If you’ve ever fantasized about adding a Rolex to your weekly grocery haul, Walmart has got you covered. The store apparently sells a bevy of high-fashion products online, including but not limited to Hermès Birkins, Jacquemus accessories, Dries Van Noten apparel, and purses from The Row (that last one really took me out).
When one thinks of Walmart, one might think of an oasis of abundance, convenience, and cringey, inappropriate Juneteenth merchandise. High-end fashion, though, does not come to mind. But you have to admit, what could possibly be more convenient than buying a bag of potatoes and a bag from Hermès in one fell swoop? How does that saying go? Two Birks with one stone?
The phenomenon, which has been a norm for years, was brought to my attention by fashion editor Caroline Issa. In a tweet, Issa speculated that some stock from the online luxury retailer Matches Fashion, which is now shuttering its virtual doors, “was offloaded to a reseller who offloaded it to … Walmart.” She went on to lament “the state of e-commerce retail today folks …”
But we must ask: Is it so bad that you can purchase a Celine bag online from Walmart.com if the price is right? Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, the price is most certainly not right: The purse is going for $2,382.38, nearly double the price a nearly identical bag goes for on Rebag. A pair of Rick Owens sneakers? $779.42. (The same pair is for sale on Ssense for $570.) A Birkin? Still fetching a price in the tens of thousands. (At least you wouldn’t have to go through the song and dance of being “invited” to buy one at the Hermès store.)
It’s not exactly clear how Walmart’s online store came into possession of so many high-end items, but it’s evident they’ve been trying to court luxury shoppers for quite some time. It seems that much of this merchandise, at least online, is being funneled to the site by independent third-party resellers with usernames like “UnbeatableSale” and “eLADY” — a business model reminiscent of eBay but with the Walmart name slapped across each transaction. It’s also murky whether these items have been authenticated or not.
I guess if you’re in the mood for a potentially risky purchase and to spend more than you would at a vetted resale site, Walmart.com is the place for you!
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