What does Hermes ACTUALLY sell? A closer look into astronomical price tags of the luxury legend 🔍

IM SO GLAD SOMEONE WITH A PLATFORM SAID THE BIRKIN IS UGLY. IT IS SIMPLY A STATUS SYMBOL. I have said for years that if Birkins were at Walmart then not a single person would look twice at it.

It’s laughable that Hermès sales associates are instructed to say “We’ve sold our last piece and the rest is display only”. Hysterical.

For me this is perhaps your best video. Well-researched, yet at the same time offering us your complete opinion as a craftsman. Thank you!!

Y’all, no one buys Hermes for leather. Everyone buys Hermes for status 😂

I appreciate you saying that Birkins are ugly because I have never understood their appeal. I like neither their looks nor their ease of use. I have been given great fakes but I just couldn't do it. They felt fussy and awkward and so I passed them on.

I’d forgotten how Hermès were traditionally a saddlery & harness business at the beginning. Throughout their branding there is the use of equestrian symbolism. I’ve had a look at their website & they’ve continued to make saddles, horse blankets & other equestrian items. I looked up the saddlery company GFS who made my horse’s saddle in Walsall, UK. They are still in business & also adverting for a trainee saddler too for £23K a year. It’s good to see that the midlands still has the traditional saddlery industry.

Thank you for mentioning artisans and alternatives that I can go to for quality leather goods. It’s about time the luxury brands get some accountability!

I worked as a jeweler for a year. I worked with palladium it is, and it isn't expensive. The palladium plating concentrate is sold in a 1 liter bottle. The bottle is like $1000+ dollars. And to make the plating solution you need about 8 oz of deionized water in a glass beaker, and add like 1/2 oz of the palladium solution. And then you set up the electrical connection, for plating. I had a black palladium plated LV Louis Vuitton belt buckle that was "peeling" off the black metal plating. And since I was working as a jeweler; I polished it to remove the black plating, gave it a sand blasted finish, and palladium plated it for like 15 minutes to get a super thick plating coating.

The only Hermes bag design I ever liked was the Constance. I'd be interested in your reviewing and interviewing Hermes employees who have since left the company and started their own brands. April in Paris is one and she actually also has a school in leathercraft.

You are refreshingly educational and honest. So good at your craft. Keep up the great work, Tanner.

Thank you, Tanner, for your hard work and also for the valuable information you provide, that educate us about the world of leather!!

I'll never, ever buy any item from any store that doesn't want my business.

I am a luxury consumer and I like some of Hermés products, but I NEVER saw anything special on both Birkin and Kelly bags. Extremely common designs, excellent craftsmanship but nothing you wouldn’t see on other good brands, and ridiculously high prices. Even if you can afford it, simply doesn’t make sense to spend money on such an ordinary piece like those. Hermés nowadays is just a proof that status can be more valuable than money itself.

I don't know how luxury brands work or the production costs, but they should use full grain leather in their belts if they are going to sell them at abysmal prices. I build belts for myself and some of my friends, I use 3.5mm thick full grain cowhide with 100% sterling silver buckles, for approximately 75 dollars maximum, full silver, not coated. I love your channel, Mr. Tanner. I got started in leather goods by watching your videos.

The one thing Hermes does is make amazing scarves. They are just gorgeous and a wonderful addition to something’s wardrobe.

Yes, thank you for saying it: Birkin bags look like bags for old ladies. I grew up seeing more mature women wearing Hermès and Chanel bags. So this trend since Gossip girls etc when young girls wear Chanel and Hermès is still so weird to me.

My SA was not coy at all informing me that I need to build a purchase history to access the desirable products.

I love how you analyse these brands and your honest opinions.

While I don't find the Birkin ugly (I also don't think it's particularly pretty, either), it does seem impractical. Like an outdated design. No strap, fussy foldover top with sangles and turn lock. It looks like a complete pain in the butt to open and close. Better handbag mechanics have evolved since the Birkin was created. Thank you for this informative video.

Excellent as always, Tanner - thank you & happy holidays!🌲🕯️🎀