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.

 

[SDC2003]

Thanks for your feedback.

First of all, I never had a negative thought process until I discovered things were not consistent with what my SA was telling me this week, so please don't lump me in that category nor assume I'd carry that forward to an SM. I've been nothing but polite and happy the times I've visited as I'm genuinely in love with this brand.

Also, of course I asked for B or K in certain colorways and sizes. My SA can't read my mind. I was never pushy, but that expectation was clear. I'm polite, but direct. There is absolutely nothing I feel I did wrong.

I don't want another coveted bag instead of B or K, and I was willing to wait, but if I'm getting my SA telling me even one offer of any other bag is a big deal, no thanks. I'm not willing to elevate it to the SM like I'm some person who is entitled to a bag, but all I ask is not to tell falsehoods or make it SO obvious I'm not important. It's just common human decency regardless of any type of interaction, retail or not.

It's not the patience as to the shady practices in which clients are getting bags over others. It's a big black box and I'm okay spending more if that was what my SA wanted, but there was no indication of doing that as I could not even schedule an appt with my SA for the last 5 months. There was never texts to hint I should buy things, it was always me asking for an appointment and no appointments available on the H appt links.

At the end of the day, this process is a game. Whether or not one chooses to participate it in it and be treated in a way they may not be most happy with is their choice. I did so, took my lumps, for multiple years. I'm just questioning if it's all worth it now.

Thanks for clarifying.

I never said you’d carry forward your negative feelings to an sm.

I haven’t read all your posts and so I must have missed it but have you explained here what exactly was said to you about a bag offer that has soured your experience.

As others have said generally sas will not tell you what to buy and how much you need to spend. What shady practices have you seen?

You’re right it’s a big black box. Sounds like you need to step away and either forgo the experience entirely or find a different sa.

 

[Gal4Dior]

Thanks for clarifying.

I never said you’d carry forward your negative feelings to an sm.

I haven’t read all your posts and so I must have missed it but have you explained here what exactly was said to you about a bag offer that has soured your experience.

As others have said generally sas will not tell you what to buy and how much you need to spend. What shady practices have you seen?

You’re right it’s a big black box. Sounds like you need to step away and either forgo the experience entirely or find a different sa.

Shady practices? People who are VVICs that treated well, when they are notorious for flipping merchandise or selling other items they purchase to build their profile to get the coveted bags. That's shady.

 

[SDC2003]

Shady practices? People who are VVICs that treated well, when they are notorious for flipping merchandise or selling other items they purchase to build their profile to get the coveted bags. That's shady.

Oh those shady clients have been around these last two years. Have you looked on Facebook? It’s like garage sales every day all day. Buy two and get twenty percent off. Sometimes huge hauls of bnib listed. Unfortunately with all the social media light on these bags, they’ve become highly coveted. All kinds of people are doing all kinds of things for bag offers. So many people are wanting these as status bags. You have to ignore that and just focus on your shopping experience. Some of those people wont be able to keep up with that level of spend. They’re going to go broke eventually doing this. Yeah it’s really freaking annoying.

 

[_kiki119_]

right now bc everyone wants h but next year they may go back chanel or dior. T

for me this is the opposite! Chanel adopted H strategy for their Classic flaps. I used to able to obtain any CF my heart desired with my amazing SA... and now I can't because I do not have status since I do not buy their RTW & FJ. with C's quality issue and their price point for RTW I am moving away from Chanel.

for Dior - I love their items, but then I think resale values, bc I like to switch out items sesaonlly and their value just doesn't hold up against Chanel or H.

 

[cad33]

for me this is the opposite! Chanel adopted H strategy for their Classic flaps. I used to able to obtain any CF my heart desired with my amazing SA... and now I can't because I do not have status since I do not buy their RTW & FJ. with C's quality issue and their price point for RTW I am moving away from Chanel.

for Dior - I love their items, but then I think resale values, bc I like to switch out items sesaonlly and their value just doesn't hold up against Chanel or H.

I think you took this out of context. The point being right now hermes has influx of new shoppers for multiple reasons- amazing quality, trendy, etc. I believe that some of these shoppers may move on due to a new bag or company being more in trend and others will become like me and spend over time on items they love even if not bkc!

 

[lala_retro]

How much do scarves (silk, cashmere) factor into the pre-spend? Aside from leather goods, I love H's scarves the most. I only have a couple so far but can see myself becoming slowly addicted...

I think leather goods and silks count the least in terms of boosting your profile/prespend, just because those kind of sell themselves.

I think you took this out of context. The point being right now hermes has influx of new shoppers for multiple reasons- amazing quality, trendy, etc. I believe that some of these shoppers may move on due to a new bag or company being more in trend and others will become like me and spend over time on items they love even if not bkc!

Was at my home store recently, and the foot traffic seems a bit less than earlier in the year. My SA also commented that there does seem to be less people in the past month or so, and she’s actually texting back now, other than to confirm appointments, so that must mean there’s some actual down time in the store.

I guess fear of inflation and recession is settling in, and all that extra pandemic income is finally starting to fizzle out.

 

[petitH]

Are returns frowned upon and do they hurt your profile? I’ve only ever made one return and one exchange in my years od shopping but wondering what others think.

 

[in_mybag]

I know I've been asking a bunch of questions so thanks in advance for all your insight!

I've been going to Hawaii a couple of times a year and have developed a good relationship with a great SA in the Waikiki store, who has offered me a Lindy and Picotin 18 in the past couple of trips. However, my home store is in SF, where I also have a great relationship with an SA, and I've spent about 1:1 on non-leather goods at this point. I plan to go to Hawaii 2 more times in 2023 and would like to visit the Waikiki store, but am wondering if my SF SA will be offended if I purchase items from my Waikiki SA? Does my SF SA have access to my purchase history in other stores in the US? I think I'm close enough to my SF SA at this point that I can probably just ask him and see what he thinks, but welcome your thoughts here.

Thanks!

 

[in_mybag]

Are returns frowned upon and do they hurt your profile? I’ve only ever made one return and one exchange in my years od shopping but wondering what others think.

I would like to think no, unless it's a pattern

 

[J'adoreHermes]

I know I've been asking a bunch of questions so thanks in advance for all your insight!

I've been going to Hawaii a couple of times a year and have developed a good relationship with a great SA in the Waikiki store, who has offered me a Lindy and Picotin 18 in the past couple of trips. However, my home store is in SF, where I also have a great relationship with an SA, and I've spent about 1:1 on non-leather goods at this point. I plan to go to Hawaii 2 more times in 2023 and would like to visit the Waikiki store, but am wondering if my SF SA will be offended if I purchase items from my Waikiki SA? Does my SF SA have access to my purchase history in other stores in the US? I think I'm close enough to my SF SA at this point that I can probably just ask him and see what he thinks, but welcome your thoughts here.

Thanks!

All your purchases in the US will appear under your account. Whether your SA takes offense depends. Some people advise not to shop with another store. In my experience, though, I shop at a few stores, and my SAs recommend me if I see something I like elsewhere that they themselves don’t have to purchase it. They are quite the enablers to my excessive shopping, but I don’t think my experience is a universal truth at Hermes. Since you are close enough to him to ask, then I would just ask him next time you go to the store. In my opinion, a very good SA will value the long term relationship already built over a few lost commissions due to the expected vacation shopping.

 

[in_mybag]

All your purchases in the US will appear under your account. Whether your SA takes offense depends. Some people are quite advise not to shop with another store. In my experience, though, I shop a few stores, and my SAs recommend me if I see something I like elsewhere that they themselves don’t have to purchase it. They are quite the enablers to my excessive shopping, but I don’t think my experience is a universal truth at Hermes. Since you are close enough to him to ask, then I would just ask him next time you go to the store. In my opinion, a very good SA will value the long term relationship already built over a few lost commissions due to the expected vacation shopping.

Thanks! Yeah, I didn't know if it made a difference that Waikiki is really a vacation spot so it's not like I'm constantly shopping there. I definitely make most of my purchases in SF - it's just that I've gotten quite lucky at the Waikiki store and have developed a great rapport with the SA I've been working with as well.

 

[eyedrll]

I know I've been asking a bunch of questions so thanks in advance for all your insight!

I've been going to Hawaii a couple of times a year and have developed a good relationship with a great SA in the Waikiki store, who has offered me a Lindy and Picotin 18 in the past couple of trips. However, my home store is in SF, where I also have a great relationship with an SA, and I've spent about 1:1 on non-leather goods at this point. I plan to go to Hawaii 2 more times in 2023 and would like to visit the Waikiki store, but am wondering if my SF SA will be offended if I purchase items from my Waikiki SA? Does my SF SA have access to my purchase history in other stores in the US? I think I'm close enough to my SF SA at this point that I can probably just ask him and see what he thinks, but welcome your thoughts here.

Thanks!

Just wanted to share an experience I had. In the beginning of my H journey I didn't have a "home store" as I don't live near one. However I purchased an item at Waikiki on vacation that ended up not working out. The closest boutique was SF for an exchange for store credit. The SA I met at this visit was very nice when I was inquiring for an exchange and asking for hard to get items, the SA explained to me that SF really values loyalty. I didn't think much of that comment until I text the same SF SA to inquire about the availability of a Picotin and I was bluntly told to try Hawaii or Las Vegas as they saw I shopped there recently.

 

[acrowcounted]

Thanks! Yeah, I didn't know if it made a difference that Waikiki is really a vacation spot so it's not like I'm constantly shopping there. I definitely make most of my purchases in SF - it's just that I've gotten quite lucky at the Waikiki store and have developed a great rapport with the SA I've been working with as well.

If I’m SF, why would I give a coveted bag to someone who spends some of their money in HI over someone who has made all of their purchases with SF? SF is competitive, dont give them any reason to overlook you.

 

[mamakay]

I shop at SF and I asked my SA and my SA encouraged me to buy at other stores when I am traveling because she said not every store orders the same stuff. I think every SA is different

 

[acrowcounted]

I shop at SF and I asked my SA and my SA encouraged me to buy at other stores when I am traveling because she said not every store orders the same stuff. I think every SA is different

The SM approves bag offers, not the SA. The company line is to always encourage sales whenever they can but it will work against you at your home store when your SM brings up your profile to consider a bag offer. (“Yes, its ok to shop elsewhere on vacation” is the same morally grey answer as “sorry, zero bag stock”). If you are looking for “easiest” path to bag acquisitions, it’s just not worth it IMO but to each their own.