Roland Garros did not have any onsite ticket sales this year. Everything was online and you could either resell or assign your ticket by name (yours or someone else's) up to a certain time before the day of the ticket. To gain entry, you had to have ID to match the assigned name on the ticket. Probably H could do something similar.
Lining up for Hermes - thoughts, rants, raves
- Thread starter mistikat
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Roland Garros did not have any onsite ticket sales this year. Everything was online and you could either resell or assign your ticket by name (yours or someone else's) up to a certain time before the day of the ticket. To gain entry, you had to have ID to match the assigned name on the ticket. Probably H could do something similar.
have not experienced the new paris system (i've queued inside a few years ago and even that was longer than what i was used to), but if i could no longer bypass the line and work directly with 'my' SA, i suppose i'd be willing to lineup outside. after all i did it for the ny sale and ended up not even getting in! i would just build into my vacation schedule a day solely for lining up at H.
I have lined up three times and honestly the line isn't bad. I lined up in the last few weeks so the weather was good. I don't think I could line up in winter time though. I would rather not spend 5 hours lining up but to me it was worth the opportunity to try my luck. I left my apartment around 5AM each time I lined up and twice I got an appointment right when the store opened. I was unsuccessful which was a shame but I was also very specific about size and while I was somewhat open to colours I was only after neutrals. On two occasions the SA offered to show me bags but I declined with out seeing them as they were too large and not colours I prefer. The third time unfortunately the SA was very rude and I decided against trying again. I am not opposed to purchasing through a reseller to get what I want so will likely go down this route as I find it hard to get a bag in my home country. I agree with the sentiment that if you are open to sizes and colours you can get a bag especially if you can/do try a few times. I think this in itself is very special for Hermes, and I don't think waiting in line should take the shine off that wonderful opportunity. Ladies reading this please don't be discouraged and try your luck, you have nothing to lose, but by the same token, don't spend your entire vacation chasing a bag imo, enjoy all Paris has to offer too. Good luck ladies.
If you check out Collector Square, they have some birkins in etoupe, gris tourterelle, gold, and black--most of which are in good to very good conditions. I often promote them but I'm not affiliated with them. I just like the store and the people there are great to do business with.
I didn't mind the wait (from 6:15am for me), and I would have done it multiple times to get my dream bag - but I got it on my first try. As Pocketbook Pup said, if you pick your times to visit Paris, your chances may increase.
I'm not in favour of an online system unless it cannot be "gamed" by Resellers. We all know they would put forward multiple names/passports etc which would be discouraging for true H fans to obtain their dream bag.
However, I would suggest that they have a limit of people in the line, and advise people when the line is "full" - and so those who arrived later won't waste their time in line. I am sure there are other ways for H to refine the system.
I'm not in favour of an online system unless it cannot be "gamed" by Resellers. We all know they would put forward multiple names/passports etc which would be discouraging for true H fans to obtain their dream bag.
However, I would suggest that they have a limit of people in the line, and advise people when the line is "full" - and so those who arrived later won't waste their time in line. I am sure there are other ways for H to refine the system.
Coming from a family that has bought riding goods and later luggage and other leather goods from Hermès for generations, the "Paris thread" saddens me a great deal. Queing for hours, spot sellers, rude line jumpers, loud arguments in front of the store - this is not what Hermès stood for for more than 150 years, which was tradition as well as understated class and elegance. Call me a snob - IMHO the circus in front of FSH is anything but, it is crass and vulgar. And it cheapens the brand a great deal for me.
My FSH SA totally agrees with you.
I wonder if this purchase quota to get a bag has also caused this insanity. Many go to Paris to purchase because although they love the brand, the purchase quota in an H store still does not guarantee a bag anymore. Also, the purchase quota changes depending on the store, or the SA. So it has created a bit of a frenzy since at FSH, there is no need to purchase more than what is desired, a B/K/C.
That could also be the case, as I've heard from various stories in stores across the US.
I think it is true that if they somehow "standardized" the process for obtaining bags and improved service at the home stores it would help with the situation. I gradually moved my business to FSH because my experience at my home store was so awful in comparison to my experience at FSH in terms of how employees treated me, the availability of non bag merchandise and the availability of bags. Some SAs at the local stores seem to have overplayed their hands with the attitudes and the scarcity of goods issues.
If people can't get their bags at home they are tempted to try in Paris. The currency fluctuations and the increased desire for bags certainly have played a part in the long lines as well.
That being said I would never stand in the line as it exists today. I would just move on to another brand. No bag is worth this. And what kind of memories are attached to a bag when you experience all of this nastiness? I hope they find a solution. It's not good for anyone.
If people can't get their bags at home they are tempted to try in Paris. The currency fluctuations and the increased desire for bags certainly have played a part in the long lines as well.
That being said I would never stand in the line as it exists today. I would just move on to another brand. No bag is worth this. And what kind of memories are attached to a bag when you experience all of this nastiness? I hope they find a solution. It's not good for anyone.
THIS. "I would just move on to another brand." Me too, or at best the pre-loved market (I'm not paying reseller new bag prices). Hermès is vulnerable here if any brand comes up with an iconic bag and creates scarcity, but handles it differently.
That's what I say. I read about it but I never expected it to be so bad. It's brutalAh.
Because nothing screams, "Luxury!" quite like queueing on filthy street at 5a.m.
Every day, during vacation.
Hoping to earn the right to spend $20k usd in particular store.
Similar to Oliver Twist, begging for more gruel.
F*** that, imo.
Never done it, never will.
Very true. That line is worst than advertised. I'm glad I didn't have to do it.