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 shop at your local store please do a search in Hermes Shopping sub-forum and look for your store/region/country.

 

[H’sKisses]

Feeling super discouraged and lost, would love any feedback you might have related to my experience:

I moved to LA recently. I’ve purchased 2 mens ties and 2 twillies across SF, SCP, and BH. While my purchase history is small currently and I have no dedicated SA, I’m ready to shop more regularly and BH is my local store. I went in today hoping to connect with an SA who may be looking for a new client. My assigned SA was very kind and offered me a tour of each floor. He even offered me a Picotin 22 in Gris Felt / Swift. I expressed appreciation, but didn’t love the bag and declined (graciously, I hope). After walking thru the store, we checked out with a 90x90 scarf and a Bastia. While checking out (after viewing the felt Pico and touring the store), I noticed the SA removed a business card from my boxes, and returned it to his suit jacket. I assumed it was an extra in-store, but there was no business card in my shopping bag after I walked out.

Any ideas on what I did wrong or why this SA didn’t want me as a client? Is it related to my limited spend today or did I give bad vibes? General tips on connecting with a new SA? Thanks in advance.

May not have been a business card? It may have been something else, so I wouldn't worry... They wouldnt have put a card in only to take it out! Try calling the store to make an appointment, their name will be on your receipt.

 

[selfawarebaddesign]

Thanks for the reality check and encouragement!! Good points from everyone - will definitely make an appointment with the same SA next time, or be more direct with the next one I work with.

SF SAs I’ve worked with previously included their contact info w the receipt even for small purchases, but who’s to say others would do the same?

 

[glamgirlcoco]

Hi,
I’m new to the forum and new-ish to the hermes world as well. I started working with an SA in Boston last year in May but haven’t been able to build a good relationship because the SA wasn’t responsive to texts and anything in my wishlist is not available or takes months to get shipped, even if it was shipped he would put it aside for me but I never knew (my new SA told me I had items on hold for me). I can sympathize as it is covid times for items not in stock. I switched SA a couple months in as the first SA wasn’t responsive. New SA responds to texts always when I’m just checking in but never to request for my wishlist items (my wishlist items are all non-quota Items). Im thinking my store is just not in a place to accommodate new clients. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions if I were to begin a client/SA relationship in NYC instead? Is that something the Hermes in NYC would be open to?
Looking for any helpful suggestions/ advise as it’s been quite discouraging and saddening.

 

[WhiteBus]

Hi,
I’m new to the forum and new-ish to the hermes world as well. I started working with an SA in Boston last year in May but haven’t been able to build a good relationship because the SA wasn’t responsive to texts and anything in my wishlist is not available or takes months to get shipped, even if it was shipped he would put it aside for me but I never knew (my new SA told me I had items on hold for me). I can sympathize as it is covid times for items not in stock. I switched SA a couple months in as the first SA wasn’t responsive. New SA responds to texts always when I’m just checking in but never to request for my wishlist items (my wishlist items are all non-quota Items). Im thinking my store is just not in a place to accommodate new clients. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions if I were to begin a client/SA relationship in NYC instead? Is that something the Hermes in NYC would be open to?
Looking for any helpful suggestions/ advise as it’s been quite discouraging and saddening.

Just how much person to person contact have you had?
i.e. how many times have you met in the store?
There seem to be a lot of 'new to Hermes' people who have met a SA once or twice, bombard them with texts and requests, then wonder why they don't get much response.
What does the term 'just checking in' refer to? Just keeping contact? Keeping yourself on the SA's radar.
Unless you are arranging to visit the store with the intention of wanting to see or purchase something specific, texts and messages could be irksome.

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

Hmmm….not sure how helpful it is….

based on my experience as a newbie, my SA don’t keep anything for me when I first started. I don’t get offers. I have to proactively request for things. My requests were not even entertained until I am physically in the store.

Only recently after working together for 10 months, purchasing everything I requested for each and every time, each and every month, then she took some action (Eg checking stock, help me request for items) when I text her my requests.

 

[WhiteBus]

Hmmm….not sure how helpful it is….

based on my experience as a newbie, my SA don’t keep anything for me when I first started. I don’t get offers. I have to proactively request for things. My requests were not even entertained until I am physically in the store.

Only recently after working together for 10 months, purchasing everything I requested for each and every time, each and every month, then she took some action (Eg checking stock, help me request for items) when I text her my requests.

YES exactly
I know you are based in a very competitive area, but the key point you make is that you are known to your SA as a person - not a name at the end of a text number
a customer who goes into the store and shops

This is not the place to make the 'I live two hours away' excuse - most of us do.
However that does make it all the more important to check that what we want will be available,
but that would be in the context of 'I am intended to visit the boutique on Wednesday 9 and would like to buy ....' not generalised chit-chat

 

[glamgirlcoco]

Hmmm absolutely I understand all of the feedback here. Due to pandemic we cannot walk in to the store in Boston and have to make appointments to go in. And even making those appointments were difficult because I haven’t been able to receive a response from the SAs. I’m very mindful of my text to them, only texting when I want to come in or checking in on an item they asked me to check in with them about. That is why I’m wondering if I should continue to try in Boston or try and see if working with an SA out of state such as in NYC maybe the path for me.

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

Hmmm absolutely I understand all of the feedback here. Due to pandemic we cannot walk in to the store in Boston and have to make appointments to go in. And even making those appointments were difficult because I haven’t been able to receive a response from the SAs. I’m very mindful of my text to them, only texting when I want to come in or checking in on an item they asked me to check in with them about. That is why I’m wondering if I should continue to try in Boston or try and see if working with an SA out of state such as in NYC maybe the path for me.

Can it be easier for you if you cannot pop into the store easily?

 

[KristinS]

Hmmm absolutely I understand all of the feedback here. Due to pandemic we cannot walk in to the store in Boston and have to make appointments to go in. And even making those appointments were difficult because I haven’t been able to receive a response from the SAs. I’m very mindful of my text to them, only texting when I want to come in or checking in on an item they asked me to check in with them about. That is why I’m wondering if I should continue to try in Boston or try and see if working with an SA out of state such as in NYC maybe the path for me.

I think it depends on how often you are able to visit the store because that is important when first establishing a relationship. You should be realistic - for instance, this may be possible if you travel to NYC for work on a regular basis. Depending on your scenario, I would not give up yet. Stock is low everywhere and you may have a similar experience in NYC. It may just take longer to establish your relationship because of COVID. From what I’ve read, you aren’t the only one.

 

[880]

Funny how subjective this is like many H-isms… My SA allows pics, videos, whatever I feel like.

+1, I sometimes need to take pics to help me decide if I want something. He knows I generally don’t shop abroad but he said if I saw something, take a pic or get the info, and he will source it. When I said some stores (Milan) did not want me to take pics or even give me the info on a RTW coat that they did not have in my size, he said, no worries, we‘d try to find whatever when I got back. Lol

i guess TPF is social media, and Im not on anything else like Facebook or Instagram etc.

@melly412, sometimes it takes a while to get a picotin in. It’s a popular bag that lots of customers, including those with high spend ratios, want. If you want a chattier SA, give it time, try someone different, or go at off hours when the SA may have more time

@glamgirlcoco, I dont think your Boston relationships sound unusual for H as a brand, so I recommend sticking to your local store. Of course, if you happen to click with a NY SA and want to pursue an ongoing relationship, yu should do whatever you want, but it requires a lot of in person visits.

I have a great relationship with my SA, but I do not conduct substantive requests by text, nor do I expect more of a reply than say a positive emoticon to can I come by tomorrow, X time. After maybe five visits, he knew how much time to budget for me and what I like. I don’t buy every visit (I am clear when it’s an exploratory appt), but I have a very strong purchase history, so he has no problem with that. I find that many SAs, including mine, are stretched to the limit with their current roster of clients and do not want new clients. JMO though

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

I don’t know how anyone selected their SA to work with here. But when I first wanted to look for an SA, I go into stores whenever i pass by and also purposeful trips. I keep asking every SA I met for picotin 18. Until 1 fine day, an SA offered me a picotin. She said she will hold for me until the store closes. Which was about 3hrs time. When I reached the store, she made a comment that I been to the store quite a few times. I dunno how she knew. But the SA who got me what I wanted is the SA I want to work with.

 

[elliesaurus]

I don’t know how anyone selected their SA to work with here. But when I first wanted to look for an SA, I go into stores whenever i pass by and also purposeful trips. I keep asking every SA I met for picotin 18. Until 1 fine day, an SA offered me a picotin. She said she will hold for me until the store closes. Which was about 3hrs time. When I reached the store, she made a comment that I been to the store quite a few times. I dunno how she knew. But the SA who got me what I wanted is the SA I want to work with.

I took a break from shopping for a few years and when I came back to H, my old SA had left. I kept going into the store that was closer to home to build a new relationship but I hated their attitude. I felt judged in my regular, casual attire and it left such a bad taste when several SAs fawned over me only when I walked in with a B. I subsequently went into a different store in my home city (thanks to some encouragement from another TPFer!) and met my current SA who, right off the bat, was so kind and welcoming. I felt like we clicked right away so I've been going to him since!

 

[Etriers]

Hi,
I’m new to the forum and new-ish to the hermes world as well. I started working with an SA in Boston last year in May but haven’t been able to build a good relationship because the SA wasn’t responsive to texts and anything in my wishlist is not available or takes months to get shipped, even if it was shipped he would put it aside for me but I never knew (my new SA told me I had items on hold for me). I can sympathize as it is covid times for items not in stock. I switched SA a couple months in as the first SA wasn’t responsive. New SA responds to texts always when I’m just checking in but never to request for my wishlist items (my wishlist items are all non-quota Items). Im thinking my store is just not in a place to accommodate new clients. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions if I were to begin a client/SA relationship in NYC instead? Is that something the Hermes in NYC would be open to?
Looking for any helpful suggestions/ advise as it’s been quite discouraging and saddening.

Welcome! You’re very lucky that as a new client, your SA responds to “just checking in” texts. That’s extremely rare. It is no surprise that she does not respond to texts for wishlist items. In general, Hermes SAs do not operate like that. You may want to go back 20 pages or so and read this thread, and you’ll find some good info. You’re going to have to make appointments with your SA, go in to see her, buy things, and build a history as a valued client to get the kind of responsiveness you’re seeking.

 

[Etriers]

Hmmm absolutely I understand all of the feedback here. Due to pandemic we cannot walk in to the store in Boston and have to make appointments to go in. And even making those appointments were difficult because I haven’t been able to receive a response from the SAs. I’m very mindful of my text to them, only texting when I want to come in or checking in on an item they asked me to check in with them about. That is why I’m wondering if I should continue to try in Boston or try and see if working with an SA out of state such as in NYC maybe the path for me.

Originally you said you texted to check in and check on wish list items. As has been mentioned, this isn’t a good idea as a new client. To make an appointment, send a brief text to request a specific date and time for an in-person appointment. Don’t mention your wish list. If you don’t get a response within a couple of days, call the store and either speak to your SA or leave the exact same message.

 

[glamgirlcoco]

Thank you everyone for all your input!