I'm afraid I'm blackballed, & very sad! :-(
- Thread starter KathyD
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I have to side with the SA. You could have, at the very least, gone in to see the bag, then reject it, and not have done it over the phone. And to expect the SA to do it again over the phone is also very optimistic. Most would not have even entertained a phone call requests.
When someone does you a favour, you should respect that. Otherwise they think you are a time waster....
When someone does you a favour, you should respect that. Otherwise they think you are a time waster....
Wow. I can't imagine schlepping to a store in order to reject an item I fully have decided against. That's what the telephone is for, in my world.
An SA isn't doing a customer a "favor" if she/he is doing the work hired to be performed.
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I'd feel terrible if the same behavior had been directed at me, but--be plucky, and try again with a more service-oriented SA. This is only commerce, after all.
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You have the right to reject the item, through the phone or even email 
. I've rejected numerous birkins through the phone too. It's nonsense to suggest that it's wrong in any way. You didn't do anything wrong. I think you were just stating the colours you were interested in and the SA wanted to push you to commit asap when you weren't ready. You are the customer after all and it's ridiculous to be made to jump through hoops. Plus, in the states it's quite common for the customers to change their minds, even after purchase, so the SA's reaction was quite unwarranted. It's really silly to try to hardsell a birkin to a customer. How distasteful, and what a turn off.
I think this particular SA was quite unprofessional to show his/her displeasure at you and I wouldn't deal with him again. He's trying to play a power game with you. Birkins are not quite the holy grail they were a few years back, especially in this economy. No point dangling them over the customers anymore and he should learn that, so don't feel bad at being blacklisted. The fact that you were offered one so soon should tell you that there are plenty out there. If he doesn't want your sale, then give your commission and business to another SA who knows how to behave to customers properly.
If you still want to shop at this store, I would go back to the store on that bad SA's off day and look for another SA. Be sure that the bad SA isn't the manager thou, else it's better that you go to another store. Buy a small item to start a relationship with this new one. Say that you are looking to get a birkin but will take time to decide. Tell the new one that you were still trying to work out what is the best bag for you and ask for help and go from there.
That said, do cultivate a good working relationship with this one and think carefully what you request. Giving non-committal answers is the best if you are not sure. Don't burn your bridges.
. I've rejected numerous birkins through the phone too. It's nonsense to suggest that it's wrong in any way. You didn't do anything wrong. I think you were just stating the colours you were interested in and the SA wanted to push you to commit asap when you weren't ready. You are the customer after all and it's ridiculous to be made to jump through hoops. Plus, in the states it's quite common for the customers to change their minds, even after purchase, so the SA's reaction was quite unwarranted. It's really silly to try to hardsell a birkin to a customer. How distasteful, and what a turn off. I think this particular SA was quite unprofessional to show his/her displeasure at you and I wouldn't deal with him again. He's trying to play a power game with you. Birkins are not quite the holy grail they were a few years back, especially in this economy. No point dangling them over the customers anymore and he should learn that, so don't feel bad at being blacklisted. The fact that you were offered one so soon should tell you that there are plenty out there. If he doesn't want your sale, then give your commission and business to another SA who knows how to behave to customers properly.
If you still want to shop at this store, I would go back to the store on that bad SA's off day and look for another SA. Be sure that the bad SA isn't the manager thou, else it's better that you go to another store. Buy a small item to start a relationship with this new one. Say that you are looking to get a birkin but will take time to decide. Tell the new one that you were still trying to work out what is the best bag for you and ask for help and go from there.
That said, do cultivate a good working relationship with this one and think carefully what you request. Giving non-committal answers is the best if you are not sure. Don't burn your bridges.
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Excuse me! The bag was a 2.5 hour drive away from me! It was mid-afternoon, and I had spent all morning moving my daughter into her college dorm. The SA wanted to do a charge/send anyway! I think not! And I'm not about blowing smoke about buying a Birkin or Kelly!
Thanks to all of you other lovely ladies for your support. I haven't responded to everyone yet because I still feel bad about this. The woman also told me not to bother to come in the shop next week to look at leathers because there was no need since all Birkins were spoken for and I had specifically wanted orange and then turned it down. The manager stood by everything the SA said, and told me that their store couldn't operate by only just selling birkins or kellys and if I wanted to come in and start a relationship with another SA by buying other Hermes items, that would be how to get a bag. I already knew that, but she said it in a way that offended me.
I don't want to start an argument here, so next time I will visit other stores as I travel and see what happens.
I see. I would go to another store then. If they had wanted you to go through the whole "start a relationship by buying small items route", then they wouldn't have offered you a birkin in the first place. It doesn't make sense, so the only explanation is that they have since decided to punish you for having the audacity to reject a birkin. Drop them and move on.
Wow. I'm so sorry this happened to you
You changed your mind. No big deal.
Hate to think what they would have done if you bought it and tried to return it.
I am really sorry you went through that!
I would buy the birkin at another store. I am pretty sure you will find just the right color when you are traveling. We are lucky in the US that birkins have been pretty easy to find on the shelves. If you like that new store, get a good vibe, you can work over the phone for future purchases. Part of the pleasure buying such a large ticket item is in the service and LOL at these prices, no way should anyone settle for a color they don't love. One word tho', I would not mention this experience to the new store. Keep anon.
I would buy the birkin at another store. I am pretty sure you will find just the right color when you are traveling. We are lucky in the US that birkins have been pretty easy to find on the shelves. If you like that new store, get a good vibe, you can work over the phone for future purchases. Part of the pleasure buying such a large ticket item is in the service and LOL at these prices, no way should anyone settle for a color they don't love. One word tho', I would not mention this experience to the new store. Keep anon.
Lyanna, I agree that I have been punished like a naughty child. I would have bought a belt, scarf, and enamel bracelet from them. At this point though, I don't think it would help. I mentioned getting a bag in pink, and the first SA told me that they had long wait lists for pink and black and that it would be almost impossible. Everything I mentioned brought me right back to declining the orange. The store happens to be the closest to me, and I had planned on checking on bags on display or asking when I was in town. It would have been much more convenient. I really wanted to just look and decide what I wanted. I had no idea that I would be offered a birkin 2 weeks later. My head was spinning because I wasn't 100% sure. I would rather buy less expensive items as I look and then make sure what I want. Anyway, I wish this had never happened.
I'll heed that advise! Thanks, i agree it's better to keep that info to myself.
I have learned what not to do, the hard way. 
LOL, might as well add......I am not in your area, and not everybody does this, but regarding knowledge of H. merchandise, many of us keep internet info. on the QT as well. Especially if you don't know who you are dealing with. If I saw it on the 'net', it was on Hermes.com.
I would definitely take my business elsewhere. There are plenty of SAs and stores who will treat you with the respect that you deserve! You are a paying customer after all. It's not like it was your SO, and the SA had no right to try to bully you like that!
If you need the need the name of an excellent SA, PM me. I'll check with her to make sure it's okay to pass on her info, but she is a doll! I had lusted for a gris T Birkin for a long time, she did a charge send for me but when it arrived, it was too similar to my etoupe. I thought she'd kill me, but she graciously offered to accept it back and exchange it for another color. Even after all that, she hunted down one of my HG, Raisin togo w/ghw and sent that out! Now that is service! By being so wonderful, she gained a very loyal customer in me!
If you need the need the name of an excellent SA, PM me. I'll check with her to make sure it's okay to pass on her info, but she is a doll! I had lusted for a gris T Birkin for a long time, she did a charge send for me but when it arrived, it was too similar to my etoupe. I thought she'd kill me, but she graciously offered to accept it back and exchange it for another color. Even after all that, she hunted down one of my HG, Raisin togo w/ghw and sent that out! Now that is service! By being so wonderful, she gained a very loyal customer in me!
I don't think you did anything bad here, you told the SA what you were interested in and she offered one to you, but it wasn't the right one for your first one. I'm sure many SAs are told by their customers on their wish lists, but there is always an order to a wish list. Even if orange is on there, it may not be what you want to get first. So it's perfectly ok to decline. Besides, it was a SO by somebody else, not you, so you shouldn't have to feel pressured into buying it.
Good luck on your quest to find your Birkin
Good luck on your quest to find your Birkin