How do I find an SA?

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

O

Ollie1123

Member
Nov 22, 2018
20
17
#1
ive only recently gotten into Hermes—Last year I went to pick up something at my local store and was completely turned off by how cold everyone was—it honestly took a good 10 minutes for me to be acknowledged despite several SAs standing around and chatting—I never even started browsing then.
Today, I went and tried again—my goal was to start looking for a SA and also buy a twilly for a vintage k28 I recently acquired (and was carrying). Again, took a while to get anyone to acknowledge me. The woman was v nice, and I picked a twilly. Then she asked me if I wanted to see anything else. I saw a 24/24 bag there and asked to see it. I tried to ask about the leather, color (what shade of blue?) and she said she didn’t know. It was so... awkward? She then handed me off to someone else to pay for my twilly. That person was busy helping someone else so again I waited patiently for a while. The person also never asked to look me up or anything. I realize it was a small purchase but is this the normal experience? I felt so terribly awkward like I was wasting their time.
Is this normal? Should I just give up my H bag dreams?
 
  • Like
Reactions: marzipanchen
#3
Ollie1123 said:
ive only recently gotten into Hermes—Last year I went to pick up something at my local store and was completely turned off by how cold everyone was—it honestly took a good 10 minutes for me to be acknowledged despite several SAs standing around and chatting—I never even started browsing then.
Today, I went and tried again—my goal was to start looking for a SA and also buy a twilly for a vintage k28 I recently acquired (and was carrying). Again, took a while to get anyone to acknowledge me. The woman was v nice, and I picked a twilly. Then she asked me if I wanted to see anything else. I saw a 24/24 bag there and asked to see it. I tried to ask about the leather, color (what shade of blue?) and she said she didn’t know. It was so... awkward? She then handed me off to someone else to pay for my twilly. That person was busy helping someone else so again I waited patiently for a while. The person also never asked to look me up or anything. I realize it was a small purchase but is this the normal experience? I felt so terribly awkward like I was wasting their time.
Is this normal? Should I just give up my H bag dreams?
Click to expand...

Don’t give up! I’d go back, if I were you, with the mindset that you belong there as much as anyone else. If it takes some time to be approached, don’t let it bother you. Until someone approaches you, walk around and look at things. Don’t be intimidated. When someone addresses you, ask questions and show your interest. It’s a store. Stores exist to sell things to the rest of us.....and they’re really good at it.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BBC, grapegravity, marzipanchen and 8 others
#6
diane278 said:
Don’t give up! I’d go back, if I were you, with the mindset that you belong there as much as anyone else. If it takes some time to be approached, don’t let it bother you. Until someone approaches you, walk around and look at things. Don’t be intimidated. When someone addresses you, ask questions and show your interest. It’s a store. Stores exist to sell things to the rest of us.....and they’re really good at it.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the encouragement! I read the posts here and definitely want to build a relationship, talk handbags, and hopefully be able to purchase some!! It just felt so awkward especially when I saw how ‘regular’ customer was treated!
 
  • Like
Reactions: diane278 and meowlett
#7
Ollie1123 said:
Thank you for the encouragement! I read the posts here and definitely want to build a relationship, talk handbags, and hopefully be able to purchase some!! It just felt so awkward especially when I saw how ‘regular’ customer was treated!
Click to expand...
You have to believe that you belong there and they will treat you nicely. It is not uncommon for them to hand you off to someone else to pay for smaller purchases at a large store.
 
  • Like
Reactions: marzipanchen, diane278 and Ollie1123
#8
Id rather not be approached if I’m just looking ...
But that is a rarity these days , as I only go out if I know I can escape as soon as is practically possible so I know exactly what I want and where it is . (Home Depot is my favorite store as I can get a text from the website telling me what aisle it is on and what bin it is in) :biggrin:
Likewise , I’m sure if I was in retail I’d be sick of people like me saying “ I’m just looking “ and leave them to it until they asked for help .

It’s a fine line I guess ..
I’ve walked out of stores and restaurants if I didn’t get the service as soon as I walked in or asked for it .
They probobly think I’m an A-H , and I probobly am an A-H , but I hate shopping and I hate waiting :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Seriously though , You’d be better off going back and asking for the manager explaining you want to build a long-term relationship with a long term employee ....

Be straight with them , it saves every bodies time and frustration .
Last time I was in Hermès I was approached straight away and said I wanted to look at cell I-watch , and asked if they still have the no refund policy on exchanged gifts . Then explained I’d go buy it from the Apple store as I might be buying the wrong one or the wrong thing .
No problem .
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: obsessedwhermes, leechiyong, diane278 and 1 other person
#10
also keep in mind that this is the busiest time of the year for them, and they do hire temp SAs to help with the volume during the holidays, so this may not be the best time to go if you want a more relaxed experience. why don't you try going again after the holidays and see how it turns out?

a good friend of mine told me that when she is new to a store, she prefers to browse and observe all the different SAs and see how they interact with their clients... hopefully this can give you some idea of who you would connect with. then after that SA is done with their client, approach him/her and ask if they can help you. do not forget to ask for their business card at the end before you leave, this way you can stay in touch and they will feel like you will possibly be a repeat lifelong customer.

also, if you are paying and they do not ask your information and you want to start making a profile, i would say "do you mind putting me in your system? i want to start shopping with H more regularly and want to build a profile." that way they can start seeing everything you have purchased which will help towards the offer of a bag in the future.

best of luck!! do not give up on your H dreams!! the first SA i approached at my home store years ago was cold and we did not connect... when i went back a second time, i approached a different SA who i connected with immediately. as they say, the rest is history LOL! :P
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BBC, ODEDIHAIMS, c18027 and 9 others
#11
carlinha said:
also keep in mind that this is the busiest time of the year for them, and they do hire temp SAs to help with the volume, so this may not be the best time to go if you want a more relaxed experience. why don't you try going again after the holidays and see how it turns out?

also, if you are paying and they do not ask your information and you want to start making a profile, i would say "do you mind putting me in your system? i want to start shopping with H more regularly and want to build a profile." that way they can start seeing everything you have purchased which will help towards the offer of a bag in the future.

best of luck!!
Click to expand...
Ah! I didn’t know they had temps!
Thank you for the suggestion about adding profile. Appreciate all the tips in this thread!!
I will definitely try again in the new year! Thank you so much for the encouragement and tips!
 
  • Like
Reactions: carlinha
#12
I remember a few years ago when my H journey was first starting. It was incredibly intimidating. I knew what I wanted but wasn’t being acknowledged in various stores I visited. It felt like an exclusive club that I was not a part of and could never join. I gave up and stopped entering H stores for awhile.

Then, I decided I wanted to try again to form some type of relationship with a SA and begin to build my dream collection of bags and other H treasures. I looked up store reviews and picked a store that was not local but had some good reviews. I called them and asked for someone who would be willing to work with me remotely. I was given to a newer SA and he and I built an incredibly long-lasting and strong relationship from a few states away. I see him about twice every year and talk to him on the phone a little more frequently than that. He is wonderful and I feel I got so lucky because we connect and can converse about so many different topics. He also loves my sister and my Mom so I think we make him incredibly happy whenever we visit together. It’s fun and relaxed.

All that to say, it can be tough at first but don’t give up. Keep trying until you find someone you click with who treats you well and you think you can be comfortable with. After all, you’re looking for a long term relationship and it pays to invest time and effort into finding the right person.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BBC, MAGJES, diane278 and 1 other person
#14
Ollie1123 said:
Thank you for the encouragement! I read the posts here and definitely want to build a relationship, talk handbags, and hopefully be able to purchase some!! It just felt so awkward especially when I saw how ‘regular’ customer was treated!
Click to expand...
Even a regular customer made a 1st visit at some point. What you see is the relationship that began with that first visit. Your first step will lead to another and another. Before you know it, you’ll be down that orange rabbit hole, too.
(I’m not sure if that last sentence is encouragement or a warning....maybe a little of both? :confused1: ) :lol::lol::lol:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: obsessedwhermes and Ollie1123
#15
meowlett said:
I have to admit to choking after reading it. Now I am also wide awake in the middle of the night. They are indeed excellent at bleeding my wallet out.
Click to expand...

If they’re REALLY good , that will be one of many Hermès wallets they’re taking all the money out of .
And When you have all the styles , sizes , and colours , you’ll make them all redundant by using Apple-pay on your Hermès I-watch
:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ollie1123
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top