Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

Please focus on the title of this thread rather than each other, TY

If you find it very hard to ignore certain people, please feel free in adding them to your 'Ignore' list.

For advice on how to obtain a B/K/C please go to the reading room in the Reading Room The Newbie's HOW DO I GET A BIRKIN (or other bag) Reading Room

For advice on how to shop at your local store please do a search in Hermes Shopping sub-forum and look for your store/region/country.

 

[PJW5813]

I agree. It is much better to follow up in person.
SAs are human and you don't want the thought, 'Oh God, not another email/text/phone-call from her.'

 

[september1985]

thanks for the advice ladies! i ended up calling the store and leaving a message for her. she called me back about an hour or so later. she explained that the store has been extremely busy and that she actually drafted a response to my email but it never sent. also, she advised me that she will be out for the next couple of days, so i’m glad i called!

in the end, she suggested i make an appointment to have her show me the different departments and products H has to offer.

 

[lyseiki8]

Visited the Hermes Chadstone Melbourne for the first time after they were opened for less than a month. The security guide and the junior SA serving me were the most pleasant human beings while the rest of the sales staff especially the senior (male) guy avoided eye contact. While I was making payment at the register, this same guy walked past the female SA and he had that 'you are invisible look' right through me.
With me was one of my nieces on her first Hermes shopping and she told me she felt intimidated and would have turned around and walked out.

 

[westcoastgal]

Visited the Hermes Chadstone Melbourne for the first time after they were opened for less than a month. The security guide and the junior SA serving me were the most pleasant human beings while the rest of the sales staff especially the senior (male) guy avoided eye contact. While I was making payment at the register, this same guy walked past the female SA and he had that 'you are invisible look' right through me.
With me was one of my nieces on her first Hermes shopping and she told me she felt intimidated and would have turned around and walked out.

Some people just need some “reprogramming.” Just keep showing up at the store and buying stuff and eventually they all will know you and warm up. Don’t be intimidated - they are just doing their jobs and maybe trying to make the brand appear exclusive by being a bit distant - or maybe the person was having a bad day. Give your business to the SA you get along with best. Have fun!

 

[lyseiki8]

Thanks westcoastgal

That was what I told this neice of mine who lives in Melbourne and I was visiting. When she found out that I am a regular at Hermes, she was "ecstatic" as I offered to be the distraction while she check out their products. Of course I walked out with another silk scarf

Some people just need some
“reprogramming.” Just keep showing up at the store and buying stuff and eventually they all will know you and warm up. Don’t be intimidated - they are just doing their jobs and maybe trying to make the brand appear exclusive by being a bit distant - or maybe the person was having a bad day. Give your business to the SA you get along with best. Have fun!

 

[Elina0408]

Went to the Hermes at South Coast Plaza today. They had 3-4 SAs. No one even acknowledged me. I was walking around for about 15 minutes, browsing the jewelry section and handbags. Some were helping existing customers but no one would even tell me that someone will be with me in a few minutes. I eventually left the store. If this is how Hermes customer service is, I’m not too thrilled with it.

This has happened to me in H Selfridges London but after I learned my lesson (Too old to be treated like that!) , I go to them and cut their chit chat and ask politely for what I want! [emoji57]
I do it smiling and saying sorry for interrupting but can you help me? Can I see the scarves? Etc

 

[Elina0408]

I've had a 20 year history with H, mostly traveling. I buy what I love, and really appreciate the products, particularly scarves, watches and SLG's.

For the last year, I've made regular trips to my home store, working with one SA - the person assigned by the manager on the floor to help me on my first visit. We don't have a real connection. She's polite enough, but certainly not friendly, nor helpful. The only communication we've ever had is if I go to the store - she's only answered one email in all that time, never returned a phone call, never sourced a hard-to-find product I was looking for, etc. I've lost much of my enthusiasm for shopping at H because of her and order more online, but still make purchases every 6-8 weeks or so in store. Also, she's always been firm that the wait for a neutral B would be 3-4 years. Again, I am a true fan of the H brand, and am not shopping just to get a bag, but it would be nice, and that seems like a very long time. Combine that with her generally uninterested/unhelpful manner and behavior, and I'm not enjoying my in-store experiences with H.

Twice in the last few months, when I went to the store and asked for my SA she was not there. Another SA helped me both times, and he was incredibly friendly and helpful. It was a whole new shopping experience, completely different, and the way luxury shopping has always been in my experience, before this other SA. On the second visit, which was last week, he offered me a complete dream bag, which I happily accepted! Going forward, I only want to shop with this second SA. I understand from reading this forum that it is difficult, if not impossible, to switch SA's, but I really want to make the change. This second SA knew I was working with the first one, but offered me the bag because he knew I would love it for Christmas. To make the switch, would you suggest a conversation with the SM? I haven't met the SM before.

You don't have to let them know , it seems you have found a good match with the SA that gave you your bag! Continue to work with him(you have email etc right? Or just ask him next time)

 

[NOIRetMoi]

Don't let them beat around the bushes. If you spend the amount of two Kelly's, you should get at least one regular leather Kelly's (of a spec that people might murder each other over).

The other thing is the exactness of the wish. It doesn't look like you will stop at one bag. Give the SA a few to work with. At the end of the day, it is a lot easier to fulfill neutral colors and black of the regular leathers than specific shades. Once you are offered the first one, the rest comes naturally.

The other trick is the DH or significant other trick. Bring him or her in to talk about the Christmas gift from your wishlist. It works better than you doing it alone.

When I first work with my home store SA, she was a lot more comfortable if she knew I have DH's "approval". Ha ha. Later on, she knew that I was fueling my own addiction and needed no approval.

Here is what happened in London. I wanted to buy the bracelet anyways. But they had nothing available that day. My brand new SA assured me that the store will take care of me.

Does this 2:1 spending ratio apply everywhere?
In London seems more like 3:1, if you don’t live there.
Do you have to be a VIP to get approved by the SM to buy a ‘Display only’ only bag like a Toupet?

 

[meowlett]

Does this 2:1 spending ratio apply everywhere?
In London seems more like 3:1, if you don’t live there.
Do you have to be a VIP to get approved by the SM to buy a ‘Display only’ only bag like a Toupet?

3:1? I got the bracelet and was offered the Roulis and the Birkin 30 at NBS. No matter how I count it, that is not even close to 2:1.

 

[NOIRetMoi]

3:1? I got the bracelet and was offered the Roulis and the Birkin 30 at NBS. No matter how I count it, that is not even close to 2:1.

Maybe I’m counting it wrong? I asked about the Toupet got approved but regretfully didn’t buy it. Another trip asked for an everyday black bag and was offered a Cinhetic. Loved it, but too small. Asked for a Lindy 26 GHW. Bought the Lindy. 3 days later I joked about seeing the ‘display only’ bags (a Black B25 PHW & marine gator/ombre C18?) and was brought instead black/gold bags I love: a shiny alligator C18 RGHW and a togo B25 GHW (could only pick the C18 or the B25). Got the B25. Was offered an ombre lizard/gator Roulis a month after while I was looking at a pair of lizard sandals.

 

[meowlett]

Maybe I’m counting it wrong? I asked about the Toupet got approved but regretfully didn’t buy it. Another trip asked for an everyday black bag and was offered a Cinhetic. Loved it, but too small. Asked for a Lindy 26 GHW. Bought the Lindy. 3 days later I joked about seeing the ‘display only’ bags (a Black B25 PHW & marine gator/ombre C18?) and was brought instead black/gold bags I love: a shiny alligator C18 RGHW and a togo B25 GHW (could only pick the C18 or the B25). Got the B25. Was offered an ombre lizard/gator Roulis a month after while I was looking at a pair of lizard sandals.

I am probably the worst person to ask about the spending ratio. When someone asked me if I had to spent 1:1 to get the Kelly Pochette once, I had to talk to my friend offline and asked her for the formula. It turned out that my friend doesn't know how to count that either. We just keep buying what we like and then the bags keep accumulating.
I have stopped talking about the specifics of the reptile offers because I am superstitious that it might scare away the ones that I have been waiting for.

 

[NOIRetMoi]

I am probably the worst person to ask about the spending ratio. When someone asked me if I had to spent 1:1 to get the Kelly Pochette once, I had to talk to my friend offline and asked her for the formula. It turned out that my friend doesn't know how to count that either. We just keep buying what we like and then the bags keep accumulating.
I have stopped talking about the specifics of the reptile offers because I am superstitious that it might scare away the ones that I have been waiting for.

I find this ratio thing completely inconsistent among countries, that’s why I asked.
No idea what it takes for exotics either.
I was offered them my first time and another time, so who knows.
I declined an SO by mistake when I was buying my 2nd bag (a B), thinking I could only say yes to one of them and that I needed to give him the exact specs immediately. It was only my 2nd bag and I didn’t want to wait (dumb a$$!). Still kicking myself for this!
I too buy what I want and go in without any expectations, never knowing what I’m going to walk out of the store with...

 

[Ceeje89]

Mods please move if this isn’t the appropriate place for this question...

I’ve recently started a relationship with a lovely SA at my closest store (3 hours away) and don’t get to see her much (1x or 2x per year) and have made a couple of purchases with her.

I’ve got some upcoming business travel to cities with H stores and would like to pick up some bracelets or scarves while I’m so close.

Is it a big no-no to be buying from different stores? I won’t be buying any bags for sure, just some accessories.

 

[Nahreen]

Mods please move if this isn’t the appropriate place for this question...

I’ve recently started a relationship with a lovely SA at my closest store (3 hours away) and don’t get to see her much (1x or 2x per year) and have made a couple of purchases with her.

I’ve got some upcoming business travel to cities with H stores and would like to pick up some bracelets or scarves while I’m so close.

Is it a big no-no to be buying from different stores? I won’t be buying any bags for sure, just some accessories.

Are you trying to establish yourself at your local store in order to eventually get offered a B or K? If that is the case, I suggest you try to buy most things from your SA. If the things you want to buy whilst travelling are items that your SA can easily get for you, I suggest you buy them from her. I buy most things from my home store and usually only get small things online. When I travel abroad I usually buy myself something from H if there is a store but I then only try to buy things that are hard to find (model, hw or colour wise) and that I might not be able to find at my local store or online. I save my large purchases for my home store such as jeweller, watches, china and home goods.

My store is very accomodating in ordering items for me and reserving things for me from what they have ordered to the store. I can come and pick them up when I have the time. I live a few hours away and they know I only visit a few times per year. So if you want to establish a similar relationship with your SA, I suggest you buy mainly from your home store, at least until you have shown that you are a loyal customer.

 

[PJW5813]

Ceeje89, Nahreens's question is important and if getting a Birkin or Kelly from you local store is your aim, have you made that clear? Remember you are the client and stop trying to second guess rules and regulations that are as intangible as air.
'Relationships with lovely SAs' often end in tears.
How many times have you met? Once or twice a year!
How many times have you bought something? A couple!
What happens if she leaves for some reason? Where is your 'relationship' then?
I think it is nice to shop in one store if it suits your buying convenience, but don't let the SAs there take your purchasing for granted. If they know that you might buy items from other stores, it gives them some incentive to keep your custom.
From what you have written, just enjoy the experience of shopping in other stores.
If you are pleasant, enthusiastic and knowledgable about Hermes you have more chance having walk in success elsewhere than in a store you visit once or twice a year to buy little buts and pieces.