Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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[louise_elouise]

Hey everyone, I’ve had a wonderful experience with Hermes. I super duper love my SA and I feel we have a great working relationship

I just got my 7th bag. I’m also completely cleaning out my wardrobe and I’m realising Hermes RTW, some of their shoes, etc — they aren’t really my style. I’m glad I kept an open mind and tried them, but if I’m honest, I don’t think I would have purchased a lot of these items if I weren’t after a bag

so I’m kind of saturated with the things I do like from Hermes and don’t see much of anything else I want, esp with inventory levels so low. I do have 1-2 other bags I’d like, but they are more of the ‘if it happens, great, else no worries’ Bucket

so am wondering what I do now. Reach out to my SA occasionally? Only reach out when I want something? I don’t want her to think I was onlyafter bags, I really want to love the rest of the offering but they are just so poor atm!

 

[acrowcounted]

Hey everyone, I’ve had a wonderful experience with Hermes. I super duper love my SA and I feel we have a great working relationship

I just got my 7th bag. I’m also completely cleaning out my wardrobe and I’m realising Hermes RTW, some of their shoes, etc — they aren’t really my style. I’m glad I kept an open mind and tried them, but if I’m honest, I don’t think I would have purchased a lot of these items if I weren’t after a bag

so I’m kind of saturated with the things I do like from Hermes and don’t see much of anything else I want, esp with inventory levels so low. I do have 1-2 other bags I’d like, but they are more of the ‘if it happens, great, else no worries’ Bucket

so am wondering what I do now. Reach out to my SA occasionally? Only reach out when I want something? I don’t want her to think I was onlyafter bags, I really want to love the rest of the offering but they are just so poor atm!

Confused by your question. They are salespeople. Why would you reach out except for when you want to buy something?

 

[louise_elouise]

Confused by your question. They are salespeople. Why would you reach out except for when you want to buy something?

Uh well if you read this thread and this forum, there’s lots of advice to maintain the relationship by just popping in and asking how they are
I value the relationship with my SA and want to maintain it, but I’m struggling a bit atm to get excited by what’s on iffer

 

[acrowcounted]

Uh well if you read this thread and this forum, there’s lots of advice to maintain the relationship by just popping in and asking how they are
I value the relationship with my SA and want to maintain it, but I’m struggling a bit atm to get excited by what’s on iffer

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a long term successful client recommend to just pop in to say “hi“ without any intention of shopping. It’s good to continue the relationship with continued spending when something strikes your fancy but the SAs are overwhelmed by customer demands in this current climate and to use their time on small talk is generally unwelcome. Contact your SA when you’d like to inquire about an item for sale. “Maintaining a relationship” is shorthand for being an easy-to-work-with buying customer.

 

[louise_elouise]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a long term successful client recommend to just pop in to say “hi“ without any intention of shopping. It’s good to continue the relationship with continued spending when something strikes your fancy but the SAs are overwhelmed by customer demands in this current climate and to use their time on small talk is generally unwelcome. Contact your SA when you’d like to inquire about an item for sale. “Maintaining a relationship” is shorthand for being an easy-to-work-with buying customer.

That’s fair and a helpful lens. Thanks!

 

[Caramelus]

so am wondering what I do now. Reach out to my SA occasionally? Only reach out when I want something? I don’t want her to think I was onlyafter bags, I really want to love the rest of the offering but they are just so poor atm!

It is normal for people’s tastes and style to change over time as they reach different milestones. Only buy what you love and makes you happy.

Personally if I were in your position, I would not completely ghost my SA and would stop by the store if I happen to be in the area to browse for anything that may interest me or need to buy a gift.You shouldn’t feel bad if your spend diminishes as I’m sure it happens in the retail business.

 

[WhiteBus]

Uh well if you read this thread and this forum, there’s lots of advice to maintain the relationship by just popping in and asking how they are
I value the relationship with my SA and want to maintain it, but I’m struggling a bit atm to get excited by what’s on iffer

yes, and if you read this thread and this forum, you should quickly realise SAs see through anyone scheming for a bag
the best way to maintain this relationship, as with any relationship, is to be honest

'popping in and asking how they are' ?
I don't agree with that conclusion
SAs are too busy for that

 

[WhiteBus]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a long term successful client recommend to just pop in to say “hi“ without any intention of shopping. It’s good to continue the relationship with continued spending when something strikes your fancy but the SAs are overwhelmed by customer demands in this current climate and to use their time on small talk is generally unwelcome. Contact your SA when you’d like to inquire about an item for sale. “Maintaining a relationship” is shorthand for being an easy-to-work-with buying customer.

essentially yes
but in the context of this thread "Maintaining a relationship" isn't as straightforward as your common-sense reply
(no-one should even need to ask that question)
it's code for "How do I ingratiate myself with an SA so that I am offered a Birkin (or perhaps a Kelly)?"

 

[880]

@louise_elouise, I’m sorry you bought stuff you didn’t love. At this point, I would suggest authenticated bags from resellers (I buy both boutique and reseller depending on the item)

whenever I pop into a boutique to say hi (I text my SA to ask when that is convenient), we both know there is the strong possibility that I will walk out with something amazing. I don’t buy at every visit, but I don’t see the point of wasting the SA’s time if there isn’t even the slim possibility. (If I want to browse, I text just that, so my SA knows no time is required).

if you are truly friends with your SA, then invite them for a meal or coffee outside. Due to their sales quotas, their time at work is valuable. If you are a top customer, they will have invited you on the company dime.

 

[acrowcounted]

if you are truly friends with your SA, then invite them for a meal or coffee outside. Due to their sales quotas, their time at work is valuable. (If you are a top customer, they will have invited you on the company dime)

I strongly don’t recommend this.

 

[880]

I strongly don’t recommend this.

Just realized that my suggestion could be perceived as attempting to ingratiate or put a perceived obligation upon an invitation, which I did not intend. I don’t recommend this for someone who is angling for a QB or limited item bc there would be an appearance of impropriety.

My experience with SAs is more like that of @Tyhke above The friendship is natural. By the way, my H SA is closer to my DH. He does text my DH when he is on vacation (about non H things) And, no it doesn’t make my bag acquisition faster. It actually has no bearing whatsoever.

 

[Tykhe]

Just realized that my suggestion could be perceived as attempting to ingratiate or put a perceived obligation upon an invitation, which I did not intend.

My experience with SAs is more like that of @Tyhke above

Lol. We are probably the old school shoppers from a different time when SAs had poor work life balance and had to be available to us at all times

 

[waterlily112]

She also didn’t refund me after a pair of shoes I ordered never got sent. She said she would put it back on my card. A few weeks later, I found out I had an unused merchandise credit, when I was checking out. Also this one time, I had a order that was sent incorrectly. There are… things that make me feel compelled to switch. Especially since my friends say that it’s hard to get bags from her.

A few weeks ago, I was in Chanel, and there was a woman in line wearing all Hermes. We started talking, and it turned out we had the same SA. The woman told me she spent $60k before getting her bag — which was a black birkin 25 with palladium. I feel like that’s starting to look like me, which I do not like.

Since you've been unhappy with the treatment from this particular SA, you should definitely cut your losses and make the switch. Do small purchases from walk-in with different SA until you find one that you can connect with and make you feel like a valued client.

Also IMO it's absurd to spend $60k to get offered a B25 with phw. A good friend of mine shops exclusively at a boutique in the bay area, which is super competitive since so many clients can drop money on big ticket items. But even then she got offered the same exact bag after spending roughly $12k on random things in a little over 6 months from shopping with the same SA. But like others have mentioned, bright/pastels are harder to come by since most boutiques just stock up on neutrals (noir/gold/etoupe) so do expect your wait to be much longer.

 

[Mrs.Hermess]

I can’t seem to get my multi level quotes to work.
My experiences with some SAs are similar to those described by @880 and @tyhke above. Some experiences: I have had my husband’s SA over for home parties, we have dinners and drinks with one of my chanel SAs, we share family and vacation pics, memes, when we order great wine that I know one of my SAs will enjoy, I will deliver a bottle.

some of the above SAs are part of our lives, nice people that while I do shop and they make money from us, we enjoy chatting and spending time together. (Disclaimer- one of the sa we are friendly with on a personal level, with we knew long before they were my SA).
Then I also have SAs which are transactional. They procure item and I purchase it. Nothing more nothing less. I am perfectly content with transactional SAs as well.

 

[Mrs.Hermess]

I can’t seem to get my multi level quotes to work.
My experiences with some SAs are similar to those described by @880 and @tyhke above. Some experiences: I have had my husband’s SA over for home parties, we have dinners and drinks with one of my chanel SAs, we share family and vacation pics, memes, when we order great wine that I know one of my SAs will enjoy, I will deliver a bottle.

some of the above SAs are part of our lives, nice people that while I do shop and they make money from us, we enjoy chatting and spending time together. (Disclaimer- one of the sa we are friendly with on a personal level, with we knew long before they were my SA).
Then I also have SAs which are transactional. They procure item and I purchase it. Nothing more nothing less. I am perfectly content with transactional SAs as well.

Adding- I usually do not contact any SA for items. They send me pics of items that are going to be ordered or have arrived and seek my patronage. It is seldom or rare that I reach out for an item I see.