India, Jan. 16 -- Getting your hands on a Hermes Birkin may now be harder than ever, and not just because of its eye-watering price. A new investigation by French fashion publication Glitz claims that the luxury house goes to extraordinary lengths to decide who is worthy of owning its most iconic bag. As per the report, Hermes employees Google the home addresses of prospective buyers to see if they live in prestigious neighbourhoods, and closely scrutinise customers' social media accounts. If a buyer is later spotted reselling a Birkin online, both the client and the sales associate involved are reportedly blacklisted. Journalist Louis Pisano echoed these findings in an Instagram post, claiming "every new client is automatically a suspect". He added that sales associates look for specific signals, such as wearing an Audemars Piguet or Richard Mille watch, while a flashy Rolex may raise doubts. Buying a Birkin also demands a long and expensive shopping history. Insiders told The Journal that customers may need to spend at least $10,000 (over Rs.9 lakh) on items like scarves and shoes before being offered a basic bag, and upto $200,000 (over Rs.1.80 crore) to be considered for rare editions. Even then, shoppers are shown just one bag and can't choose its colour. The brand's practices have also drawn legal scrutiny. In March 2025, two shoppers from California sued Hermes, alleging they were forced to buy other products to earn the right to purchase a Birkin. Hermes denied the claims, and the case was dismissed in September the same year. htc...