As Dumas has said before (paraphrased here), in an economic downturn there tends to be a consumer flight to quality, from which Hermès benefits. Seen by many as the pinnacle of luxury, particularly in its handbags, there seems to be no decline in demand for these products, heightened by the difficulty in getting them.
On the other hand, Hermès faces some challenges, including a California Antitrust lawsuit. In that case, three plaintiffs allege that the brand “requires” potential customers to purchase products other than handbags to access Birkins and Kellys.
Whatever the legal merits (or lack thereof), there is a rumbling among shoppers complaining about their perceived need to purchase items they may not truly want to build a customer profile. Some report an increase in Hermès goods on the secondary market, as well as a decline in resale pricing of the hard-to-get bags.
