What Types of Secondhand Hermès Stores Are There in Japan, and How Should You Choose?

There are many places in Japan where you can buy or sell pre-owned Hermès bags. What are the differences? Why can the quotes for the same bag vary so significantly from one company to another? What should you look for before choosing where to sell? And how can you compare your options without losing out?

Secondhand Hermès transaction channels in Japan can broadly be divided into four categories: general secondhand chains, single-brand specialists, auction and consignment platforms, and peer-to-peer marketplaces. The most fundamental difference between these four is not price, but whether there is a regulated business operator involved in the transaction.

Structural Differences Between the Four Channels

This difference has a legal basis. In Japan, buying and selling secondhand goods for commercial purposes constitutes a secondhand goods business (kobutsu eigyo), which requires a license issued by the relevant Public Safety Commission and is regulated under the Secondhand Goods Business Act. Individuals selling their own used belongings are not considered to be operating a secondhand goods business and therefore do not require such a license or fall under this regulatory framework (National Police Agency: Secondhand Goods and Pawnshop Businesses).

The first three categories have a regulated business operator between the buyer and seller; the fourth does not. This is one of the first things to consider when choosing a transaction channel.

What Is the Difference Between Selling to a Dealer and Selling Yourself?

Selling to a dealer: The dealer provides a quote, which becomes the amount you receive once confirmed. The dealer is responsible for authentication and the subsequent sale of the item.

Consignment: You entrust the item to a dealer to sell on your behalf. The final selling price is determined by the market, and the amount you receive is reduced by commissions and other applicable fees.

Peer-to-peer marketplace: You set the price yourself and there are no intermediary costs, but authenticity verification, dispute resolution, and shipping risks are all handled by the buyer and seller themselves.

When comparing these options, the key figure to compare is the final amount you receive—not the listed price.

1. Buyback = Confirmed price = Amount you receive
2. Consignment = Actual selling price − Commission − Other fees = Amount you receive

Therefore, a higher consignment listing price does not necessarily mean you will receive more in the end. For a detailed comparison, see How to Sell Your Hermès for a Higher Price (https://ginzaxiaoma.com/zh-CN/blog/sell-for-highest-price).

Why Can Quotes for the Same Bag Vary So Much?

Differences in quotes mainly come from the platform’s own conditions rather than the item itself. There are four key factors:

1. Whether they already have buyers for the specific style — A platform with existing demand can offer a higher price
2. Inventory levels — A platform that already has several of the same item may lower its offer
3. Sales channels — Platforms with international sales channels can sell into markets where demand is stronger
4. Authentication capabilities — Platforms that can authenticate items in-house do not need to build as much risk cost into their offers

Therefore, it is perfectly normal for the same item to receive different quotes from different platforms. We recommend obtaining quotes from 3 to 5 companies on the same day and using the middle range as a reference.

The reason for comparing quotes on the same day is that market conditions can change. The reason for using the middle range rather than simply choosing the highest quote is that a quote that is significantly higher than others may be adjusted downward after the physical inspection.

For a detailed explanation of the factors affecting quotes, see Why Do Hermès Buyback Prices Differ? (https://ginzaxiaoma.com/zh-CN/blog/why-buyout-prices-differ). For what to do if a quote is unexpectedly reduced later, see Is It Safe to Sell Your Hermès Bag? (https://ginzaxiaoma.com/zh-CN/blog/selling-hermes-safe).

Once You Have Chosen a Channel, How Do You Choose the Right Company?

The type of channel determines the transaction structure; whether a particular company is legitimate should be checked separately. The following four points apply to any type of channel and can be independently verified:

1. Whether the secondhand dealer license number can be verified
2. Whether there is a physical store that you can visit
3. Whether reasons for price deductions are provided in writing
4. Whether the payment timing is clearly explained

The first item can now be checked online. As of April 1, 2024, secondhand dealers in Japan are required to display their business name, the name of the Public Safety Commission that issued their license, and their license number on a website they manage. Businesses operating through online transactions are not covered by the small-scale exemption. (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Amendments to the Secondhand Goods Business Act).

If the license number cannot be found on the company’s website, this basic requirement should be considered unmet.

These four points are only the basics. For the complete ten-point checklist and how to verify each item, see How to Tell Whether a Secondhand Hermès Store Is Legitimate.

XIAOMA’s secondhand dealer license number is Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission No. 304381506931. Our store and service network spans Japan (Ginza, Tokyo; Umeda, Osaka), Hong Kong, Singapore, France (Paris), and Dubai.

Both buyback and consignment services are available. For online preliminary quotes, standard items are generally assessed within 30 minutes to 2 hours, while rare items and special leathers are assessed within 24 hours.

What to Do Next

Once you have chosen the type of transaction channel, the next step is to go through each stage and confirm what you need to know in the proper order. See What Should You Check Before Selling Your Hermès Bag?

If you would like to first estimate how much your bag is worth, see How Much Is My Hermès Bag Worth? (https://ginzaxiaoma.com/zh-CN/blog/how-much-my-hermes-worth).

For the complete selling process, see The Complete Guide to Selling Your Hermès (https://ginzaxiaoma.com/zh-CN/blog/guide-to-selling-your-hermes).

XIAOMA has specialized in Hermès for over 10 years, with more than 2 million luxury items authenticated to date.

XIAOMA (Ginza Xiaoma) is operated by ASU BRAND Co., Ltd.

Not sure whether buyback or consignment is right for you?

Contact XIAOMA for a free “Buyback Quote + Estimated Consignment Price” and compare both options at a glance.

Last updated: September 2026