Why so many Birkins available on the resale market?

[classybags4ever]

Edited PT

It’s now against their terms of service to purchase a bag for commercial use. Not sure how they will enforce that or if there are any consequences for doing so.

 

[Ulf]

Edited PT

It’s now against their terms of service to purchase a bag for commercial use. Not sure how they will enforce that or if there are any consequences for doing so.

Certainly interesting. I have heard that Hermès might be ready to crack down on resellers, and that they actually have contacted buyers that were reselling. Maybe SO bags that are easier to identify? I assume that customers might be banned if that's possible.

 

[ladysarah]

My brother in law was asking me this too - why so many supposedly exclusive Birkins are on resale sites. ( my sister got her first via the boutique) it is kind of shocking how high prices are...

 

[ladysarah]

I totally agree with your post.
I really enjoy shopping with my SA I've never felt part of a 'game' I buy mainly accessories, a couple of watches, scarves and slg but widely spaced apart-My SA suggested I make a 'wish' for a quota bag and I did.
I get really (stupidly so I must confess) upset when people talk about 'scoring' a bag or 'playing the game'.
You either love the brand for the quality, design and heritage or you see it as a tick box exercise to 'score' iconic bags to show off on social media.
I own a few Hermes bags and all have been brought on the preloved market.
I dont actually consider genuine Hermes collectors like @Etriers who sell on their bags when they get bored with them or to fund another purchase 'resellers'-to me Resellers are those who buy new bags through setting up profiles with various luxury brands in order to purchase the sought after styles (in Hermes case quota bags) to sell on unused for sometimes huge mark-ups.
THOSE are the people I object to-
I consider those that 'recycle' their used bags by selling them through reputable consignment stores and sites part of the circular economy and I am grateful they do so.
If I had the budget for a new quota bag I probably would still go the preloved route because I mainly like the discontinued designs and also I'm fussy about colour and leather.
I sell on my designer clothes when I get bored with them, i've done the same with BV and YSL bags-I dont see why people shouldn't do the same with Hermes and spread the joy of owning something so lovely!

I never felt part of any game either (perhaps I am dense like that.) to distract ourselves from the general gloom, we are having a fabulous conversation (on zoom) with my sister and cousins about this ‘game’. My sister just got her first B ( i don’t have one but was asked if I wanted it quite recently) her main purchases were lipstick and perfume. Oh and drawer liners I think...

 

[cravin]

“The game” is a term that has been used here for a long time. In my opinion, it’s only in play here in the U.S. if you haven’t established a relationship with an SA/boutique (barring exceptions like Vegas) when someone walks in asking for a Birkin as the first words out of their mouths. I have personally spent about 10% on other items compared to what I have on quota bags, but that’s because my H boutique knows the items go to spoiling my wife and not to a reseller site. I have also witnessed first time shoppers desperately ask for a Birkin and be turned down, and then one being shown to me 5 minutes later. That’s “the game”. Once a relationship exists, the game tends to disappear. We have a blast shopping at our boutique and tend to be spoiled. When we walk into new boutiques we are not known in, “the game” attitude can be felt.

 

[ladysarah]

@cravin oh yes I understood the term, but just never felt it applied here. ( perhaps it does in some cases) i think the reason there are so many Birkins on the resale market is partly because the ‘game ‘ is exaggerated? ‘Oh you will never get a Birkins in the Hermes boutiques your only chance is resellers...’ I think resellers are great for vintage pieces but for new items why not go to the source?

 

[cravin]

@cravin oh yes I understood the term, but just never felt it applied here. ( perhaps it does in some cases) i think the reason there are so many Birkins on the resale market is partly because the ‘game ‘ is exaggerated? ‘Oh you will never get a Birkins in the Hermes boutiques your only chance is resellers...’ I think resellers are great for vintage pieces but for new items why not go to the source?

There is still time and limited supply. If you’re looking for a specific leather, color, hardware in a bag, then you’re hoping the SM orders it, waiting for it to be made, etc. We happen to be patient but there are some that want that near instant gratification. Chances are high the exact combo someone wants is available through a site.

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

There is still time and limited supply. If you’re looking for a specific leather, color, hardware in a bag, then you’re hoping the SM orders it, waiting for it to be made, etc. We happen to be patient but there are some that want that near instant gratification. Chances are high the exact combo someone wants is available through a site.

I also think there are those that just want to buy a Birkin for the cachet it holds, they dont actually think about what colour/leather/HW they actually like and indeed may not even REALLY like the style of bag-but its what it symbolises that they want..the "look I've got a Birkin" factor, they do the unboxing video, post it on their social media and then realise that its too heavy/the colour doesn't work for them/or I think some just buy to do the unboxing social media stuff and then sell it on unused.
Its all about the showing off factor-the must have tick box exercise.
Obviously the majority of members here dont fall into this category but I do think a fair few people do.
And hence the amount of unused and barely used bags at often higher than retail available on resale sites.
I also wonder if more bags are being produced too?
I've been into Hermes for over 30years but I remember sightings of B/K/C were relatively rare in London.
Now I see many usually in the smaller sizes being worn by the 20-35 age group.

 

[cravin]

I also think there are those that just want to buy a Birkin for the cachet it holds, they dont actually think about what colour/leather/HW they actually like and indeed may not even REALLY like the style of bag-but its what it symbolises that they want..the "look I've got a Birkin" factor, they do the unboxing video, post it on their social media and then realise that its too heavy/the colour doesn't work for them/or I think some just buy to do the unboxing social media stuff and then sell it on unused.
Its all about the showing off factor-the must have tick box exercise.
Obviously the majority of members here dont fall into this category but I do think a fair few people do.
And hence the amount of unused and barely used bags at often higher than retail available on resale sites.
I also wonder if more bags are being produced too?
I've been into Hermes for over 30years but I remember sightings of B/K/C were relatively rare in London.
Now I see many usually in the smaller sizes being worn by the 20-35 age group.

I absolutely agree. When I was buying the wife’s first Birkin, I was able to tell the SA a few specifics. “She wants the 35, she doesn’t like brown nor gold, her favorite color is blue, etc.”. SA called me and said that a 35 Bleu Nuit was coming in but it would likely not arrive in time for her birthday. The boutique had a yellow one but even the SA advised to wait and work up a creative card or something. Her exact words were “This is too expensive of a bag to buy and regret.” I am sure that a ton of people would have walked out with the first Birkin offered just because of it being a “Birkin”. Even when we are listening to some hip-hop on a drive the boys will point out every time just the name “Birkin” comes up in songs. I am sure that H is making more of them because of the recognition they have. I would challenge that young people carrying them may be carrying fakes, or even worse, getting themselves over their heads into debt.

 

[jenayb]

But luxury cars are famous for not holding their value well. The vehicles that hold their value most are actually trucks.

This is very subjective. There are luxury vehicles that not only hold their value, but that immediately appreciate depending on the original availability subject to dealer allocation, etc.

 

[ce_1992]

I also think there are those that just want to buy a Birkin for the cachet it holds, they dont actually think about what colour/leather/HW they actually like and indeed may not even REALLY like the style of bag-but its what it symbolises that they want..the "look I've got a Birkin" factor, they do the unboxing video, post it on their social media and then realise that its too heavy/the colour doesn't work for them/or I think some just buy to do the unboxing social media stuff and then sell it on unused.
Its all about the showing off factor-the must have tick box exercise.
Obviously the majority of members here dont fall into this category but I do think a fair few people do.
And hence the amount of unused and barely used bags at often higher than retail available on resale sites.
I also wonder if more bags are being produced too?
I've been into Hermes for over 30years but I remember sightings of B/K/C were relatively rare in London.
Now I see many usually in the smaller sizes being worn by the 20-35 age group.

To your last point, I would imagine a lot of what you see may be reps/superfakes. There’s a whole reddit sub dedicated to replicas and there’s even a “how to” post on obtaining them . I was curious so I poked around, and couldn’t believe what people go through just to have the appearance of the bags. Just buy a nice Coach or Kors bag at that point...


I’m in that age group (28) and it’s only due to a recent job change/salary boost that I’m able to afford Hermes, and honestly a lot of my peers post on social media about their financial woes due to underemployment/debts. I’m in the States so it may be different here than in London in terms of youth employment and debt...either way, while it’s not impossible to save for an $11k bag on a mid range salary, it’s very hard.

 

[lcd_purse_girl]

I am not sure if there are more quota bags available on the resale market, but I do think there are more resale sites then there used to be.

 

[lulilu]

I wonder if a small (?) percentage of new bags on the market are those impulse purchases that, when you get home and realize how much you've spent on something you are not in love with, get sold. Or after that cc bill comes in....

 

[chicfinds]

i think there are a multitude of reasons why people let go of their H bags and send them in for consignment or a straight buy out...be it a new bag or a well-loved one. for me, I don't necessarily want to have tens and thousands of dollars sitting in my closet unused. so if a bag is sitting there and I can easily get back a significant amt of $ for it and put that towards something else worthwhile...why not. now if i had unlimited funds then i probably could build up my collection without ever letting go of anything (in my dream world..)..but H is still very expensive and downsizing one's collection is necessary sometimes imo.

 

[thanks sixx]

I totally agree. I started using luxury handbags as a teenager and never remembered such a robust second hand market as it is today. I feel it’s totally changed the game today.

The game HAS changed. My first luxury bag was a LV Speedy from Saks Fifth Ave. in Dearborn, Michigan. I was 27 years old, out of college, making money, and I really wanted a LV!!! Those monogram bags were all the rage in the late 80's. It was such a fun and heady time. Walk into a fancy department store, walk out with a fashion icon bag.
As I matured, I realized I didn't really have access to new offerings from LV, Hermes, Chanel. But other folks did....and were selling their wares online. If it was a piece I wanted, and bought it from a vetted seller, one I had positive experiences with, that was how I obtained many of my lovely bags. Later on, I was lucky enough to live in Raleigh, NC where we have a LV boutique in Saks, and I purchased some of my pieces from them.
Hermes is my latest interest. My Hermes scarves, bracelets and one and only bag.... a Birkin 35 black Ardennes with GHW....have all been purchased on the secondary market. Only through sellers I've known for years. Fashion f***. Yoogi....
Ann's F******** Finds. These very reputable sellers obtain fashion art from people who want to sell it.....and make it easy for people who want to buy it.

There is no shame in this game.
If I like what I see for sale, from someone I trust, I'll buy it. I don't need or want to play games. They want to sell.....I want to buy.
I get many of my pieces authenticated by you all know who. Before I part cash.

The SECONDARY market is where the beautiful vintage pieces are being offered. It's the only place, really.
Collectors of vintage pieces must buy here.