Lining up for Hermes - thoughts, rants, raves
- Thread starter mistikat
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It's all just so crazy. Hermes needs to find another way. It doesn't feel luxurious to me to line up for hours for the chance to purchase an expensive item.
I think you have to keep in mind that for the most part the people lining up outside are people who only want to buy a birkin or a Kelly. It's hard to imagine that anyone who is a true Hermes fan wouldn't be interested in buying anything else at FSH. And if one is a regular customer of the brand who is shopping throughout the store they don't usually have to line up.
I've read posts by people who were buying other things at FSH, e.g. shoes, SLGs, and who were told they had to wait in line for a bag appointment. It's worth a try, but not a guarantee that buying anything else will get you an appointment.
Buying something is not a guarantee of being offered a bag and I would never recommend that. But if you are a regular customer of the brand and are shopping for things that you want anyway there is no harm in asking. I don't think there are many regular Hermes customers lining up. Again I'm not speaking in absolutes. I doubt most regular customers would put themselves through that line experience so I almost feel like you label yourself as "not an Hermes customer" by getting in the line. Again, I'm speaking in generalities and not of specific circumstances. I'm sure there are some regular customers lining up. But on the whole this is how I view the line and I'm sure I'm not alone.
I agree that regular customers in Paris are not going to line up. I think the line and Paris threads are mainly comprised on non-regular customers, which is why I think it best to clarify things.
@ januarti that's horrific! I'm so sorry that happened to you. It can be very draining. Sounds like these "spot sellers" know how many spots H is going to give away. Another person posted that she went ahead and bought the spot. I hate to say this but looks like you either line up super early or buy a spot. A few members reported good experience in George V so that might be the other way to go.
I dont think i have the energy for H anymore after today. While waiting in cold this morning, I been thinking am I really going to lower my pride by sitting in the street waiting in cold just for a bag. Is it worth it? I dont think so. Never again I'm going to queue in FSH if the system still like this.
I forgot to mention, after I refused the line seller, she even have the nerve to ask me that if I agree to pay her for the spot and I can get small bag from H for her ( i assume she will give me the money to buy the bag but i dont know what bag ). , she will give me back the money I pay her for the spot.
From my experience a month ago, there was a fierce lady from China who tried to sell multiple spots- not only from her spot on the side door, but she put a personal item of hers along the MAIN door so she could sell spots on both lines. The people I was in line with were upset with it and as a group, we told her to move her personal belonging because who knew how many people she would try to sell her "spot" to, and it's unfair that she wasn't even in line physically. I think in these types of situations, it doesn't hurt to join forces with the other people in line and tell the line sellers off. I understand that it's their way of making money, but they cannot get too greedy. 120 euro per spot, 5 days a week, that's 2400 euro a month! not a bad job right? and more if she sells more spots. Be clear that only 1 person can replace 1 person. If you tell the spot seller as a group, they cannot do too much about it. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!
I hope that everyone is taking just a moment to write a quick letter to Hermes describing their experience with the line in the same detail you've done here. The SAs are hearing about what's going on out there, but the upper-level executives are probably not. If the administrative office begins to receive hundreds of letters from customers explaining what is going on, and how unruly it is becoming, it is much more likely that the details will be passed along to the executive office. Until that happens, I doubt a better system will be forthcoming. Please do document your experience--write it up and send it in--many voices together can absolutely produce positive change. 
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If Hermes installed some decent security cameras to monitor the line, it would be easy for someone to check (fast forward through the video) which people were sold line places and any other unfair exchanges that happened outside.
Those people could be refused appointments.
Once it became known that this is happening the practice should stop, or at least diminish.
This could be a suggestion to put to Hermes if any people write directly.
Those people could be refused appointments.
Once it became known that this is happening the practice should stop, or at least diminish.
This could be a suggestion to put to Hermes if any people write directly.
Sorry to hear that you can't even get an appointment for lining up from 7:15am. That is insane and I would not go thru this as well for getting a bag. The more I hear, the more I'm inclined to shop at my home store in the US and get a decent service. After all the airfares and hotel, one doesn't really save anything and for those that don't want to build a relationship, there is always the reseller route and I've noticed that the prices have come down quite a bit on eBay on authentic bags.
The SA who look after me yesterday told me Hermes FSH is building a new system so appointment can be made online in the future. But it will take at least a year until the new system launch.
The SA kept asking me what time i started to queue and he couldn't believe when i said i started to queue from 5:20 am. He kept apologizing for this system that make people have to queue very early to get an appointment.