Shortcuts: The Paris store and buying secondhand
Hermès has three Paris locations where your likelihood of securing a Birkin is much higher. Anghel said you don’t have to worry about building a relationship with a sales associate in Paris.
Influencers who scored a Birkin at one of these stores say to book a leather goods appointment the day before a planned visit. But be warned: You may not get one. Anghel, who has gotten an appointment before, told BI that it’s basically a “lottery system.”
And if all else fails, buy pre-owned.
Gross, who has worked with the consignment brand Fashionphile, said he would much rather purchase secondhand at this point in his Hermès journey.
“I recently purchased a black Birkin 30 in crocodile,” Gross said. “If I asked for that at the store. I don’t know how long it would take. I don’t know what they would offer me.”
However, a Birkin or Kelly can sometimes be more expensive on the secondhand market because of the high demand as more people look to invest.
Gross pointed out that buying used means you don’t have to spend time establishing a good rapport with an associate.
The secondhand market has other advantages. You can try on bags to see if they work for you, browse different colors and sizes, and get a bag much sooner than you would new. At some places, like Fashionphile, you can access horseshoe Birkins — bespoke Birkins offered to VIP clients of Hermès and finished off with a tiny horseshoe stamp.
Lara Osborn, the company’s vice president of procurement and authentication, told BI it buys and sells these super-exclusive bags at their stores.
“Nobody has to know that you weren’t the special customer that was offered this special, unique experience to build your bag because you’re carrying it,” she said. “We’ll never tell anyone that somebody picked it out before you.”
