Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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[waterlily112]

Hey guys,

Has anyone of you asked to change SA at your store? How would you go about it? When my previous SA left l was assigned the one l have and we just don´t really click. l often visit the store and purchase items and most of the time when l email them about anything from tableware to shoes my SA does not even reply. This has nothing to do with quota bags at all, it´s more about the dynamic and smoothly being able to buy things off of the floor.

There are several other SAs at that store that l would love to work with and get along with great, how would you approach the situation?

I've been on the same boat. My previous SA (SA#1) left and referred me to her colleague (SA#2) that I felt indifferent about. Like you, nothing wrong with that SA we just didn't click. Since then I started dropping by the boutique on the days when I know that SA#2 is off or on vacation, and shop with other SA's for small things until I found my SA now (SA#3) which I'm super happy with, respond to my texts within minutes and always make time for me whenever I ask for last minute appointments. I think you're better off making the switch sooner than later so your spending can go toward the SA you like (even if you don't care for QB) and who can quickly help you source the items you want, which sounds like a priority to you.

 

[880]

I've been on the same boat. My previous SA (SA#1) left and referred me to her colleague (SA#2) that I felt indifferent about. Like you, nothing wrong with that SA we just didn't click. Since then I started dropping by the boutique on the days when I know that SA#2 is off or on vacation, and shop with other SA's for small things until I found my SA now (SA#3) which I'm super happy with, respond to my texts within minutes and always make time for me whenever I ask for last minute appointments. I think you're better off making the switch sooner than later so your spending can go toward the SA you like (even if you don't care for QB) and who can quickly help you source the items you want, which sounds like a priority to you.

+1
@erinrose , my friend changed SAs without repercussions. Although she had obtained QBs with the first one, she found another to be friendlier and more suited to her personality. She was tactful, polite, and friendly, but she simply gradually shopped with the new SA. Her spend is considerable though, and I am sure the store would rather make her happy.

ETA: there is a considerable delay on tableware, and my SA, who I have a great relationship with, seems to be able to eventually get me desirable QB offers, but somehow I am cursed re shoes. I also know that H SAs until you get to know them, really don’t like saying no stock electronically; in fact they have very little down time to respond. So, I would also advise making sure that this is due to this one SA rather than an informal storewide bias against electronic communication. I shop at Madison, and they really don’t have much time to respond on line. JMO though

 

[erinrose]

I've been on the same boat. My previous SA (SA#1) left and referred me to her colleague (SA#2) that I felt indifferent about. Like you, nothing wrong with that SA we just didn't click. Since then I started dropping by the boutique on the days when I know that SA#2 is off or on vacation, and shop with other SA's for small things until I found my SA now (SA#3) which I'm super happy with, respond to my texts within minutes and always make time for me whenever I ask for last minute appointments. I think you're better off making the switch sooner than later so your spending can go toward the SA you like (even if you don't care for QB) and who can quickly help you source the items you want, which sounds like a priority to you.

That is funny that you mentioned dropping by when knowing the SA was away, l just did the same thing and had a great shopping experience with another SA l much more vibe with.

 

[_kiki119_]

Agreed with the above, if the relationship not working why force it...
speaking of switching SA, I am in a slightly different situation - my lovely SA has been promoted as the assistant Manager to the store, and my account is being transferred to a SA that she thinks is amazing. I am still waiting to be in contact with you since the new SA is on vacation. I just turned down a QB offer 2 months ago from my current SA, then now I am kicking myself, especially now I am switching SA.

 

[erinrose]

+1
@erinrose , my friend changed SAs without repercussions. Although she had obtained QBs with the first one, she found another to be friendlier and more suited to her personality. She was tactful, polite, and friendly, but she simply gradually shopped with the new SA. Her spend is considerable though, and I am sure the store would rather make her happy.

ETA: there is a considerable delay on tableware, and my SA, who I have a great relationship with, seems to be able to eventually get me desirable QB offers, but somehow I am cursed re shoes. I also know that H SAs until you get to know them, really don’t like saying no stock electronically; in fact they have very little down time to respond. So, I would also advise making sure that this is due to this one SA rather than an informal storewide bias against electronic communication. I shop at Madison, and they really don’t have much time to respond on line. JMO though

Thanks so much for your reply! l agree that there can definitely be various reasons to why the SA is not replying. l think in my instance l have worked long enough with said SA and the store/SM know me pretty well but of course if they have little to no time it´s more difficult for them to reply. l think the in person communication with the SA also isn´t the best, it´s not terrible we just don´t clic the way l do with many other SAs at store and l would rather see my spend go towards an SA that l connect with more.

 

[waterlily112]

That is funny that you mentioned dropping by when knowing the SA was away, l just did the same thing and had a great shopping experience with another SA l much more vibe with.

There you go! Glad it turns out well for you too. I'd like to think that maybe we aren't those SA's cup of tea either and they're glad we made the switched since they don't get to be picky with the clients. I'm just a casual shopper at my local boutique so I'm sure SA#2 doesn't care that I go to someone else I still have small talks with SA#2 whenever I see her around though.

 

[880]

Agreed with the above, if the relationship not working why force it...
speaking of switching SA, I am in a slightly different situation - my lovely SA has been promoted as the assistant Manager to the store, and my account is being transferred to a SA that she thinks is amazing. I am still waiting to be in contact with you since the new SA is on vacation. I just turned down a QB offer 2 months ago from my current SA, then now I am kicking myself, especially now I am switching SA.

I’m sure that your 1st SA, now assistant manager, will have you top of mind as soon as she sees a QB she thinks you will like. It’s the store and the SM, not the SA that determines the QB

 

[Miarta]

It has been very frustrating, and no, I don’t think they do. I have been consistently spending in RTW, housewares, shoes, with some fine jewelry for three years, have purchased zero leather bags - and I’m being told I should be happy if I get an offer at all even though it’s not a K and B.

Who is telling you that? I’m seriously confused SA or people ?

 

[Miarta]

SA

Never mind I found it. You should seriously consider finding a new SA

 

[Gal4Dior]

Who is telling you that? I’m seriously confused SA or people ?

SA

 

[880]

Sadly for some, during Covid SIP there was a serious stock shortage and a large influx of high spending new clients. If you were a client of many years in good standing, you were kept top of mind, but you may have had to wait for QB offers.

i think the problem that some of us might be having is not quite enough tenure to have a rock solid purchase hsitory, perhaps only a few years of shopping, and we also may have issues meeting the prespend ratio demonstrated by newcomers or appearing as if we have the potential to do so.

while I had a solid relationship with my first SA from 2008-12; I stopped my boutique shopping and had to start from scratch post Covid. It definitely can be done, but it’s not easy and definitely not worth it unless you love a lot of the store merchandise. While H May be low on dishes, Some RTW sizes, and slg/ Bags, there are actually a ton of things to marvel over like silks, home goods, trinkets, etc.

@Gal4Dior , if an SA says to me that I would be lucky to get a non QB offer, I wouldn’t take it personally bc this is a business. i might try to read between the lines, but I do know the QB decision is not up to her. As @colcoulou and others pointed out, where you are in the graces of the SM and SA is relative to other clients of the house. That unfortunately also goes for making appointments. There are times when I cannot get a weekend slot or days my SA is not free or working. It’s not always convenient. If you are 2-3X and others are 6X +, your SA may be discouraged from giving you a valuable slot or persuade her SM to release a bag. I think the fact that Hermes is cutting out their former bread and butter clients is a very unfortunate, but that seems to be Hermes today.

My Dior SA said he is seeing a lot of returns due to recession fears, but curiously Dior is sell8ng a lot of high jewelry. My chanel RTW SA is running low (chanel didn’t have a US sale this year bc of lack of merchandise) , and Hermes SAs are enormously busy. I think as recession deepens, there will still be deep pocketed clients bc during Covid the wealthy simply got richer . During recession, the wealthy scoop up deals in real estate, buy low priced stock strategically, reconfigure investments. And, those are the ones that these big companies need to fuel exponential growth. JMO and YMMV

 

[Gal4Dior]

Sadly for some, during Covid SIP there was a serious stock shortage and a large influx of high spending new clients. If you were a client of many years in good standing, you were kept top of mind, but you may have had to wait for QB offers.

i think the problem that some of us might be having is not quite enough tenure to have a rock solid purchase hsitory, perhaps only a few years of shopping, and we also may have issues meeting the prespend ratio demonstrated by newcomers or appearing as if we have the potential to do so.

while I had a solid relationship with my first SA from 2008-12; I stopped my boutique shopping and had to start from scratch post Covid. It definitely can be done, but it’s not easy and definitely not worth it unless you love a lot of the store merchandise. And, I’m sorry, maybe H is low on dishes, Some RTW sizes, and slg and Bags, but there are actually a ton of things to marvel over like silks, home goods, trinkets, etc.

@Gal4Dior , if an SA says to me that I would be lucky to get a non QB offer, I wouldn’t take it personally bc this is a business. i might try to read between the lines, but I do know the QB decision is not up to her. as @colcoulou and others pointed out, where you are in the graces of the SM and SA is relative to other clients of the house. That unfortunately also Goes for making appointments. There are times days when I cannot get a weekend slot. If you are 2-3X and others are 6X +, your SA might not be able to give you a weekend appt or persuade her SM to release a bag. I think it’s a very unfortunate situation, but that seems to be Hermes today.

My Dior SA said he is seeing a lot of returns due to recession fears, but curiously Dior is sell8ng a lot of high jewelry. My chanel RTW SA is running low (chanel didn’t have a US sale this year bc of lack of merchandise) , and Hermes SAs are enormously busy. I think as recession deepens, there will still be deep pocketed clients. And, those are who these big companies want. JMO and YMMV

I know it's the SM's call, but I don't like this whole "what I can't say and what I can say" stuff. Just say, they are trying their best and admit it's not entirely in their control. I don't believe SAs or SMs have a right to tell me what I should be grateful for, considering a QB is a lot of money to drop no matter what, and really - this is a total first world problem to have.

I'm grateful for my health and that many other things that aren't tangible, not a bag offer, and this just put things into perspective for me; and although I understand it's a business (my job is in business and servicing demanding clients), I simply don't like the business practices that H currently employs. I'm sure they could care less about my lousy opinion.

Also, I've never once asked for a weekend appointment. I never would want to shop on a weekend anyway - it's a complete zoo. However, it's really presumptuous for anyone (including an SA or SM) to think that if I were to request a time on one weekday, to get a completely different time another weekday and a client could just shift their entire life around to shop at H. There is no availability to select my SA according to their work schedule on the website. Their whole appointment system is useless unless you just want to shop with any SA.

Anyway, it's not here nor there. I never stated I deserved a QB over anyone else, but I'm just tired of the lies and mysteries. Just don't be THAT obvious that I'm low priority. It's not that hard, I do that every day with my own clients. Big or small contracts, you never make them feel that any client is less important, even if it might be contrary to internal ways of prioritizing their needs.

 

[880]

I must have been mistaken; I thought you posted that you couldn’t make a weekday slot.
But, yeah, I do have to sometimes prioritize my SAs schedule over my own lol.

i don’t think it’s a mystery: top spenders or house favorites will tend to get their items before the rest of us. Maybe that you tube girl had a well heeled connection or a zillion followers. A fellow TPFer gets QB at FSH and NY bc of her tenure and her charm.

it may not help you feel better, but The last winter RTW sale, my chanel SA was only allowed a few slots for a dressing room ,and basically she picked her clients and we could either fit the schedule or not lol. Then wait ten weeks for alterations. (I was happy for the slot; I would have offered to try on the items she picked in the rest room lol)

everyone’s tolerance is different

im so sorry you feel this way

 

[Gal4Dior]

I must have been mistaken; I thought you posted that you couldn’t make a weekday slot.
But, yeah, I do have to sometimes prioritize my SAs schedule over my own lol.
it may not help you feel better, but The last RTW sale, my chanel SA was only allowed a few slots for a dressing room ,
and basically she picked her clients and we could either fit the schedule or not lol. Then wait ten weeks for alterations.
(I was happy for the slot; I would have offered to try on the items she picked in the rest room lol)
everyone’s tolerance is different
im so sorry you feel this way

I haven't been able to secure an appointment with my SA for approximately 5 months, and when I say what is not convenient to my schedule - I mean I have a client meeting that I have no control over and has been scheduled for weeks. Not like oh, I just can't leave my desk for an hour. I feel it would be hilarious to tell a client, "oh sorry, my SA at H isn't available at the time I requested, so I'm not going to be available for this important meeting because I need to shop." LOL! I've always worked around SA's schedule even before appointment system, but not all of us may have the flexibility to do that.

For a RTW sale is totally different, it's a sale and if I really wanted to get something on sale, I expect that I'll need to be available. However, no slots for NORMAL shopping? Come on H!

Anyway, thanks for the kind words. Hope things improve on the H front in general.

 

[Caramelus]

@Gal4Dior - Hi, do you know if your home store has implemented the online appt request with a randomly assigned SA per their scheduling time slots for all their clients? (of course this prob doesn't apply to their VVIPs). I recall reading a post from a couple of weeks ago that the same happened at her local store - not sure if it's the same store)