Will Hermes take my old bag in part exchange for a new one?

No. Hermes has no part-exchange or trade-in scheme, so selling the old bag and buying a new one are two separate transactions.

Why does Hermes not buy back its own bags?

It has chosen to stay out of the second-hand market. Its chief executive said in 2022 that Hermes is not interested in resale, and in 2025 he criticised people who buy its bags to resell them.

Will Hermes repair my bag?

Hermes repairs its own pieces, and its Maison at 166 New Bond Street in London has leather artisans working on the third floor. Ask at a boutique about repairing your bag.

Who buys Hermes bags in the UK, then?

Specialist buyers who pay outright, consignment boutiques and platforms, auction houses such as Christie's and Sotheby's, and private buyers on marketplaces. Each suits a different seller.

Is it better to consign or sell outright?

Consignment can show a higher headline, but commission of 20 to 40 per cent and a wait of months often close the gap. An outright sale to us pays within 2 hours of authentication on a UK banking day, with no fees.

Does Hermes Buy Back Bags? What to Do Instead

Quick answer

No. There is no Hermes buy-back, trade-in or part exchange. What Hermes does offer is repair: at its Maison on New Bond Street in London, leather artisans work on the third floor. To sell, go elsewhere. For a complete Birkin 30 from 2012 onwards in Togo, excellent condition, we currently pay about £10,600 to £12,700, with no fees, paid within 2 hours of authentication on a UK banking day.

What Hermes Has Said About Resale

In July 2022, the Business of Fashion reported Axel Dumas saying that Hermes is not interested in getting involved in the fast-growing second-hand luxury market, even though some of its rivals have. Three years later, on the company's results call in July 2025, Fortune reported him describing "false customers" who buy bags in order to resell them and prevent Hermes serving its real clients, and saying he was not happy to see new bags on the second-hand market.

A buy-back scheme would put Hermes into exactly the market it has chosen to stay out of. So there is no store credit for an old Birkin, no trade-in against a new Kelly, and no Hermes route to cash for a bag you no longer carry.

What Hermes Will Do: Repairs

Where Hermes does stand behind its bags after the sale is repair. The Bond Street association describes the Hermes Maison at 166 New Bond Street, the house's sixth Maison worldwide, as having leather artisans on the third floor working on objects designed to last, to be repaired and passed on. To arrange a repair, ask at a Hermes boutique.

Is a repair worth doing before you sell? Structural problems, such as a seam coming apart or a damaged handle, can be. Cosmetic wear usually is not: buyers price corners and scuffs into their offers, and a repair costs time and money you may not get back. Before you book one, send the buyer photos of the wear and ask whether a repair would change the offer.

What Owners Do Instead

With Hermes out of the picture, UK owners choose between five routes, or keep the bag:

Sell outright

One firm figure, paid quickly, no commission. We buy this way, from 2012 onwards and complete sets only.

Consign

A consignment boutique or platform sells the bag for you and keeps commission, typically 20 to 40 per cent. It can take weeks or months.

Auction

Christie's and Sotheby's both hold handbag sales in London. The right place for rare exotics, limited editions and special orders.

Sell privately

A marketplace keeps more of the price for you, but you do the work and carry the payment fraud risk.

Pawn

A loan against the bag rather than a sale. It suits you only if you want the bag back and can repay.

Keep it

Nothing wrong with that. A well-kept Hermes bag, repaired when it needs it, is made to be passed down.

Our comparison of the best places to sell a Hermes bag works through what you keep with each route on a £15,000 bag, and when auction or consignment genuinely beats a cash sale. For the practical side, from finding the year to getting paid safely, read how to sell a Hermes bag in seven steps, or browse all our Hermes selling guides.

Three Things to Check Before You Sell

The year. The blind date stamp gives it; our date stamp checker reads any letter since 1945. We buy bags made from 2012 onwards.
The set. The bag, the key, lock and clochette, the box and the original receipt. A complete set sells faster and for more wherever you sell.
The value. Know the band before you take any offer. Our Hermes price guide covers every model and size; these are the bands we pay today for three of the most common bags.

What we pay for three common Hermes bags
Model and size	What we pay	Why
Hermes Birkin 30Most wanted	£10,600 to £12,700	Buyers waiting now, so it moves fastest.
Hermes Kelly 28	£11,100 to £13,300
Hermes Constance 24	£7,200 to £8,700

What we pay a private seller for a complete set from 2012 onwards in excellent condition, in Noir, Gold or Etoupe, Togo leather, palladium hardware. Indicative, subject to authentication in person.

Sources: The Business of Fashion, Hermes is not interested in resale, says CEO; Fortune, Hermes CEO on the second-hand market; Bond Street, Discover the new Hermes Maison on Bond Street.

Does Hermes Buy Back Bags?