Hermès being sued for how they maintain Birkin & Kelly bag scarcity

[kenny]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/08/style/hermes-birkin-bag-lawsuit/index.html

 

[PinkAndBlueBling]

Well, there's a problem I'll never have...

 

[missy]

I was never into name brands and as I get older (and wiser perhaps) I care even less if that is possible
It's all a sort of brainwashing IMO.
To make us desire name brands.
Status symbols etc.

No thank you

 

[dk168]

Don't care for them even if I have all the money in the world!

DK

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I have zero interest in playing any kind of game for the privilege of buying an item.

 

[MissGotRocks]

No interest in them either and the game playing with some brands - jewelry included - will never be in my sandbox. Almost as though you have to prove yourself worthy to be considered to make a purchase. No thanks - my dollars will be spent elsewhere!

 

[Lookinagain]

Not my style at all, so have never been interested, no matter the cost.

 

[PinkAndBlueBling]

One of the Indian casinos around here is giving away a Birkin. As soon as I saw the ad, I wondered how they got one!

Win a Himalaya Birkin | Yaamava' Resort & Casino

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel is giving away a Himalaya Birkin—and giving you more ways to qualify.

www.yaamava.com

 

[Matata]

Isn't that what the diamond industry used to do/still does? Hold back inventory to increase status and cost? It seems to be common practice among luxury goods.

I've read a couple articles lately where very wealthy women are choosing not to buy well known luxury brands in favor of lesser known brands because they are rebelling over what they say are outrageous costs of luxury goods.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Isn't that what the diamond industry used to do/still does? Hold back inventory to increase status and cost? It seems to be common practice among luxury goods.

I've read a couple articles lately where very wealthy women are choosing not to buy well known luxury brands in favor of lesser known brands because they are rebelling over what they say are outrageous costs of luxury goods.

That may be so but I have never felt like a jewelry vendor wouldn’t sell to me because I didn’t have enough prior purchases with them. I never felt like I had to curry favor with a diamond representative or company to be able to purchase something again that they listed for sale. I am sure games exist within all luxury sellers but some are far more overt than others. I am too old to play games and when it comes to spending my money, I either get to choose to spend it freely with whomever I want or I walk.
I could certainly applaud those who choose to purchase from a road less traveled - makes your heart smile to give others a leg up in the game!

 

[AprilBaby]

I have read you have to give gifts to your shopping concierge in order to get the privilege of spending your money there. If you don’t give enough gifts, you don’t get a purse.

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

There is a psychology behind this that I find fascinating. Many facets.
It's like this with many luxury items that make no logical sense. You can immediately name many brands that feed into this, especially when you strip the brand name and it's just an underwhelming object on it's own. Manufactured strife to fit an equally manufactured need.

 

[Frenchieglitter]

Got 99 problems and this ain't one!

 

[SomethingNew]

Got 99 problems and this ain't one!

oh... i love your avatar, tell us more! so cute!

sorry got off topic but I can't help it.

 

[Bron357]

I’m not sure what aspect is the most ridiculous, that a handbag can cost over $50,000, that there can be a waiting list to spend over $50,000 or that those with a $50,000 and no Hermes handbag are “forced” to sue Hermes for not allowing them to spend $50,000.

 

[seaurchin]

I’m not sure what aspect is the most ridiculous, that a handbag can cost over $50,000, that there can be a waiting list to spend over $50,000 or that those with a $50,000 and no Hermes handbag are “forced” to sue Hermes for not allowing them to spend $50,000.

I totally agree. Why not just refuse to play their game and buy a different brand instead. lol

 

[stracci2000]

At Tandy Leather, they sell kits to make your own leather handbag.

 

[missy]

Got 99 problems and this ain't one!

Girl, amen. 100% this

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I’m not a lawyer, but I suspect that the judge will throw this case out. I don’t see any valid grounds for the lawsuit - no discrimination based on race, religion or any other type of discrimination that anyone could sue for.

 

[junebug17]

I think it might be thrown out - it seems like unethical behavior but I'm not sure it's illegal. I don't know enough about anti trust laws to comment on that but it sounds like that's the basis of the suit. Just looking at this from a legal standpoint. It will be interesting to see what happens, especially if it makes it to trial.

 

[lala646]

I friend of my husband's has played this game with Hermes for his wife for years. He developed a relationship with a SA at the Paris store, and would fly over a few times a year to buy things, just to get their numbers up to hopefully be offered a bag. It took a few years, and close to $100,000 in purchases before they were finally offered a Birkin, and they didn't even get to choose the bag. Just "this one" or nothing. She now has 6 of them, and seems like she's just going to keep collecting them. He even changed his specialty (he's an MD) so he could make more $$ to support her shopping habit. It's rather grotesque, IMO.

 

[Mreader]

I friend of my husband's has played this game with Hermes for his wife for years. He developed a relationship with a SA at the Paris store, and would fly over a few times a year to buy things, just to get their numbers up to hopefully be offered a bag. It took a few years, and close to $100,000 in purchases before they were finally offered a Birkin, and they didn't even get to choose the bag. Just "this one" or nothing. She now has 6 of them, and seems like she's just going to keep collecting them. He even changed his specialty (he's an MD) so he could make more $$ to support her shopping habit. It's rather grotesque, IMO.

WOW that’s wild. How did she manage to get the other five since it took so long to get the first one?

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

WOW that’s wild. How did she manage to get the other five since it took so long to get the first one?

BC they'll keep buying whatever is available to eventually hopefully buy one that's "exclusive".

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I friend of my husband's has played this game with Hermes for his wife for years. He developed a relationship with a SA at the Paris store, and would fly over a few times a year to buy things, just to get their numbers up to hopefully be offered a bag. It took a few years, and close to $100,000 in purchases before they were finally offered a Birkin, and they didn't even get to choose the bag. Just "this one" or nothing. She now has 6 of them, and seems like she's just going to keep collecting them. He even changed his specialty (he's an MD) so he could make more $$ to support her shopping habit. It's rather grotesque, IMO.

Well, that's stupid.

 

[lala646]

WOW that’s wild. How did she manage to get the other five since it took so long to get the first one?

Exactly what @Asscherhalo_lover said. They just keep spending money there to stay in their SA's good graces, and they buy pretty much everything they're offered, whether she was wanting it or not. And let me tell you, it is their THING. Like, they talk about it more than they talk about their child.

 

[Mreader]

Exactly what @Asscherhalo_lover said. They just keep spending money there to stay in their SA's good graces, and they buy pretty much everything they're offered, whether she was wanting it or not. And let me tell you, it is their THING. Like, they talk about it more than they talk about their child.

Man, I don’t even own anything Hermes but now I never want to.

 

[kenny]

First they came for the consenting adults.
Then they came for ...

Lots of folks feel that buying natural mined diamonds is disgusting.
As they say ... different strokes.

 

[Ibrakeforpossums]

I have a scarf purchased in Paris for me, and a Goodwill Hermes scarf, $2. I love them both but covet nothing from that harnessmaker.

 

[pearlsngems]

I have a few of their fragrances, but don't want anything else they sell.

 

[kenny]

When in Paris back in the late 70s I bought a bar of Hèmes soap.
I LOVED that scent!!!!!

I think my annual income then was under $5,000.
That was the most expensive bar of soap I've ever seen.
Obscenely expensive!

But they didn't offer to sell me a Birkin.
I should call my attorney.