How To Buy A Birkin Bag - What To Do And Where To Get It - A Step By Step Guide

Contents

Introduction

One does not simply purchase a Birkin… unless you do!

If you know anybody with a Birkin, you’ll know how hard it is to get one, likely because they will not shut up about it. That is, until you have your own. 

There are 2 main ways to get a Birkin bag; Buying it retail or second-hand.

There are pros and cons to both ways, and which one suits you depends largely on whether you’re just looking to own the bag, or live the Hermes lifestyle.

The Pros & Cons Of Buying A Secondhand Birkin Bag

Buying a Birkin is not an investment into the bag, it’s an investment into yourself. Sure, the bag may rise in value, but only if kept in perfect condition. If you plan to use it, forget about reselling it for any significant gain. 

The real value of owning a Birkin lies in the experience of carrying it. 

I don’t mean the fact that it holds your stuff neatly, no, what I’m talking about is how the rules of the world shift to your benefit! Easier access to esteemed venues, preferential treatment, compliments and admiring long looks from passersby. Wearing a Birkin makes it part of your personal “brand” whether you like it or not. It is simply too recognizable to ignore, no Birkin is a coincidence, no Birkin is indifferent. Even if you are well enough off to buy a cheap 15K birkin without flinching, this too, says a lot about who and what you are.

If this is what you seek then buying the Birkin, second hand is the right option for you!

What are the downsides you ask? Well, there are 2 groups who don’t particularly covet a preloved Birkin; namely people who bought it retail, and Hermes themselves.

There is a whole song and dance dubbed the “Hermes Game” to even be afforded the chance to buy a Birkin, and it’s an expensive game too, so neglecting this isn’t exactly looked kindly upon, as you’re essentially bypassing the pre-established order and going straight for the grand prize. Hermes too, wants you to buy into their exclusive club, thus making it harder for you to purchase a new one if you own a second-hand one.

If you have no plans on constricting yourself to the rules of Hermes, what you gain is immense freedom of choice. When buying retail, you do not have the option to choose, you take what you can get or wait for your next very expensive chance. On the second-hand market, however, given you have the funds, the world is your oyster. 

Hermes has over 37 materials and over 150 colors their products come in, and while the Birkin doesn’t come in several of these, you have a vast choice advantage over retail. If you know what bag you want or plan to collect, second-hand is inevitable. 

A Birkin 30 with gold plated hardware, with Rose Azalea in Epsom leather, it’s just a click away on ZenPlus as an example. Requesting this retail is a pipe dream, even world-renowned celebrities would be denied this unless they have a long and strong history with Hermes.

Hermes Birkin Size Comparisons

Hermes Birkin Size Comparisons

Even though size is the thing you have less options to choose from, this might be the hardest decision of all. What’s the purpose of your Birkin? Are you going to use it everyday or only on special occasions? Some people consider the Birkin not the lightest bag out there so be aware of the fact the 40 one might be very spacious but also heavy to be taken around often, but a 25 might not fit everything you need.

Getting To Know The Most Common Hermes Leathers

Hermes Birkin Leather Comparisons

• Togo: A pebbled calf leather, probably the most popular leather for a Birkin. Togo has fine grains compared to the Clemence, making it scratch-resistant and light.
• Clemence: A slightly bigger grain thanTogo, making it more durable, but be careful with rain. Bags in this type of leather tend to have less structure than others and get slouchier over time.
• Epsom: A very structured leather, and gives a rigid look. Probably the most durable leather from Hermès; being virtually rainproof and scratch proof, making it very easy to maintain.
• Barenia: A smooth calfskin, which was originally used for Hermès horse saddles — and so is very durable, but will soften and may lose shape over time.
• Swift: A soft leather with a very fine grain, and will show any wear and tear (more than Togo). This leather picks up dye very well — so there are some popular bright colors that are only available in swift.
• Box: A smooth calf leather (the oldest Hermès leather, created in the 1890s). The appearance is very smooth and shiny, so scratches will be sure to show themselves.

Different Types Of Hardware 

Hermes Hardware Comparisons

A very important detail of a Birkin bag is its hardware type and color, something people might overlook but it makes a big difference. Combine the wrong color with the wrong hardware - for your taste! - and you’ll notice it from miles away. The options available are: Palladium (brushed version available), Gold (brushed version available), Rose Gold, Permabrass, Ruthenium, Guilloche, PVD and diamond.

The Pros & Cons Of Buying A Retail Birkin Bag

As mentioned above, buying a Birkin is not an investment in the bag, but into yourself, and your own personal brand. If you notice yourself falling in love with the orange boxes and equestrian designs, the alluring doors of your nearest Hermes boutique are calling your name. 

Are you ready to delve down the rabbit hole that is “the Hermes game”?

Yes, there are no waiting lists for the Birkin, Kelly & Mini Kelly II, but rather a quota system. In practice, this means to buy these retail, you are required to meet certain criteria in order to be offered the chance to purchase the bag. And when the chance comes, you have little to no influence over its form, unless you're lucky enough to be offered an extraordinary opportunity to get an order made one and customize it the way you have dreamed. 

This is understandably off-putting to some, but consider this; why sell to someone who doesn’t appreciate your craft?  Why not serve your friends, and exclude those who are indifferent? Isn’t that in a sense, luxury? 

The message is simple; if you like Hermes products, one day, the chance will come. So buy what you love, show your support and one day it’ll be your turn. And you’re not alone, you are invited to a community of esteemed, wealthy and influential Hermes lovers who are all in the game, right there with you. Suddenly you are in the same boat as world leaders and celebrities, all waiting for their chance to win at the Hermes game. 

The day your SA message to let you know your time has come, the sensation, the absolute elation you feel, it is indescribable!

There are few things the rich and powerful are denied, the Birkin is one of those things. And on that day, it’s not Victoria Beckham or Drake who gets to prance through the gates of Hermes to meet their destined companion, it’s you. 

So let the SA entertain you, receive your victory toast of champagne, and pick up your price. 

It is a day you will never forget, a priceless experience, and the reason people take part in the Hermes game. Such euphoria is addictive, don’t be surprised if you find yourself playing it all over again.

How To Buy A Retail Birkin Bag

Let me take you step by step through the process of purchasing a Birkin bag from Hermes. If you took the time to read the above, you understand why this process will look a little different from person to person. However, the general structure is the same for all, and at the end, I’ll leave a few “cheat codes” that will help you speed up the process.

1. Find the Hermes Boutique for you:

Each Hermes store is ruled by the SM (store manager), and under them, a crew of SA’s (Sales Associates) who serve their esteemed customers. The SM requests products from France based on requests made by the SA’s as well as a hint of personal preference and sales instinct.

If you have the option, visit a few different Hermes stores, and find the one that carries items that are closer to your personal preference. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, once you become a regular, they’ll try to facilitate for you as well.

2. Get to know your SA:

Retail sales associates barely hold a higher status than a supermarket clerk to the broader society, but at Hermes, they hold the keys to the castle. While it’s ultimately the SM who orders the goods, the shop teams are a tight-knit group, so the only way to get a good standing is to build a relationship with your SA. 

How do you please an SA? Well, as mentioned, they’re just regular people, so, you know, just, be nice? They also earn commission from their sales so if you scratch their back, they’ll scratch yours. Don’t come off as purchasing just for the Birkin though! If you signal this, a sneaky SA could take advantage of you, at that point, it’s better to go preloved. 

The easy advice here is to connect with your SA on social media, chat with them, request pieces and accept offers if they send you something you like.

3. Make the most of your pre-spend:

As nonglamorous as the phrase pre-spend is, it’s supposed to be fun! Going for the Birkin is designed to be a trigger, but it’s about the journey, not the destination, according to Hermes anyways… Honestly, there’s no way around this step, so, just make it nice for yourself. It’ll be expensive, it’ll be a wait, might as well make it enjoyable. At the PurseForum you can read some Birkin owners saying to luxury enthusiasts that it is a lot harder to bear the “spending process” when you don’t have Hermes as one of your favorite brands.

4. The “implication”:

While there is a chance you’ll be offered a Birkin out of the blue one day, it is natural to want to please someone who's expressed a desire for the coveted bag. Imply your interest on a semi-regular occasion to remind your SA that you’re a safe customer to offer a Birkin. If you are to say no or do not have the budget, this will reflect badly on your SA, so you need to imply that you are in business and have the means to buy it. Remember, not all Birkins are priced the same, so don’t imply you’re able to buy a Himalayan white croc Birkin if you’re not confident in laying down the funds.

5. Receive the offer

Enjoy the moment, finally, your time has come! Make sure to make your final judgment for whether this is the one you want or not, and respond accordingly.

6. Make your purchase

Yes, you can have it mailed, but where’s the fun in that? Go to the store and reap your reward! Keep in mind that if you do not purchase the item, it may be months or even years before your next chance. 

Congratulations, you’ve won the Hermes game!

Cheat codes:

The above structure is the typical experience you can expect, but here are a few tips & tricks that may help you speed up the process to get your Birkin bag.

Paris store

The flagship boutique; Hermes Faubourg Saint-Honore is the only place you can buy a Birkin right off the shelf. While not always, the chance is there to completely circumvent the purchase history by shopping here. The only issue is; you can only get an appointment through a lottery system on their dedicated website between 10:30 - 18:30, a day in advance. In the evening, 20:00 - 22:00 you’ll be notified by email whether you get your chance or not.

Other countries

This is a tricky one, but might save you some bucks. If you set your sights on an Hermes Boutique in a country with a valuta weak to yours, you save a lot on the conversion value. Additionally, prices in stores are designed to match the local clientele, meaning many Asian countries are good choices for this. That said, it’s hard to fake living in a country, or regularly travel, so this isn’t viable unless you do a lot of business travel or have someone to shop on your behalf.

Be nice

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” rings truer than ever in relation to your SA. Of all the cheat codes I can give you, being an above average decent human being is the best way to connect with your SA & win your chance for a Birkin.

There are a lot of stories of people online reporting their experiences with Hermes. Some of them said they have spent less than $3,000 and managed to get offered a Birkin or a Kelly, but others mentioned having to buy over $20,000 worth of Hermes goods to be able to finally get an offer. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of luck and how much you’re willing to do and spend to get the Birkin of your dreams.

If you start paying attention to the amount of Bikins online you might start asking yourself, if this bag is so hard to get, how are there so many? The recent luxury world price increases is part of the reason - the prices for Birkins went up 500% in 35 years! - and it made a huge amount of people try their luck making a big profit selling their bags. In addition to that, the second-hand market has been booming as well, making designer items more accessible to buy and sell. 

If you're not willing to play Hermes' game, read until the very end and get yourself a pre-loved Birkin, the color you want whenever you want.

How to buy a preloved Birkin bag

1. Go to ZenPlus
2. Search for “Hermes Birkin” 
3. Purchase your favorite

Done! It’s that easy^^

I’d like to say “Gotcha’, you thought it was that easy? But, it honestly is that easy!

That said, you can of course make it a bit more than this. Let’s start over again:

1. Find a few reputable sources

Look for online stores with verified customers, check their social media pages and make sure they guarantee a full refund in case your item has any undisclosed defects or ends up being refurnished (that doesn’t mean the bag is fake). Another detail you should keep your eyes on is the store’s customer support, ask questions about the item you have an interest in and check if they are polite and have prompt responses. 

2. Time to find yourself the perfect one

Birkins are a big investment and if you’re looking for one online take the time you need to find the absolute perfect one to purchase, no need to rush to make a big decision like this. Make a note of what size, color, leather type and hardware you want, and start hunting for one. You can do it all by yourself, but there are personal shoppers and sellers out there willing to help you if you don’t have the patience for it.

3. Comparing Prices

A lot of small details can affect the price of a Birkin in the resell market, the same color can cost less or more, depending on its size, leather, or hardware type. Another example is the exotic skin, such as alligator or ostrich, for those you will see prices going easily over $100,000. And if you think the bigger the size, the higher the price, I’m here to say you’re not correct, smaller sizes tend to be more expensive due to the fact the demand is higher for those. To fold this up, don’t forget to check the condition of the bag, this is very important! Does it have scratches? Is the color even? Has it been customized? How are the corners? Make sure to be 100% aware of it, especially if you’re very picky or want one in pristine condition because you might not be able to return it if the flaw has been described or shown in the pictures. I understand that’s a lot to consider, but it’ll be worth your time.

4. Be patient

Again, think about this purchase as an investment, don’t rush unless you find the perfect one for you. To make this adventure better, turn into a habit to look at trustworthy stores every now and then to see if they added any new Birkin, grab some snacks and have fun with it! No need to stress over a bag, even if it’s incredibly beautiful. 

5. Confirm Purchase

Did you read all the points mentioned before? If the answer is yes, you’re ready to finally click that juicy purchase button and wait for it to arrive. Oh, since you already have your browser open, order a bottle of champagne for you to celebrate this. Your Birkin adventure has just begun, now you can chill and plan the next trip you’ll be taking it with you.

Phew, it seems like our Birkin chapter for today has come to an end but yours is just about to start and I’m very excited for you!

Last question:

Have you checked the ones on ZenPlus yet? They’re all 100% authentic with unbeatable prices, trust me! They say Japan is a paradise for preloved luxury bags and they are correct. ZenPlus is here to connect you with verified shops all over Japan from the comfort of your house.

About The Writer

Magnus Paslawski has three years of professional experience as a re-seller and auctioneer of luxury goods. He currently does marketing for ZenPop.jp but is always up to date on the designer world.