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.

 

[blackbear2126]

The root of the difficulty is Resellers.

Hermes does not mass produce its goods.
there is a limited supply:
this means that for the most desired items there is a ready market to resell brand new items at a premium;
as a consequence Hermes introduced systems to screen buyers.
This was recognised a few years ago (read the book 'Bringing Home the Birkin) and buyers started to play Hermes at its own game. In some countries this fuelled the problems that upset you.

The willingness or otherwise of staff to source items that are not in stock (especially at the moment when time is limited) will depend on how shoppers interact with them.

You question the business model.
Some consultants would advise Hermes to increase the retail price of its items to a point where demand more closely matches supply: the $10,000 Birkin might become $50,000+

Lol after seeing your reply, I’m like, OMG at least they are not selling B or K for $50,000+!

 

[blackbear2126]

Breaking all the rules
After being a slow but steady Hermes customer in Europe and Asia for about 15 years, I started a new relationship 3 years ago at my local stores because of our constant moving all over. My home store is still Paris and due to travel restrictions, they have reserved items including SLGs and quota bags, for more than a year waiting for me. This is a real privilege and I acknowledge it. Even though my SA offered to ship everything I declined for various very good reasons including customs issues in my current country of residence (not straightforward, things go missing, not risking an exotic quota bag).
I have been happily supporting my 2 local stores simultaneously, just buying shoes, RTW and homeware to use and enjoy, especially when I find that they have the items in the sizes I need. I do not request transfers between the stores and they are certainly aware that I shop in Paris. Everthing else they cannot find, I request direct from Paris. I began here as a newbie, as what I call a Bolduc level client, so far both stores have offered me bags which I tend to use now, TPM Evelyns, Mini Roulis, Aline, mini Lindy, (small crossbody bags) etc as they know I carry much less in this current climate. Both SA have also reached out recently to ask for my wishlist as they seem to be doing allocations around this time of year. My point is taking it easy and just enjoying the odyssey with Hermes makes it generally a much more pleasant experience with zero stress. Perhaps it is the stage at which I am now that I was offered and accepted my smooth Fauve Barenia C18 here (apparently no one appreciates smooth Barenia and Box here so I have first dibs) and have declined all other bags so far. Let's see how it goes from now. Best of luck to everyone.

That’s wonderful! 15 yrs! I’m glad both SA are aware of your situation and still work with you maybe because they are I. Different countries!
My SA told me that even if my husband is going to open an account either different store or the same store i shop in US, the policy won’t allow it
I learned about this because one time my husband was going to surprised me some gifts and then was told by another SA at a different store in US that that address already associate with an address in a different IS store. My husband was shocked So I asked my home store SA and my SA told me only 1 account per household address, otherwise that will impact my profile for quota bags so I let my SA know that my husband was just trying to be nice to surprise me with a gift while on business trip ‍♀️‍♀️

 

[duggi84]

Yes shopping should be fun! I think I just got a bit frustrated because it’s my first time working with a SA who does not want to transfer anything at all ( I’m not asking twilly or small items). I guess it’s bizarre that my SA is saving money for me
I totally agree and support the idea that the company or SAs never made it stressful to begin with.

That’s wonderful! 15 yrs! I’m glad both SA are aware of your situation and still work with you maybe because they are I. Different countries!
My SA told me that even if my husband is going to open an account either different store or the same store i shop in US, the policy won’t allow it
I learned about this because one time my husband was going to surprised me some gifts and then was told by another SA at a different store in US that that address already associate with an address in a different IS store. My husband was shocked So I asked my home store SA and my SA told me only 1 account per household address, otherwise that will impact my profile for quota bags so I let my SA know that my husband was just trying to be nice to surprise me with a gift while on business trip ‍♀‍♀

After reading both of these responses, I feel you may be experiencing things a little differently than the rest of us...and it might be worth talking to your SA about, or even find a new SA if you think it may not lead anywhere.

Ours has absolutely been able to transfer items from other US stores for us, and has gladly done it multiple times. He also proactively had us each setup our own account...nothing about one account per address.

 

[periogirl28]

That’s wonderful! 15 yrs! I’m glad both SA are aware of your situation and still work with you maybe because they are I. Different countries!
My SA told me that even if my husband is going to open an account either different store or the same store i shop in US, the policy won’t allow it
I learned about this because one time my husband was going to surprised me some gifts and then was told by another SA at a different store in US that that address already associate with an address in a different IS store. My husband was shocked So I asked my home store SA and my SA told me only 1 account per household address, otherwise that will impact my profile for quota bags so I let my SA know that my husband was just trying to be nice to surprise me with a gift while on business trip ‍♀‍♀

Both my current SAs are in the same country, same city (we have 4 stores in the city) and they know each other. They definitely can see all my purchases at each store in their system. I cannot comment on how it works in the US as I have only randomly shopped in different cities while on holiday.

 

[blackbear2126]

@duggi84 I actually did talk to my SA and unfortunately my SA still insisted that’s the rule. I guess I will just have to either change SA or the store completely.

@periogirl28 Wow, that’s great! I wish I can do that as well. I might just tell my husband, the next time just find a different SA in the store (if the first SA is not willing to do so) while on business trip!

 

[duggi84]

@duggi84 I actually did talk to my SA and unfortunately my SA still insisted that’s the rule. I guess I will just have to either change SA or the store completely.

@periogirl28 Wow, that’s great! I wish I can do that as well. I might just tell my husband, the next time just find a different SA in the store (if the first SA is not willing to do so) while on business trip!

Are you willing to share what store you're shopping with? Maybe someone else who shops there can chime-in or reach out via private message with some tips or a recommendation on a different SA?

 

[blackbear2126]

Are you willing to share what store you're shopping with? Maybe someone else who shops there can chime-in or reach out via private message with some tips or a recommendation on a different SA?

I shop at west coast. I don’t want reveal the store in case my SA also reads this forum. But if anyone has tips for shopping at west coast, please PM me! TIA

 

[RitaLA]

I shop at west coast. I don’t want reveal the store in case my SA also reads this forum. But if anyone has tips for shopping at west coast, please PM me! TIA

Don’t want to mention the store either, but I worked with a SA for 2 years and last year she was not looking into the items I wanted and she was not engaged. Needless to say, I wasn’t enjoying the brand. I switched SAs. Will start a new relationship soon

 

[AmalieLotte92]

I'd imagine that resellers have no problem maintaining a "healthy" relationsip at Hermès - just to bring it back on topic - what with the high spending levels and the frequency of in-store visits. Some of the shopping haul videos I've seen online, my first reaction was, "Wow. Big, wealthy spenders!" But then the pattern of what was purchased (some items only differed in color), the number of times they visited a particular boutique, and just how much was accumulated in such a short period of time....it just made me wonder:

Avid Hermès customer who loves the brand, wants to collect it all, has an amazing SA and deep pockets? OR...reseller?

 

[miuciaxoxo]

Just started my H journey. I love the brand in awhile but dont really have much budget to spend on several items each year. Is this impolite to book an appointment with SA to catch up with her and see items in store? I find it easier to build connection in person. I plan to have monthly or every 2 month visits but dont think I can purchase everytime I visit the store. Will my SA think that I waste her time?

 

[WhiteBus]

Just started my H journey. I love the brand in awhile but dont really have much budget to spend on several items each year. Is this impolite to book an appointment with SA to catch up with her and see items in store? I find it easier to build connection in person. I plan to have monthly or every 2 month visits but dont think I can purchase everytime I visit the store. Will my SA think that I waste her time?

Hermes is retail shop. Whatever else you might read or whatever other impression you might have got, the employees are there to sell items to customers. Admittedly Hermes produces high quality goods in low volumes and you cannot expect everything to be available in every option all the time. Try and get it into your head that you do not need to treat shopping at Hermes any differently to anywhere else.
If you have the genuine (long term) interest you claim, Hermes will want to welcome you as a potential long term customer rather than a cash cow angling to drop whatever is necessary to curry favour and be offered a Birkin.

 

[acrowcounted]

Just started my H journey. I love the brand in awhile but dont really have much budget to spend on several items each year. Is this impolite to book an appointment with SA to catch up with her and see items in store? I find it easier to build connection in person. I plan to have monthly or every 2 month visits but dont think I can purchase everytime I visit the store. Will my SA think that I waste her time?

In the current appointment-only world, I would not make an appointment “just to catch up” as these are working hours for your SA where she hopes to make sales, not for social calls. If this is the kind of relationship you want, I would wait until stores open back up a bit to where appointments are no longer necessary and then browse at your own pace.

 

[lulilu]

In the current appointment-only world, I would not make an appointment “just to catch up” as these are working hours for your SA where she hopes to make sales, not for social calls. If this is the kind of relationship you want, I would wait until stores open back up a bit to where appointments are no longer necessary and then browse at your own pace.

Agree. I used to stop in whenever I was near the boutique, just to see what's new. Sometimes buy, sometimes not. Now with the appointment system, I would not make an appointment to do that. Now I just am waiting patiently for a bag my SA promised the SM ordered for me. I miss the casual shopping.

 

[HAllDay]

I also miss those days of casual shopping. I do appreciate the appointment system because your SA gives you his or her undivided attention, but there is this pressure to make it worth it for everyone. I wouldn’t advise making an appointment to catch up unless you are VVIP.

 

[luxlover88]

What do you think when your SA ignores your questions? I understand if she doesn’t reply in a few days cause she’s busy or was off, but what if she completely disregards your questions? Lol she’s done this previously too and I guess I should’ve caught on the cue on the type of questions I ask but whenever I ask regarding quota bags like how hard is such colour or combo to Come by or how about this seasons colours and what she thinks the chances are - it’s like she just doesn’t bother answering me cause I’d never hear from her and the next time I’d hear from her is when she tells me something I’ve had previously asked for has arrived in the store. Totally disregarded my previous question(s). And here I know of people getting offered their dream combos and that’s why I asked about bag combos since she’s never asked me and told me the more specific I am the harder it would be. Maybe I’m thinking too much?