Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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[smoothsailor]

Takes 2-3 years for a QB…? With regular spending? That’s can’t be the new norm…

I guess if it is counting from the point of buying leisurely. Waiting for months at a time for a pair of shoes, a year for dining ware, 20 months for a piece of fine jewellery, etc. Carefully curating a H collection and not buying mindlessly for the sake of buying to be offered a quota bag…to the point of being offered a requested for dream bag which could take 8 to 15months after hitting the spend threshold perhaps, then taking 2 to 3 years is pretty realistic.

 

[krittershops]

Now, I have heard conflicting things on if a store can see you entire world wide spend history-I do assume someone in H can-but that isn’t the point. I ask because while I respect the relationship, with bags taking two plus years for offers I am in an odd spot. I am a diplomat. I move every three to five years, with long term deployments in there as well. Now I usually get stationed in incredible capital cities but, I will not live in one place for a long time…. Every time I feel like I’m getting close to building the right rhythm with an SA, I move only to start again…. Now on my second go at this and just a bit frustrated. PS: this isn’t just about the quota bag, but also getting other items like shoes and scarves and appointments etc

Any thoughts? Can I have this conversation with my new SA?

Cheers!
-k

 

[shiningb3b3]

I guess if it is counting from the point of buying leisurely. Waiting for months at a time for a pair of shoes, a year for dining ware, 20 months for a piece of fine jewellery, etc. Carefully curating a H collection and not buying mindlessly for the sake of buying to be offered a quota bag…to the point of being offered a requested for dream bag which could take 8 to 15months after hitting the spend threshold perhaps, then taking 2 to 3 years is pretty realistic.

I buy every month. Make an appearance monthly. So I’m not sure what’s going on.

 

[acrowcounted]

Now, I have heard conflicting things on if a store can see you entire world wide spend history-I do assume someone in H can-but that isn’t the point. I ask because while I respect the relationship, with bags taking two plus years for offers I am in an odd spot. I am a diplomat. I move every three to five years, with long term deployments in there as well. Now I usually get stationed in incredible capital cities but, I will not live in one place for a long time…. Every time I feel like I’m getting close to building the right rhythm with an SA, I move only to start again…. Now on my second go at this and just a bit frustrated. PS: this isn’t just about the quota bag, but also getting other items like shoes and scarves and appointments etc

Any thoughts? Can I have this conversation with my new SA?

Cheers!
-k

Just because you move doesn’t mean you have to start a new relationship. If your relationship is working well for you, why not keep it and just work long distance? Many of us choose long distance relationships on purpose from the start. And the only thing that actually matters to a store is your history with that precise store, so linked spend history or not won’t make any difference.

 

[calicocat]

I should mention this explains why I am still not getting my next QB. I’m in the most competitive Canadian city ever. It’s far more competitive than any other store in the world, and notorious for low stock.

I’m well over 2 years of waiting.

Long standing client of over 5 years.

Lol.

I just want to cry at this point and really just giving up.

Hey @shiningb3b3 - I notice you mentioned 'my next QB' - did you mean that you received one within 2 years of waiting?

 

[krittershops]

Just because you move doesn’t mean you have to start a new relationship. If your relationship is working well for you, why not keep it and just work long distance? Many of us choose long distance relationships on purpose from the start. And the only thing that actually matters to a store is your history with that precise store, so linked spend history or not won’t make any difference.

That is a good point, but that would be internationally shipping things if I understand correctly. I would be lighting all the taxes on fire every time.

Also, the ability to pop in store and try things on…. Using one SAs time only to buy from another.

I guess I should ask how do you make a long distance H Relationship work?

Thanks!

 

[shiningb3b3]

Hey @shiningb3b3 - I notice you mentioned 'my next QB' - did you mean that you received one within 2 years of waiting?

My last QB offer was over 2 years ago.

 

[880]

not asking for one for over a year helped me get this when I did ask for it?

I get very nice offers that I never thought to ask for (no wish list)

If your relationship is working well for you, why not keep it and just work long distance? Many of us choose long distance relationships on purpose from the start. And the only thing that actually matters to a store is your history with that precise store, so linked spend history or not won’t make any difference.

Agree with this^

I guess I should ask how do you make a long distance H Relationship work?

My home store is a local flagship, and I also shop 2X a year with my FSH SA ( new relationship; and both SAs are fine with this). My spend in my primary store is 5X plus, and I don’t really ask for bags (although I might ask for a bolide next year as it’s the anniversary) . My NY SA picked a gold B25 sellier for me this past summer. i trust that my SA will reserve something for me, if he thinks I will love it. I only buy what I love, which is mainly RTW.

My spend at FSH is minimal ( but not from lack of trying), and I’ve accepted two QBs and one non QB from FSH this year.
I asked for one of them.

 

[calicocat]

My last QB offer was over 2 years ago.

so sorry to hear this @shiningb3b3 - did your SA ever give you reason(s)/hint(s) if/when you asked?

 

[acrowcounted]

That is a good point, but that would be internationally shipping things if I understand correctly. I would be lighting all the taxes on fire every time.

Also, the ability to pop in store and try things on…. Using one SAs time only to buy from another.

I guess I should ask how do you make a long distance H Relationship work?

Thanks!

I mean yeah international shipping and having to fly back for bag offers isn’t ideal but unfortunately the way H’s business model is set up, they don’t really care if it’s inconvenient for the client to be loyal. They have way more clients than they do product so I’m sure they have calculated in that their expectations won’t work for some people and that’s okay with them. You kinda have to either play by their framework or leave the game (or I guess be frustrated and unsuccessful while doing your own thing). Once you know your next assignment, I’d recommend contacting your SA and telling them your circumstance and see if they’d be willing to take you on as an international client and if not, if they could arrange a referral to your new deployment country. Your profile from prior countries won’t help you though. A bright side could be that many European locations don’t work by spend at all and you could simply work the wishlist if you get sent to one of those places.

 

[smoothsailor]

I buy every month. Make an appearance monthly. So I’m not sure what’s going on.

I think you should take a breather and look at my post #6871 on this thread.

I understand stores in Canada offer quota bags to clients after 1 year at least. Sorry to say, it could be your store trying to clear clients who are waiting for their first bag ever. Since you are such a regular client, why not just ask your SA to validate this….

And to tell the truth, first timers are more hard up than you who, I assumed, had prior quota bag offered. There is really a lot more uncertainty felt by them.

 

[acrowcounted]

Oh my god! THANK YOU! I am a diplomat. I move every three to five years…..

Everyone on here is a bit snobby about it too ( H has other clients they don’t need you vibe or just pay loads in international duties)

I could hug you for understanding!

I’m sorry that you found my attempt to advise you on how to work within Hermes’ business model snobby. Its not that I like or promote these exclusionary H policies but rather the fact that I realize one person isn’t going to have those policies changed simply because they are inconvenient for that single person. It’s much better time spent, imo, to understand how H thinks and then to figure out how to make the policies work for me, than to complain about the fact that they don’t (especially to people who can’t change them). Good luck.

 

[speckle]

Hi! I’m looking for some advice please … I just started a relationship with a SA, and bought two pieces of fine jewelry and a scarf in my first visit. He asked me if there was something I was looking for specifically and I told him I wanted a bolide, so he looked up the bag and saw that there was one coming into the store that no one was tagged for yet and then put my name down for it. A month later, I actually found a pre-loved bolide, in the color that I wanted and bought it. I’d really like to go into the store and try out some Twilly’s to go with the bag, my question is, should I go in and tell him I bought a pre-loved and want to shop for a twilly to go with it?? Or should I just shop for it on hermes.com and never bring up the pre-loved and never bring the bag to the store??? Sorry if this is an obvious question but I don’t really know the etiquette!!!

 

[BoredHoe]

Hi! I’m looking for some advice please … I just started a relationship with a SA, and bought two pieces of fine jewelry and a scarf in my first visit. He asked me if there was something I was looking for specifically and I told him I wanted a bolide, so he looked up the bag and saw that there was one coming into the store that no one was tagged for yet and then put my name down for it. A month later, I actually found a pre-loved bolide, in the color that I wanted and bought it. I’d really like to go into the store and try out some Twilly’s to go with the bag, my question is, should I go in and tell him I bought a pre-loved and want to shop for a twilly to go with it?? Or should I just shop for it on hermes.com and never bring up the pre-loved and never bring the bag to the store??? Sorry if this is an obvious question but I don’t really know the etiquette!!!

Personally, I would let them know that you acquired the bag already and to just let someone else have it to sell or offer.
I ran into a similar scenario where an an advisor had told me if I wanted a bag in color X size Y and hardware Z; I kid you not, the very next day I was just browsing another Hermes location in the state and I asked about a bag and offered color X size Y and hardware A. I bought it and a few weeks later, I get a call from the first advisor on the other side of the state and let me know the bag came in for me and if I can pick it up. I felt so bad that they went through the effort to holding the bag or securing it for me on the upcoming inventory. I said I wouldn’t be able to since I just bought one the other day at a different location.
I don’t think they take offense, but perhaps it would be good to advise them so that you can continue to have a good rapport with them should you choose to down the road.
Note to this day, I still see both advisors and shop often, though my wallet may need a break as both locations are just opposites when it comes to stocks like I can go to both places and they won’t have what the other has and it’s funny to find what I want in one and what I need in the other.
I think with that my relationships with the two locations are good. We generally have things to talk about even if it’s not too personal and our rapport I feel is on the good spectrum enough so that I was offered another bag within a few days of getting offered a Birkin at another location.
Just be true to yourself though, if you feel a bit of guilt on hiding a bag you love and want to use then it’s probably best to come clean. Otherwise if you can totally just go in the store and never mention it, then that’s fine too. Think it’s all on personal preference (: good luck and definitely enjoy your bag!

 

[periogirl28]

Now, I have heard conflicting things on if a store can see you entire world wide spend history-I do assume someone in H can-but that isn’t the point. I ask because while I respect the relationship, with bags taking two plus years for offers I am in an odd spot. I am a diplomat. I move every three to five years, with long term deployments in there as well. Now I usually get stationed in incredible capital cities but, I will not live in one place for a long time…. Every time I feel like I’m getting close to building the right rhythm with an SA, I move only to start again…. Now on my second go at this and just a bit frustrated. PS: this isn’t just about the quota bag, but also getting other items like shoes and scarves and appointments etc

Any thoughts? Can I have this conversation with my new SA?

Cheers!
-k

Yours is an interesting and challenging situation as I too move countries every 3-4 years although not in diplomatic service. I have managed to maintain my purchase relationships in 4 countries and just returned to my home store FSH after 3 years, minimising my travels, in view of Covid. I am however not a US citizen so cannot advise on customs tax and shipping. I wish you a satisfactory solution.