If you google “how to buy a Birkin bag”, you will see endless articles and videos about women discussing their journey to snag the bag. Some get really lucky while others can get blacklisted from boutiques for asking for their particular dream bag way too much or too often. I get it. SAs don’t like to be pestered all the time about the same bags by so many customers day in and day out.
Here’s the deal: I really appreciate heritage brands like Hermès and Chanel. I like to buy a variety of items, not just bags, including scarves, home accessories, shoes and jewelry. I don’t ever want to buy things just to build or boost my customer profile, hoping that one day I would be worthy of being offered a Birkin. You know why? Because I know I am worth it!
I do applaud Hermès for building this air of exclusivity around their brand. I understand why many shoppers want that whole boutique experience, but as a highly anxious, super Type A person who likes to have control, I cannot bear the thought of waiting to be offered something that I may not even like. I know what I want exactly and I go for it.
I knew that going to the secondhand market was the best way for me to get my hands on the Birkin of my dreams. Here’s why:
#1: I knew exactly what I wanted
I was looking for a specific type of Rose Jaipur/Coral or Rubis/Raspberry colored bag in Togo or Clemence leather in size 35 CM. I know a lot of people get neutrals such as black or grey, but I wanted mine to have that pop of color that Hermès is known for and ever since I saw this raspberry color, I couldn’t get my mind off of it. Besides, I wear a lot of black and neutral colors as it is, so I thought a pop of color would be great.
If I were to have waited for the boutique to offer me one, there was no guarantee that I would have gotten exactly this. For most shoppers, they’ve often had to accept what was given to them, even if it’s far from what they wanted. I am not about that. I wanted to find this exact combination for my bag so the only way was to go to the secondhand market. I, of course, did my due-diligence, researching reputable resellers (and getting multiple authentications of course! Yes, I am that paranoid!).
#2: I don’t like to play games
I don’t like to play games, period. That is true when it comes to dating, work or just personal relationships. What you see is what you get. If I want something, I go for it. I don’t want people or brands just leading me on without knowing that I will get what I want. I don’t mind paying the premium because cost and value are two different things. In order to get what I want, I don’t mind paying extra to avoid playing games.
Besides, I would say that not playing this game has actually helped me to build a better, honest relationship with my Hermès SA as I buy what I love without worrying about building a purchase history or profile. It’s a really great feeling and I get to enjoy the brand and everything it offers.
#3: The experience was exactly what I wanted
This is going to be very different for people. Some absolutely love the boutique experience and want that whole experience. I get it, truly. However, I actually loved having my bag shipped to me. I loved seeing it online, putting it in my shopping cart and waiting for the box to arrive. The anticipation was killing me in a good way and I loved how easy it was. When I saw it, I knew it was THE ONE!
Though my experience was different, there was no fuss. No drama. Just me on my phone in my PJs buying my Holy Grail bag. I even opened a bottle of champagne once I placed my order 🙂
Regardless of how you buy your designer bags, the best part is using them and taking them out into the world. So however you get your hands on the next one, do it your way (whichever route you chose), enjoy it and cherish it for many years to come.
Happy shopping!
