My local store still has very low levels of inventory. Prior to the Pandemic, there were always non-Birkin and Kelly bags on display like Garden Party, Roulis and others. Now you go in, and the shelves are practically empty. I've been looking for a Garden Party for a few months now, and my SA says they haven't gotten many (I was offered one but passed because I didn't like the color). I was wondering if anyone had any idea what the levels of production were like, and when we might see more bags and other leather goods on the shelves.
Any Idea when Inventories will Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels?
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I think inventory level has returned (if not increased), but since demand has skyrocketed, it may not feel that way.
That's what my SA is telling me as well. She told me they used to get deliveries with bags almost weekly. Now they only get deliveries every few weeks and few bags and leather goods in those deliveries.
When it comes to inventory levels of coveted items, it’s best never to believe the SAs... That being said, H has been having quarter after quarter of record sales numbers so whatever they are currently doing is working better than ever before and I don’t see it ever changing, barring a huge economic meltdown.
^^ record sales come from goods being sold. So yeah..they have the items, just more selective of who buys them would be my guess.
Company wide, inventory is much greater than pre-pandemic. Even at the individual store level, I feel like inventory is definitely increasing. A year or so ago, it would be hard to even get just about any shoe. Now, it feels like any time I have gone to different stores, they have had every shoe that I requested ex orans, oasis, etc… (though I am not asking for those Chypre sandals). Even rodeo and similarly demanded bag charms seem to be readily available. When I was visiting a new boutique, after not buying anything, the SA kindly offered me an array of rodeos to decorate my bag. I kindly declined as I like my bags without any thing on them. Even bag-wise, it is also clear that there are many more being offered, which makes sense with more leather factories running now compared to pre-pandemic.
My own opinion is that Hermes to a certain degree creates the illusion that items are scarcer than they are (whether that is by selectively choosing who to sell to or by not producing the maximum they can) in order to drive up sales in harder to sell categories. Yet, this does not explain everything as the demand has most definitely increased significantly since before the pandemic partly due to there being many more boutiques now compared to before.
My own opinion is that Hermes to a certain degree creates the illusion that items are scarcer than they are (whether that is by selectively choosing who to sell to or by not producing the maximum they can) in order to drive up sales in harder to sell categories. Yet, this does not explain everything as the demand has most definitely increased significantly since before the pandemic partly due to there being many more boutiques now compared to before.
the company always always always has inventory control (bags, shoes, wallets etc.), even during the pandemic.
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I'm not seeing it in my local store. I've gotten a couple of sets of shoes, but they were not in my store, and had to be special ordered. Even scarves are hard to find. Maybe its my store in particular they're not sending as much inventory to?
As far as I know, this has been the way I am shopping since pandemic, ordering items. The demand is really high and they offer stock to new customers instead of old.
I think that the pandemic changed the way H sells most of their bags..in that most bags now have to be "offered" by the SA. But, if you are looking for other H items, I think that the supply is so much more now than what it was 1-2 years ago.
H.com is offering bags again. Madison and other NYC stores are making offers. Stock is picking up.
(Whether the bags we want will be offered to us is another matter entirely lol)
(Whether the bags we want will be offered to us is another matter entirely lol)
I was actually in the Madison Ave store today. Tried to see if I could get a Garden Party, but no luck. I still remember the days of going into Hermes and just walking out with a Kelly if you had the money for one. Now, even the non-quota bags are limited.