Lining up for Hermes - thoughts, rants, raves

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#181
smroy said:
I've just returned from Europe and was able to purchase a Birkin at FSH. I want to give everyone a "heads-up" about people who are selling their positions in the line to enter the store. I arrived at FSH at about 8:15 AM and was well within the number able to obtain an appointment to purchase a bag. During my wait a woman who held position number 7 in the line sold her position to 8 other individuals for €50 (a nice profit for three or four hours of work). Many of us in the line complained to Hermès' security who were monitoring the line but they were unable to stop the woman. When I reached the head of the line inside FSH, I was told there were no more appointments available that day. Essentially, I missed an appointment by one position. I spoke to the host, explained the situation and she was horrified but explained that Hermès could do nothing to prevent "line squatters" who are profiting off of Hermès. She had the authority to offer me an appointment later in the day.

As legitimate consumers of Hermès, we must not allow "line squatters" to profit. Do not buy into their scheme. Additionally, waiting inline at FSH is part of the journey in purchasing a bag. It is also a great way to meet friendly people from all of the world.
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Hmm the 1 spot for 8 people really sucks. However, how do people on the line feel about 1 to 1 switches?
 
#182
smroy said:
I've just returned from Europe and was able to purchase a Birkin at FSH. I want to give everyone a "heads-up" about people who are selling their positions in the line to enter the store. I arrived at FSH at about 8:15 AM and was well within the number able to obtain an appointment to purchase a bag. During my wait a woman who held position number 7 in the line sold her position to 8 other individuals for €50 (a nice profit for three or four hours of work). Many of us in the line complained to Hermès' security who were monitoring the line but they were unable to stop the woman. When I reached the head of the line inside FSH, I was told there were no more appointments available that day. Essentially, I missed an appointment by one position. I spoke to the host, explained the situation and she was horrified but explained that Hermès could do nothing to prevent "line squatters" who are profiting off of Hermès. She had the authority to offer me an appointment later in the day.

As legitimate consumers of Hermès, we must not allow "line squatters" to profit. Do not buy into their scheme. Additionally, waiting inline at FSH is part of the journey in purchasing a bag. It is also a great way to meet friendly people from all of the world.
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I can't believe they are allowing the 1-to-8 trade! In earlier posts before, other TPFers wrote of how when they notified security of this and showed photos, security wouldn't allow it and would speak to the line cutters and tell them either one stays or all of them can go in and not get a single appointment. Did you have photos of how the line as before the spot seller sold their spot? How many people complained to security? I am just flabbergasted :eek: that those who bought the spot weren't intimidated by customers already on the line vocalizing their displeasure at that transaction and even more so that security did not reinforce the 1-to-1 (max 2) switch :frown:
 
#187
This Morning my friends arrived FSH 5 am in the front door. She didn't get any appointment at all. Actually they are two different group line sellers. One is Chinese resellers group and the other group is east European group reseller. They are in here everyday to line up for their clients. That's really made very difficult for real customers can get an appointment to merely see the bags unless you go there by 3 am to line up for the summer time.
 
#188
Pocketbook Pup said:
I know it's legal. It's free enterprise but it's still sleazy. Even at a 1:1 exchange and it's tacky for anyone to hire them. Just my opinion.
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I don't know if I would consider it sleazy....especially since most of H customers are from much higher income brackets. I wouldn't consider someone sleazy if they paid someone to handle their dry cleaning, walk their dog, or run other miscellaneous errands for them....so a 1 for 1 trade would be normal for a wealthier person that can afford not to wait in line. From a moral perspective, the line seller should not sell as many spots....but they will try to push their limits to get maximum $. That's what H needs to police.
 
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#189
I'm curious what happens to those who paid the line sellers but get kicked out by security (in some of the recent situations). Do the line sellers refund them if security only allows a 1 for 1 swap?
 
#190
Carrierae said:
I don't know if I would consider it sleazy....especially since most of H customers are from much higher income brackets. I wouldn't consider someone sleazy if they paid someone to handle their dry cleaning, walk their dog, or run other miscellaneous errands for them....so a 1 for 1 trade would be normal for a wealthier person that can afford not to wait in line. From a moral perspective, the line seller should not sell as many spots....but they will try to push their limits to get maximum $. That's what H needs to police.
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Having someone run errands for you doesn't adversely affect others. Paying someone who is selling one position to multiple people adversely affects those whose position is altered by said action. It is unethical and yes, sleazy on the part of the seller of the position and the purchaser.

As for morality, H is not in the business of morality or ethics. Their business begins when the threshold is crossed, not policing the antics of their fans on the street. I do feel though, that this is untenable. They should go to an online lottery system or something similar.
 
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#191
Pocketbook Pup said:
I have more constructive advice for you. I would suggest to your friend that she establish a relationship with a SA at a store in a city to which she can travel a few times per year. Not knowing where she is or her circumstances I can't make a more specific suggestion. If she's in Europe perhaps she can make one of the Paris stores her home store. She can always have her SA send her scarves etc. if she chooses the right location.

I liked shopping in Paris more than my local store so I essentially made PARIS my home store. I save my purchases for my visits which average twice per year. Believe me, I know what it's like to not have a good store close by. That's why I worked out a solution. Don't assume everyone is being a snob or simply rail against the circumstances. Find a solution.

Waiting in that line seems to me to be a poor solution with low odds of success.
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Thanks for your advice and I will certainly let my friend know.

However, waiting in line, to someone, may not be a solution, but to others, it may certainly be a viable solution. The energy/time invested one-time at one trip is not necessarily more than traveling a few times to the home store a year, working hard to establish a relationship and waiting for "who knows when" before a bag offer drops on the lap.

And I can tell you that only buying a couple of scarves and shawls every visit do not cut it at our home store. I know someone, as soon as she and her DH ordered a good number of sets of dishes/cups/plates and several pieces of furniture, she got multiple bag offers plus two SO chances in a short of period of time. We love H scarves and shawls, but that does not get us high on the list.

In addition, with additional benefits of being in Paris (doing other things many travelers love) and the 30% price disparity between European and US retail prices, all of sudden, waiting in line to try the luck seems not only a solution, but also an attractive solution.

I guess all I am saying that the world is not flat and cookie cut. Other than resellers and line sellers in that line, there are people who are not one timers, who are loyal customers, who have their own life circumstances and who weighed pros and cons, decide to give it a try. It's definitely a solution to them.
 
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#192
If one is going to be in Paris and chooses to line up,then it's their choice and they must deal with the circumstances, which as far as I'm concerned are intolerable to any reasonable person at this point. Traveling to Paris to stand in line to buy a bag is foolish. The chances are very slim.

As far as not recognizing that the world isn't flat you seem to ignore my continued acknowledgment that not everyone is a reseller or line seller and that I feel sorry for those who are regular customers stuck in that line. So who is missing the point here?
 
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#193
Oryx816 said:
Having someone run errands for you doesn't adversely affect others. Paying someone who is selling one position to multiple people adversely affects those whose position is altered by said action. It is unethical and yes, sleazy on the part of the seller of the position and the purchaser.

As for morality, H is not in the business of morality or ethics. Their business begins when the threshold is crossed, not policing the antics of their fans on the street. I do feel though, that this is untenable. They should go to an online lottery system or something similar.
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I agree 100% with one person selling to multiple being sleazy and unethical. I was referring to 1 for 1 since someone thought that was sleazy too. Just giving my perspective/opinion that 1 for 1 shouldn't necessarily be considered sleazy when a lot of people pay others to do tasks for them.
 
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#194
Sleazy is in the eye of the beholder.

I doubt people agreeing to pay a line sitter, many of whom seem to be making the arrangements in advance of the day, know whether their line seller is selling to one or many people. Getting involved in this nonsense is in poor taste. It contributes to the whole mess.
 
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#195
bobocute said:
This Morning my friends arrived FSH 5 am in the front door. She didn't get any appointment at all. Actually they are two different group line sellers. One is Chinese resellers group and the other group is east European group reseller. They are in here everyday to line up for their clients. That's really made very difficult for real customers can get an appointment to merely see the bags unless you go there by 3 am to line up for the summer time.
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OMG! this is awful!! feel so sorry for you friend...
 
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