Luxury fashion house Hermès is under legal scrutiny in California, facing allegations of discriminatory sales practices regarding its coveted Birkin handbags. The lawsuit, filed by two California residents as a proposed federal class-action, accuses Hermès of unlawfully restricting the sale of Birkin handbags to customers with a “sufficient purchase history” with the company.
According to the lawsuit filed in San Francisco, Hermès is accused of violating antitrust laws by linking the sale of Birkin handbags to the purchase of other items. The plaintiffs claim that Hermès sales associates actively promote the purchase of additional products, such as shoes, scarves, and jewelry, as a prerequisite for being offered the opportunity to buy a Birkin handbag.
The Birkin handbag, renowned as a symbol of status and luxury, has become an iconic fashion accessory. However, Hermès does not make these handbags available for purchase online, nor are they openly displayed in the company’s retail stores. Instead, the lawsuit alleges that only customers deemed “worthy” are presented with the opportunity to purchase a Birkin handbag, often in a private setting.
Furthermore, Hermès sales associates reportedly do not receive commissions on Birkin bag sales but are incentivized to use the handbags as leverage to encourage customers to buy additional products.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of thousands of US consumers who have either purchased Hermès goods or have been pressured to do so in order to obtain a Birkin handbag. With approximately 43 stores across the US, including eight in California, Hermès faces potential liability for its alleged discriminatory practices.
The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified monetary damages and a court injunction to halt Hermès’s purportedly anticompetitive behaviors.
