Atlanta man walks into Hermès. Then he tries to buy a Mini Kelly: ‘You gotta play their game’
Walking into Hermès and asking for a Mini Kelly like it’s a latte order is apparently the fastest way to get laughed at. An Atlanta man went viral after calmly requesting the elusive bag—only to be met with polite chuckles and a firm “no” from the sales associate.
He asks again, and she insists there was no possibility of buying one that day. Cue the internet, now convinced the store definitely had Mini Kellys tucked away in the back. Because, according to them, Hermès is all about hierarchy.
What’s a Mini Kelly?
Luckily for those who aren’t aware of this brand or item, Love Luxury posted an article talking all about Mini Kellys, from design to prices.
“The story begins in 1930…the bag was intended for independent and elegant women of the time, which is why it fell into the hands of pregnant Grace Kelly in 1956. In order to hide her blooming belly from the eyes of the public and paparazzi, she held the Kelly bag in front of her… and just like that, the Hermès bag had a namesake.” The article also states that prices usually start from around £7,000. Of course, that might be subject to change considering if it has different features.
Is Owning a Mini Kelly a Status Symbol?
This is where some of the discourse comes in. Many know how exclusive it is to buy any Hermès bag. That’s why it is assumed that they don’t sell it to the general public. Baghunter released an article about the exclusivity of these bags. “These bags are undoubtedly a symbol of wealth. This is due to their high prices, which can range from as low as $10,000 to as high as $150,000. They are used as a status symbol and are typically bought by celebrities and super models that represent the exclusivity of the bag.These bags are exclusive, meaning they are only available to a small group of people who have the right connections and can afford to spend so much on a bag.”
The Interaction at Hermès
@TheDivineDaddy videoed his short interaction at Hermès as he was seeking to buy a Mini Kelly bag. The clip is 17-seconds long and has almost 10 million views. He starts the video by walking up to the counter in the Hermès store and saying, “Hey I got a question. Can I get a Mini Kelly?” The sales associate chuckles and says, “Sorry, I don’t have any available.” It seems he asks a question off-camera and she replies, “No wish list basis.”
He then asks, “I can’t walk out of here with a Mini Kelly?” She responds, “No.” This time, he says, “Any color? Could be the ugliest color.” The sales associate once again chuckles and repeats, “I’m sorry, no.” The clip ends.
@thedivinedaddy I guess my mom isn’t getting a birkin this year.. #hermesbirkin #hermesbag #hermeskelly ♬ original sound – DIVINE DADDY?
How hard is it to buy a mini Kelly?
Many viewers are convinced that the sales associate was lying about not having any bags to sell. One shares, “she 100% has a mini kelly back there.” Another says, “The way she said “no” let me know she has them but won’t give it to you.”
One viewer even says, “They have shelves of them. This gatekeeping is insane. I wish people would just stop buying them and let Hermes sit there with a pile of bags that aren’t selling.”
On the other hand, some viewers wonder why anyone would want to buy an Hermès bag to begin with. One says, “People still buying at this store is WILD TO ME.” While another shares, “Hermes never gotta worry about me.”
Other viewers refer to the Hermès ‘game.’ One viewer states, “not knowing the hermes game in 2025 is crazy.” Another says, “They would deny anyone who comes in, even if they visibly look rich. Hermes has this stupid process where you have to build a relationship with 1 sales associate and buy over 20k worth of stuff before they will put you on a wishlist for a Kelly bag. Then you get whatever color they offer you once your name on the wishlist comes up.”
The Rome Station posted an article detailing the Hermès process when looking for a specific bag. “Getting offered a Hermès bag is a process, never a guarantee. We can’t just ring up an order and stroll out with a Birkin. Instead, the waitlist system rewards consistent clients who have built trust and purchase history with a boutique.” They even have a handy table as an outline.
The Mary Sue covers a similar story about a woman who went shopping in Cartier. It seems that it’s a common occurrence for luxury brands to gatekeep their products. We’ve reached out to the creator and Hermes via email.
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