Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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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.

 

[lovejoysunshine]

Something I've seen occasionally that I'm curious about... Why do you think H is offering limited edition bags to first-timers?

Somebody on another platform received a Kelly Picto as their first bag
I personally know someone who received a Birkin 3 en 1 as their first bag (I think I read that this happened to someone else on tPF as well).

Definitely not coming from a place of jealousy since these particular bags are not on my wishlist... but I'm curious why H is offering these to newer clients who are not after these bags (my friend didn't know what a 3 en 1 was so certainly didn't request it), versus long-term clients who might be more interested in something different.

At where I shop, it seems it is simply demand and supply. Certain coveted special/limited editions which many long term clients are also interested in e.g. cargo birkin, shadow birkin, kelly desordre are more likely to be reserved for long term clients and unlikely to be offered as first or second QBs. Limited editions that are not specifically requested by either new or older clients e.g. 3 en 1, fray fray, colourmatic, can be offered as first QBs. I was offered (and declined) a bi-colour kelly casaque when waiting for my first bag.

 

[benjinito]

Sometimes it depends on the client list that the SA has. If all their long time clients recently picked up offers then it goes to the next eligible client or they will give the bag to the next SA if they cant sell it. Luck is really a thing when it comes to Hermes. However I would suspect a lot of first timers may not want those collectibles as first time bags.

Boutiques also have sales numbers to meet. I used to get texts from my SA asking if I wanted bag A or bag B, but that I’d have to buy it by the end of day tomorrow as it was month end. Limited edition bags still cost money and meet those monthly/quarterly goals.

My sister was offered the 3 in 1 in Paris as her first QB and during her first Hermes shopping experience in general (along with mini E and mini L), just to add- is it very limited. She also was spelling it Berkin the whole time I was dying haha

At where I shop, it seems it is simply demand and supply. Certain coveted special/limited editions which many long term clients are also interested in e.g. cargo birkin, shadow birkin, kelly desordre are more likely to be reserved for long term clients and unlikely to be offered as first or second QBs. Limited editions that are not specifically requested by either new or older clients e.g. 3 en 1, fray fray, colourmatic, can be offered as first QBs. I was offered (and declined) a bi-colour kelly casaque when waiting for my first bag.

Thanks everyone for the explanation! This cleared things up quite a bit.

PS @lovejoysunshine I personally love those casaque bags. The blue indigo/black combo is my favorite. Like they say, one woman’s trash

 

[CBK23]

Hello,
I don't know if this is the correct channel. I regularly make an appointment with my SA FSH (local store) to make purchases in all departments (she generally responds within the day or 2 days maximum). Recently I asked if she could help me get a quota bag, she advised me to try the lottery because her manager wants to see that the person has already tried the lottery. I had an appointment via the lottery but it was a failure (with a leather SA), this is what I shared with my SA and she told me I have to try the lottery again and if I don't have an appointment, I have to ask her at the beginning of December so that she can help me get the appointment and noting the bag if the stock is good because at the beginning of this month, there are a lot more stock. Since I sent her a message to ask for her help very kindly she ghosts me. However I am a loyal customer I buy in all departments and I spend 2000 to 3000€ on each visit. What do you advise me to do In this case? Thank you in advance.

 

[acrowcounted]

Hello,
I don't know if this is the correct channel. I regularly make an appointment with my SA FSH (local store) to make purchases in all departments (she generally responds within the day or 2 days maximum). Recently I asked if she could help me get a quota bag, she advised me to try the lottery because her manager wants to see that the person has already tried the lottery. I had an appointment via the lottery but it was a failure (with a leather SA), this is what I shared with my SA and she told me I have to try the lottery again and if I don't have an appointment, I have to ask her at the beginning of December so that she can help me get the appointment and noting the bag if the stock is good because at the beginning of this month, there are a lot more stock. Since I sent her a message to ask for her help very kindly she ghosts me. However I am a loyal customer I buy in all departments and I spend 2000 to 3000€ on each visit. What do you advise me to do In this case? Thank you in advance.

Sounds like your only three choices are: wait and do nothing and hope she eventually gets back to you (unlikely), continue to send additional messages, or just go in and ask for her/work with someone else. If you’ve already sent a few messages and gotten no response, I would argue your only true option is to just go in to the store and mention your SAs name to whomever helps you and follow their lead. In general though, I’d say the message your SA has been trying to get you to hear is that she can’t really help you with bags anymore and that she wants you to use the lottery system.

 

[cravin]

Sounds like your only three choices are: wait and do nothing and hope she eventually gets back to you (unlikely), continue to send additional messages, or just go in and ask for her/work with someone else. If you’ve already sent a few messages and gotten no response, I would argue your only true option is to just go in to the store and mention your SAs name to whomever helps you and follow their lead. In general though, I’d say the message your SA has been trying to get you to hear is that she can’t really help you with bags anymore and that she wants you to use the lottery system.

I totally agree here. It sounds like your SA was given instruction to push clients towards the lottery system. It’s unfair to assume that they would endanger their job to not listen to those instructions. It sounds like they are willing to assist if they can at times, but it cannot be all the time. Keep in mind that this time of year is ridiculously busy for the SAs. I wouldn’t assume that they are ghosting you, but sending a bunch of messages about something that they stated that they cannot help you with, is not helping your cause. I posted a while back that I texted our SA in the morning that we would be stopping by a few hours later. When we walked in, he hadn’t even seen it and when he scrolled to find my text, he must have gone past 100 texts to get to mine. That’s in a few hours.

Nothing replaces the ability to walk into the store and have a face to face chat.

 

[CBK23]

Sounds like your only three choices are: wait and do nothing and hope she eventually gets back to you (unlikely), continue to send additional messages, or just go in and ask for her/work with someone else. If you’ve already sent a few messages and gotten no response, I would argue your only true option is to just go in to the store and mention your SAs name to whomever helps you and follow their lead. In general though, I’d say the message your SA has been trying to get you to hear is that she can’t really help you with bags anymore and that she wants you to use the lottery system.

Thank you for your prompt response. So far I have sent only one message regarding this subject. She has already confirmed to me that I have every chance of having B25 noir, and that I am a local customer and that I love the brand and that I am interested in all departments. My SA still has a lot of power at the FSH and I see her helping VIP customers to obtain bags. I don't know if I go and ask her or I'm going to go through a customer who is very insistent and I don't want to give that impression. I really want to have the bag before the increase.

 

[CBK23]

I totally agree here. It sounds like your SA was given instruction to push clients towards the lottery system. It’s unfair to assume that they would endanger their job to not listen to those instructions. It sounds like they are willing to assist if they can at times, but it cannot be all the time. Keep in mind that this time of year is ridiculously busy for the SAs. I wouldn’t assume that they are ghosting you, but sending a bunch of messages about something that they stated that they cannot help you with, is not helping your cause. I posted a while back that I texted our SA in the morning that we would be stopping by a few hours later. When we walked in, he hadn’t even seen it and when he scrolled to find my text, he must have gone past 100 texts to get to mine. That’s in a few hours.

Nothing replaces the ability to walk into the store and have a face to face chat.

I don't want to send any other messages so as not to harass her, I don't want to go through the boring process. But just have a chance to get this bag. Other customers have confirmed to me that they continue to obtain appointments for bags with their SA directly without going through the lottery. For this I must understand that the SA probably does not wish to help me

 

[acrowcounted]

Thank you for your prompt response. So far I have sent only one message regarding this subject. She has already confirmed to me that I have every chance of having B25 noir, and that I am a local customer and that I love the brand and that I am interested in all departments. My SA still has a lot of power at the FSH and I see her helping VIP customers to obtain bags. I don't know if I go and ask her or I'm going to go through a customer who is very insistent and I don't want to give that impression. I really want to have the bag before the increase.

SAs say all sorts of nice things in person to keep a client happy, spending, and avoid drama. The real truth comes out in how they treat you later. Shes told you to continue trying the lottery so hopefully you’ve been applying for a lottery appointment every day since her first saying that to you (their system will show the attempts). I would wait a week from your last (first?) message and message again saying that you’ve been trying the lottery X times and havent had success and ask for an appointment with her. If you don’t hear back a few days later, I’d just go in. I understand that you want this bag but thousands of people want that bag and H has a process for deciding whom to offer them to, unfortunately you’re no different.

 

[CBK23]

I've been trying the lottery since she asked me, although I don't have any hope for the lottery since last time I didn't get a bag. I will follow your advice. If that doesn't work, would you advise me to contact a leather SA to start a relationship?
For information, I had a quota bag at the start of the year plus a non-quota bag with an SA who left H and it was she who recommended me to this SA.

SAs say all sorts of nice things in person to keep a client happy, spending, and avoid drama. The real truth comes out in how they treat you later. Shes told you to continue trying the lottery so hopefully you’ve been applying for a lottery appointment every day since her first saying that to you (their system will show the attempts). I would wait a week from your last (first?) message and message again saying that you’ve been trying the lottery X times and havent had success and ask for an appointment with her. If you don’t hear back a few days later, I’d just go in. I understand that you want this bag but thousands of people want that bag and H has a process for deciding whom to offer them to, unfortunately you’re no different.

 

[acrowcounted]

I've been trying the lottery since she asked me, although I don't have any hope for the lottery since last time I didn't get a bag. I will follow your advice. If that doesn't work, would you advise me to contact a leather SA to start a relationship?
For information, I had a quota bag at the start of the year plus a non-quota bag with an SA who left H and it was she who recommended me to this SA.

I think FSH is really cracking down on who it gives bags to and that you are lucky to have any relationship with any FSH SA at all. The leather SAs, especially, have been more reluctant to give out their contact details. I advise you to try once more with your current SA (texting for an appointment) and if nothing comes of that, just go in and see what happens. Whoever helps you will have access to your purchase history so if it was meant to be, it will.

 

[CBK23]

I think FSH is really cracking down on who it gives bags to and that you are lucky to have any relationship with any FSH SA at all. The leather SAs, especially, have been more reluctant to give out their contact details. I advise you to try once more with your current SA (texting for an appointment) and if nothing comes of that, just go in and see what happens. Whoever helps you will have access to your purchase history so if it was meant to be, it will.

Thank you for this advice, I really appreciate it. I hope she will answer me, I don't want to start work again. I already had to do it when my old SA left 😩😭

 

[Bdbunny]

I've been trying the lottery since she asked me, although I don't have any hope for the lottery since last time I didn't get a bag. I will follow your advice. If that doesn't work, would you advise me to contact a leather SA to start a relationship?
For information, I had a quota bag at the start of the year plus a non-quota bag with an SA who left H and it was she who recommended me to this SA.

Just wondering what happened at your leather appointment that you didn't get a bag, since it sounds like you have a history at FSH. Did they offer you something that you didn't take, or they told you no bags available at all?

 

[CBK23]

Just wondering what happened at your leather appointment that you didn't get a bag, since it sounds like you have a history at FSH. Did they offer you something that you didn't take, or they told you no bags available at all?

I already had a SA who was not friendly and yet I am smiling and I sympathize easily with people (She had to go to lunch ).
She left for 30 minutes and came back with a 24/24 mini touch and told me that she looked hard but the mdoel that I asked for isn't available, let alone on a Saturday and that she has 200 models to show me but no kelly 25. I have a good profile and I buy everything that I love (fine jewelry, shoes, lots of tableware, silk, accessories, cashmere, etc.)

 

[Daydrmer]

Thank you for your prompt response. So far I have sent only one message regarding this subject. She has already confirmed to me that I have every chance of having B25 noir, and that I am a local customer and that I love the brand and that I am interested in all departments. My SA still has a lot of power at the FSH and I see her helping VIP customers to obtain bags. I don't know if I go and ask her or I'm going to go through a customer who is very insistent and I don't want to give that impression. I really want to have the bag before the increase.

For me, sustaining a good working relationship with my SA would be more important than saving a few hundred dollars/euros. If I didn’t hear anything back I would just wait until after the new years and the chaos of the holidays to reach out again.

 

[CBK23]

For me, sustaining a good working relationship with my SA would be more important than saving a few hundred dollars/euros. If I didn’t hear anything back I would just wait until after the new years and the chaos of the holidays to reach out again.

What savings are you talking about? I'm not trying to save money, I'm just trying to understand the behavior of my SA.
I'll wait a bit then and see what happens. Thank you