Overview
- Hindustan Times and Complex highlight a Glitz report alleging Hermès staff Google clients’ home addresses and review social media without consent to judge eligibility for Birkin and Kelly bags.
- Birkin and Kelly models are treated as quota items kept off display, with access tied to rare leather appointments allocated by lotteries or manager curation and to purchase history across categories.
- Coverage cites claims that Hermès monitors secondary-market listings after sales and can blacklist both the purchaser and the associate if a bag reappears online.
- Reported criteria include judgments about in-store behavior and perceived taste, with red flags for shoppers who target only famous models, frequent multiple boutiques, or appear opportunistic.
- A 2024 lawsuit by two San Francisco residents alleged customers were pressured to buy other goods to build purchase histories for Birkin access, and recent reports note no formal response from Hermès.