Thing is, “cheap” is relative when we’re talking about Hermès. We’re not talking bargain bin finds here. More like, “least ridiculously expensive” kind of situation. You know?
I saw this article once, it was like “Top 13 Cheapest Hermès Bags!” and I clicked it, like a moth to a ridiculously expensive flame. And yeah, there were bags… but even the *cheapest* one, the Aline, was, like, over a grand! For a canvas tote! My jaw legit dropped. I mean, it’s *Hermès*, so the quality’s probably amazing and all that jazz, but still! A grand for a tote bag? I could buy, like, *so many* groceries with that. Or, like, pay rent for a month. Priorities, people!
Then there’s the whole “dupe” thing. I’ve seen those Amazon Hermès dupes, and let me tell you, some of them are… well, let’s just say they’re not fooling anyone who knows anything about Hermès. They’re like trying to pass off a cardboard box as a Birkin. Cute if you’re playing dress-up, maybe, but not exactly fooling anyone at the country club. Plus, I kinda feel like buying a dupe just emphasizes that you *don’t* have the real thing. Know what I mean?
And then, of course, there’s the pre-owned market. ThredUP and places like that. You *can* find Hermès bags for (relatively) less, but you gotta be careful! Authentication is key. You don’t want to drop a small fortune on a fake. I saw this lady once, she bought what she thought was a vintage Kelly, and it turned out to be… well, let’s just say the stitching was questionable, and the leather smelled suspiciously of plastic. Yikes!