‘The labels are just not worth the hype’: Bethenny Frankel says Hermes ‘scolded’ her over her videos about Walmart ‘Wirkin.’ People are here for her response
Entrepreneur and TV personality Bethenny Frankel says her Hermes sales rep ‘scolded’ her for reviewing Walmart’s knock-off Birkin, dubbed the ‘Wirkin.’ However, Frankel doesn’t apologize and claps back on TikTok.
In a January TikTok, Frankel compares a real $12,000 Hermes Birkin with an $85 Walmart knock-off. She notes that Walmart doesn’t make the knock-offs, but hosts third-party sellers who do.
She points out subtle differences in the handle size, stitching, material, and durability. She notes that the Hermes wins in terms of craftsmanship, but acknowledges that some people may prefer the cheaper alternative. Frankel then goes on to call out the societal pressure to obtain a Birkin, whether real or knock-off.
“I just think the whole status symbol, needing to look like everybody else, and clamoring to copy this one bag isn’t what we need to be doing,” Frankel says. “We’re going to find other amazing bags that we feel proud of.”
How did Hermes respond to Frankel’s Wirkin review?
On Oct. 4, Frankel rants about a recent interaction with a Hermes sales rep while getting ready in her bathroom. She notes that she’s “spent enough at Hermes to buy a small house.”
“My sales associate subtly-not-so-subtly scolded me for the Wirkin videos,” she says. “And those videos were educational, sociological, a discussion of the sign of the times. I am certainly in a position to know the differences in the bags.”
Frankel points out that she praised the craftsmanship of Hermes, the originator of the bags.
“Nevertheless, I’ve been scolded for my participation in talking about the knock-offs,” she continues.
She responds to the sales rep by pointing out that she sold out the Hermes lip oils after showcasing them on social media.
“Unlike every other brand, they didn’t reach out to me to even say a nice thank you,” she laments. “So I’m at the end of the line with everybody else.”
How did viewers react to her video?
In the comments, viewers question Hermes’ response to Frankel as a longtime customer.
“Who scolds a shopper?! I’d be bringing my business elsewhere,” one writes in a comment liked by Frankel.
“People need to check themself. How did she feel entitled to scold her client, let alone Bethenny Frankel,” another says.
“Umm. I’d be finding a new place to spend my hard-earned money,” a third adds.
Others point out that Frankel spoke highly of Hermes in her Wirkin videos, and shoppers who were considering the knock-off may not be prospective clients of Hermes anyway.
“How silly of them-those buying a version in Walmart or Amazon won’t be buying the real thing, so it doesn’t affect Hermes,” a commenter writes.
“Not to mention that anyone buying an actual Birkin is unlikely to buy a ‘Wirkin’ and vice versa, so there’s that – you are simply doing the Lords work and helping us common folk,” another says.
“Let her know that me getting a Wirkin isn’t what’s standing between me and a Birkin,” a third jokes.
@bethennyfrankel I am on the naughty list this year #hermes #naughty #scolded ♬ original sound – Bethenny Frankel
The Mary Sue reached out to Frankel via email and to Hermes and Walmart via contact form.
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