Birkin & Kelly in Italy

[snowwhite999]

I just got back from my honeymoon in Italy

We went to H in Florence, Venice, and Bologna. Both Florence and Venice had "Display Only" Birkin and "Display Only" Kelly. We didn't ask about Birkin availability in Venice (I thought the SAs there were rude), but there was a very nice SA in Florence that we approached. She said the only Birkin in the store was Display Only, not for sale.

Is that normal?

Also - I loved the window display in Bologna - mini paper Birkin, Evelyn, and Lindy. SOOO cute!

 

[maryg1]

Hi Michelle,

hope you had great time here in Italy and congrats for your wedding!
I think that the "display only" thing is something quite normal for smaller boutique.
As I read here, Hermes is known for not selling Kelly and Birkins to anyone walking in their stores and asking for those bags. If you're instead a repeat customer you can get a Kelly or a Birkin more easily.
I'm glad you liked the boutique in Bologna, that's the only Hermes store I shopped in. They have very nice SAs, and last year they had some Birkin and Kelly available (most probably for display only).
Did you buy anything in Italy?

 

[Roxane]

We went to H in Florence, Venice, and Bologna. Both Florence and Venice had "Display Only" Birkin and "Display Only" Kelly. She said the only Birkin in the store was Display Only, not for sale.

Is that normal?

Very normal. The bags are actually for sale, but only if the manager deems you "fit".

 

[NewBVfan]

It's normal to have birkins "on display only."

It happens in HK as well. I'm a regular customer at one H store and saw this shoulder birkin. My regular SA told me it's for display only. Even a few weeks later, the SB was gone and I casually asked about it, she said it was not sold.

I didn't ask further, assuming that they actually just sold it, but to VIP, etc.

Never heard of that for a Kelly though.

 

[robee]

Hi

Jadeite was in Rome and Florence in Aug.
She was busy shopping for herself and me in Florence.
They actually offer to show her birkins and kelly. She didn't even ask for it. I guess they use their discretion as to who they want to show it to or sell.

 

[snowwhite999]

Maybe we just looked too young! Though I carried my Picotin and had an H bracelet on (in the US at least, this usually gets SAs to treat me seriously).

The SA in Florence genuinely seemed like she wanted to sell us a Birkin if they had one. She even went to the window where it was on display to let us hold it. Guess I'm not VIP material!