Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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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.

 

[olibelli]

Does anyone know if your spend 'resets' after each bag offer? For example if you've spent $50k in the first quarter of the year, technically would you qualify for 2 quota bags with that spend?

It really depends, but in my case for example, I got a B25 in October last year after spending about 3:1 in the prior months, and didn't spend much nor visit the store after that. In November an Evie TPM became available and was shipped to my house, but when I went to pick up a bag strap at the end of November, I was surprised with a Mini K, though I technically did not did not reach 1:1 between both bags. HTH!

 

[hphile]

Thank you @acrowcounted. I didn't think they held inventory or make more bags just to offer them around V-day/Lunar New Year. She's also under the impression that Mother's Day is another holiday with more offers. Hermes doesn't seem to work like the other fashion houses where they market their brand around these holidays just to drive more sales.

Also - more people try to buy bags around this time because they are special occasions. I've read posts on PF and I also personally said in advance to my SA "I would really like x for my birthday" or "I would really like x for my anniversary" and it feels like they try harder to accommodate my timing because of the event as opposed to generally wanting something. At least in the case of Paris, I know a lot of people say these things to SA's at FSH and from personal anecdotes it sounds like it has swayed some people when they originally said no stock but then come back with a special orange box

 

[closetluxe]

Also - more people try to buy bags around this time because they are special occasions. I've read posts on PF and I also personally said in advance to my SA "I would really like x for my birthday" or "I would really like x for my anniversary" and it feels like they try harder to accommodate my timing because of the event as opposed to generally wanting something. At least in the case of Paris, I know a lot of people say these things to SA's at FSH and from personal anecdotes it sounds like it has swayed some people when they originally said no stock but then come back with a special orange box

My journey with Hermes started on my birthday almost 3 years ago. Every year I've followed this tradition by taking the day off and going in to see my SA for some fun shopping. If he's not in on my actual birthday, I come in earlier. Last year I made it known that I would like to be considered for a quota bag and for an early birthday present he offered me my very first Birkin, a 30 Rouge Casaque Togo in GHW! I took her home with me this past Sunday! Aside from a special birthday present, it was also my reward for a most trying last year (I work in primary care where it's been so hard to tell people I'm doing great when most days I'm just hanging in there).
Sorry didn't mean to derail the thread. Just wanted to share my special occasion bag story.

 

[DB8]

I’m a firm believer that there are no “best SAs” when it comes to bag offers because they all get access to bags and they all have to ultimately get approval from the SM to offer it to a specific client. I don’t believe that one should ever worry about the “SA’s performance” within the store because it all evens out. From the store’s perspective, a superstar SA is one with a lot of sales....but logically following from that, if they have a lot of sales it’s because they have a lot of high spending clients. So yes, maybe they get access to more bags, but unless you’re a max spender, it’s not doing you any favors. Same for a new or “lesser tier” SA...sure they may get fewer bags but thats because they have fewer clients and fewer big spenders, perhaps. So as an individual client, you’re either 1 of 100 clients fighting over tens bags, or 1 of 10 clients fighting over one bag (just to make the numbers easy). It’s all the same.

This is a very salient point that applies to retail as a whole, not just Hermes. As H SA's are usually there for the long run (not as a part time summer job), it's in their best interests to build a solid client base. You're totally correct that every SA has access to the same inventory - so to me it comes down to service. Since newer SA's won't have that client base yet, they will likely devote more time to your H needs, and be more on the ball. If I were new to H, I would definitely be going this route.

A lot of those high performer SA's are not even taking clients anymore, unless they think it's worth their time ($$$$$). Will they be happy to process a one off purchase? Of course! But I know one of my SA's has declined referral clients, because he knew they would only end up disappointed.

 

[HAllDay]

I've learned from this very fine forum that when your SA says, "Everyone wants a B25," when you ask about your wish list, what she really means is, "We have B25s in the stockroom right now, but none have YOUR name on it." I've also learned from this very fine forum that one should have no expectations when it comes to your H journey, even when you feel like you've spent more than enough to "qualify" for consideration of a B25/B30. I've also learned from this very fine forum that even when you think you have a good relationship with your SA, it still is a business transaction and they see you as moneybags and not a human being who feels like she is in some dysfunctional love relationship with...bags. Yes, you heard that right-- handbags.

I think I'm finally turning the corner and really starting to understand the H journey. Now, if anyone wants to join me in a good cry, I'll be in that corner with a box of tissues.

 

[litostar]

I've learned from this very fine forum that when your SA says, "Everyone wants a B25," when you ask about your wish list, what she really means is, "We have B25s in the stockroom right now, but none have YOUR name on it." I've also learned from this very fine forum that one should have no expectations when it comes to your H journey, even when you feel like you've spent more than enough to "qualify" for consideration of a B25/B30. I've also learned from this very fine forum that even when you think you have a good relationship with your SA, it still is a business transaction and they see you as moneybags and not a human being who feels like she is in some dysfunctional love relationship with...bags. Yes, you heard that right-- handbags.

I think I'm finally turning the corner and really starting to understand the H journey. Now, if anyone wants to join me in a good cry, I'll be in that corner with a box of tissues.

Let me join you so we can grab a bottle of wine and cry our hearts out haha I couldn’t agree more and I’m also slowly grasping how things work. I just hate how the Canadian market is so small we get the short end of the stick as well for the most part

 

[chicfinds]

i find it interesting that there's been many fresh unboxings of B&Ks on social media....with the "i have no to little purchase history and the bag from my wishlist appeared because the SA that I met that day really liked me and we share the same interests and the relationship just "cliqued". come on!!! like others have said yes, you can have a great relationship with your SA but H is a business! SAs have sale goals and if you can help them reach it, of course you're more likely to get something on your wishlist. the relationship is a part of it but spending is required. so yea, when i hear people say "oh I met this wonderful SA and we just hit it off and then i got my dream bag and i only bought a twilly...!"....maybe that does happen once in awhile but for most, no! lol.

 

[HAllDay]

i find it interesting that there's been many fresh unboxings of B&Ks on social media....with the "i have no to little purchase history and the bag from my wishlist appeared because the SA that I met that day really liked me and we share the same interests and the relationship just "cliqued". come on!!! like others have said yes, you can have a great relationship with your SA but H is a business! SAs have sale goals and if you can help them reach it, of course you're more likely to get something on your wishlist. the relationship is a part of it but spending is required. so yea, when i hear people say "oh I met this wonderful SA and we just hit it off and then i got my dream bag and i only bought a twilly...!"....maybe that does happen once in awhile but for most, no! lol.

I think because most people don't like to tell their sob stories on social media. No one wants to admit on social media that you spent $25,xxx to be offered a $11k bag and had to build a relationship over a period of time. It actually sounds sad and pathetic. Hearing stories about clients getting an offer after hitting it off with their SAs with little spend is the unicorn story. It's the exception, not the rule.

But have you guys noticed that "influencers" tend to get offers faster? I forget which YT video I was watching, but she had 800k subscribers and literally was offered a b30 fauve barenia faubourg after buying a pair of boots a month prior.

 

[hermesandmoynat]

I think because most people don't like to tell their sob stories on social media. No one wants to admit on social media that you spent $25,xxx to be offered a $11k bag and had to build a relationship over a period of time. It actually sounds sad and pathetic. Hearing stories about clients getting an offer after hitting it off with their SAs with little spend is the unicorn story. It's the exception, not the rule.

But have you guys noticed that "influencers" tend to get offers faster? I forget which YT video I was watching, but she had 800k subscribers and literally was offered a b30 fauve barenia faubourg after buying a pair of boots a month prior.

Are you referring to the Youtuber Lydia Millen? If yes, she got her B30 Barenia Faubourg from Sellier Knightsbridge (a preloved consignment store) not from Hermes, she mentioned that in her video...

 

[HAllDay]

Are you referring to the Youtuber Lydia Millen? If yes, she got her B30 Barenia Faubourg from Sellier Knightsbridge (a preloved consignment store) not from Hermes, she mentioned that in her video...

Oops! I must have missed that part! I had fast forwarded her video because I couldn’t wait to see what she got!! Lol

 

[hphile]

i find it interesting that there's been many fresh unboxings of B&Ks on social media....with the "i have no to little purchase history and the bag from my wishlist appeared because the SA that I met that day really liked me and we share the same interests and the relationship just "cliqued". come on!!! like others have said yes, you can have a great relationship with your SA but H is a business! SAs have sale goals and if you can help them reach it, of course you're more likely to get something on your wishlist. the relationship is a part of it but spending is required. so yea, when i hear people say "oh I met this wonderful SA and we just hit it off and then i got my dream bag and i only bought a twilly...!"....maybe that does happen once in awhile but for most, no! lol.

Same - I see so many influencers recently posting their first birkin (B25/B30) after just starting their H journey - Cassie Thorpe (UK), Je Suis Lou (Mexico), Alyssa Lenore (NY/NJ USA) - ... all in the last couple of months with pretty minimal purchase history. It does sound like your first bag is easier to get - but they all have that same story of "I bought a couple of small things and then they told me a couple months later, here's your birkin!" Although I don't think they necessarily had the story of "hitting it off with an SA" and there was a waiting period. It'll be interesting (since they're very public about their purchases) if they share about their relationship with their SA's publicly!

 

[Ethengdurst]

Again, the ratios don’t actually mean anything. You aren’t automatically “qualified” for a quota bag once you spend $10,000. It’s just an easy mark to remember for when one can have reasonable expectation of maybe being offered something soon. And if everyone in your store spends 2:1 every visit, the number for reasonable expectation goes up. There are so many other factors that are part of bag offers that it’s crazy to continually try to boil it down to a 1:1 spend.

Take four profiles:
A- new customer, zero spend
B- profile with a single purchase, an $8,000 Lindy
C- profile with a single purchase, an $8,000 Constance
D- profile with a bunch of things purchased adding up to $8,000

All four profiles want exactly a Noir Togo B30 GHW and no one else in the store wants that combo. A Noir Togo B30 GHW arrives to the store. Profile D will likely get the offer for the birkin first, and if they turn it down, profile B would likely be next. In general, all other things equal, if one wants the first bag that the store gets, one should strive for an expensive profile with varied items purchased and not mainly other bags. Bags are still better than nothing, especially the harder to sell bags, but still, not as good as other categories.
HOWEVER, there are several reasons why there could be a different outcome, and most of them concern the unpredictable human element of things. If someone is actively in the store when the bags are being allotted, that could help. If a client is from across the country, they aren’t shipping, but another client is local and could buy it in person tomorrow, that could help them. If a client has been a client longer, that could help them or if a client is newer and left a better impression with the SA, that could help them. If the SA is having a bad day and just wants to unload a bag with minimal effort, or if they’re having a great day and want to make a new client’s day, that could help the new client. If the SM is having a bad day and decides not to divy up the shipment until tomorrow when your SA isn’t working, that could hurt your chances, etc. Or the store could just decide to hold the bag for a surprise walk-in big spender and offer it to no one. If there is one true thing with H it’s that they are not very mathematically or technologically inclined in pretty much any way. It’s fashion!

TLDR - You aren’t owed a quota bag of your choice just because you’ve spent 1:1, same as no one owes you something just because you’ve bought them dinner and a drink. It’s called a relationship for a reason.

I love it!

 

[Ethengdurst]

This is a very salient point that applies to retail as a whole, not just Hermes. As H SA's are usually there for the long run (not as a part time summer job), it's in their best interests to build a solid client base. You're totally correct that every SA has access to the same inventory - so to me it comes down to service. Since newer SA's won't have that client base yet, they will likely devote more time to your H needs, and be more on the ball. If I were new to H, I would definitely be going this route.

A lot of those high performer SA's are not even taking clients anymore, unless they think it's worth their time ($$$$$). Will they be happy to process a one off purchase? Of course! But I know one of my SA's has declined referral clients, because he knew they would only end up disappointed.

Same here. My SA told me she has 50+clients so she feels bad if she cannot fulfill all of her clients’ requests. Although I’ve been with her from the start of her H career I’m not one of the biggest spenders but she still tries to accommodate my requests. I think longevity, loyalty and patience are to my advantage because I won’t spend 2:1 or even 1:1 for a bag anymore.

But I think it also helps that I’m not after the hottest bags mini K/K25/B25. If ever I like the K32s and B30s.

 

[SDC2003]

Same - I see so many influencers recently posting their first birkin (B25/B30) after just starting their H journey - Cassie Thorpe (UK), Je Suis Lou (Mexico), Alyssa Lenore (NY/NJ USA) - ... all in the last couple of months with pretty minimal purchase history. It does sound like your first bag is easier to get - but they all have that same story of "I bought a couple of small things and then they told me a couple months later, here's your birkin!" Although I don't think they necessarily had the story of "hitting it off with an SA" and there was a waiting period. It'll be interesting (since they're very public about their purchases) if they share about their relationship with their SA's publicly!

Could be that the first bag is easier but also could be other factors at play such as whether the boutique tends to cater to tourists or the color/leather of the bag or whether there’s a birthday or anniversary etc. I wish these youtubers would go onto their next fad and stop talking about b/k because it’s making the demand for these stronger than ever and they don’t really care about the brand. It’s just about getting a bag. I saw one video where a youtuber said she had heard jewelry gets you a bag so she went and bought a cdc to just “get it over with.” She also noted that Hermes rtw was for the “elderly.”

 

[periogirl28]

Could be that the first bag is easier but also could be other factors at play such as whether the boutique tends to cater to tourists or the color/leather of the bag or whether there’s a birthday or anniversary etc. I wish these youtubers would go onto their next fad and stop talking about b/k because it’s making the demand for these stronger than ever and they don’t really care about the brand. It’s just about getting a bag. I saw one video where a youtuber said she had heard jewelry gets you a bag so she went and bought a cdc to just “get it over with.” She also noted that Hermes rtw was for the “elderly.”

That last sentence!