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Binding: HardcoverDewey Decimal Number: 381.177092 EAN: 9780061473333 ISBN: 0061473332 Label: William Morrow Manufacturer: William Morrow Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 272 Publication Date: May 01, 2008 Publisher: William Morrow Release Date: April 22, 2008 Studio: William Morrow Editorial Review: Product Description:
For more than twenty years, the Hermès Birkin bag has been the iconic symbol of fashion, luxury, and wealth. Though the bag is often seen dangling from the arms of celebrities, there is a fabled waiting list of more than two years to buy one from Hermès, and the average fashionista has a better chance of climbing Mount Everest in Prada pumps than of possessing one of these coveted carryalls. Unless, of course, she happens to know Michael Tonello . . . Michael's newfound career started with an impulsive move to Barcelona, a vanished job assignment, no work visa, and an Hermès scarf sold on eBay to generate some quick cash. But soon the resourceful Michael discovered the truth about the waiting list and figured out the secret to getting Hermès to part with one of these precious bags. Millions of dollars worth of Birkins later, Michael had become one of eBay's most successful entrepreneurs—and a Robin Hood to thousands of desperate rich women. With down-to-earth wit, Michael chronicles the unusual ventures that took him to nearly every continent, from eBay to Paris auction house and into the lives of celebrities and poseurs. Flirting with danger, Michael recounts the heady rush of hand delivering his first big score to famed songwriter Carole Bayer Sager in Paris; how he had to hire thugs to rescue a bag that one of his "shoppers" held for ransom; and the story of the Oscar-worthy performances that allowed him to snag "reserved" bags from other, less dogged Birkin seekers. Whether he's relating his wining and dining, buying and selling, dodging and weaving, laughing and crying, or schmoozing and stammering, Michael is a master raconteur who weaves together tales of hunting Birkins in the world's most posh locales, memories of meals that would make any gastronome salivate, anecdotes of obsessed collectors with insatiable desires, and sweetly intimate stories about his family, friends, and finding true love. The result is a memoir that is distinctive, fun, page-turning, and as addictive as its namesake. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Rip-off ArtisteI was disturbed by this empty, fatuous book and disturbed by the many fawning, fatuous reviews. We have something serious here, a superficial man leading an empty, distorted, corrupt life, and then writing a congratulatory book about it, without an inkling of self-awareness. There is a good word that describes this man's career, a word that the author doesn't seem to be aware of, and it's called SCALPING. Scalping is when someone who is dishonest and without integrity puts him/herself in the position ... Read More Rating:  - Ecellent readGreat and funny book. What a wonderful well travelled life, Mr. Tonello Lived in his quest for the BIRKIN. A must Read for every FASHONISTA Rating: - Fun read, very informative, but at its heart, it's an Hermes exposeWhile reading reviews for this book, one thing you rarely see is the mention that it's also a scathing expose of Hermes' business practices. I also don't think their customers, and in particular those that pay ridiculous secondary-market prices, come off all that well. I'm sure that wasn't the primary intent of the author, but it is silly to pursue a status symbol to the point where you're willing to pay many thousands of Dollars over the regular price just to get a handbag. What do you ... Read More Rating:  - So far so goodBeen through the first few chapters so far... Reads like a breeze... Very tongue-in-cheek... Quite readable.... Rating: - Captivating read!You can almost think the writer is a woman the way he writes passionately about Birkin bags! You come to learn however, there is no emotional connection: purely sales. Michael is a great writer, weaving wonderful stories amongst the Birkin-buying mayhem. The fact that this is a true story was even better. I recommend this book to anyone who loves travel/shopping/laughing. But beware: you'll want to jump on the first plane to Barcelona after you've read it! |
