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.

 

[880]

Until now, after spending boatloads of cash. I finally know how to get the small items I want. I would say that now I have a working relationship with my SA.

Even now my SA is still telling me that people who are not VIPs wont be able to get the new season shoes.

How candid is that….lol. I supposed this is what comes out of a genuine relationship with mutual respect.

OMG! I am so sorry wow

i cannot think of an emoticon suitable for not being able to get a pair of shoes

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

OMG! I am so sorry wow

i cannot think of an emoticon suitable for not being able to get a pair of shoes

I’m totally cool with it. She told me how to get the ones I wanted. But it’s no biggie that I don’t get this season because I have enough of what I wanted.

 

[n1a]

My journey with H is just started last year.
But I am feeling burn out already. Not because I have to keep spending to get the quota bags. I received my quota bags. But the absence of response from my SA if I tried to make appointment. So my attitude now is; if you want me to spend my money at your store, you can response to me or contact me. Otherwise I can shop elsewhere.
And if I really want something I just drop by without appointment.
Like many here said, it is not life and death, it is shopping for luxury goods.
I dont need to beg for attention.

I hope the lack of response is only because the SAs are overwhelmed during the busiest season and covid.
And we can enjoy shopping at hermes after everything subsidises.

 

[WhiteBus]

frankly, it probably won’t happen. It’s a vicious cycle as some genuine customers gets so frustrated at that they are buying bags and other items from resellers to spare themselves the trouble.

Also, I’m pretty sure some of the resellers are long time customers that H values.

I would not want to argue with any of that.
That is the way of the world.

 

[WhiteBus]

I would agree this ^ is quite likely

Re the issue of whether this rat race is unique to H. . . I would say it’s not exclusive to H by any means. The scarcity of product and two year + waitlists are the new reality for many premier luxury brands. At one such luxury niche brand, the wait list is two years for a popular watch for current customers (customers have purchased a prior watch or more, average usual price around 50k+). The SM will admit that this process is not up to the management or staff. The watches are literally made in such limited quantities that there is barely enough for the current customers. In fact, the wait list is closed on one particular model bc the company cannot guarantee fulfillment no matter the wait. It’s a very one percent problem

Some years ago there was a television series where the CEO of a top international chemical company gave advice help smaller businesses improve. The Morgan Car Company (prestige, hand made, traditional sports cars) had a waiting list of over two years. Increasing production was not an option. The advice was to increase the price until number of potential buyers self regulated and the waiting list was reduced to six months.
As I recall, it did not do that.

 

[WhiteBus]

My journey with H is just started last year.
But I am feeling burn out already. Not because I have to keep spending to get the quota bags. I received my quota bags. But the absence of response from my SA if I tried to make appointment. So my attitude now is; if you want me to spend my money at your store, you can response to me or contact me. Otherwise I can shop elsewhere.
And if I really want something I just drop by without appointment.
Like many here said, it is not life and death, it is shopping for luxury goods.
I dont need to beg for attention.

I hope the lack of response is only because the SAs are overwhelmed during the busiest season and covid.
And we can enjoy shopping at hermes after everything subsidises.

Good for you, that you realised that so quickly and have an approach that will empower you. It's not about being pushy, assertive or unpleasant.
It's knowing within yourself that as a customer you are needed; the power is with you.
And even more importantly putting the necessity of the kind of goods all this angst is about into perspective.

 

[MissSteph]

Ladies, i am torn and needing some guidance please!
I started my H journey in 2019, spent a little over 1:1 and got my first birkin (35 black:gold HW) in early 2020. I then spend another 1:1 mostly due to a lovely mini roulis and got an offer later that year for a B30 in the color that I especially love but I had to decline because it was the wrong hardware and leather. Understand that this color is my perfect dream color so I don’t want to settle for the wrong combo because I doubt I would go for another B with the same color later when the right thing comes along. (This decision still fill me with some regret today).
Anyway, the issue comes when my SA suddenly moved store across the country to my hometown (edit: I am in the US). I did not find out about it until later and had tried to see if I could find another SA in my usual boutique but no luck clicking with anyone. I visited my hometown for the holiday and went to see my old SA in her new boutique and bought a couple of things, things still go well and she told me that some of her clients also follow her and that she actually very appreciate that ppl still buy through her (phone orders). I told her I would love to do the same since I like her but then she told me that leather goods cannot be bought through phones and I would have to be physically present. The dilemmas are as follow:
1. I feel some loyalty to her but not sure if I would lose my spend history and place in line for a quota bag if I switch boutique. Does it hurt me? Which would give me more chance for a quota bag: being loyal to the SA or the boutique?
2. My usual boutique is in a high earnings area which is super competitive. The one in my hometown is known for being one of the easier location to get quota bags. However, me not being physically there may pose some inconvenience and I may miss out on available offer when I cannot be there (I visit twice a year and honestly if it is a quota bag that matches my wishlist I do not mind making a trip to visit my family heehee)

Rant over, please tell me what you think and how I should proceed. Hoping to get another quota bag next year and old SA actually asked what kind of bags I want today.

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

Ladies, i am torn and needing some guidance please!
I started my H journey in 2019, spent a little over 1:1 and got my first birkin (35 black:gold HW) in early 2020. I then spend another 1:1 mostly due to a lovely mini roulis and got an offer later that year for a B30 in the color that I especially love but I had to decline because it was the wrong hardware and leather. Understand that this color is my perfect dream color so I don’t want to settle for the wrong combo because I doubt I would go for another B with the same color later when the right thing comes along. (This decision still fill me with some regret today).
Anyway, the issue comes when my SA suddenly moved store across the country to my hometown (edit: I am in the US). I did not find out about it until later and had tried to see if I could find another SA in my usual boutique but no luck clicking with anyone. I visited my hometown for the holiday and went to see my old SA in her new boutique and bought a couple of things, things still go well and she told me that some of her clients also follow her and that she actually very appreciate that ppl still buy through her (phone orders). I told her I would love to do the same since I like her but then she told me that leather goods cannot be bought through phones and I would have to be physically present. The dilemmas are as follow:
1. I feel some loyalty to her but not sure if I would lose my spend history and place in line for a quota bag if I switch boutique. Does it hurt me? Which would give me more chance for a quota bag: being loyal to the SA or the boutique?
2. My boutique is in a high earnings area which is super competitive. My hometown is known for being one of the easier location to get quota bags. However, me not being physically there may pose some inconvenience and I may miss out on available offer when I cannot be there (I visit twice a year and honestly if it is a quota bag that matches my wishlist I do not mind making a trip to visit my family heehee)

Rant over, please tell me what you think and how I should proceed. Hoping to get another quota bag next year and old SA actually asked what kind of bags I want today.

i heard of a few such cases. Usually the old SA will consider the best interest of the client and suggest to start shopping with her after the client receives a quota bag from the current store.

not sure if it could work the same for u.

 

[acrowcounted]

Ladies, i am torn and needing some guidance please!
I started my H journey in 2019, spent a little over 1:1 and got my first birkin (35 black:gold HW) in early 2020. I then spend another 1:1 mostly due to a lovely mini roulis and got an offer later that year for a B30 in the color that I especially love but I had to decline because it was the wrong hardware and leather. Understand that this color is my perfect dream color so I don’t want to settle for the wrong combo because I doubt I would go for another B with the same color later when the right thing comes along. (This decision still fill me with some regret today).
Anyway, the issue comes when my SA suddenly moved store across the country to my hometown (edit: I am in the US). I did not find out about it until later and had tried to see if I could find another SA in my usual boutique but no luck clicking with anyone. I visited my hometown for the holiday and went to see my old SA in her new boutique and bought a couple of things, things still go well and she told me that some of her clients also follow her and that she actually very appreciate that ppl still buy through her (phone orders). I told her I would love to do the same since I like her but then she told me that leather goods cannot be bought through phones and I would have to be physically present. The dilemmas are as follow:
1. I feel some loyalty to her but not sure if I would lose my spend history and place in line for a quota bag if I switch boutique. Does it hurt me? Which would give me more chance for a quota bag: being loyal to the SA or the boutique?
2. My usual boutique is in a high earnings area which is super competitive. The one in my hometown is known for being one of the easier location to get quota bags. However, me not being physically there may pose some inconvenience and I may miss out on available offer when I cannot be there (I visit twice a year and honestly if it is a quota bag that matches my wishlist I do not mind making a trip to visit my family heehee)

Rant over, please tell me what you think and how I should proceed. Hoping to get another quota bag next year and old SA actually asked what kind of bags I want today.

If you already bought from your old SA at her new store, you’ve likely already done the damage to your loyalty at your original store. Your prior purchase history will likely be worthless if you switch but if you think the hometown store is “easier” anyway then that might not matter so much. Many of us shop remotely, it can be a hassle but can also be worth it if you have an invested SA.

 

[cravin]

As I see it some Posters view Hermès shopping and 'relationships' on a par to being accepted for membership at an exclusive club.
At the risk of sounding rude people do really just need to chill.
Hermès is a brand...and yes I understand that buying into that brand denotes a certain element of wealth or supposed 'good taste'.
Hermès stores are shops..the purpose of a shop is sell things-in the case of Hermès (unlike Zara or Longchamp) the items are all made in house not farmed out to factories some items are hand-made-Therefore there will always by the nature of the brand be limited supply of certain popular items.
Hermès sales associates are just that..sales people there to sell items to customers.
They are not your friend- you should not feel the need to get their 'approval' to gain admission to the 'elite club'.
Be genuine, be polite, if you love the brand and are open and honest the 'relationship' will grow.! It should be a form of relaxation
But desperation shows and do remember that some sales people will smell that desperation to 'be accepted to the club' and get offered a quota bag and string you along to boost their sales and therefore their commission.
I'm a little like a cracked record with what I am going to state next because I repeat it again and again but Its something I feel strongly some posters need reminding of.
Shopping should be joyful it should be a form of relaxation.
It shouldn't be a source of stress and handwringing and overthinking.
These are luxury goods its not life or death..relax and enjoy the shopping experience.
I will add here that during my long love affair with the brand I have had a few quota bag offers despite being a low spender.
I put this down to being open and honest and genuinely loving the brand and loving more than just the quota bags.

My long lost sister.

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

My journey with H is just started last year.
But I am feeling burn out already. Not because I have to keep spending to get the quota bags. I received my quota bags. But the absence of response from my SA if I tried to make appointment. So my attitude now is; if you want me to spend my money at your store, you can response to me or contact me. Otherwise I can shop elsewhere.
And if I really want something I just drop by without appointment.
Like many here said, it is not life and death, it is shopping for luxury goods.
I dont need to beg for attention.

I hope the lack of response is only because the SAs are overwhelmed during the busiest season and covid.
And we can enjoy shopping at hermes after everything subsidises.

Not too sure how it is like in your store.
I have met several instances where SAs “ignore” their customers because they don’t have the items that their customers want to sell.

In fact, sometimes SAs tell their customers to stop spending if they don’t have the bags available for the customer. I even heard of cases where SA up front tell a customer that no matter how much she spend, she is not gonna get the bag she wanted. This just their way to prevent any building up of expectations.

 

[MissSteph]

If you already bought from your old SA at her new store, you’ve likely already done the damage to your loyalty at your original store. Your prior purchase history will likely be worthless if you switch but if you think the hometown store is “easier” anyway then that might not matter so much. Many of us shop remotely, it can be a hassle but can also be worth it if you have an invested SA.

Does that mean that my old SA will unlikely able to get me a QB soon unless I continue to spend a lot with her at the new store?

 

[acrowcounted]

Does that mean that my old SA will unlikely able to get me a QB soon unless I continue to spend a lot with her at the new store?

You will likely have to rebuild your profile at the new store. Quota bag offers are nominated by the SA but the store manager will need to approve it and will look at what you’ve done for their store before doing so. Unless they see a significant amount of purchases at their own store, they likely won’t approve. Conversely, if your original store considers offering you a bag soon, that SM will see your recent purchases at the hometown store and that could be an issue for you.

 

[880]

Does that mean that my old SA will unlikely able to get me a QB soon unless I continue to spend a lot with her at the new store?

I agree with the responses you have received above in that you would have to build up your profile in the new store. And, if you don’t click with any of the SAs in the old one, sounds like you don’t have that much to lose. (I’m assuming you like H merchandise other than quota bags and would shop anyway, and that you may be like me — I won’t buy anything if I don’t like the SA). So long as you regularly visit your home town to shop, why not ask for her opinion

Re whether your home town is easier, some stores are perceived as super competitive, but end up getting more merchandise, so you might be able to make an argument for either. My store is a major flagship, and I don’t particularly have trouble getting bags I want, but I don’t keep as close a track on my prespend as other posters seem to do.

In the end, you should shop wherever you feel most comfortable with whomever you like, and only buy what you love. The QB will come

edit: I should add a caveat to my advice which is that my relationships with SAs transcend the brand. In fact, I took a hiatus from H boutique shopping when my last SA left H, years ago. I also follow SAs to different brands (assuming those brands are to my taste). This is because I value an individual SAs repository of knowledge and curation skills re what I like and what I have. But, I already have a sizable collection of H bags to begin with.

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

Does that mean that my old SA will unlikely able to get me a QB soon unless I continue to spend a lot with her at the new store?

If you have already spent a lot at your old store, I hope your SA handed you over properly to a responsible SA and somehow proposed something with the manager to help you with a QB before she leaves for the new store.

Personally, I don’t prefer an SA who doesn’t lookout for my interest.

Someone asked me what’s the rush to get QB a few pages back, this is the perfect reason for getting QB in a timely manner. SAs may not stay forever and I don’t want to end up in a limbo. Of course, not applicable for people who doesn’t think of it this way.