Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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[RoseyRetro]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone can share how you were able to establish a relationship with a boutique not in your home country and if you were able to score your dream bag. I had a such wonderful experience at a boutique in France (not Paris) and want to build the relationship there, however, I don’t want it to work against me that I’m not a ‘local’ (I.e, priority) considering my goal. I anticipate I can visit around 2-4 times per year. Would you all provide your perspective and experience? I appreciate any insight!

There isn't anything wrong with that, but you may need to adjust your expectations based on how active and involved you can be with your SA and that store. There may be locals who visit the store every month to purchase something and have more face time with your SA.

You would need to give your SA a heads up when you plan your next trip and if it is around the time when new bag shipments come in, you may have a better chance of getting a quota bag since it might be hard for your SA to hold a quota bag for you for a long time (i.e., more than a week).

I'd also think about what would happen if you visited and you didn't find anything you liked or was in stock. What would you do then?

 

[KristinS]

There isn't anything wrong with that, but you may need to adjust your expectations based on how active and involved you can be with your SA and that store. There may be locals who visit the store every month to purchase something and have more face time with your SA.

You would need to give your SA a heads up when you plan your next trip and if it is around the time when new bag shipments come in, you may have a better chance of getting a quota bag since it might be hard for your SA to hold a quota bag for you for a long time (i.e., more than a week).

I'd also think about what would happen if you visited and you didn't find anything you liked or was in stock. What would you do then?

All valid and thought provoking points! I was going to give my SA a list of items I know I want in preparation for my trip I don’t know if that is even an option, but worth a try? What is the general frequency of bag shipments? Hopefully for a mid to large size boutique in a large city bag shipments happen more than once a month …

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

All valid and thought provoking points! I was going to give my SA a list of items I know I want in preparation for my trip I don’t know if that is even an option, but worth a try? What is the general frequency of bag shipments? Hopefully for a mid to large size boutique in a large city bag shipments happen more than once a month …

I think you can’t expect any H boutiques to have any fixed frequency. Personal experience with H SAs is that no shipment/no stock could mean really no shipment or yes, there is shipment/stock but the arriving stock is not for you. Recently, I found that it could also mean the SA cannot locate the item or have no time to locate the item.

 

[balletslipper00]

Hi ladies! I'm wondering if it's fine to ask my SA the dept he is under? I would love to show thanks by spending a bit more in his dept. Or is it more appropriate to let him start the topic?

 

[Nahreen]

Hi ladies! I'm wondering if it's fine to ask my SA the dept he is under? I would love to show thanks by spending a bit more in his dept. Or is it more appropriate to let him start the topic?

I think you should just buy what you like, regardless of which department those items belong too. I also think honesty in what you like and don´t like is just as important, not to waste the time of an SA showing you items you are really not interested in.

 

[Ethengdurst]

Hi ladies! I'm wondering if it's fine to ask my SA the dept he is under? I would love to show thanks by spending a bit more in his dept. Or is it more appropriate to let him start the topic?

No problem in asking, I know what department my and DH’s SAs are. But we don’t spend more in their department cos they can get us whatever we ask for from any department (if available) and I think still get their commission?

 

[acrowcounted]

THis may not be the right thread, but I am trying to avoid a funny conversation in Hermes.. back story, I am building a purchase history, and my husband unknowingly put the Oran Sandals I purchased and signed his name up in the system, paying with my CC (I was perusing elsewhere in store).. Is it completely inappropriate to bring this up to the SA? I will be switching stores, as we moved..

Need more details. These Orans were the first item you purchased at a new store and your husband accidentally created a new profile there in his name when purchasing them? Unfortunately, I think moving the purchase to another profile is not possible, if that is what you are hoping to do. From what I’ve read, it is possible to merge accounts when a client accidentally has two accounts in their name but I’m not sure its an option for two separate people to merge, and even in the best of cases it is a belabored process to have merges done. My recommendation is to either now shop from your husband’s profile exclusively (though he’ll likely have to be physically present for all purchases) or write off the Orans as a loss to your own profile and be sure from here on out that the SA puts all purchases properly on your own client account.

 

[Vivien Lee]

Need more details. These Orans were the first item you purchased at a new store and your husband accidentally created a new profile there in his name when purchasing them? Unfortunately, I think moving the purchase to another profile is not possible, if that is what you are hoping to do. From what I’ve read, it is possible to merge accounts when a client accidentally has two accounts in their name but I’m not sure its an option for two separate people to merge, and even in the best of cases it is a belabored process to have merges done. My recommendation is to either now shop from your husband’s profile exclusively (though he’ll likely have to be physically present for all purchases) or write off the Orans as a loss to your own profile and be sure from here on out that the SA puts all purchases properly on your own client account.

Depending on how many QB you want per year (some prefer different profiles to maximize number of QB one can get), I heard it's possible to have family account. I have a family account with my husband so all the purchases count under one account.

 

[stardustmd]

Asking for anyone’s thoughts..I started shopping at an Hermes since 2020 and my first SA left. I now have a new SA who’s also really great. I had a K on my wishlist since my first SA and when I met the new SA I told her again that I wish for a K28. I have a spending ratio of 2:1 so far and still no offers. Anyway I didn’t want to pressure anyone so I often don’t mention it. I recently went in to purchase some Christmas gifts and although stock was low I was happy to purchase a couple of items. I didn’t mention anything about a bag and as I am checking out my SA starts explaining how the stock is so low, especially in the bag department. Is she just feeling bad for not offering anything? Does it sound like she’ll never offer a bag? I didn’t even ask for a bag since I know the stock is so low. I have purchased only a tpm evelyne so far and would love to get an offer eventually. She asked me to bear with her and I guess that means no offers anytime soon…

 

[leechiyong]

Asking for anyone’s thoughts..I started shopping at an Hermes since 2020 and my first SA left. I now have a new SA who’s also really great. I had a K on my wishlist since my first SA and when I met the new SA I told her again that I wish for a K28. I have a spending ratio of 2:1 so far and still no offers. Anyway I didn’t want to pressure anyone so I often don’t mention it. I recently went in to purchase some Christmas gifts and although stock was low I was happy to purchase a couple of items. I didn’t mention anything about a bag and as I am checking out my SA starts explaining how the stock is so low, especially in the bag department. Is she just feeling bad for not offering anything? Does it sound like she’ll never offer a bag? I didn’t even ask for a bag since I know the stock is so low. I have purchased only a tpm evelyne so far and would love to get an offer eventually. She asked me to bear with her and I guess that means no offers anytime soon…

I’d take it at face value. She doesn’t have an offer for you right now, but is working on it. I’d take it as a good sign that she mentioned this without prompt honestly. If she wasn’t trying, I doubt she’d bring it up without you asking.

 

[Poohbear18]

I thought I would share my relationship as I just started shopping in Hermès in Feb 2021. I called randomly as it was in the middle of the lockdown and I was bored. My SA called me back and we had a great conversation for an hour. I actually wanted a Bolide as it suits my lifestyle. Our store was not selling any bags at that point. I slowly built a relationship just buying a few things that I really liked. When I calculate all the items, I did end up spending quite a bit. Items were 1 shawl, lots of China ( Bleu d'ailleurs..set of 8), a Bastia and a Calvi, 3 beach towels. A Bouncing sneaker (which I had to return due to a defect) and an Oasis sandal. A beautiful blanket for my husband. However, now I have a garden party 30 (first bag offered in March), a Bolide 25 ( second bag offered in September), and a Birkin 25 ( first quota bag end October). I think my SA knows that I only buy what I genuinely like and I actually enjoy shopping with her. It’s very quick and easy. I send her an email and she responds if she has the item available. I emailed her my wishlist for a Kelly 28 a few months ago but this Birkin was a bit of a surprise offer which I couldn’t refuse. Sometimes in my store, they are super busy and the SA can seem really rushed but she says she is always listening even while rushing around. All the bags I have are beautiful.

How often do you mention the bag for your SA after you tell him/her what you wish for?

 

[Bereal]

How often do you mention the bag for your SA after you tell him/her what you wish for?

I didn’t really mention it except once maybe a few months later just saying how exciting it would be to get a Kelly. I did put it on my email later explicitly stating the colours and size of the Kelly I wanted. I got offered a Birkin 25 instead so I actually thought about … until I saw the bag in person I wasn’t sure if I would get it. Of course it was so cute I said yes as soon as I saw it.

 

[Poohbear18]

I didn’t really mention it except once maybe a few months later just saying how exciting it would be to get a Kelly. I did put it on my email later explicitly stating the colours and size of the Kelly I wanted. I got offered a Birkin 25 instead so I actually thought about … until I saw the bag in person I wasn’t sure if I would get it. Of course it was so cute I said yes as soon as I saw it.

That sounds awesome! Also really good advice as well! Maybe I’ll drop the hint with her again when the new year comes. So hopefully the stock situation is better as well! Did you get offered the color you told her your wishlist? That would be my dream for a Kelly 25

 

[Bereal]

That sounds awesome! Also really good advice as well! Maybe I’ll drop the hint with her again when the new year comes. So hopefully the stock situation is better as well! Did you get offered the color you told her your wishlist? That would be my dream for a Kelly 25

Not really. I got offered a bright colour as she knows I love bright colours. My advice is be prepared to say No as you may not get what you have wished for. In my case, I said yes as it was a beautiful bag and I just fell in love with it.

 

[TheTravelBunny]

Have any of you ever returned a quota bag? Wondering how to broach the topic. It was gifted to me (they worked with my SA) but it’s not the bag I really want… Any advice?