Hi there! There was a discussion on this at the Hermes HK shopping thread sometime last year, and this was my reply (post #1124). Until rather recently, I lived in Shanghai for a couple of years, traveĺled to BJ every month and rather enjoyed the H exp in SH and BJ. The SAs are generally nice, but u really need to speak Mandarin, and like most Hs, it really helps to build up rapport with your SA. The modus operandi it seems now, is to mix and match items to a certain amt before u get your B/K. The rules of the game are made v clear, and I think u are quite certain to get what you want at the end of it.
Reposting my post.....
This is the situation on Shanghai.... (Btw, they are opening a Flagship in Shanghai next Spring, apparantly according to my SA, the largest in China). All SAs are given 4 B/K per year, and my guess is that the 4 B/Ks types are assigned by the store SM from the beginning of the season or year.
Many SAs I believe, are looking to build up a regular clientele base. Despite many walk-ins, many clients do not become regulars, as they are quite targeted in what they want, which are usually belt kits and wallets.
To be offered a b/k, you need to:
1. Spend about RMB150k to RMB170k (but as rightly pointed out, the spend amount differs from city to city, store to store)
2. Buy any bags other than B/K, wallets, jewellery, watches, perfumes, rtw, scarves and homeware.
3. A C adds to the B/K, but a C comes with a minimum buy of another item of similar value.
4. If you buy a watch or a jewellery piece, you get bumped up the list to the B/K.
5. Once you hit the spend amount, you can get the bag immediately if it is in stock.
6. The spend is only consolidated within one store. You cannot consolidate the amounts across stores.
7. Some more coveted items such as Jiges, Kelly wallets need the SM's approval. You will need to find a friendly SA in this aspect.
They are v willing to work with overseas clients. Prices are about 20 percent higher than HK. I too worry about fakes leaking into shop inventories, but so far, I haven't come across any issues from my own personal experiences. The China Hs do have some interesting items. I have seen a lagon clou de selles, candy Kelly wallets, bolide relaxes etc.
I think that if you are willing to pay the 20 percent extra, are hunting for rare interesting pieces as a H collector, don't really want a long wait, I think that Shanghai could be a nice place to start a relationship with H. In my experience, I think that the SAs are generally v warm, and they are interested to start relations with clients who express long term interest with the brand.
I do pick up some nice pieces that I find at the Hs in Shanghai from time to time, and have been offered B/K before. But I never did buy the B/Ks as I could not see myself paying 20 percent or more for something that I could get in other cities.
Good luck on ur hunt tpf friends!!
