I have a couple of friends who use the same SA and they’ve made the same complaints. I think she’s been at the store for many years, is no longer excited to be there and doesn’t need the money. She recently got married.
Hermès New York City Stores
- Thread starter jewelgem
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
Or she has a lot of VIPs in her client list now who spend a lot each time. All the more makes it justifiable to stick with your new NY SA. Five years without any offers? C'mon now. I would have left way sooner than that.
Don’t forget that I am in chicago. Half of our city fled and the other half walks into the stores and takes what they want without a pre-spend or an offer. Part of the reason our store had to be remodeled.
You will not run into a B or K in the wild in the Windy City. There are only so many VIPs here and my friends are complaining about her too. I am 100 percent not pretending to be one but it is also hard to be when you are told every time with a sign that there is nothing to buy
I am just surprised..because five years, of course, is a long wait time. Anyways, whatever SA you pick, hope that SA is able to give you what is in your wish list.
A few weeks is nothing in Hermes timelines. What you experienced above happens at Madison too and it is not unique to MP. I agree with @bikegirl145 and @Bdbunny that it can be very difficult to get RTW and other items into the Madison boutique, and SAs become non responsive if the items don’t come in. SAs might seem like they are ghosting, but in actuality, they are frustrated too, and may not know when items will arrive. I am a client in good standing at Madison with a 5X plus spend, and I have had three 25qb offers this year, two from Madison (all rejected), but I cannot seem to get chypres in my size or oxymore glasses after a wait of many months. Or promised pieces of RTW. Actually, I have already waited about 2 years for my Oxymore, and I was just in the design center (where St Louis has a kiosk) and they told me that this is a supply chain issue (they know my H SA quite well). I believe I have also paid for the Oxymore, so at this point, it’s like an interest free loan lol.
I do agree with @Bdbunny that you should shop where you like and just be happy that you love your prior 7K purchases. It sounds like you were encouraged to switch by a new Madison SA who was new and who management encouraged to offer items to try to build a client roster. It would be best for that new SA if you made the switch. But, the second, more experienced madison SA might be a bit more realistic.
Boutique spending may not be for everyone due to the slow pace. I also agree with @addiCCted that it’s best to remind your SA frequently (in person is best) and drop in for your appt and see what you can find that day. In general, MP is known for its laid back, relaxed atmosphere. While I’m happy at Madison, outside of my SA (and those SMs that know me), I don’t find staff in general to be super friendly. There are times (especially when my SA is off and I have not made a appt) when I am ignored like @shirlcagirl. And, I agree with @momoc that H SAS tend not to initiate contact bc they don’t want to poach and they don’t necessarily want new clients either. The new Madison is more friendly than the old one, but I find Chanel 57 or Dior flagship much friendlier in general.
Shop where you like, and be prepared to wait. It’s not just spend. RTW and home and shoes and some accessories are still in short supply. My SA told me that the Shoe SAs often scoop up shoes for their clients as soon as they come in, and it’s difficult to get stuff. Don’t take things personally and be patient. That’s a good thing to remember wherever you choose to shop.
ETA: I was looking forward to stuff that I saw in March from Trunk show. DH had his name down for a jacket for many months (since he saw it on runway). The head of RTW at Madison and our SA were saddened that what Madison ordered, including DHs jacket, did not materialize. They couldn’t even give us updates bc they were not given a definitive answer from Paris. So, I really feel that what you have experienced is not at all unusual.
In general, H SAs are not as responsive via text. If you want to get answers, it helps to go to the store, and it helps to make an appt. But, I honestly feel that what you have experienced from MP is consistent with H in general. If you take delays like this personally, and do not adjust your expectations downward ( this year, I have had to adjust mine with respect to most things from my contractor to my retail shopping lol). H boutique shopping will become very stressful.
Plus, if you got a non quota bag after a scarf and pair of shoes, you are ahead of many. The glass is half full
ETA: re your prespend query below @sealion92, this varies considerably, and mine is not the norm (I don’t have a wishlist, and thought I was done with bags and didn’t want any 25QB when I started with my current SA). The day I got my first three offers, including an accepted B30 etoupe, DH just bought an H08 watch, and my SA said I had been eligible for quite some time. You might want to read this thread https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/spend-threshold-for-b-k-c.1032182/page-67 I stopped counting at 5X when I got a gold 25B sellier, but my SA had offered me a few QBs which I rejected in the interim. Prespend in the US is fluid and generally doesn’t include any leather bags or slg. My spend is almost entirely RTW and home independent of a QB offer.
Last edited:
Thank you, It is reassuring that this happening to clients who spend a lot more as well. If the normal timeline is weeks for everyone, I am okay with that.A few weeks is nothing in Hermes timelines. What you experienced above happens at Madison too and it is not unique to MP. I agree with @bikegirl145 and @Bdbunny (we are Madison clients) that it can be very difficult to get RTW and other items into the boutique, and SAs become non responsive if the items don’t come in. SAs might seem like they are ghosting, but in actuality, they are frustrated too, and may not know when items will arrive. I am a client in good standing at Madison with a 5X plus spend, and I have had three 25qb offers this year, two from Madison (all rejected), but I cannot seem to get chypres in my size or oxymore glasses after a wait of many months. Or promised pieces of RTW. Actually, I have waited about 2 years for my Oxymore, and I was just in the design center (where St Louis has a kiosk) and they told me that this is a supply chain issue (they know my H SA quite well). I believe I have also paid for the Oxymore, so at this point, it’s like an interest free loan lol.
I do agree with @Bdbunny that you should shop where you like and just be happy that you love your prior 7K purchases. It sounds like you were encouraged to switch by a new Madison SA who was new and who management encouraged to offer items to try to build a client roster. It would be best for that new SA if you made the switch. But, the second, more experienced madison SA might be a bit more realistic.
I will say that in general boutique spending is not for everyone. I also agree with @addiCCted that it’s best to remind your SA frequently (in person is best) and drop in for your appt and see what you can find that day. In general, MP is known for its laid back, relaxed atmosphere. While I’m happy at Madison, outside of my SA (and those SMs that know me), I don’t find staff in general to be super friendly. There are times (especially when my SA is off and I have not made a appt) when I am ignored like @shirlcagirl. And, I agree with @momoc that H SAS tend not to initiate contact bc they don’t want to poach and they don’t necessarily want new clients either. The new Madison is more friendly than the old one, but I find Chanel 57 or Dior flagship much friendlier in general.
Shop where you like, and be prepared to wait. It’s not just spend. RTW and home and shoes and some accessories are still in short supply. My SA told me that the Shoe SAs often scoop up shoes for their clients as soon as they come in, and it’s difficult to get stuff. Don’t take things personally and be patient. That’s a good thing to remember wherever you choose to shop.
ETA: I was looking forward to stuff that I saw in March from Trunk show. DH had his name down for a jacket for many months (since he saw it on runway). The head of RTW at Madison and our SA were saddened that what Madison ordered, including DHs jacket, did not materialize. They couldn’t even give us updates bc they were not given a definitive answer from Paris. So, I really feel that what you have experienced is not at all unusual.
In general, H SAs are not as responsive via text. If you want to get answers, it helps to go to the store, and it helps to make an appt. But, I honestly feel that what you have experienced from MP is consistent with H in general. If you take delays like this personally, and do not adjust your expectations downward ( this year, I have had to adjust mine with respect to most things from my contractor to my retail shopping lol). H boutique shopping will become very stressful.
Plus, if you got a non quota bag after a scarf and pair of shoes, you are ahead of many. The glass is half full
I will stay with mine for the time being and see if they are able to get me a specific non quota but hard to get item that I requested within the next months. What prespend did you first reach before being offered a more readily available quota bag?
Pre spend is only a part of the quota bag allocation. It depends a lot on other factors like what was ordered compared to your wishlist, which categories you buy, if your SA believes you keep and use your purchases and if your SA genuinely believes will be a long term customer via a via their other clients.
Hello! Please excuse my ignorance. I am new to Hermes and recently fell in love with a Kelly 25 in black box calf leather. Can someone please tell me if it is worth exploring the brand for an offer at my local NYC store, versus buying secondhand? I have no idea how rare or difficult it is to receive an offer for a BBK 25, but I'd be happy to begin my Hermes journey if the spend ratio is about 2:1.
Do you love other Hermes stuff anyways even if you don’t get the bag?
And how patient are you?
Reseller might be the easier route in your case. To start, I’m not sure 2:1 is enough for someone starting out new with a very specific bag they want which is in a very popular size and color even though maybe not the most asked for leather. But about that box leather: box is push offer only so an even-greater-than-normal amount of timing and luck is needed. Push offers - there are some dedicated threads discussing them if you search the forum - are certain bags (normally specific leathers, such as box) that store managers can’t place orders for. Instead they are “pushed” out to stores by Paris when they are made. So there is really nobody who can guarantee if/when your store will get one of these bags. Box does seem to be having a moment right now (things tend to go in batches and there is an increased amount of box bag offers recently) but it’s hard to say whether that’s gonna last and whether you can be the first in line at your store when they happen to get sent one.
A BBK is just an ultimate forever classic. If you are very patient, and if you want Hermes items in other categories regardless of the bag, then why not try your luck at a boutique while purchasing stuff you love anyways. If not though, I suspect the chance of disappointment is quite high.
Last edited:
I was offered (and took) a BBK25 earlier this year at one of the NYC stores. So it's definitely possible.
But I've also been shopping at this store for a few years now, so I'm not sure how likely it is to get it as a 1st QB with only 2:1 spend. I'd recommend going 2nd hand if that is all you're looking for.
@jbeans @momoc, thank you both so much for your insightful responses-- this helps me reset expectations. I think I'll actually start visiting a boutique after thinking it through. The BBK is my dream bag, and I have a lifetime to go get her. In the meantime, I really do enjoy Hermes' watches and jewelry, and am looking for a winter coat this year anyways. Hope I can eventually report back here with a successful offer!! Thank you!
Yes. Post covid, I’ve received 3 madison 25B/K offers and took one (rejected a 25K padded, Gris Meyer and a 25B quadrille) Plus 2 25BK offers from my reg FSH SA, and took one — rejected a B25 Bleu de prusse). I did receive 4 30B offers, and I accepted a 30B etoupe (Madison) and a 28K quadrille (FSH)
I dont keep track of spend, but by the time my first offer B25 sellier gold arrived, (it was in the stock drought last year) I was 5X rising and between DH and I, we generally maintain at least this level in RTW and home.*
My SA was simply waiting for the right one to come along and told me that I was overdue. I don’t keep any wishlist, so rely on him to know what suits me.
*spend level is at Madison. Other non QB purchases are not included. Prespend inthe US is a moving target and linked selling is officially not allowed. Prespend is not required at FSH bc SAs do not work on commission. You can easily find out more information by using the search button, magnifying glass, upper right, in the correct subforum Hermes shopping
@argo326 , IMO only, a 2X ratio at Madison will not get you a size 25. I’m not even sure it will get you a size 30, simply bc there are a lot of high spending clients at Madison. (Madison and I think BH are the two Maisons in the US, one level above flagship). The reason why resellers push up the prices of size 25s is that the inflated price tends to be less than the prespend required at retail
ETA : I am not considered a particularly high spending client (it’s all relative) at Madison, but my SA appreciates that my focus is RTW, not leather. I don’t recommend boutique shopping unless one loves other categories for purchase and is willing to wait
Last edited:
I’ve had really great relationship with my SA at madison for about 6 months now. I texted her a few days ago asking for an appointment but I realized that my message is not going through. My messages to everyone else seems to be working fine. Slight worried that I’m blocked or something happened to my SA. Did anyone else have similar experience? And if so, how did you overcome it?
Suggest calling Madison to see if you can book an appointment with your SA. If your texts to her are no longer going through, she may have left the store.