Does having to make an appointment annoy you?

[momasaurus]

I think having to make an appointment is making me hesitate. I would normally pop into the boutique at least once a month (I have 4 not too far away), poke around, chat with the SAs and leave with a scarf or bracelet. Fun and no stress. But now I would feel pressured to go in with an intention, with a list, and be super-focussed on purchasing, not browsing or catching up or having the time to be intrigued by something I hadn't though of.

But according to @Notorious Pink's great article (https://www.purseblog.com/hermes/a-round-up-of-hermes-news-may-2021/), H is happy that people are buying more now with the appointment system, so they will probably keep it. UGH.

 

[showgratitude]

It's annoying in a way because sometimes you just want to look around/browse quickly. However, if you really are buying, it's good that your SA gives you his/her undivided attention.

 

[tulipfield]

I think having to make an appointment is making me hesitate. I would normally pop into the boutique at least once a month (I have 4 not too far away), poke around, chat with the SAs and leave with a scarf or bracelet. Fun and no stress. But now I would feel pressured to go in with an intention, with a list, and be super-focussed on purchasing, not browsing or catching up or having the time to be intrigued by something I hadn't though of.

But according to @Notorious Pink's great article (https://www.purseblog.com/hermes/a-round-up-of-hermes-news-may-2021/), H is happy that people are buying more now with the appointment system, so they will probably keep it. UGH.

Oh wow. My closest boutique is open for browsing a certain number of days a week last I checked, with appointments only on weekends; I would hate for appointments to become permanent. They were even requiring appointments just to pick up things you order ahead of time, rather than being able to just drop in quickly; I don't know if this has changed.

For real though, if I'm making an appointment I feel like I need a sizable list of things that I want, but what if I just want to drop in and pick up one small item? or really just look around? I would feel like I was wasting people's time to make an appointment just for that, especially with how busy my local store is with appointments. And helpful as SAs are, I like to have time to browse by myself without having someone's attention on me the whole time.

 

[acrowcounted]

The US stores that I know of are planning on opening to walkins as early as this weekend, if they haven’t already. This will likely still include a door queue to keep crowds limited until Covid is really in our rear view mirror. Appointments may still be made for those who like shopping that way but in general, things will be back to normal-ish soon.

 

[WhiteBus]

It's a small price to pay for safety.
A little patience and shopping will return to being closer to what you are used to.
When I was a child, although you did not have to make an appointment, you were always greeted by by a Floor Manager who would ask what you required and call an assistant to help you.
A UK television comedy was based around this premise.

 

[QuelleFromage]

Does having to make an appointment annoy me? No, it keeps my beloved SA and other friends, and myself, away from random people who may or may not be vaccinated, and/or may not have been careful to avoid COVID-19 infection.
Until we are in a different situation (my city is only 30% having even one vaccination shot), I won't be annoyed by anyone keeping themselves and me safe.
Do I miss random browsing? Yes.

 

[Perja]

Does having to make an appointment annoy me? No, it keeps my beloved SA and other friends, and myself, away from random people who may or may not be vaccinated, and/or may not have been careful to avoid COVID-19 infection.
Until we are in a different situation (my city is only 30% having even one vaccination shot), I won't be annoyed by anyone keeping themselves and me safe.
Do I miss random browsing? Yes.

Exactly. But outside of Covid times, I do find the FSH appointment lottery HIGHLY irritating.

 

[WhiteBus]

Exactly. But outside of Covid times, I do find the FSH appointment lottery HIGHLY irritating.

but remember the FSH appointment lottery is for leather bags and to stop queuing for hours before the store opens in the hope of getting an appointment later in the day
that was getting out of hand and problems were starting to occur with some people engaging paid queuers

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

Exactly. But outside of Covid times, I do find the FSH appointment lottery HIGHLY irritating.

Agree with this.
I remember the glorious days when you could go to FSH and browse departments (including handbags) and buy a bag without this silly system.
It actually infuriates me a bit that I could go to Paris with the intention of buying a bag and come away empty handed because I don't get 'chosen' for an appointment slot.
Also I hate the way the time of the appointment can move around on the day so it can basically dominate your day waiting around in the vicinity of the store and constantly checking phone.
My friend left a relaxing lunch with her husband in the middle of the main course much to his annoyance (they were only there 3 days on vacation) ran to the store to catch her newly moved slot and came away empty handed because they didn't have any of the bags she wanted!

 

[tulipfield]

It's a small price to pay for safety.
A little patience and shopping will return to being closer to what you are used to.
When I was a child, although you did not have to make an appointment, you were always greeted by by a Floor Manager who would ask what you required and call an assistant to help you.
A UK television comedy was based around this premise.

Does having to make an appointment annoy me? No, it keeps my beloved SA and other friends, and myself, away from random people who may or may not be vaccinated, and/or may not have been careful to avoid COVID-19 infection.
Until we are in a different situation (my city is only 30% having even one vaccination shot), I won't be annoyed by anyone keeping themselves and me safe.
Do I miss random browsing? Yes.

100% on board with appointments for the duration of Covid--I just don't like the idea in the article that this might continue after the crisis has passed.

 

[mariatd]

But now I would feel pressured to go in with an intention, with a list, and be super-focussed on purchasing, not browsing or catching up or having the time to be intrigued by something I hadn't though of.

I love appointments and hope they will stay. I don't have much time for shopping, so want to make sure my SA is available when I walk in. I always tell her what I am interested in looking at and since the appointment is always an hour, we still have time to look what else is new or what I'd like to see in person. I never feel stressed or under pressure to buy anything, mostly because I have my own rule to never buy anything I hadn't planned on buying. My SA will show me things I might not have previously considered, or I wanted to look at for future consideration. So, I go home and think about it and pick it up at my next appointment. If I am not planning on an appointment for a couple of months, but remember an item I must have, I email my SA and she either ships it to me, or I swing by and pick it up - without my SA having to be present.. I like 'super focused' shopping It's my jam.

I hope the appointment system will remain an option. I just don't see myself ever trying to 'stop by' and chat But perhaps that's because the Hermes store location is always out of my way...

 

[cravin]

Wife isn’t a fan because she feels “pressure” to buy something when just wanting to shop around. We have always bought something when going in though, just not always a big purchase.

 

[QuelleFromage]

Exactly. But outside of Covid times, I do find the FSH appointment lottery HIGHLY irritating.

Agree with this.
I remember the glorious days when you could go to FSH and browse departments (including handbags) and buy a bag without this silly system.
It actually infuriates me a bit that I could go to Paris with the intention of buying a bag and come away empty handed because I don't get 'chosen' for an appointment slot.
Also I hate the way the time of the appointment can move around on the day so it can basically dominate your day waiting around in the vicinity of the store and constantly checking phone.
My friend left a relaxing lunch with her husband in the middle of the main course much to his annoyance (they were only there 3 days on vacation) ran to the store to catch her newly moved slot and came away empty handed because they didn't have any of the bags she wanted!

But FSH appointments have been the thing for quite a while. I honestly don't know which is worse - a queue down the rue with people paid to hold spots and a crazy scrum when doors open, or the nutbar app system (I haven't done either one, I just don't go to FSH for bags anymore, and if I get a bag there it's an offshoot of something else).
I got the feeling this was a question about appointments everywhere...if there IS a post-Covid, I don't see how any retailer, including H, would refuse walk-ins. That's how they sell the gateway drugs and they can't expect people looking for keychains, perfume, makeup, etc., to make appointments.
But, maybe it'll be like L'Idiot in the movie L.A. Story and they'll just run your credit before even giving an appointment!

 

[ardenp]

I started shopping during COVID time, so my only experience is with the appointment method. I think that it helped me bond with my SA more quickly, and helped her remember my style/preferences more, but there's no question that I also spent much more $$$$ at each visit and at an accelerated pace. So I would absolutely expect Hermes to prioritize this appointment strategy in the future, it's obviously working!

 

[afsweet]

I really like the appointment system. I do feel inclined to buy if I'm going to take up an appointment slot, but I just consolidate my shopping and do my browsing and research online. I could imagine wanting to browse RTW where a picture really isn't all that helpful, but for everything else I don't have a problem with going in with a list in mind. I actually felt more rushed pre-COVID (not by my SA but really just myself) because SAs were trying to help multiple clients at a time. It's nice to now have a specific time and minimal waiting. 1 hour is plenty of time when you have a SA dedicated to you, and I scan the store while my SA pulls things for me, so it's not like they're following me around awkwardly.

My "home" store is inside a mall, so the staff actually pushed back at the thought that corporate would eliminate appointments. They get much more foot traffic than a standalone store, and there are definitely a lot of people who have no intention of buying. I'd feel really awful if they don't feel safe going to work. My convenience (or any customer's IMO) is not as important as the safety and wellbeing of the staff.