We all know that scoring a Hermes Birkin or Kelly on your first visit is unlikely. Of course you can try, but be prepared to be politely - but bluntly - turned away by the Sales Associate (SA). If it was that simple, we wouldn't need to travel to Paris in hope of our dream bag.
What makes Paris unique in the world of Hermes is the online lottery system for leather goods appointments. Knowing how to get a Hermes appointment in Paris - and what to do once you have one - genuinely changes your odds. With the large amount of stock at the flagship store on Faubourg Saint-Honore (FSH), your chances of being offered something are higher than at any other Hermes boutique in the world. This guide covers everything you need to know.
At a Glance
- Website
- rendezvousparis.hermes.com
- Apply
- 10:30-19:00 Paris time, the day before your appointment
- Confirmation
- Click the link in the second email - the first email is not your appointment
- Closed
- All three boutiques are closed on Sundays - apply Saturday for Monday
- Apply every day
- The lottery is random. More attempts = more chances.
The Scale of the Hermes Paris Lottery
To be realistic: Hermes reportedly receives over 10,000 online requests per day for potentially 30-60 appointment slots spread across all three Paris boutiques. Securing a Hermes leather appointment in Paris this way is mostly down to luck. Your purchase history, knowing a sales assistant, or how much you have spent before do not increase your odds in the lottery itself - it is genuinely random. This is actually good news for first-timers.
The most important tactic is simple: apply every single day you are in Paris. If you have a five-day trip, you have five chances. Do not apply once and give up.
How to Get a Hermes Leather Appointment in Paris
The Hermes Paris lottery system operates on a day-in-advance basis. Here is the step-by-step process as it currently stands:
Location
The system works best on French WiFi, but some people including UK visitors do apply successfully before travelling. Always worth trying early, and apply every day once you arrive.
Visit the website
Go to rendezvousparis.hermes.com on your smartphone between 10:30 and 19:00 Paris time, the day before your desired appointment.
Fill in the form
Enter your name, passport number, phone number, email address and preferred store.
Confirm via email - do not skip this
You will receive a "Welcome to Hermès" email - this is not a confirmation. Find the second email titled "Please confirm your appointment request" and click the blue link. If you skip this, your entry is void.
Wait for results
Results come by email in the evening. No email means no appointment - try again tomorrow. If you do get one, keep checking on the day as your time slot can change.
Rememeber that all three boutiques are closed on Sundays. Apply on Saturday for a Monday appointment. On French public holidays, try applying two days in advance.
Which Store Should You Choose?
There are three full-service Hermes boutiques in Paris, all in the same lottery system. You can choose one when applying - or select "No Preference" to enter all three pools at once.
Faubourg Saint-Honoré
The biggest store with the most stock. This is the best place to find a Birkin or Kelly. It is busy and popular, but has more bags than the other two stores.
Best for
Best chance of finding a Birkin or Kelly
George V
A smaller store close to the Champs-Élysées. A good option if you are staying nearby. Less busy than the flagship store.
Best for
Central location, less busy
Sèvres
Built inside a beautiful 1935 swimming pool. Has a café, a bookstore, and is the only Hermès store in the world to sell the Petit H collection. Most experienced Hermès shoppers say this is their favourite.
Best for
Best atmosphere, unique products, open the latest
Tip: Choose "No Preference" when applying to be entered into all three stores at the same time.
What To Do If You Don't Get an Appointment
Don't lose heart. There are other routes.
Walk-in Cancellations
Visit any of the three boutiques and politely ask the person at the entrance desk whether there are any cancellation slots. The answer is often no - but it does happen. Be courteous, brief, and come earlier rather than later in the day.
The Hotel Concierge Route
If you are staying at a luxury Paris hotel (Ritz, Crillon, George V, Le Bristol, etc.), it is worth asking your concierge discreetly. These hotels have contacts at Hermes. It is not guaranteed - and is more likely to work if you are a regular guest - but there is no harm in asking.
Ask Your Home-Store SA Before You Travel
In rare cases, a Hermes Sales Manager at your home store may be able to arrange a Paris appointment for a loyal client. This is reserved for customers who have spent a lot over many years - but if you have a genuine relationship with an SA, it is worth a quiet conversation at least two months before your trip.
The CDG Airport Boutique
There are multiple Hermes locations across the terminals at Charles de Gaulle airport, with varying hours by terminal. Worth a browse on your way home, particularly if you are flexible on what you buy - but check the Hermes website for current hours before your trip, as they differ by terminal and gate.
Purchase History: Does It Matter?
For winning the lottery - no. The lottery is completely random and your spending history makes no difference to your chances of getting an appointment.
However, it matters a lot once you are inside. Your SA will look at your purchase history before deciding whether to offer you a Birkin, Kelly, or Constance. Hermès tracks all purchases globally across every store - so if you have bought something at your home store, that counts in Paris too.
If you have no purchase history, visit any of the Paris boutiques the day before your appointment and buy something small. A Twilly, a scarf, a candle, a fragrance. It does not need to be expensive. It simply shows that you love the brand - not just the bags. Even one small receipt on your record helps.
Once you have your bag, buy one more small item at the same time - a Twilly, a belt, a pair of socks. This builds your relationship with the SA and makes future visits easier.
Good to know: you do not need an appointment to buy belts, wallets, or small leather goods. You can walk in and buy these at any time.
Travelling With Others
If you are visiting Paris with friends or family, each person aged 18 or over can apply separately on their own phone using their own passport details. This effectively multiplies your chances. However, if any member of your group receives an appointment, they must be physically present at the boutique on the day - you cannot attend on someone else's behalf. The passport used to register must match the person who attends.
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
Bring Your Passport
You need the same passport you registered with when applying for the appointment. The SA will check this when you arrive. If a friend registered the slot, they must be the one present - and they will be the purchaser.
Build Your Wishlist in Advance
Your SA will ask for your wishlist at the start of the appointment. Think carefully about:
- Bag style - Birkin, Kelly (Sellier or Retourne), Constance
- Size - 25, 30, 35 for Birkins; 20, 25, 28, 32 for Kellys
- Leather - Togo (structured, scratch-resistant), Clemence (softer, slouchy), Epsom (light, textured), Swift (smooth, supple)
- Colour - give three or four options, from your dream colour down to neutral backups (Gold, Etoupe, Noir are the most available). See our 2026 Hermes colour guide for the current seasonal palette
- Hardware - Gold (GHW) or Palladium (PHW)
The more options you give, the better your chances of being offered something. Do not open with only a Picotin if your real goal is a Kelly - let the SA search for the Kelly first, and ask about the Picotin if the Kelly is not available. Lead with your real wishlist.
Knowing the Hermes leather names and current seasonal colours also shows your SA that you genuinely love the brand, not someone who plans to resell it.
Dress the Part
Put effort into your outfit. This does matter - the SA at the check-in desk will form an impression, and that impression can influence the tone of the appointment before it even starts. If you own Hermes pieces - a scarf, a Twilly, a belt, a watch - wear them. You do not need to look like a walking catalogue, but dressing well shows that you take Hermes seriously.
Get those things right and you have given yourself every possible advantage. The rest is down to the lottery.
FAQs
No - not at all. No matter your purchase history or how much you have spent, a quota bag offer is never guaranteed. The decision ultimately rests with the SA and their manager on the day. I have attended appointments and received a Kelly 25 Sellier; I have attended others and been offered only a Picotin. Go in with genuine excitement but manage your expectations. The experience itself is memorable regardless.
Absolutely. It happens. The lottery is random and first-time visitors do receive quota bag offers. It is less likely than for established clients, but it does happen - particularly in Paris, where stock is genuinely more abundant than anywhere else.
Two reasons. First, they may genuinely be searching the vault for the right bag - these bags are kept in a back room, and retrieving them and getting manager approval takes time. Second, they sometimes need to wait for the leather goods manager to authorise a sale. Be patient and stay positive.
This is almost certainly not true. Hermes boutiques - particularly FSH - maintain consistent stock of quota bags. Even display bags can be available for purchase unless specifically reserved. The reality is that the decision to offer a quota bag to any given client is the store manager's decision, not stock availability. It is frustrating, but it is the system. Do not take it personally.
The system works most reliably when connected to French WiFi in France, but it is not blocked everywhere. Some people apply successfully from the UK before travelling. It is always worth trying - and then applying every day once you arrive.
If your heart is set on FSH specifically, choose it - it has the largest stock. But if you simply want any appointment, selecting "No Preference" enters you into all three stores' pools and may give you a slightly better chance of being selected.
The more days you are in Paris, the more lottery attempts you have. Experienced bag hunters recommend at least five to seven days to give yourself a realistic shot. Some people apply for two weeks before getting an appointment. Plan a proper trip, not a short two-night trip.
Yes - the system works most reliably when you are connected to local French WiFi in France. That said, results from outside France are not guaranteed but not impossible either. We know people who have applied successfully from the UK, and others who have had no luck from neighbouring European countries. Try applying before you travel, but don't rely on it. Apply every single day once you arrive.
As a non-EU resident, you are typically entitled to reclaim approximately 10-15% of the total purchase price in French VAT. On a Birkin or Kelly worth 10,000-15,000 euros, that is a saving of 1,000-2,000 euros returned to your bank card - often more than enough to cover your flights. For UK buyers specifically: since Brexit in 2021, UK citizens travelling to France are treated as non-EU visitors and can claim the French VAT refund. This is a good reason to buy in Paris rather than at home.
Go to the PABLO kiosk located near the customs desk on the departures level, before you check your luggage in. Scan the barcode slip your SA generated at the time of purchase. Keep your items accessible in case customs wants to inspect them - they should be unused and in their packaging. The refund typically appears on your bank card within a few weeks.
Have a question we haven't covered? Drop it in the comments and we will do our best to help.
Looking for a Hermes bag without the wait? Browse our authenticated Hermes collection - available now.
