Hermes is being focused in a brand new lawsuit accusing the luxurious retailer of promoting its coveted Birkin purses solely to prospects who’ve spent exorbitant quantities of cash on the retailer on different items. The proposed federal class-action lawsuit, which was filed this week in San Francisco, alleges that Hermes is violating antitrust regulation by making prospects purchase different items within the retailer earlier than being granted the privilege of shopping for a Birkin bag from Hermes. Birkin purses, that are handcrafted from leather-based by artisans in France, can price tens of hundreds of {dollars}, a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} on the second-hand market, and are seen on the arms of celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Cardi B. The purses can solely be bought in a Hermes retailer, not on its web site.Nevertheless, the lawsuit claims that the typical buyer can’t simply stroll right into a Hermes retailer, discover a Birkin on show and purchase it. Reasonably, prospects which are “deemed worthy” might be proven a Birkin in a personal room.
Hermes gross sales associates are tasked with selecting prospects which are certified to purchase Birkins, based on the lawsuit.
“These gross sales associates are directed by Defendants to solely supply Birkin purses to shoppers who’ve established a adequate ”buy historical past” or “buy profile” with Defendants or Defendants’ ancillary merchandise resembling footwear, scarves, belts, jewellery and residential items,” the lawsuit states.
Whereas gross sales associates don’t obtain a fee for promoting Birkins, the lawsuit claims, they’re instructed to make use of the Birkin purses as a strategy to coerce prospects into shopping for different merchandise, for which they obtain a 3% fee. Hermes didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark early Thursday. The lawsuit is searching for class motion standing for all U.S. residents that, over the previous 4 years, purchased or have been requested to purchase ancillary merchandise as a way to buy a Birkin.The plaintiffs are searching for an unspecified quantity in financial damages and a court docket order barring the promoting techniques it claims Hermes employs.