Hermes makes coveted Birkin bags too hard to buy, US shoppers say in lawsuit
- The company requires potential buyers to spend thousands on other products just for a chance to access the leather status symbols, the court filing says
- The bags, which can fetch over US$100,000, aren’t for sale on the Hermes website and are shown only to ‘chosen’ shoppers in private rooms, the lawsuit alleges
The opulent, French-crafted Birkin handbag is a status symbol for rich people around the world and can fetch more than US$100,000. But two shoppers in California claim it has become so exclusive that its maker, Hermes International, is breaking US antitrust law.
Hermes won’t sell the rare bags to just anyone, and it requires potential buyers to purchase thousands of dollars of other products just for the chance they’ll get access to the coveted leather totes, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday seeking class-action status.
Birkin bags aren’t available for purchase on the Hermes website or displayed in their stores, where sales staff only show them in private rooms to “chosen” shoppers who are “deemed worthy”, Tina Cavalleri and Mark Glinoga alleged in their complaint in federal court in San Francisco.
They claim that amounts to an unfair business practice for a public store and a violation of antitrust law.
Hermes didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.