Maintaining an H relationship

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#3,095
Please focus on the title of this thread rather than each other, TY

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#7,471
DME said:
Yes, this! But I will add best not to share their details without asking first. Some of my SAs, regardless of brand, do not want their contact information shared, as they have full client rosters. Others are still trying to build up their books, so are more than happy to take on new clients by referral. I will note SAs might prefer a referral from me is for someone I personally know (kind of like vouching for them), but this may not matter to some.
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My SA told me in advance that if I or any client gives her details, she blacklists them and sends it on an internal staff group chat and they follow suit! So I don’t give anyone. Not even my mum lol (Don’t worry, my mum still gets her bags. I just buy them for her lol).
 
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#7,475
benjinito said:
I get it for your case, but most of the ones I've seen here are "I'm about to travel to XYZ city, can someone please share their SA details?" :angel:
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Most who ask for a nice SA in this context hope to get a QB for the least spend. I’m not sure they understand that a ‘nice’ SA for a regular client may not treat a new, unknown the same way. . .
 
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#7,477
benjinito said:
I get it for your case, but most of the ones I've seen here are "I'm about to travel to XYZ city, can someone please share their SA details?" :angel:
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Sorry I had to chime in here with probably an unpopular opinion: and this is not directed to any one person. I honestly don't see anything wrong with someone asking for an SA contact. We can only assume someone wants to 'leapfrog' or get an advantage or ingratiate themselves...but it's just that: an ASSUMPTION. Lets face it, don't we all do a bit of that in our personal and professional lives anyway? Don't we try to make a good first impression to get offered 'something' in return, whether tangible or intangible? In a job interview, you are on your best behavior and dress appropriately in hopes of a job offer; on a first date you wear makeup and a nice outfit in hopes the person will like you; I've read some ladies go into H dressed in Hermès from head to toe...in hopes of impresseing the SA enough to score a bag offer. The list goes on and on. Those who say they don't do, or haven't at some point done, ANY of the above would be lying.

Maybe they genuinely want to know who we feel are nice amd helpful (since we all know there can be some trifling and rude and stuck up luxury SAs [there's entire threads dedicated to bad shopping experiences]). I'd take it as a compliment if a stranger trusts my judgment enough to recommend an SA to them.

To your point, if I am unfamiliar with a new city or the people or the "behaviors" there...then why not ask some kind folks here for help. I liken it to asking people's suggestions on a nice restaurant or hotel or museum or things to do in the city. As long as the SA is fine with it, and you feel comfortable sharing. No harm done. I don't understand all the complaining here or why people are making a big deal out of nothing. :confused1: If you don't like the question(s)...don't answer it, move on. Always assume positive intent; and don't berate or condescend to someone for asking a question in a forum, FCS. :hbeat:
 
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#7,478
benjinito said:
I'm curious ... why do folks ask for SA contact details? Why not just walk into a store and pick a SA like we all did at some point?
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I honestly think H is one of the only subs to be weird about giving SA contact info; Obviously, because theres scarcity. As someone that has been reading a lot of older threads sharing SA contact was a thing in the H sub as well - things have changed. Every other luxury sub here has a “SA recommendation” thread. People ask for SA contact info just like they ask for every other thing from strangers on forums because lots of people go to forums for info. I think a lot of people do not realize, initially, that H isn’t like the other brands. They quickly realize, I’m sure lol.

I personally like to feel SAs out on my own in store. I am also very extroverted and people tend to always come up to me but I do understand we are not all a like. Some people are introverts and weird about talking to/meeting people in general. Maybe having a recommendation makes it easier for someone else. Asking for SA contact on a forum is not abnormal. Oh, but, I forgot, it’s not just any subforum; it’s H subforum.
 
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#7,479
FrenchNewbie said:
Sorry I had to chime in here with probably an unpopular opinion: and this is not directed to any one person. I honestly don't see anything wrong with someone asking for an SA contact. We can only assume someone wants to 'leapfrog' or get an advantage or ingratiate themselves...but it's just that: an ASSUMPTION. Lets face it, don't we all do a bit of that in our personal and professional lives anyway? Don't we try to make a good first impression to get offered 'something' in return, whether tangible or intangible? In a job interview, you are on your best behavior and dress appropriately in hopes of a job offer; on a first date you wear makeup and a nice outfit in hopes the person will like you; I've read some ladies go into H dressed in Hermès from head to toe...in hopes of impresseing the SA enough to score a bag offer. The list goes on and on. Those who say they don't do, or haven't at some point done, ANY of the above would be lying.

Maybe they genuinely want to know who we feel are nice amd helpful (since we all know there can be some trifling and rude and stuck up luxury SAs [there's entire threads dedicated to bad shopping experiences]). I'd take it as a compliment if a stranger trusts my judgment enough to recommend an SA to them.

To your point, if I am unfamiliar with a new city or the people or the "behaviors" there...then why not ask some kind folks here for help. I liken it to asking people's suggestions on a nice restaurant or hotel or museum or things to do in the city. As long as the SA is fine with it, and you feel comfortable sharing. No harm done. I don't understand all the complaining here or why people are making a big deal out of nothing. :confused1: If you don't like the question(s)...don't answer it, move on. Always assume positive intent; and don't berate or condescend to someone for asking a question in a forum, FCS. :hbeat:
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I would only comment that some people give their SAs contact info to others without first asking their SA if that is okay. If someone asks me to introduce them to someone I know personally, I do make sure it’s okay with all parties first. In the case of SAs, not even those limited to Hermes, demand has been such, post Covid, that several have declined.

although your comment was of course not aimed at anyone personally, I do think that individuals here dont always consider what it means to provide contacts over a public forum or even via PM. One of my SAs at another premier brand said that such publicized information has gotten a fellow SA in trouble with corporate ( though I did not ask for details).

ETA: Perhaps SAs at Hermes would be more willing to take referrals if they were not continually inundated with requests for BKC. But, my other SAs at chanel, dior, brunello, and other brands have told me that they have regretfully refused many additional clients as they are oversubscribed.

I try hard to help TPFers who are contributing members to the forum, but I have increasingly less bandwidth to spare for a new member who makes an overly familiar demand as an initial post without even searching for answers in the correct thread. I personally do not ask for favors without some attempt at reciprocity. This is JMO though and ymmv
 
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#7,480
I do know some other luxury brands have policies which basically do not allow their SAs to publicly advertise / get sales using social media. Some will try to skirt around (posting in private accounts etc.) but nonetheless it is a policy that if found out can potentially be trouble for the SA. As a result I’m never publicly sharing SAs even with other brands.

But let’s now talk about that part more specifically about Hermes and bag offers…the thing is, I’m sorry but I don’t know you. I quite simply have no idea what type of client an Internet stranger will be, and even here on tPF where it’s generally pretty positive, I regularly see people who post things that are clearly imo not the right expectations…and occasionally downright rude and entitled. And I’ve seen those behavior in person more often than one would hope. Put another way, I don’t think my (or many other) SAs will be losing much sleep if they don’t have some people as their customers.

I’m of course not saying that everyone is like that, but firstly: I just can’t know which case you would be!! And secondly…if you are the type of good client that Hermes (and hence the SAs) are looking for, there is a good chance that you will have no trouble finding an SA yourself; they’d be happy to have you. Like, there are a handful of people on this forum I would dare to wager are clients my SA would love to have…but guess what, they are the members in happy, established H “relationships” with their own SA(s) already!

Of course it’s true that “bad” SAs exist and string clients along and if you run into one and share the story here you will see everyone being sympathetic and offering advice re: how to switch, take a step back, etc. But for every one of those posts, how many posts have we seen instead where the replies are carefully trying to nudge the OP that they were not realistic in their expectations? And how many posts do we have where after pages and pages of long term members who helpfully explain the current situation and they still are like…”I bought 1:1 why is there not a bag magically jumping into my arms in the exact size and color and leather and hardware that I and every other person purchasing Hermes want?” Or “I’ve now read 10 pages suggesting the expectation I had in mind was unreasonable but I’m gonna ask yet another time that is it reaaallly the case and hope someone will come and explain miracles happen so I can still hold hope”?

I get being helpful and friendly on this forum. But honestly it should go both ways. People should bother to read and think, and I don’t think it takes that much before it becomes clear why SA requests are very rarely fruitful on this sub-forum. In fact iirc this whole SA recommendation topic has itself been discussed multiple times. I remember reading stories of how even recommending people one know IRL (was it relatives?) turned out to be a bas idea as they ended up being headache clients for the SA…

If you are confident that you are an Hermes client that people can recommend their SA to, that means SAs should happily take you on as a client, which means you should be confident that you can walk into your Hermes store and find one that will work with you. :flowers:
 
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#7,481
880 said:
I would only comment that some people give their SAs contact info to others without first asking their SA if that is okay. If someone asks me to introduce them to someone I know personally, I do make sure it’s okay with all parties first. In the case of SAs, not even those limited to Hermes, demand has been such, post Covid, that several have declined.

although your comment was of course not aimed at anyone personally, I do think that individuals here dont always consider what it means to provide contacts over a public forum or even via PM. One of my SAs at another premier brand said that such publicized information has gotten a fellow SA in trouble with corporate ( though I did not ask for details).

ETA: Perhaps SAs at Hermes would be more willing to take referrals if they were not continually inundated with requests for BKC. But, my other SAs at chanel, dior, brunello, and other brands have told me that they have regretfully refused many additional clients as they are oversubscribed.

I try hard to help TPFers who are contributing members to the forum, but I have increasingly less bandwidth to spare for a new member who makes an overly familiar demand as an initial post without even searching for answers in the correct thread. I personally do not ask for favors without some attempt at reciprocity. This is JMO though and ymmv
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Completely agree with the bolded. Theres forum decorum/culture and some newbies just come here wanting all of the info spoon-fed to them without any work. I find this a lot recently especially with social media!
 
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#7,482
I take my relationship with my H SA very seriously, have introduced a few friends to her but don’t just hand her name out to anyone. We have worked together for many years and get along so well. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. Forgive the long story but…I recently had a situation where I was going to an appointment at H and walked through a department store on my way. Stopped and looked at some shoes, chatted with the SA and said that I might come back after my H appointment. He was telling me how he wanted an Herbag and was trying to get his boyfriend to buy him one yada, yada. Anyway, didn’t buy anything from him and didn’t see him on my way out. Next time I had an appointment at H, I walked through the department store again (convenient parking to H store) and went to my appointment. On my way out, the department store SA sees me (or maybe my large orange bag) and starts talking to me and how he remembered me etc. Asks me who my SA at H is. I didn’t feel comfortable sharing the info but sort of felt like I had no choice as he has now seen me twice going to H. He is telling me how he normally shops at a different H but this one is so convenient etc. I did he should continue working with his SA at the other store since he has established himself as a client there. As I leave, he asks me my name again. I just had such a weird feeling about the whole thing. Before I even left the department store to get into my car I texted my H SA and told her this guy’s name and that in no way had I suggested he reach out to her nor had I recommended her to him. She thanked me for the heads up. Next time I had an H appointment, I snuck through the department store (because now I never want to see this department store SA again as he made me very uncomfortable) and went to H. As I was finishing up with my purchases, my H SA tells me that the department store SA had gone in and sought her out. He out and out lied and said that he was my personal shopper at the department store and he assisted me with all my purchases there. Never happened!!! My H SA remembered my text and sort of played dumb about me when he said my first name she asked for my last name. He was completely stumped because I had never purchased a thing from him and he made one up. She acted like she wasn’t sure who I was. He bought a pair of shoes from her and she told me that he has no previous purchase history at the other H store he mentioned and this was his first H purchase. I was really mad! I am so glad I had texted my H SA about this guy because he did what I feared and suspected he might do, which was use me to try and get an in with her and get a bag. And how dare he make up a relationship between us and say he is my personal shopper?! Now it’s not a matter of trying to avoid him when I walk through the department store, I actually want to call him out on it. Not sure if I will or not but he had a heck of a lot of nerve. I think it’s okay to be protective of our H SAs and not want to share their info with anyone who asks because our own credibility can come into play. I honestly love H and my SA and don’t want to do anything to mess up the relationship we have built over the years for a stranger or someone I don’t really know. For me it’s not just about quota bags and I don’t want to be a means to an end for someone that has that as their motivation.
 
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#7,483
Goodfrtune said:
I take my relationship with my H SA very seriously, have introduced a few friends to her but don’t just hand her name out to anyone. We have worked together for many years and get along so well. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. Forgive the long story but…I recently had a situation where I was going to an appointment at H and walked through a department store on my way. Stopped and looked at some shoes, chatted with the SA and said that I might come back after my H appointment. He was telling me how he wanted an Herbag and was trying to get his boyfriend to buy him one yada, yada. Anyway, didn’t buy anything from him and didn’t see him on my way out. Next time I had an appointment at H, I walked through the department store again (convenient parking to H store) and went to my appointment. On my way out, the department store SA sees me (or maybe my large orange bag) and starts talking to me and how he remembered me etc. Asks me who my SA at H is. I didn’t feel comfortable sharing the info but sort of felt like I had no choice as he has now seen me twice going to H. He is telling me how he normally shops at a different H but this one is so convenient etc. I did he should continue working with his SA at the other store since he has established himself as a client there. As I leave, he asks me my name again. I just had such a weird feeling about the whole thing. Before I even left the department store to get into my car I texted my H SA and told her this guy’s name and that in no way had I suggested he reach out to her nor had I recommended her to him. She thanked me for the heads up. Next time I had an H appointment, I snuck through the department store (because now I never want to see this department store SA again as he made me very uncomfortable) and went to H. As I was finishing up with my purchases, my H SA tells me that the department store SA had gone in and sought her out. He out and out lied and said that he was my personal shopper at the department store and he assisted me with all my purchases there. Never happened!!! My H SA remembered my text and sort of played dumb about me when he said my first name she asked for my last name. He was completely stumped because I had never purchased a thing from him and he made one up. She acted like she wasn’t sure who I was. He bought a pair of shoes from her and she told me that he has no previous purchase history at the other H store he mentioned and this was his first H purchase. I was really mad! I am so glad I had texted my H SA about this guy because he did what I feared and suspected he might do, which was use me to try and get an in with her and get a bag. And how dare he make up a relationship between us and say he is my personal shopper?! Now it’s not a matter of trying to avoid him when I walk through the department store, I actually want to call him out on it. Not sure if I will or not but he had a heck of a lot of nerve. I think it’s okay to be protective of our H SAs and not want to share their info with anyone who asks because our own credibility can come into play. I honestly love H and my SA and don’t want to do anything to mess up the relationship we have built over the years for a stranger or someone I don’t really know. For me it’s not just about quota bags and I don’t want to be a means to an end for someone that has that as their motivation.
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I’m speechless. I cannot fathom trying to lie my way to a bag. Not to mention this is at his place of work…he could jeoprodize his employment for a bag?! People are so desperate.
 
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