I didn’t actually disagree with you, was just lazy and didn’t quote the “only reason to be at work”. Writing posts at 6am doesn’t help
Is constantly walking into a store trying to get a black K with no purchase history a waste of time?
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Ok I got it now. That's what I thought as I read your post as agreeing with mine.I didn’t actually disagree with you, was just lazy and didn’t quote the “only reason to be at work”. Writing posts at 6am doesn’t help
Thank you for your honesty!. I considered buying a variety of products (bracelets, shoes, necklaces, belts) but looks like most of the items do not qualify for the quota. I really didn't see showing up every week as harassment. My idea was to hope to get lucky with a SA, buy something with them and show up every week to see them specifically and maybe have a chit-chat. And of course, I don't want to be obnoxious. If I get the feeling that they are not into it, I stop going there only to check for the K.
I considered the second-hand market, but the big thing about this purchase would be getting a brand new bag. It's very specific to this purchase though, I don't really mind trying on different situations.
Again, thanks for the help!
I would say building a good relationship/friendship with you SA is so important. I never imagined I’d be offered a bag from Hermes but I got offered one but I didn’t spend that much initially. I think I had only bought 3 bracelets before being offered one because I couldn’t afford to buy other items there initially. It really depends on the SA. But I think that it’s also a 2 way street when it comes to purchasing in Hermes. The SA also needs to feel that the relationship is genuine and that you’ll be a repeat customer because they do get a limited amount of bags and their job also depends on their sales numbers. I hope this helps and good luck with your quest.
Building a relationship with the SA meant spending money and buying stuff. Not only do they want you to be a well rounded customer in their product categories, they want you to come back and not a 'hit and run'. If you plan on getting the black Kelly and not going back, it is highly unlikely that they will offer you the a B or K. If you buy small things, your chance increased. Have to remember that your SA needs to present your case to the store manager. That means showing them your purchase history and if they think you're buying just to get the Kelly, they won't offer to you especially the black Kelly is a highly sought after color and style. You may as well go to a reseller. The market is slower now so you could negotiate a better price and most of the items are brand new like getting directly from the store so you won't be wasting your time and effort.
I was lucky enough to find a really sweet SA from the Charlotte boutique years ago. I never set foot in the store, I live in New York, yet we developed a great phone relationship. I was never encouraged to build a purchase history and was offered a special order B35 shortly after we started chatting on a regular basis. He would phone me whenever anything new arrived he thought I might like. Over the years I bought a Lindy, a number of Evelynes, a Jige, and a special order Constance Elan. When the So Black line was introduced in 2010 I was offered a Kelly Pochette. I also bought a watch and some pieces of jewelry as well as ballet flats and other things on my wish list. These purchases were made after I recieved my special order Birkin. At that time Hermes was permitted to charge send phone orders. Sadly my sales associate left a year or so before the boutique closed. By that time I had spoken to other sales associates and after my original sales associate left everyone else was just as lovely and helpful. Policies at Hermes in 2009 were much less stringent than they are now. I’ve since started shopping at the Greenwich Connecticut store. I’ve found the sales staff to be helpful and always friendly but I still miss the Charlotte boutique.
Yes during the recession years (housing bubble bursting) I have seen Birkin and Kelly bags displayed at Beverly Hills boutique shelves waiting for buyers. I was even being offered not once but twice with a gorgeous black togo Birkins 35 ghw roughly around year 2011 by my home store. I missed the good old days 
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I bought my first B off the shelf from a store I had never set foot in beforehand. The old days are long gone.
Sad but true chicintheity 777. I never heard the policy regarding quotas until two or three years ago.
Kelly girl - I live in NC and I miss the Charlotte store immensely!!
Eric, Jan and Amber were great SAs. I had shopped at the Madison Avenue boutique in NY prior to Charlotte. My SA in NY was helpful but never really went out of her way for me. So I was thrilled to find a staff that went above and beyond. Needless to say I feel the same way you do MAGJES.
I don't think it's a waste of time if you're willing to buy something (even if it's relatively small like a bracelet or shoes) and are able to find a SA you connect with. I think being local can help. I think you have to demonstrate some knowledge on H (leathers, colors, new products, etc.), so do your homework. I think weekly visits without any purchases is a no no though, and SA's will notice more than you'd think.
As a former luxury store SA, please don’t do that. You will likely become a running joke for the sales team.
That's one of the first things I thought about before posting this. Imagine someone coming every week on the same day/time to ask the standard "Do you have a Black B/K available. But not for one month, but for 3-4 months. I decided to ask here because I'm fairly new to Hermès, I'm used to the "come first, buy first" thing, and because I did not realize that offering an investment bag is, well, an investment from the SA.
If I end up not buying second-hand. I'm going to wait some years until they get some items that I'm really interested in regardless of the K.
Even if you are the best customer in the world visiting weekly is excessive. The merchandise does not turn that fast.
Salespeople work on commission. They have lots of client who make regular (if “small”) purchases. Why would they give a highly coveted bag to someone who appears to plan to make a one time purchase? And while they will be polite to you, it’s going to irritate them to no end to waste time on a someone who will never buy and help them earn a living. They work to earn a living.
A reseller is your best route. Or be willing to make “smaller” purchases.
Salespeople work on commission. They have lots of client who make regular (if “small”) purchases. Why would they give a highly coveted bag to someone who appears to plan to make a one time purchase? And while they will be polite to you, it’s going to irritate them to no end to waste time on a someone who will never buy and help them earn a living. They work to earn a living.
A reseller is your best route. Or be willing to make “smaller” purchases.