Hermes and Budget - the Oxymoron

[cravin]

Starting this thread as this topic came up in another thread and I do not want to derail it.

How do you handle the topic of budget with your SA or do you just smile and cry inside? (Disclaimer: I am the husband usually spoiling the wife)

My backstory: When my wife and I were on vacation in our 20s, we walked into a boutique in Prague. There was a coin purse that looked like a half slice of an orange. I looked at the price and it was the equivalent of a couple hundred dollars. I laughed and turned to my wife and said “you’re insane. Have you seen how much this coin purse costs?” And she started explaining Hermes to me and her dreams and whatnot.

Fast forward and she has who knows how many Hermes bags and I’m pretty much numb to the cost of things today. “Your car needs a repair that will cost you $3k.” That’s it? That’s only like 1/4 of a bag.

But I always have open and honest conversations with my SAs about budget. As an example, I’ve always loved the Hermes flatware with the geometric shape. When we were shopping one day, I brought it up with the SA and he told me how much a full set for 12 would be and I just honestly told him to not bother as it’s outside my budget.

What do you do and how do you handle the topic? Not broaching the topic is completely valid as well (I’m available for adoption if you have limitless funds)

 

[haute okole]

I have a rule and it involves my age. I told my SA that I do not want my receipt to exceed my age, but I blew that earlier this year. So my HARD LINE in the sand rule is No Item can be “Older than Me.” Well, I just turned 60, so no one item can cost more than $60k. I guess I will never own that $325k diamond Birkin he offered me before I instituted that rule. If and when I win the Mega Millions, I may change the formula to no item can be more than 6x my age. Ahhhh, a girl can dream.

 

[Bdbunny]

That's a great rule @haute okole !!

I think it's hard not to talk budget when shopping at these prices. Although I don't think I've said the exact words "that's out of my budget" to my SA... but I'll say something along the lines of "omg that's insane!" or "YIKES!" And my SA usually gets it.

do you just smile and cry inside?

LOL I do that too!!
Although my disclaimer is I'm the wife who spoils MYSELF! My hubby is usually along for the ride.. except the time he paid $2700 for a strap, which is hilarious, because obviously we've spent a LOT more than that at Hermes. For some reason he was particularly offended by that shearling strap LOL.

 

[Love Of My Life]

Starting this thread as this topic came up in another thread and I do not want to derail it.

How do you handle the topic of budget with your SA or do you just smile and cry inside? (Disclaimer: I am the husband usually spoiling the wife)

My backstory: When my wife and I were on vacation in our 20s, we walked into a boutique in Prague. There was a coin purse that looked like a half slice of an orange. I looked at the price and it was the equivalent of a couple hundred dollars. I laughed and turned to my wife and said “you’re insane. Have you seen how much this coin purse costs?” And she started explaining Hermes to me and her dreams and whatnot.

Fast forward and she has who knows how many Hermes bags and I’m pretty much numb to the cost of things today. “Your car needs a repair that will cost you $3k.” That’s it? That’s only like 1/4 of a bag.

But I always have open and honest conversations with my SAs about budget. As an example, I’ve always loved the Hermes flatware with the geometric shape. When we were shopping one day, I brought it up with the SA and he told me how much a full set for 12 would be and I just honestly told him to not bother as it’s outside my budget.

What do you do and how do you handle the topic? Not broaching the topic is completely valid as well (I’m available for adoption if you have limitless funds

The dynamics between partners & SA's vary according to what they like or what their needs might be
& just how comfortable they feel discussing money being spent on H items
Just think it's important to have the conversation with your partner as to what your comfort zone might
be, so expectations can be met realistically.
SA's especially when you have a great relationship enjoy sharing beautifully made H items
whether one intends to make the purchase or not or at a later date & could be the the start
of a collection & purchases made for special occasions.
They get it!!
SA's hear all the time things are expensive or priced out of what a client's comfort zone is for spending
so it depends on the comfort one feels with the SA. There is no right or wrong approach
As mentioned in the other thread, H does some exquisite items & we can all appreciate the world
that H has opened up to all of us with their creativity.
How you are rationalizing the cost of a car repair, well just speaks for itself!

 

[addiCCted]

I told my SA, "Im just a xyz, not a drug dealer you know." She gets it

I personally think there's nothing wrong with setting budget and being clear and upfront with your SA about it if the timing of the conversation is ripe. But I also wouldn't bring it up unnessarily.

 

[cravin]

When we started shopping at H seriously, we immediately hit it off with the SA. After we purchased an Evelyne, she gave us her card and said “if you want ANYTHING, let me know” with a focus/hint on the anything. So I went in solo and told her the wife had a big birthday coming up and she’d always dreamed of a Birkin. The SA said no problem and that they had one coming in a shipment in a couple weeks and that it would be ours. During that visit, the SA kept bringing up how expensive they are and wanted to make sure that the color and everything would be what the wife wanted. She probably mentioned the price 3 or 4 times that visit. Not at all in a condescending way, but more so in a factual “these bags are very expensive” way. She told me how her manager bought her first Birkin 20+ years ago for a couple thousand dollars and could easily get 5x what she’d paid for it now. I’m sure she shared that tidbit to assure me they’re worth the money. I guess that just set the stage for me to never hesitate to discuss $$$ with the SAs.

 

[880]

You and your SA should have the kind of relationship where your preferences and comfort zone are well known
and respected. Mine knows that I will spend x amount for y item, and not for z item. And, he knows when I think something is egregiously overpriced, or honestly, a great value. (For example, compared to some Chanel RTW prices, Hermes RTW prices, though on the upswing, may still be a relatively decent value) And, truthfully, my SA has also been shocked about some prices for certain items, and steered me clear of them Bc he does not think they are worth the cost.* Like other TPF members who have posted above, an SA appreciates a client who communicates relevant feedback, including any boundaries they may have (both financial and aesthetic).

ETA: in an off location trunk show in March, there was an open bolero shearling shrug and a matching vest that I tried on. I found out that the shrug cost 60K, and the vest for 30K. I told the SM and SA that the cost equivalent of an entry level Tesla plus a leather Birkin was too much to pay for a shearling shrug that couldn‘t close or keep someone warm. They agreed and told me that they did not think that H would produce it bc it was too expensive for what it was. As it turns out, neither item was produced.
* My SA felt that a carry on rolling bag that I really loved wasn’t worthwhile for me to purchase bc he didn’t think the interior could hold enough

 

[textilegirl]

This was the reply I just posted (and hope to have the mods delete) in the relationship thread!

“I think this one is complicated, and maybe somewhat context driven. Not everyone who shops at H has an unlimited budget. There’s something to be said for indulging in some of the many little luxuries H has to offer across metiers, and your SA has every interest in delighting you (as opposed to repeating the ‘no bag for you’ mantra). So giving your SA appropriate info regarding your expectations, including your financial ones, in the course of developing a rapport isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it helps them know you better, and provide better service accordingly.”

ETA: in a building full of shoppers there will come a point where money is in fact an object for quite a few of them.

 

[periogirl28]

All I can say is, when my FSH SA says, "The price is VERY INTERESTING..." I laugh and exchange glances with DH. We bought it because he was right, he understands us and it was absolutely worth it. We don't discuss finances in any way, with any of our SAs, it's just "Yes or No, merci."

 

[iseebearbears]

When my SA commented that I’m officially an Hermes girl (while pointing to all my jewelry and shoes), I half jokingly said ”It’s all your fault. This is all because of you. Now I’m broke!” In all seriousness though, I only buy what I like so if the price of over my budget, she’d know immediately due to my reaction.

 

[haute okole]

BTW, none of the RTW at BH has prices on them. So when I get to the register, a couple of times I have had that OMG moment and not returned to the store for 6 months!

 

[Bdbunny]

BTW, none of the RTW at BH has prices on them. So when I get to the register, a couple of times I have had that OMG moment and not returned to the store for 6 months!

That happened to me once! My SA showed me this amazing limited edition CDC belt with gold and palladium hardware all around the belt that came in a blue box… man it was show stopper and we both loved it. But when I went to check out, along with several other items, the cashier seemed confused by something and my SA did too. The cashier pointed to her computer screen and said, “are there diamonds on it?” And my SA was all befuddled and said no, then he looks at me and says, “Um the belt is $9600. I swear I didn’t know!” We both started laughing and he quickly went and found me the non-limited edition CDC belt (that was less amazing) but was a much more agreeable $2500!

 

[Miss Al]

I think it is good to be honest with your SA. I know SAs try to test waters to get a sense of how much we are willing to spend. My SA will try to sell me watches and rtw. I told her honestly I am not into Hermes watches and as to rtw... I won't pay thousands of dollars for a silk blouse. She understood me.

So there was this one day when I came in to collect some items. She told me the store just received some new rtw collection. She knows I am not into H rtw but there is this blouse which she thought was up my alley. I was like ok show it to me.

I tried on the blouse and it was absolutely perfect 💯. I bought it with no hesitation and even thanked her for it. I liked it so much that I wanted to get another one in a different colour but SA stopped me as it was not that nice.

After this episode, SA told me it seems that price is not an issue for you as long as you really like the item. I was like yes... I must really like the item.

Somehow this gave a good impression to SM and SA. They were surprised that I actually bought their rtw. I got my QB soon after... 😏

 

[violetkool]

On my last visit a few weeks ago my SA suggested that I might like to create a wishlist for a Birkin or Kelly. I politely declined, explaining that I will be buying a house within the next 9 months, and even if it took 12 months for a bag to become available to me I would not be in a position to buy it. She totally understood, and said whenever I was ready we would create my wishlist.

That felt like a very appropriate and honest conversation to me, and I was comfortable to talk about money in that way with her.

I have set myself the goal/promise that as soon as I own my home I will make my wishlist!

 

[lill_canele]

I agree with many of the above posts.

For myself, the first day I met my SA I honestly told him I would not be a big spender nor would I stop by often. He didn't seem to mind and just said: let me know when you want to swing by!

We generally do not discuss price since I usually look up the price online prior to purchasing. However, on occasion when I see something that I like at the store, I will be honest on what I'm willing to pay for. I think I saw a silk top and told my SA something along the lines of, if it's around $1500 I'd be interested. He took a look at the tag and said something like: it's $2700, ooo, yea, no no, let's not go with that. I have certain limits on what kinds of items I'm willing to pay for such as RTW but that does not reflect on my willingness to spend overall, for example, he knows that I'm willing to buy a birkin even though the price is way above that silk top haha.

For luxury in general, SAs in all stores probably think or know that prices are at a premium level. I don't really think it bothers them to discuss about price and what we're willing to pay for.