Lining up for Hermes - thoughts, rants, raves

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#316
dharma said:
Not at all. As I posted above, it's very common and a legit business. I've run into them on many occasion. Talked to a really nice grad student once in an H sale line a few years ago. She texted her client when we were close and the limo pulled up, no nonsense at all. At the catacombs in Paris it was mostly French locals holding the space for a one to two/ three trade. A few were holding space for a tour group which was annoying but when the group was assembled, the Catacombs guards put them in a separate area for entry so it wasn't such a bad thing.
Equalizing prices because of China's import and duty issues is totally unrealistic and not to mention unfair to locals and clients from other countries as well.
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Thank you for answering. I see nothing wrong with that. They aren't causing any trouble. The linesitters at FSH are causing fights, making an ugly mess and presenting a security problem due to the location. It's entirely a different thing in my mind. I wouldn't support it.

Agree. Hermes has stated that they are a French company and will not increase the prices in Europe to the detriment of their local customers. It's an admirable response. In contrast, Chanel raised the prices of their classic flap bags so high so fast in Europe that it is my impression from visiting the stores that it hurt their sales. I wonder if this is the case. I know that it was to control the distribution process but it came off as greedy. I respect that Hermes is trying to treat its customers fairly.
 
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#317
Lining up, whoever does it, is done because of money as I see it. Maybe for those that really want a bag and cant in their country is because they haven't spent enough. So for legit H lovers,they can save money by lining up and the line sitters make money. Yes of course maybe not so black and white but close. I think harmonizing prices internationally is an excellent idea. Not increasing prices in Europe but decreasing prices elsewhere. Of course I know that will not happen, but theoretically wouldn't that work? Wouldn't that remove the money incentive to line up if the bag costs the same (with all taxes included) everywhere? As I think about it with H there will always be an incentive to line up but maybe less if money wasn't such an issue. Just a thought.
 
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#319
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#320
mistikat said:
For your reading pleasure:

https://www.theatlantic.com/busines...rket-for-getting-paid-to-wait-in-line/375083/

http://globalnews.ca/news/2210769/w...l-pay-you-to-wait-in-line-for-the-new-iphone/

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/city-of-lougheed-condo-lineup

http://www.npr.org/2017/06/25/534286483/paid-line-holders-find-worth-in-the-wait

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...tters-paid-25-hour-queue-trendy-releases.html
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I was going to say - I saw a special on tv (after having Millie my memory is shot), but it was about a man who started a professional line waiting service. His team is in multiple cities, you can hire them for multiple different types of 'lines', and it is a legitimate business.

This will probably happen for H store as well.

Honestly, people are just trying to get by and make money. I don't know all the information about the line sitters at H, but I know that people everywhere are trying to feed their families and take care of themselves by all means possible. They saw a market for something and enacted that. H not liking it or H customers not liking it... well what do you expect? Ask people to cue up and do things differently means others will find a way around that. I applaud people always trying to find a way to just make it by in life, really do (and line saving isn't illegal).
 
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#321
All I can say is that the last time I was there, the other merchants on the street were all talking about the fist fights breaking out on a regular basis in the line. So while in theory there is nothing wrong with it, and while it goes on peacefully elsewhere, this line is out of control. And it's bad for business. Other customers are afraid to go to the store.
 
#323
I can tell you that people are afraid to go. I have spoken to at least 5-6 friends who love Hermes and wanted to go to the store but were frightened to go because of this mess. I had to reassure them if they went later in the day they would be fine. So yes, people are afraid to go. I have direct experience with this.
 
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#325
I was there in March and May of this year and I was not afraid of going to the store at all. The line is only in the morning if you go at 11:30 am you won't even see a line anymore My SA always schedules my appointments at this time for me. You will see people come in and ask for appointments but that's all. If you come early in the morning maybe thats an issue but for the most part I don't see it.
 
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#326
I also have a friend who was man handled and very shaken up when she tried to make it in for a prescheduled appointment in another department. She was frightened to go back after that. Now they have someone to escort. Other customers past the crowd so this hopefully doesn't happen again.
 
#327
Coco.lover said:
I was there in March and May of this year and I was not afraid of going to the store at all. The line is only in the morning if you go at 11:30 am you won't even see a line anymore My SA always schedules my appointments at this time for me. You will see people come in and ask for appointments but that's all. If you come early in the morning maybe thats an issue but for the most part I don't see it.
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Agree. That's the advice that I give. Go at 11:30 or after. But many people just hear about the mess and are afraid to even venture there.
 
#328
Are we arguing that this situation should continue? I don't see the benefit of it to anyone except the resellers and line sitters who are profiting. It's bad for the company's image, bad for existing customers, bad for people who genuinely want to buy a bag for themselves. It's a public safety nightmare and a nuisance to the other merchants on the block. Hermes should decide what is in it's best interest: come up with a better system and invest the resources, stop selling to walk ins or whatever. But it's ludicrous to think this should go on as is.
 
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#329
Onthego said:
Lining up, whoever does it, is done because of money as I see it. Maybe for those that really want a bag and cant in their country is because they haven't spent enough. So for legit H lovers,they can save money by lining up and the line sitters make money. Yes of course maybe not so black and white but close. I think harmonizing prices internationally is an excellent idea. Not increasing prices in Europe but decreasing prices elsewhere. Of course I know that will not happen, but theoretically wouldn't that work? Wouldn't that remove the money incentive to line up if the bag costs the same (with all taxes included) everywhere? As I think about it with H there will always be an incentive to line up but maybe less if money wasn't such an issue. Just a thought.
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Now decreasing prices sounds very nice! Lol
 
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#330
I find it hard to see this line as akin to stepping into an MMA octogon. Is it a nuisance? Likely. Is it good for Hermes's image as a hard to obtain brand? Also likely. If it was bad for their business or they were being inundated with complaints my guess is that they would do something about it. And they may yet. In the meantime, there are many other options for shoppers wishing to obtain Hermes, including the two other stores in Paris where this is not an issue.
 
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