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.

 

[sparklehop]

Did it stop flipping and twisting ?

Sorry for such a delayed response - catching up here! She actually ended up returning it! Got a diamond farandole pendant necklace and diamond finesse earrings. everyone was happy in the end!

 

[A bottle of Red]

Sorry for such a delayed response - catching up here! She actually ended up returning it! Got a diamond farandole pendant necklace and diamond finesse earrings. everyone was happy in the end!

Fantastic!

 

[bougiecouture]

Does anyone have any insight on how to get and keep an SA at the store in KOP (Philly)? I buy semi-frequently, shoes, homeware, enamel jewelry and would buy RTW if it came in more sizes for plus size women. The couple of SAs I was given cards by are slow (by days - and I understand that they have days off and would never expect that they contact me then) or don't text back at all. I'm a bit at a loss of what to do. I just want to start building my sales history with someone so when I am ready to buy a bag I will have that relationship.

 

[tinkerbell68]

I am so sorry that you may be feeling some pressure to buy FJ in addition to the RTW that you are already buying to get the bags you want. Do not do it if you would not buy the Fine Jewelry or RTW organically because you really want the aformentioned items. Leather bags, QB and non QB are in VERY short supply and Hermes is the ONLY corporate vendor today that is up year over year by double digit percentages. Even LVMH stock has gone down this earning season. Like I always say, there is always next season. Hermes is building several new manufacturing sites in France and the supply is already picking up since last season. I have been a collector for 10 years. Only since the advent of Instagram and the influencer community has Hermes gained a cult like obsession status, especially for the smaller bags. Don’t chase those. Give Hermes time to replenish their stock, buy stuff you really want, be patient and good luck.

Such good advice @haute okole particularly the bolded part!
While I know that there are some members who seem to sprint to the finish line so to speak, spending a fair amount in a short time frame and are then offered the bag of their dreams, for others, building a relationship with H (and the SAs and SMs) is a marathon. If you buy what you like and have patience, you’ll get your dream bag(s) eventually.
Of course, it is tempting to compare one’s experience to that of others particularly with the advent of SM and to feel that everyone else is getting a B or a K except for you. But SM is a platform for sharing the stories and images of ‘perfect’ lives not real lives…for all the stories of the Birkin offered after only 2 months and $X of purchases, there are thousands more stories of relationship building and occasional purchases over time before the dream bag is offered. PATIENCE!

 

[FrenchNewbie]

Does anyone have any insight on how to get and keep an SA at the store in KOP (Philly)? I buy semi-frequently, shoes, homeware, enamel jewelry and would buy RTW if it came in more sizes for plus size women. The couple of SAs I was given cards by are slow (by days - and I understand that they have days off and would never expect that they contact me then) or don't text back at all. I'm a bit at a loss of what to do. I just want to start building my sales history with someone so when I am ready to buy a bag I will have that relationship.

Not sure what kind of personality you have (if you are direct, or a people pleaser), but I would just be upfront with them about how you are feeling.

Maybe say something like "Hey I realize you are busy and can't always answer me, but I notice it usually takes you over 10 days to respond to me. Is that normal? If you are overbooked, can you recommend another SA that has time to devote to me? I want to become a long-term client & purchase regularly but feel that will be very difficult by not being able to ever get in touch with you."

Also, this is what I tell everyone: PICK UP THE PHONE, and call. Texting has become the bane of my existance when conducting business transactions. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call to resolve most issues.

 

[bougiecouture]

Not sure what kind of personality you have (if you are direct, or a people pleaser), but I would just be upfront with them about how you are feeling.

Maybe say something like "Hey I realize you are busy and can't always answer me, but I notice it usually takes you over 10 days to respond to me. Is that normal? If you are overbooked, can you recommend another SA that has time to devote to me? I want to become a long-term client & putchase regularly but feel that will be very difficult by not being able to ever get in touch with you."

Also, this is what I tell everyone: PICK UP THE PHONE, and call. Texting has become the bane of my existing when conducting business transactions. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call to resolve most issues.

I'm rather direct! I like that you are framing it as a business transaction because that's exactly what it is. I will call him tomorrow afternoon! Thank you.

 

[880]

Does anyone have any insight on how to get and keep an SA at the store in KOP (Philly)? I buy semi-frequently, shoes, homeware, enamel jewelry and would buy RTW if it came in more sizes for plus size women. The couple of SAs I was given cards by are slow (by days - and I understand that they have days off and would never expect that they contact me then) or don't text back at all. I'm a bit at a loss of what to do. I just want to start building my sales history with someone so when I am ready to buy a bag I will have that relationship.

Do you text for an appt? The next time you are in the store, I might just say that I’d like to make an appt with you to shop RTW, is text the best way to do that? Re RTW sizes, I don’t know if you are interested, but I buy men’s tops and pants. This season I was a women’s cargo size 36 and also fit into a men’s khaki with leather trim size 38 (the latter for about a third the price) There are also gorgeous sweaters in the men’s dept, and an adorable denim jacket, and almost everything is better priced. Good luck!

ETA: also fabulous mens coats in techno fabric or in wool, leather, and shearling. The sizing is all over the map, but sweaters and coats tend to run very large this year

 

[shopinlovet]

I'm rather direct! I like that you are framing it as a business transaction because that's exactly what it is. I will call him tomorrow afternoon! Thank you.

Please keep us updated on your journey I also shop there as well

 

[HAllDay]

How do you know if your SA is no longer serving you? My SA has been responsive with my texts, not the best with wish list items, has offered me QBs (but the last one took FOREVER...like yearS), but you just know that there's no spark there...

I'm not looking for a best friend, but at least someone I look forward to chatting with. I've been shopping with H and with this SA for more than 3 years now and the thought of having to start over is...hard. My ideal SA is someone who has more pep than me and thinks of me when they see an item that I would like. Is this a hard ask from H SAs in general?

 

[880]

How do you know if your SA is no longer serving you? My SA has been responsive with my texts, not the best with wish list items, has offered me QBs (but the last one took FOREVER...like yearS), but you just know that there's no spark there...

I'm not looking for a best friend, but at least someone I look forward to chatting with. I've been shopping with H and with this SA for more than 3 years now and the thought of having to start over is...hard. My ideal SA is someone who has more pep than me and thinks of me when they see an item that I would like. Is this a hard ask from H SAs in general?

If you don’t look forward to shopping, it’s time to switch But, if it’s too hard to make a big leap, take it little by little. Perhaps go in one day and and see if there is anyone else you like. When I first started to shop at H, I alternated between Madison and WS for a few years until I became a wall st client. Post Covid, a friend of mine switched from one SA to another at Madison. She did it gracefully and gradually, no hard feelings; she’s both tactful and professional. She just wasn’t enjoying her current SA. if it helps, SAs these days are over burdened; so switching may not be too hard.

 

[FrenchNewbie]

How do you know if your SA is no longer serving you? My SA has been responsive with my texts, not the best with wish list items, has offered me QBs (but the last one took FOREVER...like yearS), but you just know that there's no spark there...

I'm not looking for a best friend, but at least someone I look forward to chatting with. I've been shopping with H and with this SA for more than 3 years now and the thought of having to start over is...hard. My ideal SA is someone who has more pep than me and thinks of me when they see an item that I would like. Is this a hard ask from H SAs in general?

I don't think the bolded part is a hard ask. Every SA has different personalities, has different work ethics (i.e. organization and professionalism), and different motivators (e.g. grabbing as much money/commission as possible from different clients, or people pleasing/impressing their SM, or just focusing their time on a few big $penders).

But unfortunately the ideology and the reality are at different ends of the spectrum. What we think should be very simple and straightforward, somehow becomes very ambiguous in the H world.

 

[880]

just focusing their time on a few big $penders

From the SAs that I enter into conversation with, to the articles that I read about new store openings, or media pieces re premier luxury big brands, most focus is on the few big spenders. One such article in Financial Times interviewed the President of Chanel who was denying that CHanels release of financials for the year 2018 signaled any intention to go public. The President mentioned that 1% of their clients accounted for 40% of total revenue. I think this pyramid of spend is not limited to chanel, but also applicable to other brands like Hermes and Dior. Hermes is positioningnits new boutiques like Aspen to cater specifically to this top tier.

This is sad for the clients like the most of us who do not have unlimited means and who would like some very special things. And, it’s also sad for SAs who have to save their limited allotment of QBs for their top clients, even if they might wish otherwise. I have heard SAs comment themselves about how stressful their jobs have become and how they wish they were able to accommodate more requests. They get a ton of texts and corporate does not give them enough time to respond as they would like. What it means is a lessened quality of service for all but the top echelon. Corporate is focused on making money for its shareholders. Which, IMO, generally leads to lesser care to the individual client

ETA: my SA tells me that with respect to requests made by clients, he can only offer what he is allowed/allotted, and that is not always in his control. Which may shed some light on H relationships, but it doesn’t necessarily leave me with hope re chypres lol

 

[HAllDay]

From the SAs that I enter into conversation with, to the articles that I read about new store openings, or media pieces re premier luxury big brands, most focus is on the few big spenders. One such article in Financial Times interviewed the President of Chanel who was denying that CHanels release of financials for the year 2018 signaled any intention to go public. The President mentioned that 1% of their clients accounted for 40% of total revenue. I think this pyramid of spend is not limited to chanel, but also applicable to other brands like Hermes and Dior. Hermes is positioningnits new boutiques like Aspen to cater specifically to this top tier.

This is sad for the clients like the most of us who do not have unlimited means and who would like some very special things. And, it’s also sad for SAs who have to save their limited allotment of QBs for their top clients, even if they might wish otherwise. I have heard SAs comment themselves about how stressful their jobs have become and how they wish they were able to accommodate more requests. They get a ton of texts and corporate does not give them enough time to respond as they would like. What it means is a lessened quality of service for all but the top echelon. Corporate is focused on making money for its shareholders. Which, IMO, generally leads to lesser care to the individual client

ETA: my SA tells me that with respect to requests made by clients, he can only offer what he is allowed/allotted, and that is not always in his control. Which may shed some light on H relationships, but it doesn’t necessarily leave me with hope re chypres lol

This is what I've heard as well-- these brands trying to focus on their top tier clients. With that being said, that's why I wonder if I am getting better than expected treatment and should be appreciative because I am a very small client to them. I have a Chanel SA who is very good about getting me excited about their RTW. She's fun to talk to, will truly try her very best to get the RTW pieces I want, and tries reeling me back into the world of Chanel whenever I start to wander off. I am wondering if I can find that with Hermes. I might have to do what your friend did, @880 , which is gracefully start breaking up.

 

[squidneyau]

Can anyone provide any insight into if I might have misstepped with my SA?

I spent just shy of $2K on my first visit. We got along great; she spent almost an hour with me on a busy Saturday and gave me her card at the end. I went back a week later for a small leather goods appointment to look at some wallets. She showed me a few Bearns but I passed as I did not really want to spend that much on a wallet. I have been on a hunt for a Picotin and would prefer to put my money there. Unfortunately, just a few days later I stumbled onto a online drop of a slim Roulis in a color scheme I loved. I purchased the wallet and shared my purchase with my SA - who congratulated me. I am worried I have made a mistake by passing up the wallets she offered me then purchasing the Roulis online, although the Roulis purchase was entirely impulse.

 

[acrowcounted]

Can anyone provide any insight into if I might have misstepped with my SA?

I spent just shy of $2K on my first visit. We got along great; she spent almost an hour with me on a busy Saturday and gave me her card at the end. I went back a week later for a small leather goods appointment to look at some wallets. She showed me a few Bearns but I passed as I did not really want to spend that much on a wallet. I have been on a hunt for a Picotin and would prefer to put my money there. Unfortunately, just a few days later I stumbled onto an online drop of a slim Roulis in a color scheme I loved. I purchased the wallet and shared my purchase with my SA - who congratulated me. I am worried I have made a mistake by passing up the wallets she offered me then purchasing the Roulis online, although the Roulis purchase was entirely impulse.

Others will tell you it’s fine, that their SAs tell them to grab hard to get items from the website if they can, but in my experience, if one’s true goal is a flawless relationship with a store/SA then it is always best to be strictly loyal and purchase from no where else on your store H profile. Period. That being said, what’s done is done and returning an item is an even bigger mistake so my advice is just to carry on but from now on purchase only through the SA.