Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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[Justlikewhatilike]

I have a question that might not be applicable to many on this forum, but figured I would ask anyway:

Has there been anyone that has taken their time (as in, several years) to ask for and receive a quota bag? I would love to purchase a Birkin in the future, but realistically, it wouldn't be for another 3-5 years from now as I have other large purchases that take priority (wedding and house funds). I have made VERY small purchases at Hermes (Oran sandals, Herbag, 2 twillies, and a belt) and will likely continue making very small purchases over the next few years; I don't purchase things often at all (maybe once every 9 months). If someone else has been in this scenario, did you let your SA know that you'd love to be considered for a quota bag in the far future and did you spend in small amounts as well? I will never be a big spender by any means because I don't want to purchase things for the sake of building a profile, nor do I want to purchase things that I do not love or care for. I recognize the chances of receiving a quota bag will be extremely small simply based on my small spend (and I am in a very competitive location), but I do wonder if purchases over several years equate to showing 'brand loyalty,' even if the spend is small. Obviously, I know spend is not the end all be all as there are plenty of people who have extremely small spend but were offered a quota bag, but I would love to know if anyone else on this forum has lived through my scenario. My relationship with my SA is pretty great, but I just have concerns about waiting 3-5 years for a quota bag purchase because he may leave the store within that time frame and my small purchase history would not be seen as favorable if I were to be paired with a new SA.

I think it’s ok. I’m sure based on your spending pattern, your SA would have picked up the fact that you are not going for a quota bag fast and furious. But I think it is still important to express your wishes when you are more or less ready for it.

 

[twinzluvagrl]

i am guilty of eating into the next client's time by half an hour. My SA and I just lost our sense of time while picking out stuff. I apologised personally to the next client as I could see her standing there waiting while my SA was wrapping up my stuff. The next lady was quite jovial about it so it all ended well. Guess we should all be understanding of each other especially now that the SAs are ever so busy.

That’s happened to me once. Cause I was making a purse purchase and we were chatting about ordering different accessories for it etc and ran 15 mins over time. I also apologized and the next client which was by appointment was also super jolly and to me no need to apologize and she gets it. As my SA says - clients are usually pretty awesome. It’s usually the walk ins that are hard to deal with.

 

[Nuggetz]

Thank you for the reply and advice I appreciate it. however I’m not sure how to word it without sounding awkward/rude ? Any ideas? I guess I’m not good at this

 

[Nuggetz]

Sometimes it takes a few visits before the SA will give her number. I have not been to Dubai, but can imagine it is the land of big spenders. The next time you see her, just ask her directly if she would like you to see and text her for all of your appointments, or if you should make appointments with other SAs. If she doesn’t offer her card, it’s time to find another SA.

I appreciate your advice and reply! I am a little awkward if you can please help me how to word it to her without putting her off. Thank you my dear

 

[880]

Thank you for the reply and advice I appreciate it. however I’m not sure how to word it without sounding awkward/rude ? Any ideas? I guess I’m not good at this

May I text you directly for my future appts or queries? I find that easier than the general number. (If she refuses saying it’s the general policy or another reason (in the US during Covid, many SAs did not have access to their work phones; and some may not have the bandwidth to answer the 50 daily personal messages), don’t take it personally , just say thank you. You can then continue to call the general number or find someone else.

note: when I shop, if I like the SA, I will ask for contact info or it is offered. (i might do this even though I make it clear my home store is elsewhere bc you never know if you end up needing something). I may even say my home store is x but May I have your card in case I need something while I am here. in Dubai, I did not make it to hermes, but I have asked for cards in a variety of other establishments.

 

[Tina_Bina]

Has anyone ever turned down some unicorns with the promise that your dream bag is around the corner by your SA? I was offered b25s in Gris Meyer SHW and Celeste sellier ghw about 4 weeks ago now and I was told that if I wanted my gray 25 with rghw that it was probably about 3 weeks away. Welp… nothing. I feel so stupid for turning down the Celeste with ghw. How would you approach this disappointment delicately with an SA? I was offered a b25 gold epsom retourne with shw last week but it feels like I really made the worst mistake

fwiw I hope I don’t come off ungrateful. I just wouldn’t have passed on the previous offers if I knew I’d be waiting longer than I was told

 

[hphile]

Has anyone ever turned down some unicorns with the promise that your dream bag is around the corner by your SA? I was offered b25s in Gris Meyer SHW and Celeste sellier ghw about 4 weeks ago now and I was told that if I wanted my gray 25 with rghw that it was probably about 3 weeks away. Welp… nothing. I feel so stupid for turning down the Celeste with ghw. How would you approach this disappointment delicately with an SA? I was offered a b25 gold epsom retourne with shw last week but it feels like I really made the worst mistake

fwiw I hope I don’t come off ungrateful. I just wouldn’t have passed on the previous offers if I knew I’d be waiting longer than I was told

Hm my SA is usually pretty good with only telling me what's coming in if they knows for sure they can offer it to me. So I'd say 4 weeks is about 3 weeks away. That's understandable due to shipping delays. Did the SA say now that the Grey B25 RGHW is no longer coming? There's really not much you can say except that you're either a) still waiting for it or b) open to grey w ghw. You can say you're disappointed, but any more display of disappointment is probably not going to help.

Given these hard to get offers, your SA is trying to do their best?

 

[Tina_Bina]

Hm my SA is usually pretty good with only telling me what's coming in if they knows for sure they can offer it to me. So I'd say 4 weeks is about 3 weeks away. That's understandable due to shipping delays. Did the SA say now that the Grey B25 RGHW is no longer coming? There's really not much you can say except that you're either a) still waiting for it or b) open to grey w ghw. You can say you're disappointed, but any more display of disappointment is probably not going to help.

Given these hard to get offers, your SA is trying to do their best?

That’s true.. maybe there’s been shipping delays. I will ask! I passed on two grey b’s now with shw and I mentioned I’m not open to that each time. My SA didn’t mention anything about rghw no longer coming, but I should ask for clarity

 

[Justlikewhatilike]

That’s true.. maybe there’s been shipping delays. I will ask! I passed on two grey b’s now with shw and I mentioned I’m not open to that each time. My SA didn’t mention anything about rghw no longer coming, but I should ask for clarity

Actually the SAs really do not know for sure when or if the bags are coming.

I was told a non quota bag in a certain colour I want is coming last Sep. However, more than 6 months passed and it didn’t make it.

If the grey that you wanted is gris Etain, there are talks that it will be retired and being replaced by gris Meyer.

You can express disappointment to your SA but there is really nothing much she could do. Either you trust that it is delayed and wait somemore or evaluate what other quota bag specs you could accept and ask for those.

This is the kind of emotional ups and downs that customers at the boutique will have to bear with. Those who don’t prefer this shops at the resellers.

 

[fice16]

Has anyone ever turned down some unicorns with the promise that your dream bag is around the corner by your SA? I was offered b25s in Gris Meyer SHW and Celeste sellier ghw about 4 weeks ago now and I was told that if I wanted my gray 25 with rghw that it was probably about 3 weeks away. Welp… nothing. I feel so stupid for turning down the Celeste with ghw. How would you approach this disappointment delicately with an SA? I was offered a b25 gold epsom retourne with shw last week but it feels like I really made the worst mistake

fwiw I hope I don’t come off ungrateful. I just wouldn’t have passed on the previous offers if I knew I’d be waiting longer than I was told

Hello, when my SA mentioned to me my desired QB was arriving 2 months ago, it took the QB at least 4 weeks to arrive.
I think the SA's usually mention to client about certain QB's arrival, only if they are certain they can offer the client the QB.
Maybe you can remind your SA gently if you can still get your desired gray B25 with rghw, and how long it may take it to arrive.
And, be a bit patient and don't worry too much, and see what happens.

Since you are getting offers from your SA, she/he is definitely looking out for you.

 

[periogirl28]

That’s true.. maybe there’s been shipping delays. I will ask! I passed on two grey b’s now with shw and I mentioned I’m not open to that each time. My SA didn’t mention anything about rghw no longer coming, but I should ask for clarity

I wouldn’t worry, my SAs have always come through for me, despite me turning down quite a few bags/ clutches. Only one allocated PO bag never showed up, but there was no expected timeline for that bag (Rose Sakura Swift C18 with lizard buckle). I would definitely recommend asking for clarity.

 

[lala_retro]

Agree with this! Totally not judging. Just from different perspective and personal experience and how personally would handle it. No right or wrong.
For how my store has done it if SA is wrapping up if I come in (aka behind schedule) the front staff would tell me. So it’s not quite a big deal for me since it was relayed that they’ll be late. if it exceeds x amount of time. Usually the SA comes and apologizes. And gives me an expectation of how long to wait.
I personally agree with @Crapples it’s hard for luxury retail to “handle” clients in US on a timely manner. And agree with @BVBookshop that it may be cultural. I would think that NYC is a “quick paced store” so would be more similar to Asia standards. I’m Asian myself - so I’ve lived in Asia before for some period of time and it’s definitely more of a “time is money.” Snap snap environment. So I think it’s true probably most shoppers want their appointment punctual and so SAs and H stores follow that regiment. Whereas US shoppers - people usually are leisure shoppers. Like do it to enjoy shopping experience (like this is not work mentality? Can’t quite explain it well) so don’t mind the “punctual” thing. Maybe. But thanks for bringing in another perspective @BVBookshop

yeah, shopping in the US definitely seems more leisurely, I have never had the feeling that my shopping time was strictly controlled, it's always been more of 'there's nothing else I want to look at, let's check out' kind of thing. I’ve waited north of 30min in the store for my SA to wrap up with walk in clients that just wanted to look at everything from every department. This is with me texting her a week out which day/time I'll be coming. Sometimes I've shown up with an hour notice and been told that my SA is still busy with another client, that it'll probably be another 40min-1hr, at which point I just go shop elsewhere and come back after a while.

There was one time during the holiday season when I texted my appointment more than 2 weeks out, my SA confirmed she'll be there...but then when I arrived at the appointed time I was told she just went on her lunch break, for an hour. I was pretty irked, since I arrived on time, but I was already there and didn't want to just turn around and go home, so I went to grab lunch. When I came back, she was already with another client, had to wait another 40min for her finish up with that client, needlessly to say I was pretty pissed about the whole situation. She didn't apologize when she came to me, I guess she had forgotten that I was coming altogether. I didn't bring it up during the shopping session since it as the holidays and she seemed like she was already running at full capacity, but the whole experience was unpleasant.

 

[Classiclover]

Agreed. This just doesn’t make a lot of sense.

OP: it doesn’t sound like you had an appointment. In order to make that clear next time, text “Dear SA I would like to reserve an hour appointment with you on XX date to see XX product. Would you confirm what time works for you. Thank you!”.

The only time I don’t do this is if I’m purchasing an item less than $1000 that I ALSO don’t need to try on (like perfume or certain silks). Even then, I will write and say “can you meet me at XX:XX so that I can pick up XXXX. If not, feel free to send through another time and I’ll confirm.”. You remove the guesswork.

I’m sorry it was such a confusing experience for you though!

Oh I see, thank you so much! Yes I started my shopping last year and mostly text to meet and didn’t even know of an appointment system but now I do. I will make sure to do that moving forward and be specific

 

[Classiclover]

Am I the only one who would be annoyed if I made an appointment with a familiar SA which she confirmed and she became too busy to serve me?

Same thing shared at another thread.

If I had waited more than 10mins, I probably would have walked out. I think a very very minimum expectation of the SA would be to come over and apologise and nicely explained the situation. Also, she should have explained she requested her colleague to help out with my purchases. I expect that I should not be left to wonder.

yes at least a heads up on wait time would be great, I guess it’s a busy day for the SA…

 

[DB8]

Agree with this! Totally not judging. Just from different perspective and personal experience and how personally would handle it. No right or wrong.
For how my store has done it if SA is wrapping up if I come in (aka behind schedule) the front staff would tell me. So it’s not quite a big deal for me since it was relayed that they’ll be late. if it exceeds x amount of time. Usually the SA comes and apologizes. And gives me an expectation of how long to wait.
I personally agree with @Crapples it’s hard for luxury retail to “handle” clients in US on a timely manner. And agree with @BVBookshop that it may be cultural. I would think that NYC is a “quick paced store” so would be more similar to Asia standards. I’m Asian myself - so I’ve lived in Asia before for some period of time and it’s definitely more of a “time is money.” Snap snap environment. So I think it’s true probably most shoppers want their appointment punctual and so SAs and H stores follow that regiment. Whereas US shoppers - people usually are leisure shoppers. Like do it to enjoy shopping experience (like this is not work mentality? Can’t quite explain it well) so don’t mind the “punctual” thing. Maybe. But thanks for bringing in another perspective @BVBookshop

yeah, shopping in the US definitely seems more leisurely, I have never had the feeling that my shopping time was strictly controlled, it's always been more of 'there's nothing else I want to look at, let's check out' kind of thing. I’ve waited north of 30min in the store for my SA to wrap up with walk in clients that just wanted to look at everything from every department. This is with me texting her a week out which day/time I'll be coming. Sometimes I've shown up with an hour notice and been told that my SA is still busy with another client, that it'll probably be another 40min-1hr, at which point I just go shop elsewhere and come back after a while.

Same - the leisurely shopping thing is very North American - I recently had to wait ~30 minutes for my SA to wrap up a walk in client before me. When this happens, I'm never too fussed because what can the SA say? "Time's up! Purchase your items and get the hell out of here?" Yeah no. I'm honestly happy for SA's if they are able to sell more (and in this instance, the walk in my SA was serving I guesstimated spent about mid 5 figures, which was more than I planned to spend), so they SHOULD be allotted more time than me.

Even when I'm shopping in Asia (ultra competitive city where people expect SA/waitstaff to be on their feet and lightning fast, not Singapore), I take the same very laid back Western shopping approach, and my SA 100% appreciates it, because it's a respite from the usual.

Through this whole discussion, I think the moral of the story here is stuff happens, roll with the punches, and just be understanding and pleasant. Being difficult is another reason some aren't getting what they want in store....