So, I was having a chat with a friend the other day, and somehow we landed on the topic of high-end brands. You know, the really fancy ones. And the question popped up: does Hermes ever do sales? It got me thinking because, honestly, my first reaction was, “No way, right?” It just doesn’t seem like their style. They’re all about being exclusive and super high-quality.
My curiosity was piqued, though. So, I decided to do a bit of digging. First thing I did was just hop online and start searching around. I typed in things like “Hermes sale,” “Hermes discount,” “does Hermes have outlets.” You know, the usual stuff you’d search for any other brand.
What I found initially was kind of confusing. Lots of forum posts, some people saying absolutely never, others mentioning whispers of something sometimes happening. It wasn’t very clear. Most official-looking sources didn’t mention sales at all, which kind of confirmed my initial thought. They just talk about their new collections and the craftsmanship, never about discounts.
Digging for the Real Story
Okay, so regular sales seemed like a dead end. But those whispers kept bugging me. I started looking into specific terms like “Hermes private sale” or “Hermes sample sale.” And that’s where things got interesting.
Turns out, Hermes does hold sale events, but they are absolutely not advertised to the general public. They’re usually called “Ventes Exceptionnelles” (Exceptional Sales) or something similar. Here’s what I gathered about them:
- They are infrequent: Don’t expect them seasonally like regular stores. They happen maybe once or twice a year, if that, in specific major cities – think Paris, New York, maybe Tokyo or Geneva.
- They are exclusive: Getting in isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s invitation-only, maybe for loyal customers or staff friends and family. Other times, word gets out in certain circles, and people queue for hours, sometimes days, just for a chance to get in.
- What’s on offer: This was the key part for me. You are very unlikely to find their super famous bags like the Birkin or Kelly at these sales. Forget about that dream. It’s mostly ready-to-wear clothing from previous seasons, shoes, some accessories like scarves, ties, belts, maybe furniture or tableware. Basically, items they need to clear out.
- The experience: From what I’ve read in personal accounts (people who somehow got in), it can be pretty chaotic. Imagine a lot of eager shoppers in one place looking for a rare Hermes bargain. Still, people hunt for treasures there.
So, What’s the Bottom Line?
After looking into it, my conclusion is this: If you’re asking “Does Hermes have big, public, end-of-season sales advertised everywhere like most brands?” then the answer is a definite no. They protect their brand image and the perceived value of their main products fiercely.
However, if you’re asking “Is it ever possible to buy any Hermes product at a discount directly from them?” The answer is technically yes, through these very exclusive, hard-to-access private sales that mostly feature non-leather goods and past-season items.
It was quite interesting to confirm this. It makes sense for a brand like Hermes. They maintain their mystique and desirability by not being easily accessible or frequently discounted. Finding this out was a little journey, starting from a simple question and ending up learning about the very specific way they handle their excess inventory. It’s definitely not your typical retail sale situation!