.

 

[cravin]

There was a thread a couple years ago where a lady took her bag to spa and they confiscated it to be destroyed. BBB stood by her authentication and I don’t think we a final outcome was posted, but that stopped me for looking for second hand bags as I’m risk adverse. I wholeheartedly would trust a bbb authentication, but fakes have gotten so good that I personally am willing to wait for the right bag to come into store.

 

[Tonimichelle]

I purchased my last Birkin from Ebay. The seller had good feedback although limited knowledge about Hermes (which she admitted as she was selling the bag on behalf of a friend). I had Bababebi check authenticity from the listing photos, then again when I received the bag. It was a risk, it did make me nervous, but this was exactly the bag I wanted and the price (Jan 2021) was below retail so I was prepared to take the risk.
I paid using PayPal and my credit card and at a later date took the bag to Hermes to send it to spa. I believe (although this may have changed) that you can use PayPal to file a claim as not as described for up to 180 days. I was so concerned at the time I contacted the H specialist at Sothebys to get a second opinion (just in case) shortly after purchase and she recommended Bababebi (whom I'd already used).
As the bag has since been to Paris for repairs and then to the artisan in London for something Paris were supposed to do (but didn't!) I can rest assured it is an authentic bag. Maybe I got lucky, but in short, yes I would risk it (if the seller is in the same country as me at least) and I wouldn't be too concerned with minor mistakes on a listing.

 

[addiCCted]

There was a thread a couple years ago where a lady took her bag to spa and they confiscated it to be destroyed. BBB stood by her authentication and I don’t think we a final outcome was posted, but that stopped me for looking for second hand bags as I’m risk adverse. I wholeheartedly would trust a bbb authentication, but fakes have gotten so good that I personally am willing to wait for the right bag to come into store.

Well she can’t really admit she was wrong. Then she would be liable. Caveat emptor indeed

 

[Tonimichelle]

There was a thread a couple years ago where a lady took her bag to spa and they confiscated it to be destroyed. BBB stood by her authentication and I don’t think we a final outcome was posted, but that stopped me for looking for second hand bags as I’m risk adverse. I wholeheartedly would trust a bbb authentication, but fakes have gotten so good that I personally am willing to wait for the right bag to come into store.

I remember that! Hence why I was so nervous. However It's my understanding that even if Paris deem it a fake, whilst they won't send it back, you can go and collect it. Although that means you would personally be taking a counterfeit item out of the country which is a whole other can of worms.. but I don't think Paris will just destroy it if you can / would want to go to get it back.

 

[cravin]

Well she can’t really admit she was wrong. Then she would be liable. Caveat emptor indeed

For me, it isn’t a matter of being right or wrong. BBB is the gold standard and I trust in her skills, but most of these authentications are virtual. She cannot smell the bag, feel the bag, hold it. For me, a different hardware color or a shade different of color are a compromise we’d consider over reseller market. Declining a bag that isn’t right for you also tends to make the right one be offered in relatively short order.

 

[addiCCted]

For me, it isn’t a matter of being right or wrong. BBB is the gold standard and I trust in her skills, but most of these authentications are virtual. She cannot smell the bag, feel the bag, hold it. For me, a different hardware color or a shade different of color are a compromise we’d consider over reseller market. Declining a bag that isn’t right for you also tends to make the right one be offered in relatively short order.

I’m pretty sure for the lady that bought the bag it was pretty important.

God knows how much she paid for it.

 

[GabrielleS]

I don’t take risk. It’s a boutique bag or nothing for me. I’d hate to buy a fake or find out I bought a bag that had outside work done and was no longer serviceable by the spa. I’d rather get nothing or something from another brand than take a risk.