Getting your hands on a coveted Birkin bag requires a game of spend, spend, spend.
Covetting the Birkin Bag
Imagine you land a windfall, by earning a large bonus, selling your crypto, or inheriting a substantial amount of money. With everything else paid off, or for the most part stable, you decide to buy yourself a little something extravagant you have always dreamed of. The most covetable, exquisite, leather arm adornment. A statement piece of the highest stature. A Hermès Birkin bag.
Even with a price ranging between $10,000 to $500,000 it is surprisingly difficult getting your hands on a coveted Birkin bag. You cannot simply walk into your nearest Hermès and ask for a Birkin. More than likely, your request will be met with an apologetic: “I’m sorry madam, the bag is out of stock currently. Would you like to add your name to our waitlist?” And subsequently, your name, along with hundreds of other eager Birkin bag enthusiasts, will be added to an unsurmountable waitlist.
The Birkin Bag Bait Game
For day, months, even years, you will eagerly await the phone call from the lovely Hermès Sales Team, proclaiming that your Birkin has arrived. Alas, sadly that day will never arrive. Because, you as a mere middle-class, non-celebrity can’t just purchase a Birkin as and when you wish. First, there is a little game that you need to play with Hermès. It’s what Hermès devotees like to call the Birkin Bag Bait game.
Before you can actually purchase a Birkin Bag, Hermès wants you to prove your brand loyalty. How do you do this? Simple. By purchasing, any of their many other products, of course. And they have a vast selection of exquisite products. Horse-bit belts, leather shoes, silk scarves, trays, porcelain tableware to name but a few.
Ever wonder why you see so many people wearing the Hermès Oran Sandal? Or a Hermès Silk Scarf? They know how to play the Birkin bag bait game. Have you ever needed a $10,000 chess set? Well, you do now.
Hermès keeps a register of how much money you have spent with them over time. One day, you may get a call from your friendly Hermès Sales Rep. He/she tells you that they have received some new bags in store. Unfortunately however, it’s not the Birkin bag you have put your name on the waitlist for, just yet. Friendly Hermès Sale Rep proceeds to ask if you will be interested in purchasing this other new bag instead? Sometimes, small sacrifices need to be made to achieve your goal. And, you will purchase said new bag. A small price to pay in comparison. But, it’s all part of playing the Birkin bag bait game.
Fear not, all your hard work, and empty pockets won’t go unnoticed though. As a result, your brand loyalty will shoot through the roof and your next call from Hermès will very likely be offering you, your very own, coveted Birkin bag of your dreams.
Secondhand alternatives
If playing the Hermès Birkin Bait game is too time consuming or you don’t have thousands of dollars lying around for $10,000 chess sets or $6,000 cashmere throws, thankfully there is a thriving secondhand market. Vestiaire Collective and FarFetch have a large number of secondhand Birkin Bags. New or secondhand, does it matter? The end result is that now you are the proud owner of a coveted Birkin bag adorning your arm. Strolling down the street, with your new (or secondhand) Birkin bag on your arm, acknowledging with a smile, that you have just won the Birkin bag bait game.
