Woman wants Hermes Birkin at boutique price. So she uses hack while in Paris. But not everyone’s happy: ‘Do people not know how to gatekeep anymore’
Anyone who loves designer bags knows how expensive they are. The more high-end the brand, the higher the price tag, which can read into the thousands.
Since most people want to own this luxury item without digging themselves into debt, some often find cheaper options. Knock-offs from Canal Street or secondhand ones from ‘Japanese eBay’ have become popular. However, one London-based woman learned how staying in a specific lavish hotel in the home country of the Hermès brand can increase your chances of snagging one of their name-brand bags.
How Can Ritz Paris Score Designer Bags?
As she sits inside a building, TikTok creator Stasya Bryk (@stasya.bryk) runs her fingers through her hair. “Instead of working, I found out that if you stay at the Ritz in Paris and ask the concierge to arrange an appointment with Hermès, there’s a high chance you’ll be offered a Kelly or Birkin,” she reveals in the text overlay, adjusting her shirt collar. “Which means the price won’t be €20-30k ($23,552-35,328 USD) on the resale market but around £7-8k ($9,467.50-10,820 USD) at boutique price.”
What Did Viewers Think?
Bryk’s video drew 2.4 million views, evoking the ire of the majority in the comments section. Although many had mixed explanations, there was a unanimous agreement: the hotel no longer does this.
“Even if this were still true.. do people not know how to gatekeep anymore. my god,” one viewer criticized.
“Nope they don’t do this, you have to be an influencer or famous staying at the Ritz for this to happen,” another commented.
“Yeah. Unless you stay a week or more, plus heavily tip your concierge, they don’t play this game anymore,” a third said.
Furthermore, others criticized how out of touch this ‘hack’ was for most.
“Never has any information been less applicable to my life,” one commenter wrote.
“This post is totally relatable to the general population,” another remarked sarcastically.
So, What’s The Verdict?
Before, concierges at opulent hotels booked guests’ appointments at the Hermès boutique. However, these services have been severely limited or discontinued because of the overwhelming amount of requests, according to PurseBop. While there is a slim chance the concierge may be able to set up an appointment, it’s ultimately the boutique’s decision. Nevertheless, the outlet suggests several alternatives:
- Apply for an appointment on rendezvousparis.hermes.com the day before the date you want between 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. This lottery-based system is the most common method.
- Ask your home store to book you an appointment with a Paris location about two months in advance of your trip.
- Inquire about any walk-ins or cancellations at one of the Hermes Paris locations.
- Shop around in one of the stores with a sales rep to build a rapport.
Essentially, these bags are highly coveted and competition is fierce. Keep in mind, none of these are a guarantee, and results will vary.
@stasya.bryk ♬ original sound – newikosi
The Mary Sue reached out to Bryk via email and TikTok comment as well as Ritz Paris via press email.
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