‘It felt like extortion’: Woman buys Hermès Birkin. Then she shares the ‘game’ she had to play to get it
No matter the industry, a retailer’s goal is usually the same: get customers to buy their product. But for some luxury fashion houses, the dynamic is flipped. Instead, it’s the customer who has to prove themselves before being allowed to make a purchase.
One of the most well-known examples is the Hermès Birkin. These bags can cost anywhere from $13,500 to over $20,000 and remain some of the most sought-after items among celebrities, collectors, and luxury fashion fans.
But buying one isn’t as simple as walking into a store. One TikTok creator, Nicci (@nicci_p), offered a look into what she calls the “excruciating process [she] had to endure to score [her] first quota bag.”
What Does it Take to Purchase a Birkin Directly From Hermès?
In her video, which has garnered over 237,900 views, Nicci walks viewers through what she describes as months of spending, awkward interactions, and trying to “play the game.”
She explains that her introduction to Hermès started casually, after her husband visited a boutique in Houston and was able to purchase an Evelyne bag without any prior purchase history.
“He was so excited,” Nicci says. “He was like, ‘I think we should play the game.’ And I was like, OK, bet.”
She says when she visited her local boutique, she was assigned a sales associate and told to schedule time with them before she could even begin shopping.
According to her, the next few months involved consistent visits to the store and steady spending, all without any clear indication of when, or if, a bag would be offered.
“First day, bought a belt,” she says. “Second time, we spent probably like $3,000.”
Over time, Nicci says the dynamic with her assigned sales associate became increasingly uncomfortable.
“I felt like we were bothering her,” she says. “The vibe… it’s not there.”
By March, she says she had already spent close to $10,000 and began asking more directly about her chances.
“I was like, I’ve been shopping for three months,” she says. “Can we talk about wishlist items?”
At one point, Nicci says she was shown a bag. “She said it was $10,100,” she recalls. “I had major sticker shock.”
When she hesitated, she says the sales associate responded abruptly.
“I don’t know if you know how it works, but if we go through the trouble of getting it…” she recalls being told.
Her husband ended up purchasing it anyway.
She Says Spending More Didn’t Change The Outcome
Even after that, she says the process didn’t move forward.
By summer, she estimates she had reached a “1.5 to 1” prespend ratio, meaning she had spent significantly more than the value of the bag she was hoping to be offered.
“I was like, blink twice if my profile just needs to look stronger or if it’s just a waiting game,” she says.
The answer, according to her, was vague. “Oh, you know how hard those bags are to get,” she recalls being told.
By July, she says she had spent even more, well over what she expected would be enough. “We were well over two to one,” she says. “And I’m like… can I look at any bag?” She says the answer was still no.
At that point, Nicci admits she became frustrated.
“I was like, I need a [expletive] purse,” she says. “I have all this Hermès stuff and no bag to show for it.”
She Says The Experience Came Down To The Sales Associate
Eventually, she says she began exploring other boutiques and noticed a stark difference.
During a trip to Las Vegas, she says she had a much smoother experience and was able to purchase a bag after minimal additional spending.
“We had a really, really great experience,” she says. “After only buying like two pairs of shoes.”
That contrast changed how she viewed the entire process.
“Your sales associate matters,” she says.
Back at her original boutique, she says the experience never improved.
After months of spending, she estimates around $33,000 total, and she was finally offered a Birkin, though not in the specifications she originally wanted.
“I accepted it, mainly to finalize the divorce,” she says.
She ended up purchasing a Birkin 25 in the color Blue Nuit, with palladium hardware.
Looking back, however, she says she wishes she had walked away sooner. “Cut your losses if you have to,” she says. “That’s what I should have done.”
Commenters Were Highly Critical Of The Process
In the comments section, viewers were critical of the entire experience and the idea of “playing the game.”
“Shopping but for people with a humiliation kink,” one person wrote.
“‘Playing the game’ at hermes is a mental illness,” another stated. “Why would you want to GIVE MONEY to a place like this that is HAZING AND BULLYING YOU.”
“So yeah your SA hated you clearly,” one commenter wrote.
“This is the biggest scam on the planet I literally can’t believe that people are this willing to be shafted,” another added.
Are There Other Ways to Purchase Birkin Bags?
For those who don’t want to go through the boutique process, there are other ways to buy a Birkin.
The most common alternative is the resale market, where bags are sold through luxury consignment platforms, auction houses, and independent resellers. Unlike in-store purchases, these don’t require a prior relationship with a sales associate or any “pre-spend.”
The tradeoff, however, is price.
Because of the bag’s exclusivity and demand, many Birkins on the resale market are listed above retail, sometimes significantly so, depending on the size, color, and hardware. Limited or rare combinations can climb even higher.
At Sotheby’s, for example, a popular Birkin reseller, the average price for a bag is $22,300.
@nicci_p What a time #hermes #hermesjourney #birkin #hermesbirkin #birkinbag ♬ original sound – Nicci
The Mary Sue has reached out to Hermès via contact form and Nicci via email for comment.
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