Hermès Knows Its Customers Will Buy $1,875 Mystery Boxes

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Purseblog found that Hermès has a new item up for sale on its site, but shoppers have to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars in order to find out what it is. The "Petit h surprise," as the brand calls it, is a monthly mystery box filled with something created in Hermès's Petit h lab, where it uses leftover materials from its main line to play around and create luxurious objects, whatever that may be. The webshop is currently stocking a $245 mystery box meant for either men or women, and a $1,875 mystery box "best suited for women."

According to Purseblog forum users who have bought the box in the past (the program started up in May) the mystery boxes have contained leather luggage tags, animal-shaped leather bag charms, silk totes, and scarves in exclusive shapes. Hermès does specify that customers can return the boxes for a full refund; they aren't stuck with the mystery contents forever.

"If nothing else, Petit Surprise is a testament to both Hermès' unique place within the luxury market and luxury customers' near-slavish devotion to their favorite purveyor of leather goods," Purseblog's Amanda Mull writes.