Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

If you find it very hard to ignore certain people, please feel free in adding them to your 'Ignore' list.

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.

 

[Inloveinlux]

It does seem like there is a directive from H corporate that SAs should prioritize in person clients over digital ones. My SA has told me that she's not allowed to bring her work phone home, so there is really no time to answer messages unless there is down time with no clients in the store, which, both NYC and Vegas stores are probably busy, high traffic stores, the amount of down time SAs have to answer messages is probably limited. Even if your message is not a question but a request to place a remote order, your SA would have to have at least 5min to confirm your item, generate a payment link, confirm payment, then take additional time to package your items for shipping, maybe your SA is not responding because she doesn't have the time to complete the sale.

Since it is company culture right now to prioritize in person shopping, perhaps you can consolidate your shopping to once or twice a year, at a physical store of your choosing that you are willing to fly to. There will probably be items you want that are not available by the time you make it to a store, but at least that's better than having text messages drop into the abyss and never getting anything.

Yes now I somewhat feel bad perhaps I should reach out to her and just be straightforward and tell her that although I loved working with her if she is too busy to deal with remote customers I understand and just try make a relationship with someone at a store closer to me. I understand feeling overwhelmed and I don’t want to feel like I’m inundating her with messages! ☹️

 

[_kiki119_]

Thank you for replying I appreciate your feedback. That makes sense it’s just disheartening when you truly do love a brand and want to buy things.

that was the biggest adjustment I had to make when I switch to H... it is a long game... def not like another brand which have more of instant grafitifcation. But at the same time, I also had to wait for C & Dior SA to reply most times thou...
most other TPers are right, SAs rarely have time to reply text/email when they are in store during busy time and they do not have access to a phone when they leave the boutique.... so I have learned that I usually get a better chance of communicating with my SA when she is in the boutique during weekdays vs. Friday & weekends!

When I ask for something I give a general timeline, for example, I will say this is not urgent, OR this is for xxx event/gift (but i only use urgency sparingly, bc I don't wanna cry wolf).

hopefully, you will hit a sweet spot in your relationship with your SAs soon! if you are after a quota bag, just save your spend with ONE STORE, not online

 

[acrowcounted]

Yes now I somewhat feel bad perhaps I should reach out to her and just be straightforward and tell her that although I loved working with her if she is too busy to deal with remote customers I understand and just try make a relationship with someone at a store closer to me. I understand feeling overwhelmed and I don’t want to feel like I’m inundating her with messages! ☹️

There is no need to message her this. Pre covid, everything you’ve described from your end was a normal remote client relationship. It just seems the company has shifted focus lately behind the scenes and yet they aren’t publicly saying this, likely so they are able to quickly fall back to remote clients if world events bring foot traffic to stall again.

 

[Inloveinlux]

There is no need to message her this. Pre covid, everything you’ve described from your end was a normal remote client relationship. It just seems the company has shifted focus lately behind the scenes and yet they aren’t publicly saying this, likely so they are able to quickly fall back to remote clients if world events bring foot traffic to stall again.

So it’s just normal for them not to respond? I feel like I won’t ever be able to get anything from the brand. I’m pretty sure online sales do not count towards quota bags. So are u saying just keep messaging her although she hasn’t responded to any of my other previous messages or just find someone else? I’m sorry just confused.

 

[acrowcounted]

So it’s just normal for them not to respond? I feel like I won’t ever be able to get anything from the brand. I’m pretty sure online sales do not count towards quota bags. So are u saying just keep messaging her although she hasn’t responded to any of my other previous messages or just find someone else? I’m sorry just confused.

Unfortunately, as I said before, it is pretty normal now, not personal, and not likely to be different with a different SA as it seems like this business model is being pushed from the top. They can’t take their phones home and while they are in store they are being pushed to take in person clients with a line out the door keeping them busy their entire shift. Most people with still responsive SAs tend to be long term clients with very well established relationships. You could try to keep trying with your SA by sending her new items every once in a while (to test the theory that she’s okay with remote shopping when she has the item in store and ignores texts for items not in stock) or otherwise, your only real option is to find a way to shop in person. H doesn’t really care that this isn’t convenient for some customers as they seem to have enough customers to give them record sales regardless.

 

[pooky747]

So it’s just normal for them not to respond? I feel like I won’t ever be able to get anything from the brand. I’m pretty sure online sales do not count towards quota bags. So are u saying just keep messaging her although she hasn’t responded to any of my other previous messages or just find someone else? I’m sorry just confused.

Based on your experience my advice would be
* buy the little things you want from H.com when they become available
* if you really want a quota bag, buy one from a reputable reseller

a lot of unhappiness we all feel (me included certainly) is caused by failing to control situations we have absolutely no control of. I know there's an indescribable emotional factor in purchasing directly from a boutique, but at least if you go the reseller route, you get the exact specs you want, and you don't have to second guess and stress yourself out in trying to manage a relationship you simply just can't. good luck!

 

[grace-lee]

. so I have learned that I usually get a better chance of communicating with my SA when she is in the boutique during weekdays vs. Friday & weekends!

Re this. I usually text my SA on Monday or Tuesday morning. Little bit after the store opens. With couple of visits, I figured out when the store is most empty. But in general, weekends are crazy.

 

[880]

I feel like just giving up with Hermes at this point and need some advice! I love Hermes and I haven’t had a chance to buy a lot from them bc the closest store is 5 hours away from me! I had tried hard with two sales associates I have met in person one in Vegas and one in New York. I thought that the one in New York and I hit it off so well! She gave me her card and I reached out inquiring her opinion on a scarf and a pair of shoes. She told me she would get back to me so I reached out again. No reply. So once again a week after that in pure desperation I reached out again. Once again no reply! I mean I want things from this brand! I want shoes, jewelry, scarfs, a blanket, makeup! Of course like the rest of this I would love a “quota” bag. But Like why do I have to BEG someone to take my dang money?! I don’t have the option of walking into a boutique every week. So because I rely so much an SA who doesn’t respond. My long winded question is am I just doomed? Should I just give up and hope that Hermes.com restocks the smaller things I want from the brand? I just want the truth for once! Like not radio silence. “How about a hey I could probably get those hard to get shoes but u aren’t high enough on my client list so try again next time.” Sorry for my rant but I would really really appreciate the help!

+1 with @lala_retro.

I’m so sorry this is happening to you, but I would not take lack of response personally. I honestly don’t think the SAs have time to check their phones bc the stores are packed. H management wants them to prioritize in store clients, and they get no extra time to pull stock or return messages. Sometimes even with an appt, I wait 40 minutes (my SA does text me that he is running late) and sometimes I just go home. I bought authenticated reseller for many years after my first SA left Bc the thought of starting up again was too arduous.

ETA: yes it’s normal to get radio silence on texts. Esp. if they do not have what you want, and stock is scarce. They are also unable to reserve sometimes, and remote sales might increase the likelihood of returns. When I started shopping with my current SA, I simply limited my texts to scheduling appts around his availability.

 

[DB8]

I thought that the one in New York and I hit it off so well! She gave me her card and I reached out inquiring her opinion on a scarf and a pair of shoes. She told me she would get back to me so I reached out again.

None of us are privy to the contents of your texts messages to this SA, but with H moving away from remote sales, you texts messages should be less "inquiring her opinion on a scarf and a pair of shoes," and more:

-----------------------

Hi (new to me NYC SA),

I'm interested in the following items:

Item name (product reference)
Item name (product reference)
Item name (product reference)

Please let me know if they are available and how I can proceed with the transaction.

Thanks,

japatri

-----------------------

No guarantees this elicits a reply, but you have a better chance of one if you are using less of her time.

 

[lala_retro]

Yes now I somewhat feel bad perhaps I should reach out to her and just be straightforward and tell her that although I loved working with her if she is too busy to deal with remote customers I understand and just try make a relationship with someone at a store closer to me. I understand feeling overwhelmed and I don’t want to feel like I’m inundating her with messages! ☹️

No don’t feel badly! Normally these issues are not really of a client’s concern, I’m also only guessing at the reason that your SA may not have responded, I definitely don’t know for sure that’s the reason.

So it’s just normal for them not to respond? I feel like I won’t ever be able to get anything from the brand. I’m pretty sure online sales do not count towards quota bags. So are u saying just keep messaging her although she hasn’t responded to any of my other previous messages or just find someone else? I’m sorry just confused.

I think what acrowcounted meant was there’s no need to text the SA to notify her that you are ending the relationship, that’s understood if communications just stop.

Right now it does seem like the general trend is that SAs aren’t very responsive. The H way of shopping takes a little getting used to, it’s much slower and drawn out than other luxury brands, which is probably why it’s called an Hermes lifestyle. I had previously only shopped with Chanel, which is lot faster of a pace with much more new items to buy, but even so my Chanel SA doesn’t respond consistently (ranges from immediately to days) because she is also swamped with walk ins and a million messages from clients. The only SAs I’ve seen who responds immediately are younger, newer SAs who are fast with tech and have fewer clients. My H SA, who till recently also doesn’t really respond to my texts except to confirm appt, has read receipts, so if she leaves me on read, then I know the answer boils down to no.

You’re right in that online purchases don’t count toward QB profile. I still suggest you find a way to shop in person, either with this SA or a new one/different location. I think you’ll find the in person shopping experience to be much more pleasant.

 

[EdgyBagsPlz]

I know this has probably been covered somewhere, but is it okay to ask about the possibility of getting a quota bag this year, without asking about buying an item? My SA and I email and text, but I only try to reach out when I'm wanting to buy something (despite wishing we could just chat). However, because I got a bag from LV recently that I'm torn on keeping, I kind of would love even a rough idea of whether I should keep the budget open for "something else". (I haven't ever sold a bag down the road and don't look forward to jumping through those hoops when the time comes.) I have no H bags yet.

 

[acrowcounted]

I know this has probably been covered somewhere, but is it okay to ask about the possibility of getting a quota bag this year, without asking about buying an item? My SA and I email and text, but I only try to reach out when I'm wanting to buy something (despite wishing we could just chat). However, because I got a bag from LV recently that I'm torn on keeping, I kind of would love even a rough idea of whether I should keep the budget open for "something else". (I haven't ever sold a bag down the road and don't look forward to jumping through those hoops when the time comes.) I have no H bags yet.

Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it. The SA can’t really give any kind of helpful answer other than “maybe” or “yes hopefully something will be available soon”. It’s a much better conversation to have in person so I would recommend keeping the money tucked aside and scheduling an in person shopping appointment soon.

 

[lishukha]

I feel like just giving up with Hermes at this point and need some advice! I love Hermes and I haven’t had a chance to buy a lot from them bc the closest store is 5 hours away from me! I had tried hard with two sales associates I have met in person one in Vegas and one in New York. I thought that the one in New York and I hit it off so well! She gave me her card and I reached out inquiring her opinion on a scarf and a pair of shoes. She told me she would get back to me so I reached out again. No reply. So once again a week after that in pure desperation I reached out again. Once again no reply! I mean I want things from this brand! I want shoes, jewelry, scarfs, a blanket, makeup! Of course like the rest of this I would love a “quota” bag. But Like why do I have to BEG someone to take my dang money?! I don’t have the option of walking into a boutique every week. So because I rely so much an SA who doesn’t respond. My long winded question is am I just doomed? Should I just give up and hope that Hermes.com restocks the smaller things I want from the brand? I just want the truth for once! Like not radio silence. “How about a hey I could probably get those hard to get shoes but u aren’t high enough on my client list so try again next time.” Sorry for my rant but I would really really appreciate the help!

I would have to echo about the importance of the in person visits. My store is also 5 hours away. My SA rarely replied my emails (and I have only sent him a handful). I made the effort to visit him in person about once a quarter (and have to say every visit was such an awesome experience) and got offered a birkin the third time I was in store.

 

[mauihappyplace]

Wasn’t sure which thread to I posted here and Hermes.com
Question- I bought shoes online( my SA knew my size not available in the store) the shoes are huge ( it’s the smallest size so I can’t get another size) so I need to return them.Is it bad for my store (inventory wise)to return them to the store ( I will end up with a store credit and will definitely end up spending more than the store credit) just didn’t know if that is bad for the inventory. I am a frequent shopper in my store but I don’t know the online “politics”. I live very near my store so easier to take back than ship back. Thanks for any input. Some of these recent posts have made me spend time thinking about things that probably don’t matter but then maybe this is a problem for the store. Thanks again

 

[880]

Wasn’t sure which thread to I posted here and Hermes.com
Question- I bought shoes online( my SA knew my size not available in the store) the shoes are huge ( it’s the smallest size so I can’t get another size) so I need to return them.Is it bad for my store (inventory wise)to return them to the store ( I will end up with a store credit and will definitely end up spending more than the store credit) just didn’t know if that is bad for the inventory. I am a frequent shopper in my store but I don’t know the online “politics”. I live very near my store so easier to take back than ship back. Thanks for any input. Some of these recent posts have made me spend time thinking about things that probably don’t matter but then maybe this is a problem for the store. Thanks again

I don’t think this type of return should be any issue esp bc you had no opportunity to try on in person. Your store didn’t have them and couldn’t get them, otherwise you would have tried them on in store before purchase.