Purchasing Hermès handbags doesn’t need to be something to be afraid of, and although the luxury resale market may be intimidating and risky because of the scams, at the end of the day, the process of buying a Hermès bag should be something to be happy about, whether you’re looking to enrich your collection of luxury bags, or you’re interested in making a good investment, both are valid options.
Here, we will show you how to overcome your fear of falling for scams when buying a Hermès bag, and we will give you some valuable tools to learn more about these products and avoid counterfeits as much as possible. Embark in this journey with us and discover how to buy a Hermès handbag without being scammed.
- Why are Hermès bags difficult to buy?
- The risks of the luxury resale market
- Is it possible to authenticate a Hermès bag?
- How to avoid a scam?
Why are Hermès bags difficult to buy?
First of all, we need to talk about a subject that every Hermès client has wondered about, and that is why is it so difficult to buy Hermès handbags? The reality is that the official stores are very strict about the handbags they sell, and they try to keep them limited to respect the law of demand and supply.
Hermès has built an aura of desirability surrounding its handbags, which means that they are incredibly demanded, but the brand restricts the supply to keep the bags exclusive, resulting in more demand, more exclusivity and higher prices. This strategy ensures that not everyone can gain access to a Hermès bag, even if they have the money to buy it, so it progressively enhances the glorious image of exclusivity, making them more valuable and special.
However, with the difficulty to access them through official channels, the luxury resale market has boomed with a plethora of new and pre-loved handbags that are being offered online, oftentimes with more stock than the official Hermès stores. Today, the luxury resale market for Hermès handbags is huge, there are hundreds of bags that are being offered as authentic but they are actually fake, and that is why the dilemma begins and the fear of acquiring a fake bag becomes very real.
The risks of the luxury resale market
Although there are hundreds of online marketplaces to buy Hermès handbags, either new or pre-loved, the risk of purchasing a fake bag is very high. Today, the counterfeits are sophisticated, and they are difficult to tell apart from original bags, sometimes replicas can be even more perfect than authentic bags. In some cases, former Hermès artisans have left the atelier and taught others that may have created their own counterfeit business, extending the many processes that entail making a bag, and therefore, extending the counterfeiting practices.
Nowadays, fake bags can be made with natural skins, even of the same quality as those used by Hermès. And sometimes, the only way to tell that a bag is fake is by letting it age and noticing that deterioration is faster than the one expected on original bags. So we can say that pre-loved bags are easier to identify as fake, but most of the time people tend to buy new Hermès handbags, as they are a better investment and they are in pristine condition.
The counterfeits are so sophisticated that the resale market is flooded with fake bags, not only because of people that want to take advantage of others, but also because of human error, which means that no one is skilled enough to certify a 100% that a bag is authentic, and the only way to do it is by inspecting it physically and recurring to authentic documents and packaging.
This is why you should never fall for those authentication apps or websites that claim to certify a bag just by looking at pictures, this can never be done, and there is no guarantee that the Hermès resellers send pictures of their bag, or if instead they are from an authentic bag that someone else sent them, it can all be a scam and a trick. Don’t put your trust in it!
Apps and websites can never authenticate a Hermès bag just by pictures, as even experts struggle to certify their genuineness by touch, smell and close examination. So never fall for these kinds of services with fake promises.
Is it possible to authenticate a Hermès bag?
After knowing how difficult it is to prove the authenticity of a Hermès bag, you must feel that it is impossible, but the reality is that it can be done with the right documents and examination. The best way to certify that a Hermès bag is authentic is by following the next steps that we will detail down below.
Make a physical examination
Take your time to examine the bag thoroughly, for this you first must learn extensively about the product to know which are the authentication signs that Hermès includes in its handbags, and also how the physical characteristics of a bag should be to be considered genuine. Here are some clear key points to check:
- Skin, touch, smell and weight: Examine the overall look of the skin. Hermès creates bags with natural skins, so they must exude a natural smell and have a soft touch; calfskin must be grainy, while exotic skins’ scales should be felt to the touch. A Hermès bag can never be too light, as it indicates that it is not made of genuine natural skin. Stay away from bags that smell like plastic or chemicals.
- General structure: Take a look at the general structure of the bag, learn how a Birkin, Kelly or Constance bag is supposed to look like, pay attention to the construction, the shape, the flaps and the balance of the bag. It should never look disproportionate or roughly made.
- Stitching: Stitching is considered a Hermès hallmark, so you must examine it carefully to assess a bag’s authenticity. Look for diagonal seams made with precision and also symmetrical seams; if there are a certain number of stitches in one side of a bag, there should be the same on the other side. Stay away from perfectly straight seams, like those made by a sewing machine.
- Hardware: Hermès hardware is made of precious metals, so it must look shiny and be sturdy, it can’t be light, as these materials are heavy enough. All the hardware throughout the bag should be plated with the same metal, either Palladium, Gold, Permabrass or Ruthenium. The hardware should never peel off.
- Metal engravings: Metal engravings are present in some pieces of hardware throughout the bag. Pay attention to the “Hermès – Paris” engraving found on Birkin’s and Kelly’s left closing plaques, and under Constance’s “H” shaped clasp. Birkin’s and Kelly’s padlocks and keys also bear some important metal engravings, as well as the zippers in the interior pockets.
- Date stamps: These crucial codes are found inside the upper left corner of the bags and indicate the year of creation alongside the workshop in which the bags were made. They are heat-stamped on the skin and should always be present. Each date stamp is completely unique to each bag, there are not two equal stamps in the world.
- Prints: The most important print on Hermès handbags is the “Hermès – Paris – Made in France” print that is located under the closing flaps of all three main Hermès bags. This print must match the color of the hardware of each bag and it has a very specific font, it is not too big nor too small. On exotic skin bags, this print is also accompanied by an extra symbol that identifies the type of skin used.
Review the elements that come with the bag
Aside from the bag itself, there are other elements that must always accompany the bag to consider it a genuine product. These elements should also be examined to assess their authenticity, if they are not present with the bag or there are some elements missing, it is most likely a fake, especially if it is sold as a brand new in box bag. Here are the elements you must pay attention to:
- Original Hermès orange box: The original Hermès box is a must when purchasing a bag, and if it is missing, it is the sign that you’re dealing with a fake or probably a stolen handbag. Examine the box, it should be of a specific bright orange hue, it must have a small Hermès’ logo printed on the lid. The box should be spacious enough to fit the bag, but not excessively big that there is too much space around it. On newer bags you can do an extra test using a UV light to reveal small Hermès logos printed all over the lid on invisible ink, this can tell an original box from a fake.
- Dust bag: Dust bags are designed to protect Hermès bags, and they need to be present covering the bag inside the box. They are made of a dense herringbone cotton in beige color with a brown drawstring. They feature Hermès’ logo at the front, the logo must be crisp and clean, and it should always have a double circle around it. Pay attention to the details on the horse, carriage and man. Birkin bags should come with two dust bags, one for the bag and a smaller one for the clochette. Kelly bags should come with three dust bags, one for the bag, one for the clochette and one for the detachable strap. Constance bags come with only one dust bag.
- Leather booklet: On more recent Hermès handbags, the brand includes a small booklet that comes inside an envelope with a relief logo. The book is titled “Le Cuir Hermès” This booklet details the materials of Hermès bags, so clients learn more about them. If you bought a recently produced Hermès handbag, the booklet should come inside the box.
- Rain protection: Rain covers must be present inside boxes of specific sized Birkin and Kelly bags: on Birkin 30, 35 and 40, and on Kelly 25, 28, 32, 35 and 40. Rain protection can’t be present on Constance bags nor Birkin 25 or Kelly 20 bags, as this indicates the bag is fake. The rain protection should come inside a plastic sealed bag with a booklet that details the bags that include it and a brief description.
Check the official Hermès invoice
The official Hermès invoice is a required element to assess the authenticity of a bag, as it bears many details that need to match to the bag you received, and also to other documents that we will detail down below.
An official Hermès invoice should detail the handbag’s model, type of construction, size, skin, color, hardware and date stamp, the unique code to that handbag. Besides, it should show the date and time of the purchase, as well as the amount paid in the transaction to acquire the bag.
The physical details described on the Hermès invoice need to match exactly to the product you received, and even so you still need some other documents to be completely sure of the genuineness of the bag, as even the invoice can be counterfeited to appear original.
Check the payment ticket and bank statement
The second element that you must always demand when checking the authenticity of a Hermès bag, is the payment ticket, a receipt issued by the store when paying with a card. Today, Hermès stores limit the payment by cash, only allowing certain amounts to be paid with this method. This is why most of the invoices show that the bag was paid by card, but there are still some invoices that show cash as a method for payment. All of this depends on the country in which the bag was bought and the regulations of each store.
However, the payment ticket and its data can be compared to the official invoice to prove that the payment for that exact bag was made at the same date and time, and for the same amount.
On the other hand, a third authentication document can be consulted to make sure that the official invoice and payment ticket are real. The bank statement of the transaction can be retrieved from the banking app or website to match the information provided, this reinforces the claim of an original bag, because bank statements are very difficult to forge, as banking institutions are secure and prepared for frauds.
Elements for maximum authentication standards
If you want to go even a step further to prove 100% that your Hermès handbag is completely authentic, here are some other elements to make an absolute authentication:
- Contract between the original buyer and the reseller: This contract demonstrates the legal agreement between the original buyer at the store and the person or company that sold the bag. Here you can see that the names and identities match to other documents. This ensures the traceability of the handbag from the store to your hands.
- Identity proof of both parties: with these documents you can know for sure that the people involved in the purchase and sale of the Hermès bag are completely real people, with names, addresses and registered companies. They are not displaying fake identities that can raise suspicions of counterfeit or theft.
- Justify the operations with solid banking data: the use of bank statements that support the operation that was made and are related to the people or companies involved. Banking information is very difficult to fake. By having traceability to the product you can certify that it is 100% genuine.
How to avoid a scam?
Now that you know the right information and why it is so important to be aware of every detail when buying a Hermès bag online, we want to give you some tips and recommendations to be alert and avoid a scam. Here are some key tips to follow:
Research and learn about the product
Make sure to learn every detail about the Hermès bag you’re planning to buy. Look at enough pictures, learn with authenticity guides and discover which signs make it genuine. It is also important to know about the sizes, skins, colors, hardware, and date stamps, to be aware that some colors have been discontinued and therefore, they shouldn’t be present on bags with a certain date stamp, which means that they are fake. These details are not entirely known by counterfeiters, so you need to know them to have the upper hand.
At The Birkin’s & Kelly’s House we can provide you with all the information you need if you contact us. We are experts with 15+ years of experience on the Hermès brand and resale. Don’t hesitate to ask!
Here we provide authentication guides to exclusive Hermès bags:
Buy from a trustworthy website
Always look for a trustworthy marketplace or resellers store to purchase your bag. Avoid websites where people post their own stock and opt for resellers stores that sell the products directly to you. Research and inform yourself, look for well-known and respected marketplaces to buy with authenticity guarantee, constant communication and good after sales services.
At The Birkin’s & Kelly’s House we can offer you all of that and more. We will show you more details below. Keep reading!
Verify the authenticity of the product
Don’t fall for pictures of the bags, they can be taken from other sources or from other resellers, so don’t trust pictures entirely. Always ask for evidence of authenticity and official documents issued by the Hermès store.
It might be the case that some resellers won’t give you the documents until they know you’re going to buy, as they are protecting themselves from providing documents to a possible counterfeiter that may use them to trick people. Get to an agreement with the seller and don’t make any payments until you can verify the documents.
If you receive pictures of the bag, even if you can’t trust them entirely, try to examine the details as much as you can, look at the stitching, the finishes, the structure of the bag, prints, hardware, stamps, etc. Check what you can from the pictures and see if it matches what’s described in the official invoice.
Communicate with the reseller
Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need, remember that buying a Hermès bag is a big investment, so you need to make sure you’re getting what you want. Ask the seller about the bag’s condition, its previous owners, year of production, details, authenticity documents, etc. Pay attention to how the seller answers the questions, if they are not specific or they try to keep information to themselves, be aware and cautious.
If they can’t give you clear information and you sense some kind of reluctance to show you the bag or explain more details, it is probably because the bag is not authentic or it is not actually in the condition they described, it may have some hidden damage. Be alert!
Consider the reseller’s reputation
If you’re going to deal with individual Hermès resellers, you need to do an extensive research beforehand, look for sellers with reviews from buyers, good reputation, many years of experience and positive comments from buyers. This will ensure that you deal with a professional, and therefore minimizes the possibility of buying a fake Hermès bag.
At The Birkin’s & Kelly’s House we have 15+ years of experience dealing with Hermès resale, and all our handbags are directly bought at official Hermès stores and are sold brand new in box. We provide all the authenticity documents you need, such as the official invoice, the payment ticket, bank statement of the purchase, the packaging and much more. We are open to making video calls with our customers to show them the handbag in detail before purchasing it.
Research the market prices
One of the most important aspects before you buy a Hermès bag online is to research the prices for the type of handbag you want, either brand new or pre-loved. There are hundreds of online marketplaces in which you can compare the prices with the years of production of the bags and their condition. This can help you make a good decision to buy the newest bag possible, in the best condition and for the most accessible price.
At The Birkin’s & Kelly’s House we have developed a study examining more than 50 marketplaces to find the best prices for pre-loved and brand new in box handbags, this studies proved that The Birkin’s & Kelly’s House is the website with more brand new in box Hermès bags produced in 2024 with the best prices of the resale market. So you can obtain a completely new and authentic product, while also getting an impressive price, this way you can seize your money and make a good investment.
Explore our online store now!
Use safe payment methods
Scams not only entail the purchase of a fake Hermès bag, but also the risk of losing your money when paying for a bag that scammers never ship to your location. This is why it is very important to research not only the sellers, but also the platforms of marketplaces where you’re planning to deal, as secure payment methods need to be possible.
Always try to pay with safe methods that offer buyer’s protection, such as Paypal, credit cards with fraud protection or online payment services with refund policies in case of disputes. This way you minimize the risks of buying fake bags while also avoiding a scam that can lead you to lose money.
We hope all of these tips and tools have helped you overcome your fear of scams when buying a Hermès bag. Now you’re able to learn and be alert to every detail to remain safe, do precious investments and enjoy your favorite Hermès handbags for years to come.
At The Birkin’s & Kelly’s House we are always at your service. Check our blog for all the information you need regarding the Hermès brand, and the details you must pay attention to when examining the authenticity of a handbag. You can also contact us and request further information from our experts.
We invite you to enter our online store where you can find a great variety of all brand new in box Hermès bags in different models, colors, skins and hardware combinations, as well as limited-editions. If you can’t find the bag you want, we take your order and find it for you in no time.
Best of all, we provide you with every authenticity document you need to prove the genuineness of your bag. We certify the authenticity of our bags to a 100%
Trust the luxury experts and enjoy Hermès bags without worries!