Call Madison or stop by the concierge desk and ask? Could be that they are no longer with the company?
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Call Madison or stop by the concierge desk and ask? Could be that they are no longer with the company?
Ive had a hard time at my home store getting any bag with almost 7k prespend. I've been consistently and politely asking. I am wondering if I might have a better chance asking for a bag of any kind tbh like evelyn, picotin, 24/24/21 at a NYC location? Any thoughts or insights?
Unfortunately 7k prespend is hardly anything these days so I’m not surprised that bag offers aren’t being made. This will likely be true no matter which store you work with. Hopefully, with continued spending at your current store, you will eventually be seen as a long term client and bag offers may get easier. Be sure you are letting your SA know exactly which bag you are hoping for too, to keep you top of mind.
ETA I looked at your post history and see you are currently shopping at Boston. Boston is a much smaller store and will be much more difficult than say, Madison, and I would have advised you to have never started with Boston and gone straight to Madison to begin with. However, as you already have “almost $7k“ invested with Boston, unless you are prepared to redo that prespend from zero, I wouldn’t move at this point, especially not for a non QB like an Evelyne which really should be forthcoming soonish at Boston with your current profile.
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Thanks for that! I am local to Boston - so it's just easy for me to pop in during a weekday. I go to NYC for my hair appointments (lol) so it would be easy enough to just go there. I have been told though that a weekend appt can be more difficult and or finding an SA since I'd go during a busy time.
I would have agreed on the weekend part. You can still get lucky though. I met an SA during a spontaneous visit at Madison on a busy Saturday. He was super kind, was not rushed at all, gave me his card and actually responded to a question I had later. But of course that was a single experience and given that I was visiting the city, I did not try to build a long term relationship. Although I had the feeling it would have worked.
If you're not interested in a QB from Boston give it a shot at Madison for one of the bags you listed. Call before your next trip into town and make an appt. Be honest about being interested in bags and any other departments you want to shop in.
If you want a QB from Boston, stay the course and don't try to get a bag from NYC.
Hi all, I am fairly new to Hermes. Have shopped 2 times at the DC store for shoes, make up and ties (spent about 1.5K). I want to buy tableware, some cashmere scarves, a rose gold bracelet in the next few months. I would also like a Kelly 32/35 as a reward for overcoming a health condition. I have heard bad reviews about the DC store and it has been suggested that I would be better off shopping at the Madison store in NYC (I do have two trips already planned to NYC in the upcoming months). I wanted to get a sense of how difficult it is to get a K32/35 at Madison? Thank you!
Best wishes and congratulations on your improving health
Doable, but I would adjust your time line or disregard it totally. Nothing to do with prespend, but rather with merchandise availability. I doubt that Madison ordered much if any of size 32 or 35 KB.
The store has a hard time getting what they did order. I’ve been waiting literally two years for oxymore glassware (I did double check with DH and my SA, and it was ordered and paid for. A friend waited almost a year and a half for her H mosaic plates. She still has not received her teapot or cups. The Bleu alliers line seems to have halted production, due to inability to source cobalt, and soleil is not easy to find in stock.
This year is the 100 anniversary of the 1923 bolide 30, and I asked my SA how hard it was to get a simple bolide 31. He looked in the system and said there was only one bolide in black this year. The only other bolides are size 25 or mini bags. I have a feeling that it will take a long time to get a larger 32 or 35 in any bag. There is also some shortage of fine gold jewelry, IDKW. I’m sure an SA would be happy to try to get you what you want, but if Madison doesn’t have it, another location will have to transfer it or do a charge send.
Especially with the economy, I was told that individual boutiques are focusing on bringing in merchandise that they know will sell. I’m a RTW client, and my SA said that they didn’t even buy a double breasted leather pea coat bc apparently NY clients like trim, slim leather jackets.
IMO, it’s more important to visit the boutiques and get a feel for the staff and the atmosphere. I would go to Madison early on a weekday if you can do that bc it’s less crowded, but you should also try Meatpacking which has a reputation for laid back, very sweet staff. I wish you the best of luck
I’ve also heard terrible things about DC.ETA: it takes a while for an SA to open up and be easy about text inquiries, charge send, etc. So, in the beginning, or the first year, try to shop in person. If you find an SA you like, I would be very open about the fact that you would like to change your home store from DC to NY. IMO only, SAs get tired of hearing requests for BKC all the time, and they may not engage fully with you until they ascertain whether you will be a regular client who will shop more than first floor occasional customers or even whether you will disappear altogether once you get bag in hand.
@nikotama, re your comment below, it sounds like your DC SA was very open to helping you, so that’s another factor to keep in mind.* It’s always more convenient to have a local SA. Re 28K is much more doable than a 25 anything. If you have not tried these sizes on, I would suggest visiting TRR or Fashionphile to try them on. Then take photos of yourself, full body, at the same distance, so you can compare. A 32 is significantly heavier than a 28. A 35 more so. And depth of the bag makes a difference. Should you wish a jypserie, I have heard that those are also incredibly heavy. All of these bags, with some sleuthing, are available, at a discount at resellers. If you go that route, authenticate before purchase via @bababebi , choose a reseller, with a stellar record, not TRR, that takes returns and pay with PayPal, backed with cc like AMEX. Never use bank wire or a debit card.
BTW, a friend of mine wanted to use a 32 or 35 to carry a small laptop or larger iPad. (I loaned her some bags to test drive for several months. If this is a reason why you want a larger size, I would recommend switching to a double sens, a sellier shoulder bag, a mens satchel, or the very different (not at all like the regular evelyn : an Evelyne sellier 33. This is bc there is the real danger that the weight will rip out the shoulder pads attaching the handle to the body of a larger kelly. Or, damage the spine.
* there is the category of small client that every SA used to have. The bulk of a SAs roster are heavy spenders, and those are usually allocated hard to find, super desirable items. But, if an SA has some of those clients who already have a significant amount of BKC, it might be occasionally possible for that SA to save a QB (not a coveted small that require intense SM approvals) for a client who spends less, but who is relaxed, pleasant, easy going, and simply a pleasure to work with. I have a feeling that those smaller clients are becoming fewer and harder to find. But, those perhaps account for the few remaining exceptions to prespend in major Madison’s and flagships. Under certain circumstances, an SA may very well prefer a smaller client who is honest about her eventual bag goals and happy to wait a bit
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Thank you so much and I can’t believe you’ve been waiting so long for the glassware! I liked my SA at the DC store but I’ve met him only once so it’s difficult to predict anything. I would like a bigger bag and I’m definitely not into Birkin because I don’t see myself ever carrying it in my hands. I don’t like bags that can’t be carried on the shoulder or don’t have a crossbody strap. The SA offered me a picotin 18 (perhaps only because it was green and no one else wanted it) and it was gorgeous but I explained I like crossbody bags so he said he’d look for an Evelyn. I was surprised he even brought up bags during my first visit with him! I didn’t say that I’m not interested in an Evelyn (I’m not) but said I’d love a Jypsiere to which he said that they don’t get many of those. I didn’t bring up wanting a Kelly because I was honestly not expecting to be asked about bags and didn’t want to come across as pushy or entitled. The truth is I want a Kelly in 28/32/35 in a color other than black/yellow/orange.Best wishes and congratulations on your improving health
Doable, but I would adjust your time line or disregard it totally. Nothing to do with prespend, but rather with merchandise availability. I doubt that Madison ordered much if any of size 32 or 35 KB.
The store has a hard time getting what they did order. I’ve been waiting literally two years for oxymore glassware (I did double check with DH and my SA, and it was ordered and paid for. A friend waited almost a year and a half for her H mosaic plates. She still has not received her teapot or cups. The Bleu alliers line seems to have halted production, due to inability to source cobalt, and soleil is not easy to find in stock.
This year is the 100 anniversary of the 1923 bolide 30, and I asked my SA how hard it was to get a simple bolide 31. He looked in the system and said there was only one bolide in black this year. The only other bolides are size 25 or mini bags. I have a feeling that it will take a long time to get a larger 32 or 35 in any bag. There is also some shortage of fine gold jewelry, IDKW. I’m sure an SA would be happy to try to get you what you want, but if Madison doesn’t have it, another location will have to transfer it or do a charge send.
Especially with the economy, I was told that individual boutiques are focusing on bringing in merchandise that they know will sell. I’m a RTW client, and my SA said that they didn’t even buy a double breasted leather pea coat bc apparently NY clients like trim, slim leather jackets.
IMO, it’s more important to visit the boutiques and get a feel for the staff and the atmosphere. I would go to Madison early on a weekday if you can do that bc it’s less crowded, but you should also try Meatpacking which has a reputation for laid back, very sweet staff. I wish you the best of luck
ETA: it takes a while for an SA to open up and be easy about text inquiries, charge send, etc. So, in the beginning, or the first year, try to shop in person. If you find an SA you like, I would be very open about the fact that you would like to change your home store from DC to NY.
As usual, @880 is spot on. I totally agree with her assessment that the best way to manage shopping at H is to temper expectations and prioritize shopping with a local/easy to visit boutique. Until demand actually shifts production (we larger bag lovers live in hope and die in despair, lol) boutique availability for 32s and 35s will be exceedingly rare. At Madison, I suspect there may be long-time clients well ahead of you in the queue for such rarities. And if you are an infrequent visitor the chances that your wish will be remembered is not good. Hence the recommendation to stick with a boutique you can regularly visit and where your preferences will be known. Even if some clients find the D.C. boutique problematic, you really only need a good relationship with your SA to make it work for you.
@880 and @textilegirl thank you both for your kind suggestions, I found them very helpful!!
Perhaps I will make my reward be the finesse bracelet because I have been loving on that too and isn't it just stunning! It would be my first rose gold piece!
Perhaps I will make my reward be the finesse bracelet because I have been loving on that too and isn't it just stunning! It would be my first rose gold piece!
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I have a question about choosing the right SA since this is the most critical factor. I've been shopping at Greenwich, CT. While I haven't purchased anything in Madison, I've been there several times and talked to some of the SAs there. I am particularly looking for a Birkin 30 (black [or darker neutral colors] and gold hardware). The SA at Greenwich said that they don't know when I would get it. But, the SA at Madison said I should/would be able to get it sometimes this year. Should I move to Madison instead of Greenwich (since the rule is to work with 1 SA in a single store only)?
Also, I am concerned about the SA at Greenwich because I ordered my item via the same SA at Greenwich and know that my item is now in the store for pick up, but the SA has not yet contacted me. (Isn't it a sign that the SA may not get what I want anytime soon anyway?) Can you please give me some advice?
Thank you!
Also, I am concerned about the SA at Greenwich because I ordered my item via the same SA at Greenwich and know that my item is now in the store for pick up, but the SA has not yet contacted me. (Isn't it a sign that the SA may not get what I want anytime soon anyway?) Can you please give me some advice?
Thank you!
Under the above circumstances, the Madison SA was speaking in very broad, sweeping terms. So, I would not take any QB statement, even for a 30, as anything more than a loose generalization of what is theoretically possible. I would also caution that while there is more stock at Madison, there is also significantly more competition, and this location, being one of two Maisons in the US, favors regular locals or quite high spend. I think a local SA, who already knows you and your specific shopping habits, and who says they do not know exactly when you will get a 30B, is being more honest re without the guarantee. If your spend in Greenwich is healthy, the B could also come in quite quickly.
If your SA has not yet contacted you about your item for pick up, he may be on vacation or off or sick, or he may assume you will be contacted by receiving. Or, he might not have been notified due to a back of the house/front of the house delay. For alterations or pick up, especially of an online order, neither of which are a priority, a Madison SA would not act differently. Part of the reason for that is the average Madison SA tends to have a lot of clients, and in store clients are prioritized over follow up or other contact. If I were in a rush to get an item, I might simply swing by and pick it up. Prompt contact is not necessarily a strength of any H SA until one becomes a favored client, so I would strongly recommend lowering expectations. IMO this has nothing to do with whether you will get your bag within a year. The bag criteria are essentially: spend; longevity and nature of relationship; and, supply and demand of the item in question.
JMO as a madison client and YMMV. I am tagging @cravin who might provide a different or more nuanced POV
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@880 - Thank you so much for your insight! I have some follow-up questions.
1) What is the other Maison beside the Madison one in the US?
2) At my local store, it seems that they do not have many items that I am looking for, so I will eventually need my SA to order items on my behalf. Do you think it is still OK?
3) At my local store, my SA could not order certain items I was looking for. (I found it weird since some of these items became available online.) Is it OK if I ask the same items for Madison SA to order on my behalf? Will this hurt my relationship with the local SA?
Thank you!
1) What is the other Maison beside the Madison one in the US?
2) At my local store, it seems that they do not have many items that I am looking for, so I will eventually need my SA to order items on my behalf. Do you think it is still OK?
3) At my local store, my SA could not order certain items I was looking for. (I found it weird since some of these items became available online.) Is it OK if I ask the same items for Madison SA to order on my behalf? Will this hurt my relationship with the local SA?
Thank you!
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2) ordering items through your SA is common normal behavior.
3) If your SA cannot bring in items you ask for, that means they are unavailable to any SA at any store so asking from Madison won’t get you any further than asking from CT. (Or yournSA is just terrible.) Online stock is completely independent from store stock and it’s often the case that an item is in inventory in one but not the other. Store SAs cannot order from the website unless the client is physically in store and makes the transaction directly between online and the client’s account. You need to pick one store and work only with them. Yes, asking Madison for items will hurt your CT account (and likely be weird unsuccessful because why would Madison want to place orders for a random CT client?).
All that being said, if you haven’t already spent much in CT, I’d recommend moving to Madison. They will surely have more B30s on order and much more product available around the store as well. Yes, there are also more clients but for a B30, you’d be, presumably, a mid sized fish in a big pond asking for a mid sized bag. For a fixed spend/relationship, Madison will likely be much quicker (though I do strongly agree with 880 that the Madison was blowing smoke saying you’d get one quickly, they have no way of knowing that and it’s definitely not a promise or guarantee, just lip service).