It is very difficult to obtain a coveted bag in London. There is a strong preference to sell coveted items to locals and regulars. With the exchange rate, many tourists have flocked London in the hopes of securing a coveted bag at a nice discount and there just isn't enough supply to meet the demand. It is a bit easier in Paris for a non local to purchase a B/K/C. If there are other items you may like, perhaps consider purchasing them and build a relationship with an SA. Then maybe luck will shine on you in a future visit. Good luck on your quest and hope you enjoy London!
Hermes boutiques in London
- Thread starter Roxane
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It is very difficult to obtain a coveted bag in London. There is a strong preference to sell coveted items to locals and regulars. With the exchange rate, many tourists have flocked London in the hopes of securing a coveted bag at a nice discount and there just isn't enough supply to meet the demand. It is a bit easier in Paris for a non local to purchase a B/K/C. If there are other items you may like, perhaps consider purchasing them and build a relationship with an SA. Then maybe luck will shine on you in a future visit. Good luck on your quest and hope you enjoy London!
Ah. I was in your boat earlier this year. Tried all the stores, over multiple days. I wasn't even looking for a B/K/C. I was just looking for either a Halzan or a Roulis. Finally on our last day, after being told by one rather snooty SA that they have nothing in stock right now, I started wandering to the shoes department, tried on a few, bought a few and then to the belt department, ditto.
A different SA, who was helping me, then asked if there was anything else I was after. I told him either Halzan or Roulis. Lo and behold two Halzans showed up. I picked one of them.
I'd like to always think the best of people, but that day I couldn't help but suspecting that the first SA was straight up lying to my face.
I get the impression that they simply would change their face whenever they know you d need tax refund (meaning you are not locals)
I have been shopping there for years but so far no relationship has been secured and whenever I enquire about bags (maybe to have a look at the display as I have never seen a mini K before), I was given the cold treatment....
But I shall say when it comes to scarf, jewellery, shoes they can be the sweetest SAs ever....
Story: there was one time an SA in Sloane street was showing a tourist different ways to tie a scarf and she was really patient and taking the time when a queue to ask for bags started to get long (no SA in leather area and only her in scarf area, you know how close those two areas are so everyone was waiting for her) the tourist was asking if she s keeping her busy but she was in no rush at all. I was actually waiting for her as well as she helped me kept the Brides de Gala heart twillies and I just wanted to pay and leave...
Whenever some guys approached her asking how long they needed to wait, she d be like "I am still with this lady sorry" I cant help giggling in my heart... so she obviously didn't remember me and when we had eye contacts, she just had a brief smile and turned back to the tourist. It took quite some time till I took the courage to approach her finally and said if I could just pay and go and that was the moment that broke the ice.. she just beamed and "oh yes I was waiting for you to come in", called for an intern to help get the twillies out and I just paid and thanked her... so no more bags in London!!! just drop the idea and enjoy shopping for little things...
but I d say if anyone really wants to try, Selfridges would be your best bet! Go in the morning as SA has advised.. just very personal opinion... ^^
I have been shopping there for years but so far no relationship has been secured and whenever I enquire about bags (maybe to have a look at the display as I have never seen a mini K before), I was given the cold treatment....
But I shall say when it comes to scarf, jewellery, shoes they can be the sweetest SAs ever....
Story: there was one time an SA in Sloane street was showing a tourist different ways to tie a scarf and she was really patient and taking the time when a queue to ask for bags started to get long (no SA in leather area and only her in scarf area, you know how close those two areas are so everyone was waiting for her) the tourist was asking if she s keeping her busy but she was in no rush at all. I was actually waiting for her as well as she helped me kept the Brides de Gala heart twillies and I just wanted to pay and leave...
Whenever some guys approached her asking how long they needed to wait, she d be like "I am still with this lady sorry" I cant help giggling in my heart... so she obviously didn't remember me and when we had eye contacts, she just had a brief smile and turned back to the tourist. It took quite some time till I took the courage to approach her finally and said if I could just pay and go and that was the moment that broke the ice.. she just beamed and "oh yes I was waiting for you to come in", called for an intern to help get the twillies out and I just paid and thanked her... so no more bags in London!!! just drop the idea and enjoy shopping for little things...
but I d say if anyone really wants to try, Selfridges would be your best bet! Go in the morning as SA has advised.. just very personal opinion... ^^
Thanks for the advise! I shopped once (but that was closed to 2 years ago) at NBS and I'm returning to London next Feb to visit my sister. I bought a bag at NBS that trip (lovely experience by the way) but it was under my boyfriend's name and he's not joining me now, so I'm thinking if I should even bother going back there. I'm not even looking for any B/K/C, just a GP or Evelyne or Jige Elan. I guess I'll try Selfridges and see how it goes.
If you are looking for those bags esp a GP or an Evelyn, you can try asking at any of the stores or at the airport boutiques. There is no harm asking for those, however for B/K/C, the chances are much lower. I'm not sure about Jiges.
Hi, for those of you that shopped at Selfridges, do they issue the regular Hermes A5 size receipt to you or just those long carbon Selfridges receipt. My husband bought me a bag there, he was saying they did not give the usual Hermes receipt. Would like to check. Cheers.
hi, I will be heading to London for two weeks in mid Dec and I am hoping to get a Lindy 30 in Etoupe but also open to other neutral colours. pardon my ignorance (first timer to Hermes) but is this close to impossible?
Others can chime in but this is my experience so far this year: the stores are “low on inventory” and the bags you see are “display only”, yet we saw these local customers get offered bags left right center. We went to all the diff stores: Sloane / Cadogan, New Bond St, as are the ones in the bigger department stores such as Harrod’s and Selfridges. If you straight up ask them you want a bag it’ll be a no. In one store on our last day, again we asked and was told the bags are all “display only” and they have absolutely nothing in the back. We ventured to another department and started buying non-leather items. A different SA from the one that told us the bag situation asked what else we are looking for. Then I started asking about bags. Sure enough a number of them showed up for our purchase.
The situation might be different now since there should be a lot of shipments for the holidays, so you may have a diff story.
I recommend checking what’s on offer on the UK website. Last I checked there was a Lindy in noir. Good luck and enjoy London!
To be fair, some of these local customers may have been waiting for their allocated bags for years.
Yes and this practice is not much different to any other non-Paris boutiques.
absolutely. I didn't blame them in the least bit. I do expect less than stellar treatment at non-local non-Paris H stores
