Please note the thread for the Florence store is here https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/hermes-florence.954494/page-6 and Naples, Capri, Portoifino https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...ermes-in-naples-capri-portofino.424374/page-7
Hermès in Italy
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Reporting from Venice: no bag available to sell. Birkin sold only to locals through waiting list. Friendly service but boutique was kind of small.
I have recently finished my visit to Venice and Bologna and thought of sharing some feedback on the services. Hopefully it’s useful.
Visited Venice right after the Biennale so it was a bit 'quiet'. Went to H store two times. No bag was available to buy on both visits, although on the second visit, a group of ladies were offered a bunch of cinhetics and some other non BKC models as she said 'no bag' to my face
I bought a box bastia from her still. No shoes for my sizes. Overall feel, they are used to cater to tourists as they didn’t blink when I dropped in in t-shirt, shorts and sneakers. Interestingly one SA said wish list was only for locals and the other said also for tourists, but they don’t ship. Who knows.
Bologna, smaller than Venice, caters more to locals, I feel. Here’s why: Clientele wore H clothings and were very well dressed. I wanted a Calvi Duo which was available and also wanted to try an Herbag for size (as again, wasn’t allowed to buy any bag). SA had to ask the manager and the manager looked me over (shorts, ts and sneakers - all non branded) and said, no. The bag was already bought and cannot be touched again. Ok. I looked around some more, but nothing interesting. Store was busy so it was also difficult to browse. I cancelled the Calvi and walked out.
I have to say it was common in my three days in Bologna that people looked me over. So it might be just a local thing.
overall, Venice provided me with better shopping experience.
Anyway, these are my observations. I get that it’s a snapshot rather than an actual vibe of the stores as I was only visiting. I consider any poor services to me as them having a busy/bad day and I was just at the wrong place and time.
Visited Venice right after the Biennale so it was a bit 'quiet'. Went to H store two times. No bag was available to buy on both visits, although on the second visit, a group of ladies were offered a bunch of cinhetics and some other non BKC models as she said 'no bag' to my face
I bought a box bastia from her still. No shoes for my sizes. Overall feel, they are used to cater to tourists as they didn’t blink when I dropped in in t-shirt, shorts and sneakers. Interestingly one SA said wish list was only for locals and the other said also for tourists, but they don’t ship. Who knows.Bologna, smaller than Venice, caters more to locals, I feel. Here’s why: Clientele wore H clothings and were very well dressed. I wanted a Calvi Duo which was available and also wanted to try an Herbag for size (as again, wasn’t allowed to buy any bag). SA had to ask the manager and the manager looked me over (shorts, ts and sneakers - all non branded) and said, no. The bag was already bought and cannot be touched again. Ok. I looked around some more, but nothing interesting. Store was busy so it was also difficult to browse. I cancelled the Calvi and walked out.
I have to say it was common in my three days in Bologna that people looked me over. So it might be just a local thing.
overall, Venice provided me with better shopping experience.
Anyway, these are my observations. I get that it’s a snapshot rather than an actual vibe of the stores as I was only visiting. I consider any poor services to me as them having a busy/bad day and I was just at the wrong place and time.
I'll be in Milan and Florence as well late November (around Thanksgiving). Does the Milan and Florence stores require appointments? Can anyone PM me SA contacts for those stores if possible? I know in Paris, for KBC will need lottery appointment - wondering how it works for Milan and Florence as I haven't been to H there before. I'm just hoping to score a Kelly Danse in a light neutral color, if I can get a K25 that'd be another dream level. But, I want to test my luck in each Hermes store. Any pointers? Thanks!
Hi. I will be in Milan in the third week of this month… can anyone recommend a sales assistant that can communicate via WhatsApp prior to visiting the store? Is the store by appointment only?
Hi, i went to both stores. No appointments needed although I waited for about 10min outside the store before being able to enter in Florence. However, I'm afraid it'll be kind of disappointing regarding scoring a quota bag. No chance in Florence, they tell you - politely, but in no uncertain terms - that quota bags are reserved for locals. Same goes for Milan, my friend who lives there let herself set on a B waitlist in March of this year for me, and until now, no news (i want neutral colors, too) - I asked in Milan when I was there and they came with the same old same old "no/low stock in 2021"...My friend, who speaks italian, then called the store and was told the same by a SA she went to school with. You can always try, and I wish you the best of luck, but these were my experiences in early September.
I just went today to the store in Florence to pick up my B30 and my SA told me they are going to close from the 25th of October to late November due to renovations and someone is going to stay inside and take orders by phone! They have very low stock, I had to wait one year to get a bag but I think it’s still worth a try
I am a regular at Madison Avenue which is my home store. I was in Italy for much of the last month so just went to visit (Without appt) In Milan, I went twice. The first time it was difficult to even get help for a leather RTW coat (color not purchased for NY). Second trip, if I pressed, I could have bought a men’s kelly clutch or a travel HAC in the milan opening print; but. I decided not to). There were many bags with not available for purchase signs. In Rome, no help was forthcoming; SAs were busy helping well dressed locals. (I did have delightful service in Milan’s VCA and Brunello, and Rome’s Dior and Bulgari and other shops. I decided not to bother with Venice Or bologna. I don’t think, unless you are charming and lucky (in timing, like immediately post covid), Italy is easy for tourists. Seems like limited stock is for locals. JMO
I'm trying to find a light neutral Kelly Danse. Hopefully since it is not a quota bag - it'll maybe be available? No appointments needed though like the Paris ones right?
Yes to my knowledge the boutiques in Italy don’t need an appointment
Hi there! Has anyone been to the Italian stores lately and can speak about the inventory levels for non-quota bags and non-bag items? I am planning a trip this summer and will stop by Venice/Bologna/Florence/Rome. From the prior posts, it sounds like a bit of a mixed bag. If anyone has recent experiences to share about these stores, would be grateful to hear about the service and inventory.
Many thanks!
Many thanks!
Last April: Florence was a complete waste of time, zero bags available but even non bag inventory was non existent (shoes, belts, wallets) and the SA herself was of no help. Started out friendly enough but fizzled I should say, as we went along (this was over the course of two separate visits). Rome, the following week, saw a few people offered bags (not k or b), a friend was also offered choice of Evelynes (sizes, colors) and bolide. Saw several wallets on display that would interest many people (but I didn’t ask if they were available for sale). All in all, Rome seemed to have better selection and was more active with people. SA was also more helpful than Florence, but again that’s just our experience on those specific days.Hi there! Has anyone been to the Italian stores lately and can speak about the inventory levels for non-quota bags and non-bag items? I am planning a trip this summer and will stop by Venice/Bologna/Florence/Rome. From the prior posts, it sounds like a bit of a mixed bag. If anyone has recent experiences to share about these stores, would be grateful to hear about the service and inventory.
Many thanks!
You can do walk-in in Italy, no appointment needed! From my experience the SA's there are always friendly but rarely offer anything decent to tourists, unlike the boutiques in France. Took us multiple visits and merely asking for non quota bags (picotin, lindy) but my friend barely got 'offered' a medor clutch. Hope you'll have better luck than us though.
hello! i am headed to florence in September. has anyone been there since? is it still the same policy of only offering bags to locals? I'm really hoping to make my first purchase there!
Rome have 2nd biggest stocks after Paris I think. I am a tourist and been shopping in Hermes Rome almost 10 yearsHi there! Has anyone been to the Italian stores lately and can speak about the inventory levels for non-quota bags and non-bag items? I am planning a trip this summer and will stop by Venice/Bologna/Florence/Rome. From the prior posts, it sounds like a bit of a mixed bag. If anyone has recent experiences to share about these stores, would be grateful to hear about the service and inventory.
Many thanks!
