How do I find out about inventory if stores don’t answer telephone?

[sarachryan]

I used to buy a lot of H. Less so in last few years. I would just ring around stores to get what I wanted and then get delivered or travel.
I now see that European stores all simply go through to a central number - and a very unhelpful person at the end of that line.
So am I missing something? How do I find out if a store has what I’m looking for? The very unhelpful central line person simply said to go to store. I’m hundreds of miles from most stores!!!!

 

[periogirl28]

I used to buy a lot of H. Less so in last few years. I would just ring around stores to get what I wanted and then get delivered or travel.
I now see that European stores all simply go through to a central number - and a very unhelpful person at the end of that line.
So am I missing something? How do I find out if a store has what I’m looking for? The very unhelpful central line person simply said to go to store. I’m hundreds of miles from most stores!!!!

I guess you are located in Europe. So online, direct to your home or to your nearest local store for pick up are probably the only two options in this current post-pandemic situation.

 

[sarachryan]

Thanks. I can’t work out how I’m even supposed to find out if a store has what I’m looking for. I know that was always the way with birkins and Kellys but are they now doing that with everything?

 

[acrowcounted]

Thanks. I can’t work out how I’m even supposed to find out if a store has what I’m looking for. I know that was always the way with birkins and Kellys but are they now doing that with everything?

Yes, it’s with everything. They have enough foot traffic through the door that answering the phone to tell a random somebody that something is in stock or not (especially considering that it will likely be sold before random person gets to the store anyway) isn’t a good use of their time. For better or worse, Hermes is a relationship brand. Best bet is to visit a store, strike up a repertoire with an SA, make a decent purchase, and then hope that they answer your call when you want stock info later. Be advised that leather goods stock is very very seldom given remotely, except to very well known reliable clients.

 

[sarachryan]

Hi. I couldn’t bear to work out how much I’ve spent in Hermes! So fairly familiar with the brand. It’s seems like things have changed since I was such a prolific buyer. If you can’t ascertain anything about inventory with travelling hundreds of miles it’s going to be problematic.

So seems that is the new way? No direct contact with stores any more?

 

[Love Of My Life]

Since you are quite a distance from a store and don't have an SA, perhaps try H.com
I don't know what you specifically are looking for, but at least it is an option to consider
And yes things have very much changed since your prolific buying days at H..

 

[papertiger]

Do you have an email address for an SA?

When I used to call, they used to tell me if/which store (in London) had certain inventory. I'm guessing they don't now from your post. Just so rubbish.

 

[acrowcounted]

Hi. I couldn’t bear to work out how much I’ve spent in Hermes! So fairly familiar with the brand. It’s seems like things have changed since I was such a prolific buyer. If you can’t ascertain anything about inventory with travelling hundreds of miles it’s going to be problematic.

So seems that is the new way? No direct contact with stores any more?

As I said, you’ll need to establish a connection with an SA. They can then give you some stock information and potentially even allow you to phone order items to your door. However, it is my understanding that the item you are looking for is an Evelyne TPM and so I feel it would be helpful to tell you that no store is going to give stock info for bags of any kind, especially coveted mini bags, over the phone to an unknown person. This has been the case for at least the six years that I’ve been with the brand.

 

[880]

I took a very long hiatus from TPF and H boutique when my SA left. It was not difficult to start back up, but I happen to like boutique merchandise. If I only wanted a few items like a TPM, I would simply buy reseller. JMO though

ETA: TPMs are quite common, but SAs tend to snag them for current clients as they come in. My SA told me that my mom would be notified when the next one in the color she wanted arrived. But, her Asian SA actually found one before that happened. As far as I know, when a bag does come in, you have to go in to purchase asap. (Im sure there are exceptions to this rule, but I’m not one of them

 

[millivanilli]

Hello Unfortunately, the last few years the effort to customers has declined massively, which leads to the wildest excesses.

My last day at Hermès instore was when the saleswoman (the felt 300th, because in M the sellers leave H like nothing and I always caught the ones who only want to stay there for half a year - possibly it was me...) told me "Order it via the website" when I asked for a Calvi - mind that I already had shoes, three Carees , 1 Triangle, a bangle, 2 perfumes and something else (forgotten) at the checkout at that time. She also didn't want to check if there was another pair of shoes somewhere in Germany....



So.
So you only have one option if you are looking for things, and that is to look on the websites directly, and then click " Available in store" there and see if it is available in a store in your country. But mind, that this button will appear and disappear on its own rules. Then you can either have it put back in the store ( it's not a boutique anymore for me) - but here you need a confirmation from the store that carries the item. That can sometimes take a few days, no actually it always takes a few days, and sometimes you don't hear anything.


That's just the way it is. By the way, I do NOT see any more queues outside H Munich. And that is good, because they really overdo it.

(btw: you have to apply for an appointment to order a bag now but there are only a few slots available - at least this is the new German system. hahahahaa too funny.)

I'll shop there in person again when Hermès remembers that luxury isn't overpriced at sub-par rates, but that luxury also includes a certain way of treating people.

 

[sarachryan]

I thought it was fairly ludicrous when I was buying a lot but this is too much now. Not being able to ring the store seems bizarre.
But it works! One of the responses here seems to have interpreted that as a sign of a successful brand! It’s not for me. I don’t have the energy to beg someone to take my money. I’ll keep eyes open. I have everything I want. This little bag just filled a hole.

 

[880]

One of the responses here seems to have interpreted that as a sign of a successful brand

I didn’t see that one, and I don’t really agree with it. If my SA wasn’t helpful and refused to look for items,
I simply wouldn’t shop. I prefer not to buy any retail luxury good on line, and I particularly dislike H.com
For something like a TPM, I do think it’s easiest and fastest to buy at resale.
JMO though

 

[PetitVoyageur]

I thought it was fairly ludicrous when I was buying a lot but this is too much now. Not being able to ring the store seems bizarre.
But it works! One of the responses here seems to have interpreted that as a sign of a successful brand! It’s not for me. I don’t have the energy to beg someone to take my money. I’ll keep eyes open. I have everything I want. This little bag just filled a hole.

it feels like Hermes wanna boost reseller market at this point ? to promote or redirect purchase to all those personal shoppers/resell websites ?

 

[elaineiwhite]

Call the website and give customer service the product reference number.

 

[millivanilli]

she did - and the person was unhelpful.