I would definitely build relationships with a sa in different stores. I actually develop a relationship by phone with sa in a store in another state and she called when they got a color in that I wanted in a birkin. I flew there and back in one day! ( love southwest airlines ) Too many nice sa out there to let one ruin your quest..... Happy hunting.
I'm afraid I'm blackballed, & very sad! :-(
- Thread starter KathyD
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yes, don't waste time with this store. move on. i still can't believe the nerve of the SM to say what s/he said. you should reward stores and sales people who have the right sales etiquette. $10,000 bag sale is not how I want to reward someone with poor customer service. if you feel like it, i would also strongly recommend sending a letter to Hermes France directly about this. this is not an argument but merely reflecting how you feel as a customer!
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Exactly. If you and your husband work hard to earn the money you have now (unless you are trust fund beneficiary, haha...), and when you think about it with clear head (not Birkin-obsessed head), there is no way in hell you'd want to be treated like that when spending the money that you or your husband work your arse off for it.
Whatever you do, don't lower yourself to be treated like cash cow by bad SAs.
I haven't been treated badly before, but if I did, no way I would spend a dime in that shop - I'd rather get it from other shop. If other shop had the same attitude, I'd go with reseller or maybe just get it when I go to countries that generally have better Hermes SAs. And at the end of the day, it's just a handbag after all.
Like CCLH, I actually deal with SA not in my city. Not because the local ones were rude or something, but I just sensed that they were not prepared to try to do something extra for me. It's their loss, not mine. Now I order from other boutique and only use the local one as a pickup point and as a reference point (if I want to check certain colour/item in person).
Whatever you do, don't lower yourself to be treated like cash cow by bad SAs.
I haven't been treated badly before, but if I did, no way I would spend a dime in that shop - I'd rather get it from other shop. If other shop had the same attitude, I'd go with reseller or maybe just get it when I go to countries that generally have better Hermes SAs. And at the end of the day, it's just a handbag after all.
Like CCLH, I actually deal with SA not in my city. Not because the local ones were rude or something, but I just sensed that they were not prepared to try to do something extra for me. It's their loss, not mine. Now I order from other boutique and only use the local one as a pickup point and as a reference point (if I want to check certain colour/item in person).
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That's a great idea!
I have found out through pm's that this SA is notorius for her rude behavior to customers. Now I don't feel so badly. Just my luck to get her.
I hope to visit another shop soon!
I'm sorry that you felt badly about this - I would definitely find myself a different H to shop in. I was going to say that you should just find a different SA, but if the manager seemed to be backing up the SA, then heck with them. It is beyond ridiculous to expect someone to plunk down thousands of dollars on a bag that they are not absolutely positive they want. You are still in the looking phase and checking out different possibilities for your first Birkin. It sounds to me as if this was ordered for someone else, who turned it down, so the SA tried to foist it off onto you. I'm sure it is a beautiful bag and there is someone out there who will be thrilled to have it. Meanwhile, you have the right to select the bag you are thrilled to have.
Keep your spirits up and keep on searching...eventually you will find the bag of your dreams!!
Keep your spirits up and keep on searching...eventually you will find the bag of your dreams!!
KathyD - keep your spirits up and don't let this experience turn you off H. I've experienced other types of unpleasant situations with particular SA's and almost always there turns out to be another SA in the same boutique who will step in and go out of their way to accomodate you to make up for the original issue.
In your case though, it sounds like the manager is a problem - and that's unfortunate. I agree with attempting to do your business with another boutique, but since this is your local store, I'd also try one final time to rectify the situation. Make a trip into the store at a time your original SA is off and try to explain your position to the manager. IMO, they'd rather have a customer who is loyal to and adores the brand than one who will just take any Birkin that's offered to them. Since there are many people who walk into the store every day and just want a "Birkin", they should be happy to come across a client who clearly isn't a reseller, but one who will remain a fan for years to come.
While I absolutely think you are 100% right and clearly didn't deserve to be treated this way!!, with Hermes you sometimes have to play the game to get what you want. So if you can stomach it, maybe try to explain that you ARE a serious buyer but you just don't want to grab any combo that comes in. There might be a slim chance that there was a miscommunication between the SA and the manager.
Anyway, good luck and keep us posted!
In your case though, it sounds like the manager is a problem - and that's unfortunate. I agree with attempting to do your business with another boutique, but since this is your local store, I'd also try one final time to rectify the situation. Make a trip into the store at a time your original SA is off and try to explain your position to the manager. IMO, they'd rather have a customer who is loyal to and adores the brand than one who will just take any Birkin that's offered to them. Since there are many people who walk into the store every day and just want a "Birkin", they should be happy to come across a client who clearly isn't a reseller, but one who will remain a fan for years to come.
While I absolutely think you are 100% right and clearly didn't deserve to be treated this way!!, with Hermes you sometimes have to play the game to get what you want. So if you can stomach it, maybe try to explain that you ARE a serious buyer but you just don't want to grab any combo that comes in. There might be a slim chance that there was a miscommunication between the SA and the manager.
Anyway, good luck and keep us posted!
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LOL!! Love this post. Here's a recent experience that I had with a Hermes SA....
I was working with a very nice SA at my store in Alaska and over a year or two had bought lots of items, scarves, lindy, evelyne, birkin, belts, bracelets and other small items. I was looking for a particular birkin and called the store to speak to my SA but found that she had left. I'd met another SA my friend deals with and my freind suggested I contact her and gave me that SAs email. I sent a nice note letting her know that my SA had left and my friend recommended her and reminding her that we had met before. I also let her know that I was looking for a certain birkin and to please keep me in mind if she came across one.
Here was a portion of her email response--
"Your request is, unfortunately, a bit of a long shot. You already well know that our supply is never enough to satisfy the demand. Just as a helpful reminder, I thought I should take the time to explain bag allocation again.
The demand for the Birkins being so high, we have to take various factors into consideration when allocating bags. A long term relationship and a well rounded client profile are a few of the elements we look at when deciding. Hermes being a complete lifestyle brand, with fourteen metiers, we strongly encourage you to look to our other product categories. Our intention is obviously not to pressure clients into useless purchases, but rather to look to us for providing practical, quality items for every aspect of their lives. We know that they will equally enjoy them.
If we were able to offer you this bag, would you be interested in adding other items to your collection? Let me know what you think would best fit your tastes and current needs."
KathyD, Hope you find the bag of your dreams and a nice SA to work with.
Rockerchic, if I had received such an email after being a long established H customer, I would have forwarded it to Robert Chavez at US Hermes HQ. That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Considering that you are already a seasoned H client with knowledge and purchasing history of their other items, this email amounts to nothing short of manipulative bribery. 
LOL!! Love this post. Here's a recent experience that I had with a Hermes SA....
I was working with a very nice SA at my store in Alaska and over a year or two had bought lots of items, scarves, lindy, evelyne, birkin, belts, bracelets and other small items. I was looking for a particular birkin and called the store to speak to my SA but found that she had left. I'd met another SA my friend deals with and my freind suggested I contact her and gave me that SAs email. I sent a nice note letting her know that my SA had left and my friend recommended her and reminding her that we had met before. I also let her know that I was looking for a certain birkin and to please keep me in mind if she came across one.
Here was a portion of her email response--
"Your request is, unfortunately, a bit of a long shot. You already well know that our supply is never enough to satisfy the demand. Just as a helpful reminder, I thought I should take the time to explain bag allocation again.
The demand for the Birkins being so high, we have to take various factors into consideration when allocating bags. A long term relationship and a well rounded client profile are a few of the elements we look at when deciding. Hermes being a complete lifestyle brand, with fourteen metiers, we strongly encourage you to look to our other product categories. Our intention is obviously not to pressure clients into useless purchases, but rather to look to us for providing practical, quality items for every aspect of their lives. We know that they will equally enjoy them.
If we were able to offer you this bag, would you be interested in adding other items to your collection? Let me know what you think would best fit your tastes and current needs."
KathyD, Hope you find the bag of your dreams and a nice SA to work with.
LOL!! Love this post. Here's a recent experience that I had with a Hermes SA....
I was working with a very nice SA at my store in Alaska and over a year or two had bought lots of items, scarves, lindy, evelyne, birkin, belts, bracelets and other small items. I was looking for a particular birkin and called the store to speak to my SA but found that she had left. I'd met another SA my friend deals with and my freind suggested I contact her and gave me that SAs email. I sent a nice note letting her know that my SA had left and my friend recommended her and reminding her that we had met before. I also let her know that I was looking for a certain birkin and to please keep me in mind if she came across one.
Here was a portion of her email response--
"Your request is, unfortunately, a bit of a long shot. You already well know that our supply is never enough to satisfy the demand. Just as a helpful reminder, I thought I should take the time to explain bag allocation again.
The demand for the Birkins being so high, we have to take various factors into consideration when allocating bags. A long term relationship and a well rounded client profile are a few of the elements we look at when deciding. Hermes being a complete lifestyle brand, with fourteen metiers, we strongly encourage you to look to our other product categories. Our intention is obviously not to pressure clients into useless purchases, but rather to look to us for providing practical, quality items for every aspect of their lives. We know that they will equally enjoy them.
If we were able to offer you this bag, would you be interested in adding other items to your collection? Let me know what you think would best fit your tastes and current needs."
KathyD, Hope you find the bag of your dreams and a nice SA to work with.
I too am speechless.
That amounts to prettily-worded blackmail.It's one thing for that sentiment to be hinted at and quite another to have it shoved in your face via email. There is NO excuse to present a threat like that to an already-established customer and I imagine it would put someone who was thinking of becoming an H client off the idea pretty quickly as well.
Again KathyD, please keep trying. There are truly a great deal of kind and understanding SA's out there who don't blackmail their customers. You'll find one.
^^I must admit that I too was shocked to actually see this in writing ---and not much shocks me anymore!
I found it laughable though and saved the email just as a reminded to never take a bag too seriously. It is just not worth the trouble some times.
I found it laughable though and saved the email just as a reminded to never take a bag too seriously. It is just not worth the trouble some times.
LOL!! Love this post. Here's a recent experience that I had with a Hermes SA....
I was working with a very nice SA at my store in Alaska and over a year or two had bought lots of items, scarves, lindy, evelyne, birkin, belts, bracelets and other small items. I was looking for a particular birkin and called the store to speak to my SA but found that she had left. I'd met another SA my friend deals with and my freind suggested I contact her and gave me that SAs email. I sent a nice note letting her know that my SA had left and my friend recommended her and reminding her that we had met before. I also let her know that I was looking for a certain birkin and to please keep me in mind if she came across one.
Here was a portion of her email response--
"Your request is, unfortunately, a bit of a long shot. You already well know that our supply is never enough to satisfy the demand. Just as a helpful reminder, I thought I should take the time to explain bag allocation again.
The demand for the Birkins being so high, we have to take various factors into consideration when allocating bags. A long term relationship and a well rounded client profile are a few of the elements we look at when deciding. Hermes being a complete lifestyle brand, with fourteen metiers, we strongly encourage you to look to our other product categories. Our intention is obviously not to pressure clients into useless purchases, but rather to look to us for providing practical, quality items for every aspect of their lives. We know that they will equally enjoy them.
If we were able to offer you this bag, would you be interested in adding other items to your collection? Let me know what you think would best fit your tastes and current needs."
KathyD, Hope you find the bag of your dreams and a nice SA to work with.
It would have taken all of my will power not to tell this snob where she could shove her lifestyle..(where the sun doesn't shine)..
I am just dumbfounded she put it into words!!!I agree with style101, nicely worded blackmail. What about the quote, "Just a helpful reminder", treating you like you are a two year old child!!!
