Hermes Return Policy (or: How to Curb Bad Behavior)

[merika]

There have been plenty of threads about the return policy at Hermes, but I'd like to throw out this idea to you all... (and please don't flame me!)

After observing the following, I'm beginning to think that Hermes should not allow returns at all:

1. Saw a beautiful Kelly at the boutique, really lovely, then opened it up and saw a long blonde hair inside. Don't tell me the hair managed to get inside the bag while at the boutique.
2. Reveal threads where the "owner" photographs a new bag on the ground outdoors, on a kitchen table (with food!) or next to a pet, asking "should I keep it?"
3. Threads showing a new bag or scarf out on the town and then a few days later, a thread asking "should I return it?"

Fellow H devotees, what do you think?

It would be nice, I think, to know that an item purchased at the boutique did not have a prior life outside the boutique. It's not a germ issue. The question is: Is it fair to the eventual owner to pay retail for what is essentially a used item?

I realize that the fact that Hermes has a limited supply of items promotes tendencies to "buy now, ask questions later." And then there are those people who are serial returners (perhaps a subset of those who suffer from oniomania?).

Since we can't change human behavior, perhaps we need to take drastic policy measures.

Therefore, I vote for "final sale only". Other ideas?

This seems kind of ironic because in the past I've seen people go the H reseller route and pay more than store prices for used bags.

Particularly if something is rare/no-one knows if it'll ever be seen again/won't get it for that price anywhere else etc I think most people are willing to turn a blind eye to determining exactly whether the bag is used or not, if there are no visible marks stating otherwise.

 

[880]

I you 880, but oooh, I disagree.

Especially in today's economy, I do not have the luxury of keeping mistakes----my discretionary income is simply too low, now.

[Having said that, however, I would never qualify as a serial shopper or serial returner. And, I would never actually use anything I return.]

Hugs to you Cinderlala -- my discretionary income is rock bottom at this point -- which means I should stay away from stores altogether to avoid shopping (and returning) lol
I think you said it best in your last two lines -- btw, I am dying to ask, please pm me the gm costly mistake shawl details. . . in case. . .

beaumonde, I am laughing thinking of you being masked. . . My first time happened in the dressing room at Anne Fontaine. . .

Merika, don;t know what, but something about your post suddenly made me feel squeamish at my habit of buying "new" shoes on sale at saks. . . God knows where they've been. . . At least when I decide to buy vintage H, I (at least tell myself) there is romance, history, possibly horses and saddles involved

 

[ouija board]

Very thought provoking thread! My first reaction is not to change the return policy because it is strict as it is--store credit only and only after what shoud be a thorough inspection and consideration. But the point of paying retail for a "used" (returned) bag is interesting and understandable, because if you think of bags like cars, cars are used as soon as you drive them off the lot; should bags be considered used in the same way? And what about the bag that is "used" by customers in the store vs the brand new shrink wrapped bag that gets worn once in front of the mirror at home, then returned--which is more used? I think for me, since I can't police the "reveal and return" offenders nor can I determine who has touched it before me, I can only evaluate a bag as it appears before me in the store and make sure I am absolutely happy with the brandnewness before I pay for it. If you determine or suspect a bag is used but is sold as new, refuse to buy it or demand a discount.

I will say that after reading this thread, I will be washing all my new clothes and wiping down my new shoes with disinfectant before I wear them!! Yuck!

 

[aspenmartial]

Wow... cookie crumbs and hairs?

Kind of an aside... isn't it a complete thrill when you have a shrink-wrapped box with your name on it? So special.

It happened to me once! I opened up a brand new(?) HAC from Hermes, and there was a few crumbs! Obvious cookie crumbs!!! I could almost tell what kind of cookie it was from the crumbs!ush:

 

[LIBRADIAMONDS]

Very thought provoking thread! My first reaction is not to change the return policy because it is strict as it is--store credit only and only after what shoud be a thorough inspection and consideration. But the point of paying retail for a "used" (returned) bag is interesting and understandable, because if you think of bags like cars, cars are used as soon as you drive them off the lot; should bags be considered used in the same way? And what about the bag that is "used" by customers in the store vs the brand new shrink wrapped bag that gets worn once in front of the mirror at home, then returned--which is more used? I think for me, since I can't police the "reveal and return" offenders nor can I determine who has touched it before me, I can only evaluate a bag as it appears before me in the store and make sure I am absolutely happy with the brandnewness before I pay for it. If you determine or suspect a bag is used but is sold as new, refuse to buy it or demand a discount.

I will say that after reading this thread, I will be washing all my new clothes and wiping down my new shoes with disinfectant before I wear them!! Yuck!

That is the reason why I sent my Tohu Bohu shawl to the drycleaners once I bought it.

 

[MiaT]

Such a fascinating thread and reading the posts makes me realize I have to think before I buy!

Angelfish - oh my, I forgot about all those DH's!

Liness92 - excellent examples that even shrink wrapped, life happens!

Poor Hermes - all these honest people who should be able to return / exchange an item that really turned out to not be right when they get home. I know the company wants you to be happy with the purchses after all!

It's the few bad apples! Grrrr!

 

[n2chanel]

Wow, I never thought about it on this level at all. I don't have a good feeling about buying used items for full price. At least when you buy a used car, you buy it knowing that there was a previous owner and you do not pay the original sticker price. With bags from the store, it should be NEW...Period, no ifs, ands or buts. The SA's should take every precaution to make sure that the bags are in new condition before they take them back or at the very least before they are shown to a customer. Finding cookie crumbs and human hair would gross me out and take all of the luster away for me. Just inexcusable!

 

[beaumonde]

I could almost tell what kind of cookie it was from the crumbs!ush:

OMG. You are too funny.

Terrible that you had this experience. ush:

 

[jedimaster]

Bottom line is - some people are inconsiderate, and used or dirty returns sold as new are even more offensive in a big ticket item. At least according to wikipedia, there is also a correlation between lack of concern for other people and compulsive shopping behavior, of which serial returning is one manifestation. I personally think Hermes attracts more oniomaniacs than, say, Target, but I am not sure why. Perhaps the thrill of buying a rare and expensive item, makes buying seem more of a high. So its logical that there are sometimes real issues at Hermes with returns.

I dont really get any of this.

 

[kipp]

Bottom line is - some people are inconsiderate, and used or dirty returns sold as new are even more offensive in a big ticket item. At least according to wikipedia, there is also a correlation between lack of concern for other people and compulsive shopping behavior, of which serial returning is one manifestation. I personally think Hermes attracts more oniomaniacs than, say, Target, but I am not sure why. Perhaps the thrill of buying a rare and expensive item, makes buying seem more of a high. So its logical that there are sometimes real issues at Hermes with returns.

I dont really get any of this.

I don't get it, either, Jedi, but I also think that feelings of entitlement come into play in these people when they are buying "big ticket" items. KWIM?

 

[smallfry]

There have been plenty of threads about the return policy at Hermes, but I'd like to throw out this idea to you all... (and please don't flame me!)

After observing the following, I'm beginning to think that Hermes should not allow returns at all:

1. Saw a beautiful Kelly at the boutique, really lovely, then opened it up and saw a long blonde hair inside. Don't tell me the hair managed to get inside the bag while at the boutique.
2. Reveal threads where the "owner" photographs a new bag on the ground outdoors, on a kitchen table (with food!) or next to a pet, asking "should I keep it?"
3. Threads showing a new bag or scarf out on the town and then a few days later, a thread asking "should I return it?"

Fellow H devotees, what do you think?

It would be nice, I think, to know that an item purchased at the boutique did not have a prior life outside the boutique. It's not a germ issue. The question is: Is it fair to the eventual owner to pay retail for what is essentially a used item?

I realize that the fact that Hermes has a limited supply of items promotes tendencies to "buy now, ask questions later." And then there are those people who are serial returners (perhaps a subset of those who suffer from oniomania?).

Since we can't change human behavior, perhaps we need to take drastic policy measures.

Therefore, I vote for "final sale only". Other ideas?

Great thread beaumonde! I totally agree with your comment about an item not having a prior life outside the boutique...if we are expecting brand new, and paying for it, that is what we should get. Otherwise, we can buy from the secondary market.

I am very hypocritical when it comes to the return policy, though...I want to be able to return, but I don't want any items that have been returned! I am famous for asking for a "fresh" box, and I love shrink-wrap

 

[Julide]

Well after catching up on this thread I have learned a couple of things.
1) If I don't like the item at least return it as soon as possible. I sometimes lag on this but I still would never wear it!!
2) Try to be more specific when shopping. If your looking for x don't buy y! Stick to your list!!
3) Who in their right mind buys a bag to show people and then return it? I so don't get that one!! Honestly I could care less about who sees my bags and more about just wearing them and enjoying them!!!
4) If H were to change their return policy to final sale I would be ok with it. I would just need to rent a car to haul around my closet the next time I visit my store!

And may I just add when refering(sp) to people exchanging items I'm talking about someone who does it for the "shopping high". I understand that you got it home and it didn't work. So just clarifying I am wondering about those who buy stuff to show and then return it!! Sorry

 

[mrssparkles]

It happened to me once! I opened up a brand new(?) HAC from Hermes, and there was a few crumbs! Obvious cookie crumbs!!! I could almost tell what kind of cookie it was from the crumbs!ush:

Totally eeewww, aspen.

That aside, your post made me laugh.

 

[mrssparkles]

This seems kind of ironic because in the past I've seen people go the H reseller route and pay more than store prices for used bags.

Particularly if something is rare/no-one knows if it'll ever be seen again/won't get it for that price anywhere else etc I think most people are willing to turn a blind eye to determining exactly whether the bag is used or not, if there are no visible marks stating otherwise.

So good to 'see' you, merika. I love your posts.

Seeing beaumonde's post and yours, brings to light that there are 2 distinct sets of expectations when buying "brand new" from a boutique and buying "second hand". But I personally have the same to say about H bags used and returned to H, and supposedly BNIB bags on eBay that have clearly been used a couple of times. I sometimes feel that honesty is a dying virtue.

 

[merika]

So good to 'see' you, merika. I love your posts.

Seeing beaumonde's post and yours, brings to light that there are 2 distinct sets of expectations when buying "brand new" from a boutique and buying "second hand". But I personally have the same to say about H bags used and returned to H, and supposedly BNIB bags on eBay that have clearly been used a couple of times. I sometimes feel that honesty is a dying virtue.

I do agree with you in the 2 different sets of expectations, and regrettably most of the time, in both cases there is no way to verify that a return/ebay purchase was not used except to take the (first) buyer's word for it.

I do wonder, though, whether SAs would take the trouble of locating a item for a seller if they are known to be habitual returners of purchases? I've heard of Coach stores handing letters to customers (at the checkout line, too!) who are habitual buyers/returners saying they are not welcome in the stores anymore.