Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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[880]

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

You deserve an SA who is excited to see you and reels you into the world of H just like your Chanel SA. That’s their job.

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.

Purchases happen and she reacted the right way. I would consider using your SA for future business, and you could even ask her if you see stuff on line, would she like to order for you?

I took a long hiatus away from Hermes when my first SA left, and so when I started with my current one, I spent with him exclusively (in the way @acrowcounted suggests). I did check with him as to whether he was comfy with me shopping with my FSH person twice a year, and with ASia (as a stress reliever from family) and he’s fine with that. The majority of my spend is with him. But, I have a well rounded bag collection already, and I don’t really pressure him.

ETA: if I see something on line, I text him and ask if he would like to get it for me or if he is too busy, should I order it myself. He’s never told me to order, but he also knows I really dislike the website.

 

[squidneyau]

Thank you both for the input. I was planning on only shopping with her going forward, so good to know that is my best option. I am likely going to go in within the new few weeks to grab a pair of shoes and a tie for my partner; I am hoping that will mend any hurt feelings if there are some.

 

[WhiteBus]

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.

You have read too much. (Dowager Lady Grantham would say you have read too many novels!)
If it weren't Hermes you wouldn't be giving it a second thought and if you carry on liKe this you will become a nervous wreck. The only thing you have done wrong is to second guess incorrectly the possible reactions of an SA you have met twice.
By taking the opportunity to buy something you wanted when you saw it, you have shown yourself to be Hermes savvy. As others have written, Hermes SAs know that no Hermes items are freely available in all the possible options. Decent SAs would advise you to buy when you can.
Your SA will appreciate that you have been honest and felt able to share your pleasure at being able to acquire a desirable Hermes item and your genuine enthusiasm for the brand - not just clocking up X thousands of purchases to get a quota bag.
You have shown yourself to be a discerning client, who will buy what she likes and wants and not someone that can be manipulated into buying anything to curry favour.

 

[squidneyau]

You have read too much. (Dowager Lady Grantham would say you have read too many novels!)
If it weren't Hermes you wouldn't be giving it a second thought and if you carry on liKe this you will become a nervous wreck. The only thing you have done wrong is to second guess incorrectly the possible reactions of an SA you have met twice.
By taking the opportunity to buy something you wanted when you saw it, you have shown yourself to be Hermes savvy. As others have written, Hermes SAs know that no Hermes items are freely available in all the possible options. Decent SAs would advise you to buy when you can.
Your SA will appreciate that you have been honest and felt able to share your pleasure at being able to acquire a desirable Hermes item and your genuine enthusiasm for the brand - not just clocking up X thousands of purchases to get a quota bag.
You have shown yourself to be a discerning client, who will buy what she likes and wants and not someone that can be manipulated into buying anything to curry favour.

This is a very good outlook on the situation. She did comment that the Roulis wallet was a hard to come by piece, especially as my home store is one of the smaller boutiques inventory wise. I am thinking that perhaps she knows I am just a particular client. The Bearn wallet that I was leaning toward was not in the color combination I wanted. If it had been, I likely would have purchased it.

Thank you for the encouragement I am new to luxury as far as Hermes goes but in general just a very specific person. I think she picked up on that the first time I was there, such as my obsession with everything green ahah.

 

[xoxocrybbusagi]

Welp.
So I think I spoke too soon regarding my positive SA dynamic.
Was wondering if anyone could provide some insight into this specific situation pls!!
I reached out to my SA earlier last week (last Monday I think) about wanting to purchase a pair of silver fine jewelry earrings I saw online.
My SA previously told me if I see something I like online and it’s not in store they could order it to the boutique for me.
In the email I asked about the availability of the earrings in store as I wanted to purchase them through him in boutique. My SA usually replies the next day but after 4 or so days of no response they still didn’t reach out. So I sent another email this past weekend following up on my request and still haven’t heard back from them.
From the radio silence on their end do I assume that they don’t have the earrings in store and should just order them myself online? Obviously I would prefer to purchase through them and don’t want to run into a situation where I order them online and then they reach out saying they have the earrings for me in store.
Have I perhaps done something wrong or they aren’t responding as I was given a time estimate this year for my wishlist bag around December and they may be waiting to get back to me when my bag arrives? (I know it’s super early rn tho but just trying to think of possibilities)
I’m not going to reach out again to follow up, just trying to understand my specific situation as this is the first time they haven’t gotten back to me. Wondering how I can reach out to them again without being super annoying. All my experiences with my SA have been super positive so this is new to me.

Thank you!!

 

[acrowcounted]

Welp.
So I think I spoke too soon regarding my positive SA dynamic.
Was wondering if anyone could provide some insight into this specific situation pls!!
I reached out to my SA earlier last week (last Monday I think) about wanting to purchase a pair of silver fine jewelry earrings I saw online.
My SA previously told me if I see something I like online and it’s not in store they could order it to the boutique for me.
In the email I anskes about the availability of the earrings in store as I wanted to purchase them through him in boutique. My SA usually replies the next day but after 4 or so days of no response they still didn’t reach out. So I sent another email this past weekend following up on my request and still haven’t heard back from them.
From the radio silence on their end do I assume that they don’t have the earrings in store and should just order them myself online? Obviously I would prefer to purchase through them and don’t want to run into a situation where I order them online and then they reach out saying they have the earrings for me in store.
Have I perhaps done something wrong or they aren’t responding as I was given a time estimate this year for my wishlist bag around December and they may be waiting to get back to me when my bag arrives? (I know it’s super early rn tho but just trying to think of possibilities)
I’m not going to reach out again to follow up, just trying to understand my specific situation as this is the first time they haven’t gotten back to me. Wondering how I can reach out to them again without being super annoying. All my experiences with my SA have been super positive so this is new to me.

Thank you!!

It’s august, folks are on vacations. Four days is hardly anything in the Hermes world. Recommend continuing to wait or stopping by the store in person if you really can’t be patient. You could also attempt to phone the store and ask for your SA if the store is far away. But going in is best because worst case, if the earrings are not stocked in any boutique you being there in person would allow the SA to order it for you through the website.

 

[xoxocrybbusagi]

It’s august, folks are on vacations. Four days is hardly anything in the Hermes world. Recommend continuing to wait or stopping by the store in person if you really can’t be patient. You could also attempt to phone the store and ask for your SA if the store is far away. But going in is best because worst case, if the earrings are not stocked in any boutique you being there in person would allow the SA to order it for you through the website.

Yes! I thought of the possibility they were on vacation but they have automated replies when they are away saying what day they return, so I assumed because I didn’t receive one they weren’t on vacation. Thank you for the reassurance, I’ll keep on waiting. I just started to get angsty thinking the earrings would sell out online but realistically I’m in not in a rush. Thanks!

 

[textilegirl]

O

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

Oddly enough, I think it was that FT article (or a similar one elsewhere) that has led me to the same conclusion: the luxury experience has been reallocated to a smaller sphere at the top of the pyramid. What many feel is a diminution in quality service is probably the new reality.

 

[880]

Welp.
So I think I spoke too soon regarding my positive SA dynamic.
Was wondering if anyone could provide some insight into this specific situation pls!!
I reached out to my SA earlier last week (last Monday I think) about wanting to purchase a pair of silver fine jewelry earrings I saw online.
My SA previously told me if I see something I like online and it’s not in store they could order it to the boutique for me.
In the email I anskes about the availability of the earrings in store as I wanted to purchase them through him in boutique. My SA usually replies the next day but after 4 or so days of no response they still didn’t reach out. So I sent another email this past weekend following up on my request and still haven’t heard back from them.
From the radio silence on their end do I assume that they don’t have the earrings in store and should just order them myself online? Obviously I would prefer to purchase through them and don’t want to run into a situation where I order them online and then they reach out saying they have the earrings for me in store.
Have I perhaps done something wrong or they aren’t responding as I was given a time estimate this year for my wishlist bag around December and they may be waiting to get back to me when my bag arrives? (I know it’s super early rn tho but just trying to think of possibilities)
I’m not going to reach out again to follow up, just trying to understand my specific situation as this is the first time they haven’t gotten back to me. Wondering how I can reach out to them again without being super annoying. All my experiences with my SA have been super positive so this is new to me.

Thank you!!

I would not take it personally: your SA could be on vacation or he could be sick, or he could be having an enormously busy few days. If he is trying to transfer the earrings in for you, the onus is on him to communicate this. So, I think you are free to do whatever you want, either wait or purchase them online. You can then email him not to worry, when yu didn’t hear from him, you just scooped them up online. When you see him in person, you can figure out if there is a better way, like text to get in touch re items you see online.

 

[WhiteBus]

Did it cross you mind that your SA might not have been working for a few days?

'In the email I anskes about the availability of the earrings in store as I wanted to purchase them through him in boutique.' This is an enquiry - not a request for them to order it into the boutique for you.

If the items are in store I see no point whatsoever for them to be kept until your wishlist bag might arrive in December.
Should you choose to buy the earrings online, the courteous course of action would be for you to inform your SA, that further to your previous enquiry, you were uncertain as to whether the earrings would be available in store, so you decided to go ahead and order them online whilst they were available. There is nothing so reassuring as to establishing your position on the moral high ground, however cold it might be.

 

[xoxocrybbusagi]

Did it cross you mind that your SA might not have been working for a few days?

'In the email I anskes about the availability of the earrings in store as I wanted to purchase them through him in boutique.' This is an enquiry - not a request for them to order it into the boutique for you.

If the items are in store I see no point whatsoever for them to be kept until your wishlist bag might arrive in December.
Should you choose to buy the earrings online, the courteous course of action would be for you to inform your SA, that further to your previous enquiry, you were uncertain as to whether the earrings would be available in store, so you decided to go ahead and order them online whilst they were available. There is nothing so reassuring as to establishing your position on the moral high ground, however cold it might be.

Yes I did think about that.
The only reason why I decided to post this question on the forum is because they have automated responses when they are away and not working stating how long they are gone for and when they will return. I didn’t receive an away email so presumed they are working.

I guess I should have worded my initial post more specifically as I’m trying to figure out if the no response so far means the earrings are unavailable, as I’ve read before that when an SA may not respond it’s because the item isn’t available.

 

[cravin]

To the above replies, it’s been covered that they’re trying to get clients into the boutique. Just texting/emailing should be no indication of whether your SA is working for you.

 

[xoxocrybbusagi]

To the above replies, it’s been covered that they’re trying to get clients into the boutique. Just texting/emailing should be no indication of whether your SA is working for you.

To the above replies, it’s been covered that they’re trying to get clients into the boutique. Just texting/emailing should be no indication of whether your SA is working for you.

I understand that as a general rule.
My SA informed me if there’s anything I’m looking for to email them before hand as they don’t do texts rn.
So far in my relationship I send an email with a heads up of what I’m looking for before an appointment.
I’ve been shopping with them for a couple months now and the heads up through email has how it’s always been for me.

 

[WisteriaLux]

I understand that as a general rule.
My SA informed me if there’s anything I’m looking for to email them before hand as they don’t do texts rn.
So far in my relationship I send an email with a heads up of what I’m looking for before an appointment.
I’ve been shopping with them for a couple months now and the heads up through email has how it’s always been for me.

That’s what they always say to clients. My SA in Toronto took 2 weeks to respond to me.

 

[smoothsailor]

This is a very good outlook on the situation. She did comment that the Roulis wallet was a hard to come by piece, especially as my home store is one of the smaller boutiques inventory wise. I am thinking that perhaps she knows I am just a particular client. The Bearn wallet that I was leaning toward was not in the color combination I wanted. If it had been, I likely would have purchased it.

Thank you for the encouragement I am new to luxury as far as Hermes goes but in general just a very specific person. I think she picked up on that the first time I was there, such as my obsession with everything green ahah.

I think u don’t really need to be bothered. In the current world of Hermes, unless it it rtw, high jewelry or furniture….ur SA won’t easily get excited.

I have SA who told me to just get whatever I like on the website if I see them just because it is difficult to get what I like as and when I would like to get in the store.