You walk into a store, see a dress or a bag, go to the cashier, pay the required amount and leave with your purchase — it seems straightforward enough and the only problem is to have ‘required’ sum with three, four, or even five zeros? But no!
Hermès has altered its bag-purchasing rules. To spend thousands of dollars in their store, one must first earn the right—a privilege not extended to everyone. This may sound absurd, but it is part of Hermès’ policy.
Embed from Getty ImagesTo deserve the honor of spending thousands, you must buy clothes and accessories from them — for amounts that are neither fixed nor disclosed but left to the company’s discretion.
Recently, several clients sued Hermès as they couldn’t simply buy a Birkin; they had to spend on unnecessary items first. While no successful lawsuits have been reported yet, the practice persists.
As a personal stylist with over 20 years of experience, I’ve seen affluent clients wait and purchase unnecessary items for years just for a chance at owning a Birkin — often in vain.
Our recent Hermès shopping experience was strange: we arrived by appointment, waited half an hour without even being offered tea or coffee, carried our purchases upstairs ourselves, yet despite a good purchasing history, we still didn’t buy the bag.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s puzzling to watch successful individuals fulfill absurd requirements for a bag. It’s just a vessel for carrying things! Is it degrading to exert so much effort and money for an ordinary item?
You might argue about status and exclusivity, right? But there are other luxury brands like Chanel and Dior that offer similar prestige without the chase.
Another trend: inspired by Hermès’ success, some brands now have a similar scheme. Bags from Chanel or Dior may be “sold out” but available for “special” clients.
I know clients who’ve hunted for bags over a year or overpaid four to five times the cost just to buy them immediately. So, is any bag worth such effort and money? Are you willing to chase after Hermès?
