r/RepHermesQC

Paid $499. Color is bleu nuit. Took about 19 days to get PSP. I’d appreciate any call outs. TIA.

Top is authentic, bottom is replica.

Is the callout risk high?

- Overall shape and proportions
- Handle placement and shape
- Sangles and turnlock alignment
- Stitching quality
- Hardware engraving

Any obvious flaws or callouts!
Thank you in advance for any help :)

From putian ($310)

Please help QC, particularly the stamps and the leather.

$1800 from Peter Brant.

Seller: Tee
Price: 1800$

Do you think the stamp is too heavy?
Green light or red light?
I appreciate your help in advance 🙏

From Jim $1380

I would like some QC help. The gold looks too yellow, but he said these pics were taken under suboptimal lighting. Thanks in advance!

$1550 for this K25 with Barenia Faubourg with palladium hardware from Mark. Any feedback is greatly appreciated 🤎

Looking for feedback!

B25 chai Togo GHW. Purchased from her in-stock 6.18 promo for 3600cny + 500cny shipping.

Curious to know what everyone thinks!

There have been some interesting new developments on the seller, Jim. He was inadvertently exposed two days ago for shilling and pretending to be a buyer on Reddit by a post that connected Jim to a Reddit user via the same name used for a Zelle payment. Since then, he has launched a misinformation campaign attempting to normalize and bury this. Jim also continues to create new Reddit accounts in an attempt to circumvent his sitewide ban where he already has at least 3 of his accounts banned already.

All of this I have continued to update and document here: https://hartofalyon.substack.com/p/navigating-h-rep-subreddits. Please see the latest updates from yesterday and the day before. If you haven't seen this doc before, keep scrolling for more details about Jim's bots, alts, and fake reviews.

I fully expect Jim to utilize his downvote brigade and alts to attack this post. Don't engage with them and let the evidence speak for itself. Help by upvoting, commenting, and sharing so this post reaches more people.

Oh, and this post's photo? That's a PSP of Jim's PHW padlock. Maybe if you tilt your head and squint just right, the engraving will look straight.

Opinions greatly appreciated.

Back with another novel. Also, a follow up of my QC PSP post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/RepHermesQC/s/GyrvwwCdGi

As a disclaimer, I do not believe any rep will ever truly be 1:1 to authentic. As usual, my review is based on the overall execution of the bag rather than expecting perfection. The main things I paid attention to were the structure, hardware, leather quality, glazing, and overall craftsmanship. Also, yes my dog has a lot of toys.

TLDR? Scroll down to the SparkNotes version; there’s an overall summary. If you want the seller’s info, message me directly. I will not post it in the comments as I don’t want him getting spammed.

Authentic Specs

Color: Etoupe
Style: Retourne
Hardware: Palladium
Leather: Togo
Seller: Purchased through H
Price: About $13k? (My husband is probably sitting in the corner calculating how much earlier we could retire if I picked a cheaper hobby.)

Rep Specs

Color: Gold
Style: Retourne
Hardware: Palladium
Leather: Togo
Seller: Frank
Price: $1,430 including shipping and insurance (please note prices are subject to change, so ask Frank directly)

Timeline (Ordered > PSP 1 > PSP 2 > Shipped > Received)

4/18 > 5/11 > 5/24 > 5/27 > 6/2

Seller Review: 98%

Communication/Responsiveness: 5/5

Frank is super nice and easy to work with. He was very patient and answered all of my questions. I usually ask sellers for a lot of photos so I can review previous work, and he happily sent them over.

I also feel like he genuinely cares about customer service. What really stood out to me was how he handled feedback. He sent over the PSPs, took my comments well, made sure he understood my concerns, and provided a realistic timeline for the corrections. I would say his communication and customer service are top-tier.

Accuracy of PSP: 5/5

My PSP photos were identical to what I received, minus the corrections I asked him to make.

Shipping and Packaging: 5/5

He was thorough and careful. The bag arrived in a brown shipping box, and inside was another box containing the dust bag. The bag was carefully stuffed with bubble wrap and properly cushioned with tissue paper wrapped neatly around it.

The external box was also placed inside a large FedEx envelope, which provided an extra layer of protection.

Value & Quality: 4.5/5

I think the value is there if you’re looking for a bag that is about 80–85% of the way there, depending on what matters most to you. The cost is roughly 10% of retail. However, it’s still not a cheap bag and should still be considered an investment. (Why I knocked it down .5 point)

I would classify this bag on the higher-tier side, as the craftsmanship is beautiful aside from a few issues I discuss below. While it doesn’t fully replicate the feel and refinement of my authentic Kelly, I do think it delivers strong value relative to its price point.

Bag Review: 80%

Leather and Material Quality: 3.5/5

The leather quality is good overall, but when compared directly side-by-side with my authentic Kelly, there are noticeable differences in both feel and behavior.

The authentic leather feels softer and more supple, while the rep leather is noticeably stiffer and drier throughout the body of the bag. This contributes to a more structured appearance, but it also affects how the bag carries and moves. The authentic has a more effortless drape and flexibility, whereas the rep feels a bit more rigid and structured.

An area where I think Frank did a very good job is the grain. Compared side-by-side with my authentic Togo Kelly, the grain pattern looks quite accurate. The pebbling, spacing, and overall appearance are very convincing and do not immediately stand out to me as being off. While the feel of the leather differs from authentic, visually I think the grain is one of the stronger aspects of the bag.

One thing I noticed immediately was the edge paint. Visually it looks acceptable, but the texture feels different from authentic. The edge paint feels softer and somewhat rubbery to the touch, whereas my authentic feels smoother and more integrated into the leather. This is not something I think anyone would notice visually, but it was immediately apparent when handling the bags side-by-side.

I knocked off 1.5 points because, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review, the leather and edge paint are incredibly important to me. The leather isn’t bad, but it’s not as soft as I would like. I will likely try conditioning it in hopes of softening it over time. The rubbery feel of the edge paint also bothers me. Again, this may not matter to some people, but it was definitely noticeable to me.

Construction & Craftsmanship: 4.5/5

Overall, the craftsmanship is solid. The stitching is very well executed and is one of the stronger aspects of the bag. The spacing is consistent, the angles look correct, and I did not notice any areas that appeared sloppy or uneven. Compared side-by-side with my authentic Kelly, the stitching holds up well and would not be something that concerns me. While the authentic appears slightly more refined under very close inspection, I think Frank did an excellent job in this area.

The stamp is also quite good overall. Compared side-by-side with my authentic, the stamp is not identical, but the font, sizing, and overall presentation are accurate enough that it does not immediately stand out to me. The authentic stamp appears slightly crisper and more refined, particularly in the smaller text, but this is not an area that would concern me in everyday use. Authentic Hermès stamps can also vary from bag to bag, so I tend not to be overly critical unless something is obviously off.

I also want to briefly touch on the hardware engraving. Compared side-by-side with my authentic, I actually prefer the engraving on the rep. The font, spacing, and placement all look good, and the engraving itself appears slightly more defined and easier to read. Whether that makes it more accurate is debatable, but from a visual standpoint, I think Frank did a great job here.

The hardware itself looks great and has a nice weight to it. However, the turn lock mechanism does not operate as smoothly as my authentic. On the authentic bag, the hardware twists effortlessly, while the rep feels tighter and requires more effort to turn.

I also noticed that the closure shape differs slightly. The authentic closure has a more rectangular appearance, whereas the rep is a bit more rounded. This is a relatively minor detail, but it becomes noticeable when comparing the bags directly.

Shape & Structure: 4/5

The strongest aspect of this bag is the side profile. The side silhouette is very accurate and closely resembles my authentic Kelly. One thing I did notice, however, is that the flap closure does not sit quite the same as my authentic. On my authentic Kelly, the flap transitions into the side profile with a flatter and more streamlined appearance. On the rep, the flap appears slightly more rounded and prominent at the fold, creating a fuller look from the side. This is a relatively minor difference and may soften with wear, but when viewed side-by-side, it is one of the areas where I can see a distinction between the two bags.

From the front and overall silhouette, however, the bag feels more rigid and structured. My authentic has a softer, more relaxed elegance to it, while the rep maintains a stiffer shape throughout. Some people may actually prefer the additional structure, but compared directly to my authentic, it does affect the overall look and feel.

I should also note that I’ve owned my authentic Kelly for nearly three years, so some of the softness and slouch could naturally be attributed to age and use. I took measurements of both bags and found that the dimensions, strap length, and strap thickness were essentially the same. The rep does appear slightly taller when viewed side-by-side, but I’m not entirely convinced that’s an accuracy issue versus a difference in how the bags have worn over time. I’m hopeful that the rep will soften and relax with use.

If someone were simply seeing the bag being carried in everyday life, I do not believe this would stand out. Most of the differences become apparent only when the bag is handled, inspected closely, or compared directly against an authentic example.

Summary / Impression

Overall, I think this is a good, passable representation of an authentic Kelly 25. The side profile is one of the strongest aspects of the bag and is very well executed. The Togo grain looks quite accurate, the stitching is clean and consistent, the stamp is well done, and the overall craftsmanship is solid. I also thought the hardware engraving was particularly well executed and, personally, preferred it to my authentic. Visually, I think most people would find the bag convincing.

Where the bag falls short for me is primarily in the tactile details. The leather is noticeably stiffer than my authentic, the edge paint feels softer and more rubbery, and the hardware does not operate with the same effortless movement. These are not flaws that immediately stand out visually, but they become more apparent when handling the bag side-by-side with an authentic Kelly.

I should also note that my authentic Kelly is nearly three years old, so some of the softness and slouch may naturally be the result of age and use. The measurements, strap length, and strap thickness between the two bags were essentially the same, which makes me hopeful that the rep may soften and relax with wear over time.

If this bag were sitting on a table, carried to dinner, or worn out in public, I do not think most people would question it. The differences are much more noticeable through touch than sight.

Personally, I would place the overall accuracy around 80–85%. While it is not at the level of my authentic Kelly, I still consider it a higher-tier rep with good craftsmanship, strong visual accuracy, and an overall appearance that would be very passable in everyday use.

As for Frank, I genuinely enjoyed working with him. His communication was excellent, he handled feedback professionally, and he delivered exactly what was shown in the PSPs. I appreciated how receptive he was to feedback throughout the process and his willingness to continue improving his products.

I am not receiving any incentives for writing this post. Frank does not know that I am posting this review, although I will be sharing my feedback with him afterward. One thing I appreciate is that he genuinely seems committed to improving his products and actively welcomed feedback throughout the process.

At the end of the day, I’m just a girl who enjoys bags and probably spends way too much time comparing them. This is simply my opinion based on my own experience. I wanted to share my thoughts and hopefully help others make a more informed decision.

Update:

He reached out to me and said when he was saw the bsg in person today he noticed they used the wrong leather on the inside of the bag and it needs to be remade. He is going to have the 2024 date stamp used and provide feedback about the sangle.

Hello could you help me QC this BK25 from minion. It is H Color epsom sellier Upgraded Palladium hardware. Price $1231

My two concerns that i worry about as tell take are usually the foil stamp and the plaque. I am still terrible at judging.

Just got my QC from Luna I am new til Hermes reps so I don’t know what I am looking for

AITA? Needing advice.

I purchased a bag from Minion and paid upgraded hardware. When the bad arrived the hardware was already tarnished, Minion said to rub it with an eraser, which I did. But the tarnishing never stopped getting worse. This is a $1400 purchase with upgraded gold hardware. So Minion said send it back. Local EMS said no duties would be payable as it would be shipped as a repair not an import, (there is a specific code for this). It was declared as a repair and I paid for insurance on $1200 as I had not a lot of confidence about the safety of a bag shipped to and back from China.

Minion has then said he has to pay $700 in duties to collect the bag. I asked for paperwork to show EMS and sort it out but he said no due to ‘privacy issue’ (I already have his correct name and shipping address so that seemed strange, plus it’s not hard to blur out anything genuinely private if required).

Then he said taxes are $300. Now negotiating that it’s $300 and I should pay half.

I already paid $1400, upgraded hardware, shipping, and $200 to send it back. Plus it’s possible even if I pay again I may still receive a faulty bag or have it snagged by customs on the way back in.

I’m not prepared to pay more when I’ve paid so much and I’m not at fault. Minion is supposed to be highest tier and the bag is unusable. What would you do?

I’m still unfamiliar with H bags so please bear with me … I don’t know much about sellers reps but from what I’ve heard about Steven he’s known for mid - high tier bags. Common critiques are handles looking too long and leather looking stiff. Does this bag look accurate / worth ~$600 quality? Are there any obvious callouts I’m missing ? Thank you!

I feel kind of good about this but I’m no expert. I don’t own an authentic KP to compare it to. Would love to hear some opinions. Would this pass as authentic to the naked eye? I’ve never carried rep bags before but knew there was no way I was going to get lucky at any boutique with this specific color so I pulled the trigger.

Hi everyone, can you help with me with this QC from Mark. (WA 6102)

This bag was quoted for $950

Thank you