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.

 

[GloWW0rM]

Based on what you wrote, I think there are two questions you have:
1) what's texting/communication etiquette with your SA?
2) how to order/buy items you like?

For the first question, I would say maybe just pick up the phone and call your SA and have a very detailed conversation with her/him (tell them you are a serious client and you want to make sure you can get the items when you request them), set your "expectations", and ask them to tell YOU what's the best way to get in touch with them---usually that's all it takes to clear up any misunderstandings.

For the second question, are you sure your SA is buying items off the H website for you? I have never heard of that. Maybe someone else can chime in on their experiences with that, but usually they'll either do a charge send (asking another store to fulfill the order), or they will send you a link and when you pay, they'll ship you the items from their store's inventory.

Hope this helps.

I’m in the UK and my SA has been able to order from the website on their device when I’m physically in store with them, as @acrowcounted said. I get a sense that it is not preferable but when there is no stock in store and my SA knows I want something she will check website stock and, if in stock online, she will offer to order it either to be picked up in store or to be delivered to my home. I pay in full for the item there and then.

It doesn’t work for those hard to get items that rarely pop up on the website and sell out quickly. For those items my SA will check if they’re due to receive stock (they can now see if stock will be arriving, but not when, I believe) and reserve an item for me such that it will have my name against it and be put aside for me when it arrives.

 

[FrenchNewbie]

For those items my SA will check if they’re due to receive stock (they can now see if stock will be arriving, but not when, I believe) and reserve an item for me such that it will have my name against it and be put aside for me when it arrives.

Yes this is true in the US too...and my SA has reserved items for me.

 

[spidermann]

Just curious - if I happen to get lucky and score a Kelly or Constance to go crossbody wallet on the website, would this delay or hurt chances of a quota bag? I’m at a good spend ratio and put in my wishlist for a QB. Not sure if SMs would frown upon that.

I know H can be particular about how many leather goods ppl receive in a short period of time. And I read on here someone scored a picotin and shortly after an Evelyn on the website and their order was cancelled for reaching some sort of quota.

 

[daisygal03]

And I read on here someone scored a picotin and shortly after an Evelyn on the website and their order was cancelled for reaching some sort of quota.

I believe their statement was in reference to the online bag limit on H.com, which is separate from store purchases.

 

[FrenchNewbie]

Thanks for all the input on my last question. I’m also wondering how often you ask your SA about your wishlist? I only brought up my interest in a QB 3 months ago, after I was getting close to 1:1. Since then, I’ve gone in 3x and mentioned it once, and I’m not sure if it’s ok to keep mentioning like “oh I would love this color” or at this point just wait. We don’t have the kind of relationship where she texts me about new items coming in, I just go in when I know I want to buy something.

Funny, I just talked to my SA and thought about this thread.
I ordered a few more home goods, and my SA asked how the bag was doing. I told him it was beautiful as always & playfully mentioned "yeah, so here are some updates to my wishlist for my next bag...". My SA said "absolutely, we have to work hard to quickly find a companion to your 'baby'".

So it just all depends on the relationship you have, and the tone you set from the beginning.

 

[880]

They cannot order things for you from the website unless you are physically present in store with them and checkout on their special website device. Recommend scheduling an in-person shopping appointment via text. This way you have the most options, you can grab the items you want which are in stock at your store at that time and for the out of stock items, you can charge-send order them from other stores or have the item ordered from the website via your SA at that time.

agree with above

@elinae,

Just wanted to provide extra context. The SAs are not given extra time to answer texts and complete orders. They have to fit this in in between appts and walk in clients, and H corporate prefers that in store clients take priority. And clients who come to the store and purchase merchandise in stock are expected to get the lion‘s share of attention. Every SA I’ve spoken to seems to have hundreds of backlogged texts. It’s not ideal, but the SAs are often squeezed between Management and clients.

ETA: h.com is an entirely separate entity re stock availability. If your SA needs to transfer something in from another store, it is possible that store will not release the item or some horse trading will be required. As you get to know your SA better, managing purchases and expectations should become easier, but I don’t think what you are experiencing is at all unusual especially in the beginning.

In the beginning, my texts to my SA simply consisted of requests for appts. Easily asked and answered. JMO

 

[Miss. Nana]

Wondering if folks can share how long their SA has been able to hold something for? I’ve tried searching but not found a dedicated thread or master response.

My SA texted me that something I’d asked for (GP 49) was in store, but I am traveling and can’t make it in until early next week. The image she sent also looks like the bag is in a display area, not in a back room, so unsure if that means it can’t be held at all?

I’ve texted asking her to hold but haven’t heard back so thought to seek the friendly wisdom here

My SA hole the Kelly for 2 weeks

 

[Miss. Nana]

Hi everyone! Is there an etiquette for texting with your SA?

I’m just starting my journey and I’d love the option to order things I see on the website via text/link. However my SA is super slow and by the time he answers that he’ll do it soon, the item is already sold out on the website and he always forgets to send me the link, so I never managed to order anything this way.

Do you think SAs might get annoyed with text orders, should I just stop trying? I’ve tried to be super clear, direct and polite with the orders.

I’m thinking about just booking an appointment and going to the store to see what’s in stock but I’m hesitant to book the appointment via text due to the reasons mentioned earlier – my question is, how do you usually book your appointments? Do you text/call your SA and ask when they’re available, use the website system or call the store?

Thank you for your advice!

Why annoyed? Remember it’s their job, totally fine to ask, if they feel annoyed they would stop responding your text messages

I will text my SA to schedule the appointment directly with him, do you have his/her cell number? Just feel free to text them, the only thing is it might take sometime for them to text back, so be patient

 

[880]

is, how do you usually book your appointments? Do you text/call your SA and ask when they’re available, use the website system or call the store

Text at SAs request. In the beginning, my texts were only for scheduling, not product, and it took a while to receive a reply. Patience is necessary bc Hermes and Chanel etc don’t do the bulk of their sales electronicallu, nor does corporate wish them to do so. The idea is that luxury shopping should be conducted in person. Now, my SA likes me, but he really clicks with my DH, so text response is pretty much immediate.

 

[bagsarenice]

Is it better to buy from a SA or selling supervisor? I have a better relationship with a SA in another state but the selling supervisor is the one at my home store.

Girl let me know when you know, I normally randomly walk in but one time when I bought a few items I was given a card by a sa but it said “manager” or something among those lines. Maybe I should turn my house upside down to find the card lol, to message her and try to start a relationship with an sa?? I’m new to this whole game and need advice. Do people usually announce they will come in/make an appointment? The boutique in my city is very small but they are always very friendly and helpful

 

[Lux Addicts]

Hello grp, newbie here . I have been asking SA of my Sa can order thing but I rarely get reply but when I text when my Sa is in the store get reply right away. Does it mean my Sa is suggesting me to come to store instead of text to order ?

Once in store my SA take time to offfer drinks and we have great time thought just with life can't go there every month. I can only go every 2-3 months. Is it not good enough for SA at competitive store ?

Thankss so much in advance

 

[880]

Hello grp, newbie here . I have been asking SA of my Sa can order thing but I rarely get reply but when I text when my Sa is in the store get reply right away. Does it mean my Sa is suggesting me to come to store instead of text to order ?

Once in store my SA take time to offfer drinks and we have great time thought just with life can't go there every month. I can only go every 2-3 months. Is it not good enough for SA at competitive store ?

Thankss so much in advance

Scroll up and Read @acrowcounted post above and page back for a more nuanced answer re texting. Re how often to go is a judgment call.

 

[WhiteBus]

Lux Addicts

Answer to your first paragraph: yes

Others have commented that SAs might not have time to respond to all messages when they are working.

It is not unreasonable for an SA to get to know a client well enough to consider if it is worthwhile ordering things into a store specially. It is not just a matter of whether it is worth his or her time; it has implications for stock control within the store and that will affect other members of staff - especially if unwanted items have to be returned.

Why should you expect to be offered drinks right away?
Refreshments are nice, but whatever you might read from other people, they should not be expected.

 

[880]

Lux Addicts

Answer to your first paragraph: yes

Others have commented that SAs might not have time to respond to all messages when they are working.

It is not unreasonable for an SA to get to know a client well enough to consider if it is worthwhile ordering things into a store specially. It is not just a matter of whether it is worth his or her time; it has implications for stock control within the store and that will affect other members of staff - especially if unwanted items have to be returned.

Why should you expect to be offered drinks right away?
Refreshments are nice, but whatever you might read from other people, they should not be expected.

@WhiteBus , I interpreted the drinks comment above bit differently

i thought @Lux Addicts was saying that the experience at the store was very nice and prompt (offered drinks etc.), and so the assumption was texts should be answered in a way commensurate with the service. Someone else once posted, yes, well a French company like chanel or H doesn’t really work by text bc the belief is texting is not a luxury experience.

Im a madison regular, and since the new store opening, they hired extra people specifically to offer drinks and espresso with a sad plastic wrapped cookie Lol. It’s just popular things like bags and RTW and homeware that cannot be found for love or money

 

[WhiteBus]

@WhiteBus , I interpreted the drinks comment above bit differently

i thought @Lux Addicts was saying that the experience at the store was very nice and prompt (offered drinks etc.), and so the assumption was texts should be answered in a way commensurate with the service. Someone else once posted, yes, well a French company like chanel or H doesn’t really work by text bc the belief is texting is not a luxury experience.

Im a madison regular, and since the new store opening, they hired extra people specifically to offer drinks and espresso with a sad plastic wrapped cookie Lol. It’s just popular things like bags and RTW and homeware that cannot be found for love or money

oh yes, I see what you mean; I think you are right
I thought English might not be the first language of OP