Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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[Etriers]

Related somewhat to @RitaLA s post, I edited my response and thought I would make a separate post for my question...

My SA and I have a good working relationship and are very friendly. We have a lot of fun at our appointments, but it has been slow and stately in developing despite how much I‘ve spent and has been unrelated to even getting offers for my dream bags, which have been frequent. It was as if he was (and is) following a protocol. First I got his card, then a certain amount of time passed before I got his cell number and could text, then a year or so (I think it was anyway) before I got a Christmas card. A certain amount of time before he responded quickly to texts. It is interesting. I have always received excellent service, and get certain perks now but still have never received a thank you text/note. I’m guessing that might be the final frontier.

I’d be interested to know if any other H veterans have had this experience?

 

[RitaLA]

Unless the relationship is remote to begin with, I can see where it might take more than a couple years relationship before a SA would hang in there with a client that moves away. So it likely wasn’t personal. It appears than many long-time SAs have a process.

My relationship with that SA was in fact really good!! She gave me her info right away, I would stop at the store to chat, get some items and she even introduced me to her 2 managers. I don't know what the heck happened. Anyway .... I guess I need to move on.

 

[Bereal]

Related somewhat to @RitaLA s post, I edited my response and thought I would make a separate post for my question...

My SA and I have a good working relationship and are very friendly. We have a lot of fun at our appointments, but it has been slow and stately in developing despite how much I‘ve spent and has been unrelated to even getting offers for my dream bags, which have been frequent. It was as if he was (and is) following a protocol. First I got his card, then a certain amount of time passed before I got his cell number and could text, then a year or so (I think it was anyway) before I got a Christmas card. A certain amount of time before he responded quickly to texts. It is interesting. I have always received excellent service, and get certain perks now but still have never received a thank you text/note. I’m guessing that might be the final frontier.

I’d be interested to know if any other H veterans have had this experience?

I’ve just met my SA and she has been super nice. Maybe because of the lockdown, but she had to text me and gave me her email as well. Always responds right away to any queries.

 

[raradarling]

Related somewhat to @RitaLA s post, I edited my response and thought I would make a separate post for my question...

My SA and I have a good working relationship and are very friendly. We have a lot of fun at our appointments, but it has been slow and stately in developing despite how much I‘ve spent and has been unrelated to even getting offers for my dream bags, which have been frequent. It was as if he was (and is) following a protocol. First I got his card, then a certain amount of time passed before I got his cell number and could text, then a year or so (I think it was anyway) before I got a Christmas card. A certain amount of time before he responded quickly to texts. It is interesting. I have always received excellent service, and get certain perks now but still have never received a thank you text/note. I’m guessing that might be the final frontier.

I’d be interested to know if any other H veterans have had this experience?

Hi there!

I think it just depends on your SA? My SA gave me her email, but no cell number. So, I thought maybe that meant I wasn’t in line for my Wishlist bag. Also, she has always been slow to reply but I think that may be due to her not being big on technology. But, she does reply eventually and I was offered a bag last year. But I will add that I felt that she was always very open and positive with me, so I felt the relationship was a good one and was moving forward. Now, with the pandemic, she is slower to reply and items I inquire about are harder to come by. So, I think it comes down to your gut feeling about your SA and maybe less about a pattern? I do check in with her once in a while (every 3 months or so) about the bags I’m looking for - so I don’t bother her. Not sure if this made sense or is helpful! Best of luck getting your bag! I’m sure it will come soon!

 

[_kiki119_]

What would you do if you were in my situation?
I am pretty new to H and started a relationship at Vegas Bellagio back in October. I have purchased a her bag, scarf and oran on my first visit. And since have purchased a picotin, GP and 3 twilly fm my SA since then.

i have expressed interested in fewRTW pieces and a ODC bracelet, but she keeps telling me to check on stock and send me photos for 2 weeks now. I am out of states so i appreciate all her help!

i have expressed interested in a B with her but now i know Bellagio has the toughest stock situation.... so i have been toying the idea to start a relationship with the Orlando store when i visit during spring break... i feel like i am “cheating” with my vegas SA but just seem like she doesn’t have much time for me

 

[acrowcounted]

What would you do if you were in my situation?
I am pretty new to H and started a relationship at Vegas Bellagio back in October. I have purchased a her bag, scarf and oran on my first visit. And since have purchased a picotin, GP and 3 twilly fm my SA since then.

i have expressed interested in fewRTW pieces and a ODC bracelet, but she keeps telling me to check on stock and send me photos for 2 weeks now. I am out of states so i appreciate all her help!

i have expressed interested in a B with her but now i know Bellagio has the toughest stock situation.... so i have been toying the idea to start a relationship with the Orlando store when i visit during spring break... i feel like i am “cheating” with my vegas SA but just seem like she doesn’t have much time for me

I wouldn’t shop orlando unless you are planning to switch there entirely going forward. Vegas knows they are a “tourist” driven city and that many people are drive-by customers trying to get lucky while happily on vacation. They value strict loyalty. Also don’t forget, stores get quota bag allotments based on store sales. If a store‘s client is shopping elsewhere, it lowers their sales, which will trickle down to the number of bags they are allowed to order, which trickles down to an individual’s likelihood of getting an offer. In other words, “if you’re helping other stores get more quota bags from corporate, why should we offer you one from our stash?”

What do you mean when you say she “tells you to check on stock and send photos?” How could you check stock?

 

[_kiki119_]

I wouldn’t shop orlando unless you are planning to switch there entirely going forward. Vegas knows they are a “tourist” driven city and that many people are drive-by customers trying to get lucky while happily on vacation. They value strict loyalty. Also don’t forget, stores get quota bag allotments based on store sales. If a store‘s client is shopping elsewhere, it lowers their sales, which will trickle down to the number of bags they are allowed to order, which trickles down to an individual’s likelihood of getting an offer. In other words, “if you’re helping other stores get more quota bags from corporate, why should we offer you one from our stash?”

What do you mean when you say she “tells you to check on stock and send photos?” How could you check stock?

Thank you for input and that’s my initial thoughts also, but i am running low on patience
on the last question i wasnot clear... she said she would check stock and photos and get back to me... I’ve been waiting for 2 wks now. She was responsive when i got a picotin and GP and twillys a few weeks ago, but slow down once requested RTW and jewelry. She said the store had been swamped so i have been trying to be patience

 

[acrowcounted]

Thank you for input and that’s my initial thoughts also, but i am running low on patience
on the last question i wasnot clear... she said she would check stock and photos and get back to me... I’ve been waiting for 2 wks now. She was responsive when i got a picotin and GP and twillys a few weeks ago, but slow down once requested RTW and jewelry. She said the store had been swamped so i have been trying to be patience

Honestly, just my opinion and I know others may disagree but, you’ve only been shopping there for four months and during arguably the lowest inventory time in recent history and during major shipping delay events nationwide, while the SAs are working about three days a week and the store open hours are decreased by almost 50%...I don’t think it’s a store problem or an SA problem and certainly not personal. What likely happened is that the items you requested previously were available immediately in your store‘s local inventory and now the additional items are likely not available at the store which means your SA would have to search at other stores. If she finds it somewhere else, she then has to wait until her next shift/available time that coincides with the other store being open to call them and try to get them to ship it to your store. Then the other store has to take time out of their busy day to locate the item in the back room, inspect it, do the transfer paperwork, box it up and ship it to your store all while having very little incentive to do so since they aren’t getting the sale, so it often takes several days, if they are willing at all (sometimes stores just say “nope, we’re not letting go of that item because we think we can sell it ourselves”) Then you have shipping delays from FedEx outside of everyone’s control. All this is to say that it’s not uncommon, in my experience and research, to wait several weeks for items these days and would likely be no different at another store. JMHO.

 

[corgimom11]

Honestly, just my opinion and I know others may disagree but, you’ve only been shopping there for four months and during arguably the lowest inventory time in recent history and during major shipping delay events nationwide, while the SAs are working about three days a week and the store open hours are decreased by almost 50%...I don’t think it’s a store problem or an SA problem and certainly not personal. What likely happened is that the items you requested previously were available immediately in your store‘s local inventory and now the additional items are likely not available at the store which means your SA would have to search at other stores. If she finds it somewhere else, she then has to wait until her next shift/available time that coincides with the other store being open to call them and try to get them to ship it to your store. Then the other store has to take time out of their busy day to locate the item in the back room, inspect it, do the transfer paperwork, box it up and ship it to your store all while having very little incentive to do so since they aren’t getting the sale, so it often takes several days, if they are willing at all (sometimes stores just say “nope, we’re not letting go of that item because we think we can sell it ourselves”) Then you have shipping delays from FedEx outside of everyone’s control. All this is to say that it’s not uncommon, in my experience and research, to wait several weeks for items these days and would likely be no different at another store. JMHO.

@_kiki119_ , what @acrowcounted is absolutely true. I say this as someone that shops extensively at my store. I waited 4 months for a pair of $1,000 sneakers because of the amount of back and forth that my boutique had with the BH store to swap and this is with spending $$$$ on many other items in the interim at that. I have also had worldwide search jewelry items magically appear in a couple of weeks, while I'm still waiting on others months later, and in one particular case, I walked in the store last week and got a jewelry item I had been asking for 6 months on that they had literally received the day before. There are RTW item(s) I have requested that my SA has come back and said they are regrettably unable to source. There is no rhyme or reason to H inventory, especially not right now.

 

[Etriers]

Hi there!

I think it just depends on your SA? My SA gave me her email, but no cell number. So, I thought maybe that meant I wasn’t in line for my Wishlist bag. Also, she has always been slow to reply but I think that may be due to her not being big on technology. But, she does reply eventually and I was offered a bag last year. But I will add that I felt that she was always very open and positive with me, so I felt the relationship was a good one and was moving forward. Now, with the pandemic, she is slower to reply and items I inquire about are harder to come by. So, I think it comes down to your gut feeling about your SA and maybe less about a pattern? I do check in with her once in a while (every 3 months or so) about the bags I’m looking for - so I don’t bother her. Not sure if this made sense or is helpful! Best of luck getting your bag! I’m sure it will come soon!

Oh thanks! I appreciate your thoughts and experience. The cell number appears to be related to number of visits/spend. As is the quickness of reply. That will happen, just hang in there.

I have been offered the quota bags I‘ve wanted, get great care and have a great SA. I was just wondering from some of the ultra-veterans if they ever got the feeling their “induction” process followed a somewhat prescribed path. I’m probably at the intermediate-promotable level (I’m guessing) and am wondering what the path looks like for advanced/grad level H shoppers.

 

[Etriers]

Honestly, just my opinion and I know others may disagree but, you’ve only been shopping there for four months and during arguably the lowest inventory time in recent history and during major shipping delay events nationwide, while the SAs are working about three days a week and the store open hours are decreased by almost 50%...I don’t think it’s a store problem or an SA problem and certainly not personal. What likely happened is that the items you requested previously were available immediately in your store‘s local inventory and now the additional items are likely not available at the store which means your SA would have to search at other stores. If she finds it somewhere else, she then has to wait until her next shift/available time that coincides with the other store being open to call them and try to get them to ship it to your store. Then the other store has to take time out of their busy day to locate the item in the back room, inspect it, do the transfer paperwork, box it up and ship it to your store all while having very little incentive to do so since they aren’t getting the sale, so it often takes several days, if they are willing at all (sometimes stores just say “nope, we’re not letting go of that item because we think we can sell it ourselves”) Then you have shipping delays from FedEx outside of everyone’s control. All this is to say that it’s not uncommon, in my experience and research, to wait several weeks for items these days and would likely be no different at another store. JMHO.

@_kiki119_ , what @acrowcounted is absolutely true. I say this as someone that shops extensively at my store. I waited 4 months for a pair of $1,000 sneakers because of the amount of back and forth that my boutique had with the BH store to swap and this is with spending $$$$ on many other items in the interim at that. I have also had worldwide search jewelry items magically appear in a couple of weeks, while I'm still waiting on others months later, and in one particular case, I walked in the store last week and got a jewelry item I had been asking for 6 months on that they had literally received the day before. There are RTW item(s) I have requested that my SA has come back and said they are regrettably unable to source. There is no rhyme or reason to H inventory, especially not right now.

This. Very good advice.

 

[WhiteBus]

Such good advice and perspectives.
Hermes sells luxury goods: even what you might think of as basic wardrobe items like scarves, sneakers and other accessories are never 'mass produced'. Even prior to covid supplies were never limitless with stock always available in every size and every colour.

By the way how can you 'cheat' on your SA?
Do you think your SA is cheating on you when he or she serves another customer?
You have to feel free to shop where and with whom you want.

 

[nymeria]

Honestly, just my opinion and I know others may disagree but, you’ve only been shopping there for four months and during arguably the lowest inventory time in recent history and during major shipping delay events nationwide, while the SAs are working about three days a week and the store open hours are decreased by almost 50%...I don’t think it’s a store problem or an SA problem and certainly not personal. What likely happened is that the items you requested previously were available immediately in your store‘s local inventory and now the additional items are likely not available at the store which means your SA would have to search at other stores. If she finds it somewhere else, she then has to wait until her next shift/available time that coincides with the other store being open to call them and try to get them to ship it to your store. Then the other store has to take time out of their busy day to locate the item in the back room, inspect it, do the transfer paperwork, box it up and ship it to your store all while having very little incentive to do so since they aren’t getting the sale, so it often takes several days, if they are willing at all (sometimes stores just say “nope, we’re not letting go of that item because we think we can sell it ourselves”) Then you have shipping delays from FedEx outside of everyone’s control. All this is to say that it’s not uncommon, in my experience and research, to wait several weeks for items these days and would likely be no different at another store. JMHO.

Could not have said it better!
And I'll just add when your SA IS in, his/her day is jam packed with appts., and no time to DO that sourcing- hence their doing it on their WFH day, where they oftentimes do not have access to other stores inventory. I see them ( ALL of the SAs at my store) and they are ALL working extremely hard, are at times exhausted and are always lovely and professional. Props to them!

 

[_kiki119_]

oh i totally agree with above sentiments there! I do not disagree all SAs works hard.
I am new to the H journey, so def that it is a different shopping adjustment with approach & timeline. So all above feedback is much appreciated and I am always grateful that my SA willingness to help when she can.

good to know about the timeline and wait time on getting items... it is def an adjustment from other boutiques that I am used to... for example Chanel, you have to buy now or regret later lol.. and Hermes is a slow & steady process.

I will stick with my original intuition to stick with one sA for now.... I am NOT in a sprint to get a bag offer at all... and know i am in this in a long haul.

 

[cravin]

oh i totally agree with above sentiments there! I do not disagree all SAs works hard.
I am new to the H journey, so def that it is a different shopping adjustment with approach & timeline. So all above feedback is much appreciated and I am always grateful that my SA willingness to help when she can.

good to know about the timeline and wait time on getting items... it is def an adjustment from other boutiques that I am used to... for example Chanel, you have to buy now or regret later lol.. and Hermes is a slow & steady process.

I will stick with my original intuition to stick with one sA for now.... I am NOT in a sprint to get a bag offer at all... and know i am in this in a long haul.

As someone else mentioned, ignoring the supply issues from COVID, Hermes doesn’t produce anywhere near the same amount of items that other brands do, so finding the exact item that you’re looking for is a longer process.