Lining up for Hermes - thoughts, rants, raves

[allanrvj]

Because it's the right thing to do. There's a difference between technically being responsible and what is ethically and morally correct. The line situation is beyond insane now according to this thread. People are lining up, and whether they are encouraging it or not it doesn't matter. It's happening at their door step, continues to get worse, and in my opinion they need to take action. Hopeful they'll have an online system soon and the line will be history. Hermes is an iconic luxury brand, with that status, they should own up the the responsibility to ensure a safe and pleasant environment while shopping for their brand.

But they also want to earn a lot so therein lies the dilemma. H is one of the few luxury brands not affected by economic slumps and downturns, and I think most of it has to do with them being aggressive with selling and their prices. So, as long as no one has been injured yet because of falling in line, they will take their sweet time to fix it. Why should they, when the store is earning so much. Their allegiance lies to their company and employees, not to customers who (mostly) only want a birkin or kelly.

You should visit FSH if you haven't. It's so surreal. A store selling keychains as expensive a month's wage of an employee in a developing country, and yet it feels like a fish market inside with all the noise and people.

 

[classybags4ever]

But they also want to earn a lot so therein lies the dilemma. H is one of the few luxury brands not affected by economic slumps and downturns, and I think most of it has to do with them being aggressive with selling and their prices. So, as long as no one has been injured yet because of falling in line, they will take their sweet time to fix it. Why should they, when the store is earning so much. Their allegiance lies to their company and employees, not to customers who (mostly) only want a birkin or kelly.

You should visit FSH if you haven't. It's so surreal. A store selling keychains as expensive a month's wage of an employee in a developing country, and yet it feels like a fish market inside with all the noise and people.

I was there in February! I was able to score a b! I lined up at 8 or maybe 9? and got an appt around 11. I thought that was reasonable. I still thought it felt pretty magical being inside. Perhaps Feb is not as crazy. I will likely be in Paris again in Aug or Sep, I was hoping to try for a K, but with what I'm hearing about how the situation has changed, I don't think I will.

 

[allanrvj]

I was there in February! I was able to score a b! I lined up at 8 or maybe 9? and got an appt around 11. I thought that was reasonable. I still thought it felt pretty magical being inside. Perhaps Feb is not as crazy. I will likely be in Paris again in Aug or Sep, I was hoping to try for a K, but with what I'm hearing about how the situation has changed, I don't think I will.

Maybe the trick is to go in Feb, coz it's still winter and most people are still drained from spending during Christmas!

And oh, because it's the month of Chinese New Year! Omg I think I just found a hack! lol

 

[tustin]

Because it's the right thing to do. There's a difference between technically being responsible and what is ethically and morally correct. The line situation is beyond insane now according to this thread. People are lining up, and whether they are encouraging it or not it doesn't matter. It's happening at their door step, continues to get worse, and in my opinion they need to take action. Hopeful they'll have an online system soon and the line will be history. Hermes is an iconic luxury brand, with that status, they should own up the the responsibility to ensure a safe and pleasant environment while shopping for their brand.

I completely agree with this. When someone gets hurt, it causes security issues and/or there's way too much trash (less so on this one sadly), the city officials might also decide to crack down. When someone likened it to Black Friday, it's true except this is almost daily. Top brand is now like a fish market inside and outside. Hope H has an internal strategy dept looking into this. It's their flagship!!

 

[HPassion]

Hermes should do more simply because of corporate responsibility and even courtesy to nearby stores and the local people travelling through that area everyday. They created the environment that only at FSH can walk-ins have a higher chance (as compared to all other stores in the world) to buy a b/k/c. And they are also making profits from selling to walk-ins.

 

[tustin]

Based on the latest posts in the other thread, it's leaving me with an image of LA's skid row.

 

[blktauna]

Please tell me this line foolishness is only for people wanting k/b/c

 

[MSO13]

Because it's the right thing to do. There's a difference between technically being responsible and what is ethically and morally correct. The line situation is beyond insane now according to this thread. People are lining up, and whether they are encouraging it or not it doesn't matter. It's happening at their door step, continues to get worse, and in my opinion they need to take action. Hopeful they'll have an online system soon and the line will be history. Hermes is an iconic luxury brand, with that status, they should own up the the responsibility to ensure a safe and pleasant environment while shopping for their brand.

Hermes is not encouraging the line, the strict management of who gets a bag and when fuels the people in line. Hermes as a company is responsible for maintaining quality of product, supplying their loyal customers who buy a variety of items and keeping their stores and employees safe. They are not responsible for the people who want to come into their store any more than Apple isn't responsible for people waiting to buy the latest gadget.

If you find Hermes to be unethical or lacking morals, perhaps you shouldn't buy anything from them. I maintain in all my posts on this topic, the best way to voice your concerns is to the company and you can exercise your choice to not buy from them until they make changes. I would also argue that while a company can be guided by a set of internal policies and morality based principles, it's a business-not a human and they will act in the best interest of the business in the end.

 

[HavLab]

Because it's the right thing to do. There's a difference between technically being responsible and what is ethically and morally correct. The line situation is beyond insane now according to this thread. People are lining up, and whether they are encouraging it or not it doesn't matter. It's happening at their door step, continues to get worse, and in my opinion they need to take action. Hopeful they'll have an online system soon and the line will be history. Hermes is an iconic luxury brand, with that status, they should own up the the responsibility to ensure a safe and pleasant environment while shopping for their brand.

I dont there is much H can do sadly. Where would it end? If someone is mugged outside of FSH post purchase is it H responsibility? Outside people arent shopping at H, they are outside. I really dont think there is much H can do about this They may not even be allowed to enforce security outside their door as that is public place, so before store is open they may not have much control over what people chose to do on a public street.

 

[EmileH]

I dont there is much H can do sadly. Where would it end? If someone is mugged outside of FSH post purchase is it H responsibility? Outside people arent shopping at H, they are outside. I really dont think there is much H can do about this They may not even be allowed to enforce security outside their door as that is public place, so before store is open they may not have much control over what people chose to do on a public street.

That's a good point. They might not even have the authority to police the sidewalk.

Why should they pay a full time salary for one or two guards to patrol a line of people who only want to buy items that they can sell ten times over to their loyal customers? It's a business not a humanitarian organization. The more rational business decision if the line is disruptive is to stop selling to walk in customers. It would be a shame but they aren't responsible for people on the street behaving like animals. Maybe they will come up with a better solution. But I don't think it's right to blame them.

 

[MSO13]

Let's lighten up this thread!

May I present the Faubourg St. Honore Line Waiting Survival Kit:

For all your line waiting needs, a chair, footrest with storage, a lantern and books to read, a game of chess with your friendly neighbor spot seller (hey perhaps if you beat them you can win the spot) a hat for sun, an umbrella for rain, a blanket for a chill and a picnic basket for sustenance.

Ironically, going into H to purchase some of these items would allow you to bypass the line entirely. Many people in the world will never get the chance to travel let alone buy a bit of luxury so some perspective might be in order here.

 

[the_black_tie_diyer]

Amazing post @MrsOwen3 !

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[EmileH]

Let's lighten up this thread!

May I present the Faubourg St. Honore Line Waiting Survival Kit:
View attachment 3752365
For all your line waiting needs, a chair, footrest with storage, a lantern and books to read, a game of chess with your friendly neighbor spot seller (hey perhaps if you beat them you can win the spot) a hat for sun, an umbrella for rain, a blanket for a chill and a picnic basket for sustenance.

Ironically, going into H to purchase some of these items would allow you to bypass the line entirely. Many people in the world will never get the chance to travel let alone buy a bit of luxury so some perspective might be in order here.

Omg. Too funny!

 

[Coconuts40]

That's a good point. They might not even have the authority to police the sidewalk.

Why should they pay a full time salary for one or two guards to patrol a line of people who only want to buy items that they can sell ten times over to their loyal customers? It's a business not a humanitarian organization. The more rational business decision if the line is disruptive is to stop selling to walk in customers. It would be a shame but they aren't responsible for people on the street behaving like animals. Maybe they will come up with a better solution. But I don't think it's right to blame them.

I have read most of the Paris thread, and I don't get the impression these people are not loyal H customers, or that the people in the line up (and not part of this forum) aren't loyal. What I gather, is that perhaps they aren't VIP customers in the H world. I have a great career, I generate a great income, I have an Hermes SA that I email from time to time to request items. But I still can't get a bag from her. I don't think I am not loyal, as I have many Hermes items, but I am not VIP, or maybe not yet. Hermes, especially nowadays, takes quite a long time to become VIP where you can bypass this line up business. My sister used to work at Hermes 10 years ago, and I remember visiting her and hanging out at the H boutique in my city and meeting her for lunch. Yet, even she has to maintain a quota to get a bag. My SA knows my sister used to work at H, and I still can't get a bag. I live in a city where our H boutique is small and getting offered multiple H bags is not something I foresee for myself in my city anytime soon. Sometimes the loyal, but non VIP customers that still haven't had the opportunity to build that VIP status, need to jump through these hoops to get something they really love. I call this loyalty to the H brand, lol!! I speculate these are the H customers that are lining up.

 

[anitalilac]

I have read most of the Paris thread, and I don't get the impression these people are not loyal H customers, or that the people in the line up (and not part of this forum) aren't loyal. What I gather, is that perhaps they aren't VIP customers in the H world. I have a great career, I generate a great income, I have an Hermes SA that I email from time to time to request items. But I still can't get a bag from her. I don't think I am not loyal, as I have many Hermes items, but I am not VIP, or maybe not yet. Hermes, especially nowadays, takes quite a long time to become VIP where you can bypass this line up business. My sister used to work at Hermes 10 years ago, and I remember visiting her and hanging out at the H boutique in my city and meeting her for lunch. Yet, even she has to maintain a quota to get a bag. My SA knows my sister used to work at H, and I still can't get a bag. I live in a city where our H boutique is small and getting offered multiple H bags is not something I foresee for myself in my city anytime soon. Sometimes the loyal, but non VIP customers that still haven't had the opportunity to build that VIP status, need to jump through these hoops to get something they really love. I call this loyalty to the H brand, lol!! I speculate these are the H customers that are lining up.

Well said. Its unfair to assume the loyalty of those who line up for a bag. That is passion and if it is their only shot of getting their dream bag, all the power to them.