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.

 

[Lisa8323]

Hi everyone, I just started my H journey, and was assisted by 2 different SAs in my first 2 trips.

I thought I got along better with second SA and wanted to continue my shopping with her. The first SA reached out to asked about my wishlist bag (non-quota) and I told him that I’m working with the second SA so I don’t waste his effort. During my last visit to H, the second SA seemed very distracted the whole time I was there, texting & responding with short answers.

I’m probably reading too much into this, but I hope I didn’t do the wrong thing here?

 

[880]

This may seem obvious, but always be your normal, nice, and polite self to the employee who offers you an espresso; who comments idly about your shoes; seems to be just hanging out; or occasionally helping check out or fiddle with sizes. . . .not just bc it’s the nice thing to do. That employee might not be the cashier or coffee person; it could be the SM.

@Lisa8323 , You’ve only been going for two visits. If you decide to shop with the second or the first, it’s not set into stone. SAs aren’t given extra time to respond to texts, so sometimes they do have to juggle. . .

 

[Bdbunny]

This may seem obvious, but always be your normal, nice, and polite self to the employee who offers you an espresso; who comments idly about your shoes; seems to be just hanging out; or occasionally helping check out or fiddle with sizes. . . .not just bc it’s the nice thing to do. That employee might not be the cashier or coffee person; it could be the SM.

YES! Exactly the point of my story!!!

 

[valance]

Hi TPF members,

I’ve been working with my SA since the beginning of the year and am ready to broach the topic of bag requests. My SA is great, both kind and responsive, especially since I am not a big spender and live far away from my home store. I also live in a state with no sales tax so everything I buy, whether I am physically in the store to purchase it or not is shipped to my house (not a bad problem all things considered). I’ve been having the minor issue, however, that I am a very specific buyer and also a very tactile person, which tends to make it important to me to see something before I buy it. My SA is great about ordering things for me online or other stores. (Side question: Why would my SA order something from another store if it was also currently available online? I thought it was easier to fulfill online orders rather than transfers.) As I start “playing the game” for a bag, I need advice for how to pace myself. I have a limited budget, I’m too far away to casually pop into the store to see if there’s something new, I don’t want to keep having store transfers since I think that affects my relationship with the home store, and I don’t want to spend large amounts of my SA’s time asking to see if every specific thing I like online only to find out I don’t like it as much in person. My SA seems to genuinely want to help me find the things I like and to say, “Well, just let me buy whatever is in store so I can get a bag” feels wrong. I feel like I’m missing something obvious to make this experience more casual. TIA for the advice!

 

[acrowcounted]

Hi TPF members,

I’ve been working with my SA since the beginning of the year and am ready to broach the topic of bag requests. My SA is great, both kind and responsive, especially since I am not a big spender and live far away from my home store. I also live in a state with no sales tax so everything I buy, whether I am physically in the store to purchase it or not is shipped to my house (not a bad problem all things considered). I’ve been having the minor issue, however, that I am a very specific buyer and also a very tactile person, which tends to make it important to me to see something before I buy it. My SA is great about ordering things for me online or other stores. (Side question: Why would my SA order something from another store if it was also currently available online? I thought it was easier to fulfill online orders rather than transfers.) As I start “playing the game” for a bag, I need advice for how to pace myself. I have a limited budget, I’m too far away to casually pop into the store to see if there’s something new, I don’t want to keep having store transfers since I think that affects my relationship with the home store, and I don’t want to spend large amounts of my SA’s time asking to see if every specific thing I like online only to find out I don’t like it as much in person. My SA seems to genuinely want to help me find the things I like and to say, “Well, just let me buy whatever is in store so I can get a bag” feels wrong. I feel like I’m missing something obvious to make this experience more casual. TIA for the advice!

Unfortunately, there isn’t a magical solution for some clients. If you live too far away such that you are unwilling to pop in randomly/often AND you need to see something before you buy it AND you don’t want to trouble your SA with bringing in things to try, then there really is no solution. One of these things will have to give.

Ordering from online is easier for the SA, assuming the client is there physically in store, because there is no middle-man-other-store-SA that needs to be convinced to give up the item and pack and ship it. All the website workers do all day is pack and ship.

 

[880]

My SA seems to genuinely want to help me find the things I like and to say, “Well, just let me buy whatever is in store so I can get a bag” feels wrong. I feel like I’m missing something obvious to make this experience more casual. TIA for the advice

Just shop as per normal and ask your SA what the likelihood/timeframe if you would like a bag. IMO, it’s not a game, is simply shopping. Don’t overthink this

ETA: @valance, it sounds like from what you describe, that you have a good relationship with your SA, so I really would not worry about what others do I agree with @acrowcounted and @justdennis84 too

 

[valance]

Unfortunately, there isn’t a magical solution for some clients. If you live too far away such that you are unwilling to pop in randomly/often AND you need to see something before you buy it AND you don’t want to trouble your SA with bringing in things to try, then there really is no solution. One of these things will have to give.

Ordering from online is easier for the SA, assuming the client is there physically in store, because there is no middle-man-other-store-SA that needs to be convinced to give up the item and pack and ship it. All the website workers do all day is pack and ship.

Thanks for the response! It’s not that I’m unwilling/able to pop in more frequently or ask my SA to bring things in to try, but I don’t quite understand the etiquette. Since I’m far away it seemed like it could be awkward to just pop in without telling my SA as they know I’m not local. Maybe it would be better to stop by the store once a month and then only shop with my SA every other month? I’d been making a habit of making an appt. once a month, but recently I wasn’t really buying enough to warrant an hour of my SA’s time in store, given I wasn’t able to get the things I was looking for.

I don’t know how my SA’s responses to my requests (maybe offering to do fewer store transfers, etc.) will change after requesting a bag, so in some ways I know I’m getting ahead of myself.

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[justdennis84]

Thanks for the response! It’s not that I’m unwilling/able to pop in more frequently or ask my SA to bring things in to try, but I don’t quite understand the etiquette. Since I’m far away it seemed like it could be awkward to just pop in without telling my SA as they know I’m not local. Maybe it would be better to stop by the store once a month and then only shop with my SA every other month? I’d been making a habit of making an appt. once a month, but recently I wasn’t really buying enough to warrant an hour of my SA’s time in store, given I wasn’t able to get the things I was looking for.

I don’t know how my SA’s responses to my requests (maybe offering to do fewer store transfers, etc.) will change after requesting a bag, so in some ways I know I’m getting ahead of myself.

Thanks again for the advice!

I understand how intimidating all of this can be. My suggestion is to be very honest and not overcomplicate things.

My SA has also ordered peace’s from other stores. I’m confident to say, if this would be not good for Hermes or any of the stores involved, they simply would not offer it.

In terms of travel: If you really want to go, just let the SA know and make an appointment. I bet they won’t be even thinking about why you would travel a long distance.

Or as an alternative: Let the SA know that you want to work with them in the future and then ask what they would suggest, considering the distance. Maybe even explaining that you’d like to build that relationship with them to support your wish for a QB.

As 880 said, at the end of the day, it’s just shopping.

And if all that is still to complicated, still is intimidating and you probably don’t like the things you bought so far, consider a reseller.

 

[valance]

Just shop as per normal and ask your SA what the likelihood/timeframe if you would like a bag. IMO, it’s not a game, is simply shopping.

I understand how intimidating all of this can be. My suggestion is to be very honest and not overcomplicate things.

My SA has also ordered peace’s from other stores. I’m confident to say, if this would be not good for Hermes or any of the stores involved, they simply would not offer it.

In terms of travel: If you really want to go, just let the SA know and make an appointment. I bet they won’t be even thinking about why you would travel a long distance.

Or as an alternative: Let the SA know that you want to work with them in the future and then ask what they would suggest, considering the distance. Maybe even explaining that you’d like to build that relationship with them to support your wish for a QB.

As 880 said, at the end of the day, it’s just shopping.

And if all that is still to complicated, still is intimidating and you probably don’t like the things you bought so far, consider a reseller.

Thank you both for the responses! That is a wise way to look at it. I tend to enjoy the gamified aspect of it, but at the end of the day, you both are right. What I’m realizing from this is that I’m good at being patient generally, but apparently not with this!

I just need to slow down generally and go at the pace that works. I think I’m trying to rush myself, which inherently makes everything less enjoyable.

I’ll talk to my SA the next time I see them in person. Thanks!

 

[leechiyong]

Thanks for the response! It’s not that I’m unwilling/able to pop in more frequently or ask my SA to bring things in to try, but I don’t quite understand the etiquette. Since I’m far away it seemed like it could be awkward to just pop in without telling my SA as they know I’m not local. Maybe it would be better to stop by the store once a month and then only shop with my SA every other month? I’d been making a habit of making an appt. once a month, but recently I wasn’t really buying enough to warrant an hour of my SA’s time in store, given I wasn’t able to get the things I was looking for.

I don’t know how my SA’s responses to my requests (maybe offering to do fewer store transfers, etc.) will change after requesting a bag, so in some ways I know I’m getting ahead of myself.

Thanks again for the advice!

Given your other considerations, my best advice is to simply set your expectations for the timeline for a bag accordingly. You seem to have a great relationship with you SA, so I'm inclined to say don't change anything. I would not recommend upping you're spend if you can't sustain it. A bag will come with consistency.

I'm not local to my boutique either and only visit about twice a year. I do order things through my SA a handful of times a year if I know they're items I'm willing to buy sight unseen, but that's me. If you're willing/able to visit monthly, that's far better than me.

If I were in your shoes, I'd keep setting up appointments. The only possible adjustments is try to schedule them when they're not busy if you aren't already doing this and browse, especially if you're into their scarves. I'm usually the type to know what I want when shopping, but because of the breadth of options that H has that aren't on their website (or for scarves are, but the photographs never do the colors and details justice) and with only so much time I can spend on tPF, I can spend more at H without a list than most other stores with one.

 

[valance]

Given your other considerations, my best advice is to simply set your expectations for the timeline for a bag accordingly. You seem to have a great relationship with you SA, so I'm inclined to say don't change anything. I would not recommend upping you're spend if you can't sustain it. A bag will come with consistency.

I'm not local to my boutique either and only visit about twice a year. I do order things through my SA a handful of times a year if I know they're items I'm willing to buy sight unseen, but that's me. If you're willing/able to visit monthly, that's far better than me.

If I were in your shoes, I'd keep setting up appointments. The only possible adjustments is try to schedule them when they're not busy if you aren't already doing this and browse, especially if you're into their scarves. I'm usually the type to know what I want when shopping, but because of the breadth of options that H has that aren't on their website (or for scarves are, but the photographs never do the colors and details justice) and with only so much time I can spend on tPF, I can spend more at H without a list than most other stores with one.

All very true! I’ve found that I’m more of a minimalist by nature, but Hermes is throwing a bit of a wrench in that because I love so much of what they have. (Don’t get me started on their scarves.) I’ve been lucky so far purchasing sight unseen, and I enjoy my monthly trips. It’s been hard to break into the leather goods department so I’ll just need to be straightforward. What I’m realizing from this is that I need a list of the things I could use generally and pull from Hermes when I see something I like that fits the bill. Thank you for the advice! It makes the experience of shopping at Hermes so much more fun when you have others to share it with.

 

[justdennis84]

I’d love to hear more about the outcome of your next shop visit, if you would be willing to

 

[getthebag]

Just shop as per normal and ask your SA what the likelihood/timeframe if you would like a bag.

at what spend would you approach this? I’ve brought up the qb discussion to my SA and they said that it wasn’t time yet, meaning I didn’t spend enough yet. Since then I made 1 more purchase. How should I approach this discussion again? My bd is coming up and I would love to be offered a qb.

 

[acrowcounted]

at what spend would you approach this? I’ve brought up the qb discussion to my SA and they said that it wasn’t time yet, meaning I didn’t spend enough yet. Since then I made 1 more purchase. How should I approach this discussion again? My bd is coming up and I would love to be offered a qb.

I’m shocked they directly told you it’s not time yet. That tells me that they either aren’t interested in working with you or your spend is VERY low. Expect to spend upwards of $20k non bags before being taken seriously for a quota bag request.

 

[880]

at what spend would you approach this? I’ve brought up the qb discussion to my SA and they said that it wasn’t time yet, meaning I didn’t spend enough yet. Since then I made 1 more purchase. How should I approach this discussion again? My bd is coming up and I would love to be offered a qb.

I don’t and I wouldn’t. I don’t have a wish list, but my SAs all know my taste. So, if something comes up that they thin would suit me, they approach me. My spend is 5X plus (but I don’t really count) at my home flagship NYC, and I’m not exactly in a rush either. This year I rejected a 25B quadrille and a 25K padded from NYC and a 25B from FSH. I have almost no prespend at FSH, but I was fortunate to meet an SA who has become my regular one there. I don’t recommend tying a bag offer to a birthday or holiday. While it’s not all about spend in the US, a healthy prespend and being relaxed about timing seems to help.

ETA: If ones SA said point blank that it wasn’t time yet, are you in Asia? Bc if you are, perhaps simply ask what would put you in the running this year. But, it sounds like it might be a while. JMO