Hermes boutiques in London

[majusaka]

forgot to mention, i was offered drinks (choice of bubbles/water) while waiting

Dove grey as in Gris T!?

 

[Lostinlondon]

I was at the NBS H today and met a super friendly leather dept SA.

So NBS is not a bad location for customer service, in fact I have never had bad service there and have always been greeted by everyone even on other days when I went there not wearing my H bags or scarves, so pls don't generalize every SA at NBS.

Never had a bad experience at NBS. I've also found that shopping there on Sundays is a much nicer experience. Maybe the tourists do not realise the store is actually open on that day.
Did your SA have curly hair, held back with one of their scarves, by any chance?

 

[dollybobo]

I was at the NBS H today and met a super friendly leather dept SA. I went there not to buy new bags but I was dropping off my B for spa and also wanted a quote on the replacement clochette for my Bolide which I lost. My SA was very friendly and provided excellent after sales service. We chatted alot about H leather and she took the time to show me the leather swatch to ensure the replacement clochette would match the Bolide as I could not remember if it was rouge H or rouge garance and I was not sure if the artisan at the back got it right when she took it to her at first.

So NBS is not a bad location for customer service, in fact I have never had bad service there and have always been greeted by everyone even on other days when I went there not wearing my H bags or scarves, so pls don't generalize every SA at NBS.

I do have some interesting observations today from my brief visit which turned out to be almost an hour stay.

From my own experience today, the store is indeed full of tourists. Time was between 3 and 4pm, so not rush hour. A couple of girls cut in front of me when I first arrived upstairs waiting for an SA to finish with his customer, though they knew I was already waiting for service. The security guard saw that and went up to me to apologise and told me he would find someone to serve me immediately from the back. While I was still waiting, the two girls asked for birkins straight away. and got refused, and then they demanded to buy the two Constance (which has been marked as "display only") on the shelf.

Later on, when my SA returned from from the artisan with my bags confirmed for after sale service, 2 other tourist ladies showed up, interrupted my SA while I was already being seen by her, asking to see the Lindy 30. Later, as my SA was filling out the after sales form they questioned another SA why the bags are for "display only" and how bad customer service it can be that bags are for display only and not for sale.

After spending almost an hour at NBS leather dept I have seen a range of behaviors from various customers , most made enquirers at the leather counter to buy bags and when told none was available, they then left without browsing other sections of the store.

So, I think I have finally got the answer why H bags are marked "display only" nowadays in London. As we know there is scarcity for H bags in London, more tourists due to the low £ and even higher demands due to resellers trying to make profits out of the exchange rates + VAT refunds. Without directly referring to the incidents today, I chatted to my SA today about why shelves are usually empty these days and in general London has a shortage of bags when compared to other H stores in the world. She agreed but said however they would prioritise bags for us as locals, which I do think is absolutely fair.

Note: At NBS today the shelves are actually relatively full (though "display only"): 2 bolides (Gold and Trench) 4 Lindys (gold, malacite, blue, and dove grey), 2 constance, 2 Garden party.

Thank you so much for sharing. Seems being demanding really gets you no where in the H world.

I feel I have to be extra polite when I travel as I am from the same ethnic group as of some of the notoriously rude tourists. I don't want to get put in the same category as the bad apples.

 

[diamond lover]

I would be visiting London/Manchester and Paris in June. Would love to bag a Lindy & Jige from this trip. How easy/difficult to find these bags in London/Manchester? Any recommended stores to visit & timing? Thanks

I just came back from London and no single bag for sell all were on display. All sales said they only had shipment once per week.

 

[arwenluv]

Thanks diamond lover.

That sounds bad. Hope things will improve in the next 2 months. Any idea when are the days they receive shipments?

 

[luckylove]

I just came back from London and no single bag for sell all were on display. All sales said they only had shipment once per week.

Though London has never been the easiest of places for tourists to obtain a bag, it does seem even more difficult lately as more and more tourists are vying for a coveted bag due to the exchange rate. Overall, it is easier if you are a local or a very regular customer. I am sorry you didn't find your dream bag, but I hope it finds its way to you soon!

 

[Meta]

Thanks diamond lover.

That sounds bad. Hope things will improve in the next 2 months. Any idea when are the days they receive shipments?

They receive delivery daily but they don't receive bag delivery daily.

 

[leuleu]

Second that. NBS is getting worse. I went recently the security guard didn't even bother opening the door for me and the scarf SAs (who were just chatting amongst themselves) just glanced at me without any greeting.

Same experience for me.

 

[pinkiestarlet]

I was at the NBS H today and met a super friendly leather dept SA. I went there not to buy new bags but I was dropping off my B for spa and also wanted a quote on the replacement clochette for my Bolide which I lost. My SA was very friendly and provided excellent after sales service. We chatted alot about H leather and she took the time to show me the leather swatch to ensure the replacement clochette would match the Bolide as I could not remember if it was rouge H or rouge garance and I was not sure if the artisan at the back got it right when she took it to her at first.

So NBS is not a bad location for customer service, in fact I have never had bad service there and have always been greeted by everyone even on other days when I went there not wearing my H bags or scarves, so pls don't generalize every SA at NBS.

I do have some interesting observations today from my brief visit which turned out to be almost an hour stay.

From my own experience today, the store is indeed full of tourists. Time was between 3 and 4pm, so not rush hour. A couple of girls cut in front of me when I first arrived upstairs waiting for an SA to finish with his customer, though they knew I was already waiting for service. The security guard saw that and went up to me to apologise and told me he would find someone to serve me immediately from the back. While I was still waiting, the two girls asked for birkins straight away. and got refused, and then they demanded to buy the two Constance (which has been marked as "display only") on the shelf.

Later on, when my SA returned from from the artisan with my bags confirmed for after sale service, 2 other tourist ladies showed up, interrupted my SA while I was already being seen by her, asking to see the Lindy 30. Later, as my SA was filling out the after sales form they questioned another SA why the bags are for "display only" and how bad customer service it can be that bags are for display only and not for sale.

After spending almost an hour at NBS leather dept I have seen a range of behaviors from various customers , most made enquirers at the leather counter to buy bags and when told none was available, they then left without browsing other sections of the store.

So, I think I have finally got the answer why H bags are marked "display only" nowadays in London. As we know there is scarcity for H bags in London, more tourists due to the low £ and even higher demands due to resellers trying to make profits out of the exchange rates + VAT refunds. Without directly referring to the incidents today, I chatted to my SA today about why shelves are usually empty these days and in general London has a shortage of bags when compared to other H stores in the world. She agreed but said however they would prioritise bags for us as locals, which I do think is absolutely fair.

Note: At NBS today the shelves are actually relatively full (though "display only"): 2 bolides (Gold and Trench) 4 Lindys (gold, malacite, blue, and dove grey), 2 constance, 2 Garden party.

I have only been to NBS once but I enjoyed it tremendously. Incidentally it was where I purchased my first ever H bag and my SA was so friendly. My friends and I were tourists and just enquiring on the Apple Watch. Unfortunately NBS did not have the specs for my friend and my SA was really apologetic about it. She subsequently asked us if we were searching for anything else and that's how I purchased my Berline. In between we chatted about her hometown, her life in London, H bags, etc etc, it was such a fun experience! Since then (Nov 2015) I had not been back to London but if I ever have the chance to, I will definitely drop by NBS again.

 

[Jadebean]

I am presently at London now. Been to NBS, Harrods and Selfridges. All three stores only have bags on display. No bags at all for sale, not even Evelyn. When I ask the SA when they have any bag they said they don't know. The stock level is really bad compared to my country I come from - Singapore. There, at least can easily find a bolide or Lindy. No bag charms except for Carmen as well. Decided not to waste time and head straight to the Chanel store nearby. So those who are placing high hopes of getting a bag in London, be warned.

 

[azukitea]

I am presently at London now. Been to NBS, Harrods and Selfridges. All three stores only have bags on display. No bags at all for sale, not even Evelyn. When I ask the SA when they have any bag they said they don't know. The stock level is really bad compared to my country I come from - Singapore. There, at least can easily find a bolide or Lindy. No bag charms except for Carmen as well. Decided not to waste time and head straight to the Chanel store nearby. So those who are placing high hopes of getting a bag in London, be warned.

sorry to hear that, in my previous post I did explain that the bags on display can be sold but according to the SA i spoke to at the store when I went there for after sale service for one of my bags, they are "prioritised" for UK locals now. It has been a very competitive market in UK since bags have been flying out of the shelves as they come in, and rather than leaving the shelves empty, they display and may choose to sell to locals who have history in the store and I think. Partly I think this is because tourists have been buying bags because of the low £ and VAT refunds over the last few months, they cannot kept up with the demand and and as frustrating as it may seem to some, H needs to consider serving the local market and clients and hence the reason they are doing this.

 

[Lostinlondon]

Just walked out of SSt and, judging by the number of persons I saw leaving with sizeable boxes, they definitely have some bags for sell.
Another out of this world shopping experience for me. Unlike NBS (which I also like a lot), SSt is really quiet on Saturdays. Lovely and extremely funny French SA, went out of her way to locate my dream 90. She's now set herself the challenge to get the model I'm after sent from Italy, just on time for my birthday next month.

 

[leuleu]

Just walked out of SSt and, judging by the number of persons I saw walking out with sizeable boxes, they definitely have some bags for sell.
Another out of this world shopping experience for me. Unlike NBS (which I also like a lot), SSt is really quiet on Saturdays. Lovely and extremely funny French SA, went out of her way to locate my dream 90. She's now set herself the challenge to get the model I'm after sent from Italy, just on time for my birthday next month.

Cool ! What 90 were you looking for ?

 

[Newtohermes]

I was in Barcelona, London, and Amsterdam last week. Visited multiple stores at each location (indcluding duty free at airports), sales person all nice and pefofessional. A few purses for display even less for sale.

 

[Lostinlondon]

Hippopolis, CW 16 or 12. Seen it once or twice on resellers' sites, with crazy price tags. Apparently, most stores in Italy have it in stock as does Dublin. Not places I'm planning on travelling back to any time soon. Fingers crossed my newly found H friend (starting to have a few...) will be successful.