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.

 

[Hermes Zen]

That's so unfortunate to hear and so sorry that you had to deal with that. I agree that a simple "sorry, no" should have been their response. Hopefully you'll have better H experiences elsewhere!



I'm so envious of you two that you're able to drive down. Oh how I wish I could do that. We have not been since last year and were planning to go this summer but of course all of our travels have come to a screeching halt this year. We are in the US so who knows when we'll be allowed to visit again. Good luck at your next visits!

I totally agree with you loh !!! Wish I was close enough to drive to the Paris Stores. Also went last summer and planned to be there last month. I too don't know when I'll be able to travel again. Sending hugs.

I have found the Paris store SA's are very nice and helpful. I hope those who can get there have much success to score a BKC.

 

[GreenBagsOnly]

If ever you find the time, and have the option, just check if you can go to Paris. I went twice for my sister, once in march and last thursday, both times she was offered a Birkin, the first a Birkin 35 Etain Togo GHW, and the second time a B30, bleu nuit, togo ghw. Sure we all want to play the game, but if you really need a bag, just try getting lucky in Paris by the appointment system. (I'm from Amsterdam, so it's a 5h drive, but it's definitly worth it for me)

Thanks for the advice. It’s a cheap and quick flight from my city so definitely an option. I’m looking into it! Would be great to get there before tourism is in full swing again.

 

[Hermes Zen]

Thanks for the advice. It’s a cheap and quick flight from my city so definitely an option. I’m looking into it! Would be great to get there before tourism is in full swing again.

I am hopeful you find a wonderful SA in Paris and get offered your dream B!

 

[Graw]

Sorry, not badly treated at Hermès, I was referring more to Rolex/Boucherer/Wempe. And we don't call the service here bad necessarily, just indifferent.

Ku'Damm Hermès- My first trip in was the intimidating and stereotypical "do you even belong here?" until I bought my first bag and then it's been OK. As the thread says, will keep trying the **Maintaining a H Relationship** thing there.

KaDeWe- Went in for the first time on Saturday and chatted with a SA for a bit and then asked to try on a B30 to directly compare it with the B35 I was carrying that day. When I asked if they had any B30s available for purchase, I got the laugh (from not 1, but 2 SAs laughing at me at the same time) and lecture on how it would take 3 years. A simple "No, we do not, but would you like to see..." would have sufficed. I was out of there in 2 seconds flat.

Off to Munich today, will check out H down there!

Sorry this happen.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand laughing at customers, you didn’t ask for her kidney (although some may consider their bags an equivalent vital organ, why not ). When you do obtain your beautiful relationship with a SA whom you text, all of this will be hilarious H growing pain sorority membership memories.

 

[skybluesky]

I think it can just be down to the store or even day. I went to the SF store and I found it standoffish, but I've heard the same thing about PA and I always have a great time there, because of my SA.

 

[passion.du.jour]

I think it can just be down to the store or even day. I went to the SF store and I found it standoffish, but I've heard the same thing about PA and I always have a great time there, because of my SA.

I completely agree with you - I do think it's based on the SA, day, etc. I haven't had a bad experience at any of the stores I've visited and always had a positive experience.

 

[GreenBagsOnly]

Sorry this happen.
I don’t think I’ll ever understand laughing at customers, you didn’t ask for her kidney (although some may consider their bags an equivalent vital organ, why not ). When you do obtain your beautiful relationship with a SA whom you text, all of this will be hilarious H growing pain sorority membership memories.

I think it can just be down to the store or even day. I went to the SF store and I found it standoffish, but I've heard the same thing about PA and I always have a great time there, because of my SA.

I completely agree with you - I do think it's based on the SA, day, etc. I haven't had a bad experience at any of the stores I've visited and always had a positive experience.

So true. Went to Hermès in Munich today and it was a completely different experience from my visits in my city. Fun and lovely and helpful, etc. Might need to accept that I don’t gel with my local store.

 

[momoc]

So true. Went to Hermès in Munich today and it was a completely different experience from my visits in my city. Fun and lovely and helpful, etc. Might need to accept that I don’t gel with my local store.

I do think sometimes they can start off a little cold and standoff-ish and but warm up once they've established that you are going to be a long term customer, and I find it more often the case with smaller boutiques (that rely on local clients as opposed to getting tourists). I would still give your first boutique a chance. The second one though - that laughing is so out of the line I would personally never go there again (I actually understand where they are coming from but they absolutely should have handled it better, that was unprofessional).

That being said, if you can make the trip out to Munich because you get a long better with the SA there, or if you can make Paris trips easily and get lucky, those are both valid choices!

 

[passion.du.jour]

Quick question for the lovely ladies here - given the COVID situation (appointments only, decreased employees in the store leading to limited days in the boutique for SAs, etc), if you see something on your wishlist online, are you more inclined to order it online or wait to purchase from your SA?

I've seen my SA once in the store since they reopened, but haven't really heard back from her on my wish list of scarves and home goods. Therefore, I'm not sure if I should just order what I see online to make things easier for her and me.

I'm not in a hurry to get a quota bag - I would eventually like to purchase one, but I'm not on a time constraint. I do see myself building a long term relationship and want to ensure that if I do order items online I'm not damaging my relationship with my SA.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!

 

[momoc]

Quick question for the lovely ladies here - given the COVID situation (appointments only, decreased employees in the store leading to limited days in the boutique for SAs, etc), if you see something on your wishlist online, are you more inclined to order it online or wait to purchase from your SA?

I've seen my SA once in the store since they reopened, but haven't really heard back from her on my wish list of scarves and home goods. Therefore, I'm not sure if I should just order what I see online to make things easier for her and me.

I'm not in a hurry to get a quota bag - I would eventually like to purchase one, but I'm not on a time constraint. I do see myself building a long term relationship and want to ensure that if I do order items online I'm not damaging my relationship with my SA.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!

I still follow same rules as always which is go through my SA as much as I can. I think they will very much understand that online shopping is the easier thing to do to at this time and more likely feel fine with it, but personally I want to give as much sales to my SA as I can especially at this time, given that they are without walk in traffic and relying only on local customers. Home goods and scarves are also generally the more welcomed categories to buy in & easier to find / order / transfer compared to say leather goods like a popular non quota bag. As long as you are not in a particular hurry to get the things you are looking for, I’d wait for your SA. Do feel free to gently remind them if they’ve not made any progress in a while...they could have missed or forgotten about it depending on how many clients they are juggling. That would be my suggestion!

 

[acrowcounted]

Quick question for the lovely ladies here - given the COVID situation (appointments only, decreased employees in the store leading to limited days in the boutique for SAs, etc), if you see something on your wishlist online, are you more inclined to order it online or wait to purchase from your SA?

I've seen my SA once in the store since they reopened, but haven't really heard back from her on my wish list of scarves and home goods. Therefore, I'm not sure if I should just order what I see online to make things easier for her and me.

I'm not in a hurry to get a quota bag - I would eventually like to purchase one, but I'm not on a time constraint. I do see myself building a long term relationship and want to ensure that if I do order items online I'm not damaging my relationship with my SA.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!

In my limited experience, buying online under the same profile is indeed damaging to an (especially new) SA relationship. Those items purchased via your SA will help her significantly. I suggest waiting and only ordering via your SA. I know at my store they aren’t transferring anything in right now so if she hasn’t responded it may just be because she doesn’t have the items and can’t help you at the moment. It would be nice to have communication though!

 

[Hermes Zen]

I've been in contact with my SA regularly. Adding to my wish list and some discussion of what I'm seeing on h.com. There was a scarf that I wanted and there was a very good chance in getting the 'one' that the store would have received (I'm sure they would get more later) however, it was online as well. We decided I would try to order on h.com and if it worked, the one the store would get would go to someone else. I was certainly okay with that. I too believe in purchasing as much from my SA but if I see something on h.com that I really really had to have and the store doesn't get much of them, I will purchase it. It's rare this happens but I've done it.

I totally agree with the others to purchase as much through your SA. They've been good to you, you need to be good to them. Hope I'm making sense.

 

[loh]

Quick question for the lovely ladies here - given the COVID situation (appointments only, decreased employees in the store leading to limited days in the boutique for SAs, etc), if you see something on your wishlist online, are you more inclined to order it online or wait to purchase from your SA?

I've seen my SA once in the store since they reopened, but haven't really heard back from her on my wish list of scarves and home goods. Therefore, I'm not sure if I should just order what I see online to make things easier for her and me.

I'm not in a hurry to get a quota bag - I would eventually like to purchase one, but I'm not on a time constraint. I do see myself building a long term relationship and want to ensure that if I do order items online I'm not damaging my relationship with my SA.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!

I agree with the other replies to your post. Even though it's more convenient for me to buy from the website, I always go through my SA. I really like her and want to help her out and keep my good relationship with her. If she doesn't have what I'm looking for at the store, she places the order and has it shipped to my home. Plus, my visits to the boutique are the only fun outings I have nowadays, so I'd much rather shop in person if I can than at home behind a computer. I hope you hear back from your SA soon, and wish you luck on building your relationship!

 

[hermesandmoynat]

Sorry in advance for the long post, but I really need advice…

I have a really good SA who has taken leave from the boutique for a year. She will return in March 2021. This SA has gotten me two quota bags (Birkins) in two years. We have a good relationship and I am very happy with her assistance.

I am not a regular at the boutique so I am not “well known” with the other SA’s. I have a friend however who is very friendly with all the SA’s and everyone at the boutique knows her (more on this later).

In June I went to the boutique to purchase a few small items and was assisted by a new SA. We clicked and I think that I want to work with her going forward. Fast forward to this week I made an appointment to see this SA for the end of July. I discussed this with my friend just to ask her what she thinks of this SA if she’s pushy or not because I would love to get a quota bag this year.

My friend then went and told her regular SA about me and said that I want to get a Birkin or Kelly with the new SA and asked if the new SA is approachable or not! (I don't know why she would do that!) Her SA said that I should be honest and not play games with the SA! (Obviously, this was never my intention to play games with SA’s I wouldn’t even look for a new SA if my original one didn’t leave). I was mortified when she said this to me. I know SA’s talk amongst each other and it’s a really small boutique. I am embarrassed to go to our appointment because now the SA is going to think I only want a quota bag from her.

How would you handle this? Should I just wait until my original SA is back next year?

 

[DR2014]

Sorry in advance for the long post, but I really need advice…

I have a really good SA who has taken leave from the boutique for a year. She will return in March 2021. This SA has gotten me two quota bags (Birkins) in two years. We have a good relationship and I am very happy with her assistance.

I am not a regular at the boutique so I am not “well known” with the other SA’s. I have a friend however who is very friendly with all the SA’s and everyone at the boutique knows her (more on this later).

In June I went to the boutique to purchase a few small items and was assisted by a new SA. We clicked and I think that I want to work with her going forward. Fast forward to this week I made an appointment to see this SA for the end of July. I discussed this with my friend just to ask her what she thinks of this SA if she’s pushy or not because I would love to get a quota bag this year.

My friend then went and told her regular SA about me and said that I want to get a Birkin or Kelly with the new SA and asked if the new SA is approachable or not! (I don't know why she would do that!) Her SA said that I should be honest and not play games with the SA! (Obviously, this was never my intention to play games with SA’s I wouldn’t even look for a new SA if my original one didn’t leave). I was mortified when she said this to me. I know SA’s talk amongst each other and it’s a really small boutique. I am embarrassed to go to our appointment because now the SA is going to think I only want a quota bag from her.

How would you handle this? Should I just wait until my original SA is back next year?

Honestly, I don't think it's that big a deal. I would go to the appointment and if it comes up, I would simply say that I did not ask my friend to to do that and let it go. I think the SAs know we want bags in addition to the other things we want and buy. Plus, you already clicked with her and it wont take long for the actions of your friend to be forgotten, since that is not how you operate.