I can understand Hermes wanting to sell their most desirable, hard to get bags to their 'best' customers. But the whole process has turned into something ugly and toxic. I think the company has created a lot of the toxicity by giving no commission on the Birkin and Kelly, which has turned these bags into 'bait' that the sales staff uses to nudge / incent customers to purchase a lot of Hermes goods these people might not purchase otherwise. (social media has done the 'dirty work' for them though, and the sales staff don't even have to SAY it to customers. They know already what they're expected to do). My wish for this lawsuit is for the general public to get a good look at what has been going on here, and I hope the suffer reputational damage from the general public.
disclosure: I've purchased several Hermes items over years, but only things I wanted to own, and not to 'build a buy history'. I've never pursued any bag from Hermes to date. It just looked so hard, and, more than a bit crazy!
These are possibly the ugliest bags ever made. The only selling point I can see in these bags is the insanely ridiculous price that makes them "exclusive". Some people talk about the "quality", but I'm sure there are other handmade bags of equal quality for 1/10th the price at a mere $3000 or so.
There's a trademark consideration involved which I find interesting overlapped with antitrust. An aspect of trademark (more trade dress here because it's a physical object but generally the same things) is codified monopoly: the Lanham act. Part of their argument is, essentially, trademark law is unfair, but the Birkin has the value it has because it's not just a bag, it is a specific trademarked bag. Hermes is entitled to do whatever they want with their trademark, which is the very thing that gives the item value, including who gets one from their hands. To have a trademark on a physical item involves a lot of litigation over the functionality of the trademark. Hermes no doubt has outstanding trademark lawyers in regular litigation against producers of knockoffs.
So Lyft and Uber have rider ratings. I have on multiple occasions standing with techrbos who were waiting and bitching about the lack of cars .. as I got into one. Because when I am in someone else's car I tend not to be an asshole.
Excellent piece, I agree that suing Hermès in this case is insulting- “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone” is up to the artist and trained, knowledgeable boutique staff.
“That’s Capitalism, which you’ve won BTW. I’m sorry, but that sometimes means you can’t treat these handcrafted luxury items like you’re stopping off to pick up some flip-flops.”
I’m so far from elitist, believe me, but the litigants are missing the point. The lawsuit shows their lack of respect for what these artists, couturiers and ateliers create, to want to have it on demand and treat their staff like crap, apparently. Get a grip on your luxury goods, rich people.
Okay, I freely admit that as a heterosexual, middle aged male, I know absolutely nothing about fashion and even less about handbags.
Having said that, Jesus fucking Christ! Anyone who is willing to pay $10 grand or more for a fucking handbag should have their head examined. I get that it’s a status symbol like owning a Ferrari or a Rolex and that the whole point is letting people know you can afford blow a fortune on something impractical. But I don’t give two shits about that either. Personally, if I had $10 grand leftover after paying for all essentials, I’d write a check to St. Jude’s or the Sierra Club and enjoy the tax write off. But that’s me.
I am trying to understand having an existence so shallow that it revolves around procuring the opportunity to pay an obscene amount of money for a handbag.
Robyn has simply outdone herself with this post -- something that I didn't even think was possible.
I am not a designer handbag person. My purses take way too much abuse for me to spend the kind of money that even the mid-range bags cost, and a designer bag would just show up how cheap the rest of my wardrobe is.
That said, I’m Team Hermes here too. It’s good to make rich people work for a purchase, because they more than anyone else need to learn that you don’t always get what you want right away. The whole point of those bags is their exclusivity and that they are finely made enough to last a lifetime. But hey, if some spoiled people want to throw money away on a lawsuit, go ahead.
This is dumb. A friend of mine was in New York City last month and bought a genuine Birkin bag from a guy on Times Square for just a hundred bucks. It's the costly overhead for these high class stores that make it so expensive. At least that's what the guy he bought it from in New York said. He even got a deal on a real Rolex watch for buying two items. Only $89.99! Twenty bucks off! I'm gonna get his name and check him out if I ever get to New York City. I bet he has a lot of repeat customers too.
I can understand Hermes wanting to sell their most desirable, hard to get bags to their 'best' customers. But the whole process has turned into something ugly and toxic. I think the company has created a lot of the toxicity by giving no commission on the Birkin and Kelly, which has turned these bags into 'bait' that the sales staff uses to nudge / incent customers to purchase a lot of Hermes goods these people might not purchase otherwise. (social media has done the 'dirty work' for them though, and the sales staff don't even have to SAY it to customers. They know already what they're expected to do). My wish for this lawsuit is for the general public to get a good look at what has been going on here, and I hope the suffer reputational damage from the general public.
disclosure: I've purchased several Hermes items over years, but only things I wanted to own, and not to 'build a buy history'. I've never pursued any bag from Hermes to date. It just looked so hard, and, more than a bit crazy!
These are possibly the ugliest bags ever made. The only selling point I can see in these bags is the insanely ridiculous price that makes them "exclusive". Some people talk about the "quality", but I'm sure there are other handmade bags of equal quality for 1/10th the price at a mere $3000 or so.
Every so often, I have a sneaking sympathy for those "Eat The Rich" bumper stickers.
There's a trademark consideration involved which I find interesting overlapped with antitrust. An aspect of trademark (more trade dress here because it's a physical object but generally the same things) is codified monopoly: the Lanham act. Part of their argument is, essentially, trademark law is unfair, but the Birkin has the value it has because it's not just a bag, it is a specific trademarked bag. Hermes is entitled to do whatever they want with their trademark, which is the very thing that gives the item value, including who gets one from their hands. To have a trademark on a physical item involves a lot of litigation over the functionality of the trademark. Hermes no doubt has outstanding trademark lawyers in regular litigation against producers of knockoffs.
So Lyft and Uber have rider ratings. I have on multiple occasions standing with techrbos who were waiting and bitching about the lack of cars .. as I got into one. Because when I am in someone else's car I tend not to be an asshole.
The only thing I like more than you way you write is the way you think.
Excellent piece, I agree that suing Hermès in this case is insulting- “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone” is up to the artist and trained, knowledgeable boutique staff.
“That’s Capitalism, which you’ve won BTW. I’m sorry, but that sometimes means you can’t treat these handcrafted luxury items like you’re stopping off to pick up some flip-flops.”
I’m so far from elitist, believe me, but the litigants are missing the point. The lawsuit shows their lack of respect for what these artists, couturiers and ateliers create, to want to have it on demand and treat their staff like crap, apparently. Get a grip on your luxury goods, rich people.
The Merkin bag can't be far behind.
The Merkin bag can't be far behind.
Okay, I freely admit that as a heterosexual, middle aged male, I know absolutely nothing about fashion and even less about handbags.
Having said that, Jesus fucking Christ! Anyone who is willing to pay $10 grand or more for a fucking handbag should have their head examined. I get that it’s a status symbol like owning a Ferrari or a Rolex and that the whole point is letting people know you can afford blow a fortune on something impractical. But I don’t give two shits about that either. Personally, if I had $10 grand leftover after paying for all essentials, I’d write a check to St. Jude’s or the Sierra Club and enjoy the tax write off. But that’s me.
I doubt the people employed to sell Hermes products would appreciate being called retail clerks.
I am trying to understand having an existence so shallow that it revolves around procuring the opportunity to pay an obscene amount of money for a handbag.
Robyn has simply outdone herself with this post -- something that I didn't even think was possible.
Anthro majors, please:
Is this an example of a "fetish object" or do the adherents belong to a "cargo cult"?
Thanks!
I am not a designer handbag person. My purses take way too much abuse for me to spend the kind of money that even the mid-range bags cost, and a designer bag would just show up how cheap the rest of my wardrobe is.
That said, I’m Team Hermes here too. It’s good to make rich people work for a purchase, because they more than anyone else need to learn that you don’t always get what you want right away. The whole point of those bags is their exclusivity and that they are finely made enough to last a lifetime. But hey, if some spoiled people want to throw money away on a lawsuit, go ahead.
I want a Flerken bag: it "swallows" anything!
https://baginning.com/media/catalog/product/cache/17f7930b9630993becbd36a7c8a76b30/c/u/custom_handmade_imitation_white_fur_cat_crossbody_bag_cute_purses_4__1_1.jpg.mst.webp
This is dumb. A friend of mine was in New York City last month and bought a genuine Birkin bag from a guy on Times Square for just a hundred bucks. It's the costly overhead for these high class stores that make it so expensive. At least that's what the guy he bought it from in New York said. He even got a deal on a real Rolex watch for buying two items. Only $89.99! Twenty bucks off! I'm gonna get his name and check him out if I ever get to New York City. I bet he has a lot of repeat customers too.