First things first: These things are *expensive*. I mean, ridiculously, mortgage-payment-level expensive. We’re talking thousands, tens of thousands, even *hundreds* of thousands for the really rare ones. Why? Well, a bunch of reasons. They’re handmade, mostly. Hermès only makes a limited number of bags each year (rumor has it around 12,000, which, for the whole world? Not a lot). And, let’s be real, the brand is basically built on being exclusive and bougie. Like, you gotta *earn* your Birkin sometimes.
But, like, how much *exactly* are we talking? That’s the million-dollar (okay, maybe not a million, but close!) question. It depends. Big time. On the bag itself – Birkin, Kelly, Picotin… they all have different price points. On the leather. On the size. On the hardware. On the… well, you get the picture. It’s a whole ecosystem of factors.
And then, there’s the whole *where* you buy it thing. Apparently, and I find this wild, Japan is supposed to be the best place in Asia for Hermès prices. Something about the exchange rate and tax refunds. Australia’s second, and Korea’s third. I mean, who knew, right? I always thought Paris was the place, but hey, the world is full of surprises. (Although, lemme tell ya, finding a specific bag, especially a Birkin or Kelly, *in stock* in any Hermès store is like finding a unicorn riding a rollercoaster. Good luck with that.)
Here’s where it gets even messier. You can try to buy directly from Hermès, which is the “official” way. But you gotta, like, *earn* the right to buy one of their super-desirable bags. Build a relationship with a sales associate, buy a bunch of scarves and home goods first… it’s a whole thing. It’s kinda crazy, if you ask me. Like, I have to prove I’m *worthy* to buy an expensive bag? Come on!
Then you have the resale market. This is where things get *really* crazy. Bags in good condition can sell for even *more* than their original retail price, especially if they’re rare colors, leathers, or limited editions. There are reputable resellers out there, but you gotta be careful. Lots of fakes floating around, so do your research, people!
