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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Lifestyle
Guardian staff and agency

Hermès sued in California over claims it only sells Birkins to ‘worthy’ customers

close up of colourful handbags held by two women
‘Typically, only those consumers who are deemed worthy of purchasing a Birkin handbag will be shown a Birkin handbag,’ the lawsuit claimed. Photograph: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

The French luxury house Hermès has been sued in California over claims it unlawfully allows only customers with “sufficient purchase history” with the company to buy its famed Birkin handbags.

Hermès is violating antitrust law by “tying” the sale of one item to the purchase of another, two California residents alleged in the proposed federal class-action lawsuit filed on Tuesday in San Francisco.

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