[Liberté]

If you ever bumped the waitlist in your store, getting an item reserved for another or being put up higher on the list, would it bother you and is it ok to do this?

And do you think the SA should let you know if she/he did this for you?

[sarah2808]

Well, I know it happens, but I don't think it is very ethical. That being said I am also a realist and I know that for a valued customer, things are found. I have been given the chance to look at bags that were on hold for other people, and but I have never asked to purchase a bag that was meant for someone else. I don't know if the SA should let you know or not. Once you are being offered a bag is it really up to the customer to find out how the bag was obtained?

[Liberté]

^
I agree, but what if the SA said it was for another customer but still offered it to you, not asking for it yourself? Would that make you feel bad?

[shopsinparis]

Yes, it would bother me alot, because what would stop them from offering a bag that was for me to another person. It would blatantly indicate a heirarchy of customers instead of treating every customer as the most important/special customer. I would be pissed off!

[cutiepie21]

Anyone can bump themselves up on the waitlist by giving their CC number and approval to charge the card as soon as the bags come in. I did this in order to get my WC speedy the day it was released. My store was only getting 5 speedies in the first shipment. I was originally #10, but by giving them my CC# and approval to charge I was bumped up to #3.

[memyselfI]

Not sure if it happens or what. But normally I don't bother with the waitlist-my SA usually knows if I would want something or not and just calls. I never waitlisted with my SA to get my vvn speedy-she just told me if I want it to come in.
I did hedge myself in other stores than once recieving my bag I called to remove myself off the list.

[CEC.LV4eva]

Originally Posted by Liberté

If you ever bumped the waitlist in your store, getting an item reserved for another or being put up higher on the list, would it bother you and is it ok to do this?

And do you think the SA should let you know if she/he did this for you?

1. No doesn't bother me. I'm flattered.
I know I won't be buying from LV anytime soon, I don't mind if I'm no longer "valued". I think it's fair that if I don't buy much, another customer who does buy more should be treated better.
2. Yes... why not? My mom owns a business and for all her valued customers, she'll take things from other reservations and give it to them. It's not just about profit (although in the long run, yes, we'll be earning more from these people than occasional customers), but also a service. For the most valued people, what they want is to have everything available and always ready for them. With so many things nowadays being done in mass, not many franchises/companies can offer one-to-one personalized service directly from the head of the business, eg. it's kinda hard to just go into any restaurant and ask the head chef to make you your favorite dish from your native country.
Now back to LVs, if the SA has the power to bump you up the list and hand over something that "belongs" to another person, the SA is now buying the customer's heart and loyalty to her and the company imo. THe sale doesn't really matter, it's the same $$$ for him/her if she gets it from another person, but the difference lies in the feeling of exclusivity for the customer.
I understand that it may be unfair to the initial customer who waitlisted first and was supposed to get the item first. However, with many things in life, if you want something that's highly sought after and you don't WORK or make the EFFORT for it, well, you're not going to get that popular item. What I mean is that if say you go into LV as a first time customer and waitlist for X or just randomly waitlisting and trying your luck without having any real intention of buying .... well if you haven't proved to the SA that you've been a long-time LV fan and have bought lots of stuff from them, you've spent the money, the time, and effort with this brand, then they're not going to give X to you. So the question can be kinda spun around and I can ask, "well why should an occasional buyer deserve X more than a frequent buyer?" It's like if you apply for a scholarship, job, or some certain high status position, just because you apply first doesn't mean you will receive it cuz you'll be evaluated and compared next to a whole bunch of other people who may or may not be better.
3. She doesn't need to say anything (my mom never says anything to her customers), cuz the valued customer is not stoopid... They figure things out pretty fast.
Now those customers who have no appreciation for the SA's special treatment and think that they deserve the best in the world have already been screened out (my mom's not even going to sell a used and trampled tissue to these people who come in without the slightest acknowledgment of her existence, are rude and disrespectful).
I guess in short, if it were me, I'd tell the customer if I think I may not be appreciated for my efforts, otherwise, just smile and thank the customer for his/her business and choosing to shop with the company.

Aside: what should be noted is that just because a customer does spend a lot of money and is indeed very much valued for ultimately the same reason, this person should NOT always EXPECT to get whatever they want. I think this just kinda turns into arrogance and puts strain on the SA who wants to maintain her sales record high by keeping you as a customer and yet she/he will most likely fake the relationship for not liking that customer as a person....

[karolinec1]

This just happened to me today! There were 2 Tivolis on hold for waitlisted customers, but they were being held til end of day today. My SA offered it to me, but I told him I'd wait until the end of the day, and if the customer did not come back, I would most definitely purchase it! He looked kind of relieved - I think he offered out of kindness, but I'm a realist. If the customer came in and it was gone, I'm not the one who gets yelled at - he is.

BTW, I came back at the end of the day, and one of the customers didn't show up. It was the best of both worlds: no one was upset, my SA didn't have to deal with an angry customer, and I got my Tivoli!!!

[sarah2808]

Originally Posted by Liberté

^
I agree, but what if the SA said it was for another customer but still offered it to you, not asking for it yourself? Would that make you feel bad?

It would make me feel bad....but would I take it?
Especially a hard to get LE?
I wish I could be honourable and say no...but......I probably would.

I also agree with the op who said that once you build a relationship with an SA you usually don't have to waitlist, when things come in they call you to take a look.

[shopsinparis]

It has nothing to do with who 'deserves' it more. It is simple ethics. It is unethical to promise 1 bag to 2 people. In my opinion, the SA's that do this are the same ones that are the subject of all the 'rude SA' posts on this forum.

[LV Craze]

Originally Posted by sarah2808

It would make me feel bad....but would I take it?
Especially a hard to get LE?
I wish I could be honourable and say no...but......I probably would.

I also agree with the op who said that once you build a relationship with an SA you usually don't have to waitlist, when things come in they call you to take a look.

ITA

[gre8dane]

I have NO problem purchasing a bag that someone else is 'thinking about', ESPECIALLY if it is a limited edition.

Examples: I walked into Neiman's on a Wednesday and a Bordeaux Mirage Speedy was crying for me to take her home! It was waiting to be purchased on Saturday, but I took her home right away. I had been on an LV hiatus so I did not know about the Mirage line. I fell in LVoe, so she came home with me. If the person were serious about the speedy, he/she would have given a cc #.

I went to the LV boutique in January and there was a Mahina XL in Gris, just arrived from France. Of course, I took her home. The Mahina was waiting for someone to come a week later! A GRIS Mahina!! In January, after being sold out for months! I had been contemplating the Mahina XL in gris, but they were sold out. When I saw her and touched the leather....of course, she came home with me.

So, I don't not feel bad. I didn't make the promise to POTENTIAL customers. I saw the bags, got them and do not regret them. If you want something, get it. Anyway, who knows how long the waitlists are...it could be one big marketing ploy to build up the hype.

[caley]

its a crappy reality that if you're not willing to "work" for something you really want, someone else is going to snatch it out from under you.

i trust that my SA is highly ethical when it comes to these things and she has never given me someone else's bag.

i got bumped for the watercolor speedy 30 but that's only because of a CC snafu....it was their form of "apology" even though i'm 90% sure i was going to get one anyway lol.

though i hate to say it, but if i was ever in a situation where it was an LE up for grabs, i'd go for it.

[sulhali addict]

ummm i think if it was a LE and I was in love with it then I will probably buy it i live in NZ so our allocation for LE is very very limited

[ValleyO]

Waitlists don't mean anything. You could be first in line but wind up with no bag if a few VIC clients get offered it first. The company does not owe you the bag, and ultimately it'll go where they deem it to be most beneficial (i.e. a frequent, high-spending customer).