Herm?s 'Birkin Bag' Purchase: Am I Eligible? Group Lawsuit in the US

"Purchase Qualification Granted Only When Buying Other Items Together"
Claims of Violation of the Exclusive Dealing Prohibition Act

Luxury brand Herm?s has become embroiled in a lawsuit in the United States over its sales strategy for its famous bag, the 'Birkin bag,' according to British daily The Guardian and other foreign media on the 20th (local time).

According to reports, two consumers in California filed a class-action lawsuit in the Northern District Court of California, arguing that Herm?s' practice of screening customers to determine whether they are worthy of purchasing a Birkin bag is unfair.

Herm?s Birkin Bag. [Source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The plaintiffs also pointed out in the complaint that Birkin bags are not sold online nor displayed in stores. They claimed that Herm?s sales staff require consumers who want to buy a Birkin bag to purchase other products such as shoes, scarves, and accessories as a condition. Only if the consumer is deemed qualified to purchase the Birkin bag will it be shown in a separate space.

One of the plaintiffs stated, "I tried multiple times to buy a Birkin bag, but each time I was told I had to buy other items and accessories." The plaintiffs argued that Herm?s is using the high demand and low supply of Birkin bags to dominate the market and that this 'bundling' sales practice, which forces customers to buy other products, violates antitrust laws. Herm?s declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Meanwhile, the Birkin bag is said to have been inspired by the late British singer and actress Jane Birkin. She was known as 'the British woman most loved by the French' and a 'fashion icon.' The price of a Birkin bag ranges from ?9,000 to ?150,000 (approximately 15 million to 260 million KRW), and prices are known to soar even higher in the secondhand market.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.