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.

 

[acrowcounted]

I have a great relationship with my home store - my husband and I both have our profiles there . I’m currently on vacation and want to try my luck with Hermes. Will my home store sales associate be upset if I shop elsewhere? Especially when I’m so close to probably getting a quota with him?

If it’s in the same country, your home store will see it and it has the potential to cause issues for your profile. My best advice is not to risk it. What SAs really seem to appreciate is when you contact them and say “I saw this on my travels. Can you source it for me please?” It shows that you care about loyalty and the relationship. (And if “ try my luck” means you are just shopping hoping to be offered a bag as a new walkin, it’s very unlikely to be successful anyway!)

 

[je m'adore~]

Hi all,

I just got my 2nd qb offer and it was exactly what I had on my wishlist. I am super excited!

However before this happened I knew this coming year into 2025 I will need to slow down my spending for various reasons but one being I have gotten pretty much everything on my wishlist (non qb items included) so unless I see something else that I cannot pass up I will be slowing down.

My questions are:

1. Did the purchases I made on the day of the offer/acceptance of the qb count towards my next prespend? For what it’s worth my SA rang up those items before my qb.

2. Will my prespend reset if I haven’t shopped with my SA for let’s say 6-12 months? I want to let my SA know about this life change including a possible move but without burning any bridges or coming off as I stopped shopping bc I got my qb bc that’s not the case at all but my circumstances will temporarily be different.

Thank you!

 

[FrenchNewbie]

Hi all,

I just got my 2nd qb offer and it was exactly what I had on my wishlist. I am super excited!

However before this happened I knew this coming year into 2025 I will need to slow down my spending for various reasons but one being I have gotten pretty much everything on my wishlist (non qb items included) so unless I see something else that I cannot pass up I will be slowing down.

My questions are:

1. Did the purchases I made on the day of the offer/acceptance of the qb count towards my next prespend? For what it’s worth my SA rang up those items before my qb.

2. Will my prespend reset if I haven’t shopped with my SA for let’s say 6-12 months? I want to let my SA know about this life change including a possible move but without burning any bridges or coming off as I stopped shopping bc I got my qb bc that’s not the case at all but my circumstances will temporarily be different.

Thank you!

Congrats on getting 2 QBs!

You will get various response to these questions, as they have been asked before and everyone's situation/response is completely different.

1. Some people say that same-day purchases don't really have an impact in the order they were rang up, as the relationship and tenure with your SA/store is what really counts; then some people say the purchases only count if they were rang up after your QB was rang up (so in your situation, they would've technically counted toward your second QB).

2. Same as above--everyone has a different experience/response. Theoretically your pre-spend should 'indefinitely' carry on until you have reached the milestone of your 3rd/next QB. So time shouldn't be a factor as long as you have the pre-spend history. But some people say you have to have constant spend in order to be considered. But, as with anything H--there is no magic formula. Maybe let your SA know that you have a life event and you will resume shopping as soon as you get settled (or just be direct and ask them how their QB "formula" works). SAs are human too, and they know things come up in life--they don't expect you to have unlimited funds, priorities, or time to shop. Afterall, we are humans before we are customers.

Hope this helps.

 

[acrowcounted]

Hi all,

I just got my 2nd qb offer and it was exactly what I had on my wishlist. I am super excited!

However before this happened I knew this coming year into 2025 I will need to slow down my spending for various reasons but one being I have gotten pretty much everything on my wishlist (non qb items included) so unless I see something else that I cannot pass up I will be slowing down.

My questions are:

1. Did the purchases I made on the day of the offer/acceptance of the qb count towards my next prespend? For what it’s worth my SA rang up those items before my qb.

2. Will my prespend reset if I haven’t shopped with my SA for let’s say 6-12 months? I want to let my SA know about this life change including a possible move but without burning any bridges or coming off as I stopped shopping bc I got my qb bc that’s not the case at all but my circumstances will temporarily be different.

Thank you!

I honestly wouldn’t mention it or make a big deal about situations changing at all. Most of us ebb and flow with our shopping when looking over several years. Your profile info easily accessible on their handheld devices keeps track of everything over the last 24 months so it’s not until you go beyond that time that your purchase history “is lost”. For best results, I would recommend making some sort of small purchase (<$500) at least every 3-6 months minimum just to keep your existence fresh but it's really not that big of a deal.

 

[je m'adore~]

Congrats on getting 2 QBs!

You will get various response to these questions, as they have been asked before and everyone's situation/response is completely different.

1. Some people say that same-day purchases don't really have an impact in the order they were rang up, as the relationship and tenure with your SA/store is what really counts; then some people say the purchases only count if they were rang up after your QB was rang up (so in your situation, they would've technically counted toward your second QB).

2. Same as above--everyone has a different experience/response. Theoretically your pre-spend should 'indefinitely' carry on until you have reached the milestone of your 3rd/next QB. So time shouldn't be a factor as long as you have the pre-spend history. But some people say you have to have constant spend in order to be considered. But, as with anything H--there is no magic formula. Maybe let your SA know that you have a life event and you will resume shopping as soon as you get settled (or just be direct and ask them how their QB "formula" works). SAs are human too, and they know things come up in life--they don't expect you to have unlimited funds, priorities, or time to shop. Afterall, we are humans before we are customers.

Hope this helps.

Thank you, it does! Appreciate it.

 

[je m'adore~]

I honestly wouldn’t mention it or make a big deal about situations changing at all. Most of us ebb and flow with our shopping when looking over several years. Your profile info easily accessible on their handheld devices keeps track of everything over the last 24 months so it’s not until you go beyond that time that your purchase history “is lost”. For best results, I would recommend making some sort of small purchase (<$500) at least every 3-6 months minimum just to keep your existence fresh but it's really not that big of a deal.

That makes sense, thank you! Appreciate your response.

 

[880]

What SAs really seem to appreciate is when you contact them and say “I saw this on my travels. Can you source it for me please?”

I do this when I shop with a dear friend at BH (not my home store). Both her BH SA and my home SA tell me that they appreciate the courtesy within the US. But if you need an item while traveling, of course any SA would understand that.

Outside the US seems different. my home SA doesn’t mind that I have an FSH SA and I sometimes buy one of pieces in Asia (mainly Singapore) when I visit my family.

JMO and YMMV

 

[Deleted 793791]

The head of home dept told me that chaine d’ancre is definitely discontinued and unlikely to come in a few years ago. I don’t recall if that is bc there were issues with production. If you decide to wait or if you decide to use your deposit on something else, it’s relatively simple. (I paid in full for Oxymore crystal, and decided to wait; it took a long time; but. I decided not to wait for h deco and go elsewhere).

@880 - Do you know when the head said so about the chaine d'ancre collections in Madison maison? I am not sure how my SA in Madison ordered these on my behalf if it is "fully" discontinued. I ordered mine around September 2023. (I do know that rumors outside Madison -especially online- have been out there that these collections have been discontinued.)
2nd question: I think I have deposited like 3-4,000 USD in my account in Madison. Can I have my money back since I plan not to shop at H anymore (at least not the Madison one)? Is there a rule that I can only use the money for other purchases? (If so... Ok, where is the consumer protection or legal policy here???)

PS. I now have to add "Madison" or "NYC" in my every sentence so that my post is relevant to this threads. lol

 

[Love Of My Life]

@880 and @MacawGuy - Thank you. What I am hesitating is that I know myself that I will eventually want something from H (especially men's clothes). But, I would prefer getting them more convenient ways, without having to go to NYC or getting them "only through my current SA". (I found it more fun to stop by different H stores (SF, DC, etc.), too.) Does this then mean that I am not really taking a break? lol

You are a little ahead of yourself not knowing what you intend to do down the road.. are you talking
about 6 months or longer?
Just be candid with your SA.. you are taking a time out.. SA will understand & no need to detail as
likely they have heard this many times & likely will continue to hear it down the road
You are the client at the end of the day, so whatever works for you should be the direction you go, JMO
As far as your deposits go, if you don't want to wait as you are dealing with an unknown time frame,
ask for them back..that shouldn't be a issue either
Enjoy shopping as it should be a pleasure not a chore with not too much overthinking attached..

 

[Deleted 793791]

You are a little ahead of yourself not knowing what you intend to do down the road.. are you talking
about 6 months or longer?
Just be candid with your SA.. you are taking a time out.. SA will understand & no need to detail as
likely they have heard this many times & likely will continue to hear it down the road
You are the client at the end of the day, so whatever works for you should be the direction you go, JMO
As far as your deposits go, if you don't want to wait as you are dealing with an unknown time frame,
ask for them back..that shouldn't be a issue either
Enjoy shopping as it should be a pleasure not a chore with not too much overthinking attached..

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've been to my home store (i.e., Madison maison) like 3 times in January (the last 2 times were simply to check in for a non-quota bag) and once this month. And yes, I plan not going at all to my home store unless the SA offers me the non-quota bag. (I am pretty much given up at this point.) I do plan to go to H in Paris in the summer though because it's cheaper there for RTWs, homeware, etc. (and yes, I genuinely like the H items).

My plan is not going to Madison maison or any other stores in the US for the next 5-6 months and ask for all deposits to be refunded. (I will do this when my SA is off - since I know the day she is not working... to avoid any awkwardness...) Does this sound like a good plan?

 

[880]

@880 - Do you know when the head said so about the chaine d'ancre collections in Madison maison? I am not sure how my SA in Madison ordered these on my behalf if it is "fully" discontinued. I ordered mine around September 2023. (I do know that rumors outside Madison -especially online- have been out there that these collections have been discontinued.)
2nd question: I think I have deposited like 3-4,000 USD in my account in Madison. Can I have my money back since I plan not to shop at H anymore (at least not the Madison one)? Is there a rule that I can only use the money for other purchases? (If so... Ok, where is the consumer protection or legal policy here???)

PS. I now have to add "Madison" or "NYC" in my every sentence so that my post is relevant to this threads. lol

Talk to your SA. He should be able to give you some clarity regarding your deposit and how to proceed going forward. Don’t think you should have any issue getting it back or applying it elsewhere.
ETA: just saw @Love Of My Life gave the same advice

@pegase_h , No, I don’t think it’s a good plan to avoid your SA when asking for your deposits back. There’s nothing wrong with deciding you don’t want to wait indefinitely for something that may not happen. Your SA will absolutely understand that. I would personally feel rude and inconsiderate to do it deliberately behind my SA’s back. But YMMV

At end of the day, we are all strangers here, and you need to do whatever you want.

 

[Love Of My Life]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've been to my home store (i.e., Madison maison) like 3 times in January (the last 2 times were simply to check in for a non-quota bag) and once this month. And yes, I plan not going at all to my home store unless the SA offers me the non-quota bag. (I am pretty much given up at this point.) I do plan to go to H in Paris in the summer though because it's cheaper there for RTWs, homeware, etc. (and yes, I genuinely like the H items).

My plan is not going to Madison maison or any other stores in the US for the next 5-6 months and ask for all deposits to be refunded. (I will do this when my SA is off - since I know the day she is not working... to avoid any awkwardness...) Does this sound like a good plan?

If you want to have a meaningful & healthy relationship with your SA, do what is courteous & respectful
with your SA which is to be candid.
I would not think that your SA would not like you to have your non quota bag but unfortunately you
have to look at the total perspective of what your SA has to deal with, specifically limited inventory
& want lists that are miles long. SA's don't have the final say as to who get what & when, as unpleasant
as that is, it is what it is.
IMO, you should deal with your SA in person. If there isn't awkwardness when you do this deposit refund
with another SA, be assured there will be awkwardness when you have a future dealing with your SA
& if you are looking to continue to build your profile, this is not the best way to go forward, JMO
When you go to Paris have an open mind.. ENjoy your shopping at FSH it's glorious to shop there

 

[Angiebbb]

I have a questions regarding what to do about SA and a store in particular. I spent 45k plus and have been waiting for a QB for 15 months. Took 2 non QB in the meanwhile. I mentioned to the SA that now I would like to wait for a QB before buying other items that I am interested in. I asked for one item that I needed now and radio silence. The SA had promised a bag would arrive for me soon but then started acting strange when I approached the subject. I went to the store, I talked to the person’s manager. “Nothing is guaranteed, everyone is waiting…” You know, the same story. Then started saying maybe during summer a bag , or the end of year. I mentioned I thought it would be a good idea to switch associates. The person mentioned that I’ve been a year with the SA, that should keep the same. If I wanted another one, should be mindful that this new SA would have his/her own clients. To say I was disappointed with the treatment I received is an understatement after dropping 45k there. The SA’s manager mentioned he would tell the SA to keep an eye out for the bag. As everyone is well aware, there are always bags available. I don’t feel like contacting the SA to order anything from him (who knows if he would reply) nor to keep coming to ask if the bag arrived. At the same time, I don’t want to lose 45k prespend there. Honestly, I just feel they will string me along. A friend suggested I should return my last big purchase to another store and buy everything again with an SA that is nice to me. Another suggested I should pass or text every two weeks to check on the bag. Also, send one small thing here and there to this SA that I am stuck with saying I want it and just get that small thing and follow up on the bag. If this SA doesn’t reply, that I should go to the store manager. What do you suggest I do in this situation?

 

[880]

I have a questions regarding what to do about SA and a store in particular. I spent 45k plus and have been waiting for a QB for 15 months. Took 2 non QB in the meanwhile. I mentioned to the SA that now I would like to wait for a QB before buying other items that I am interested in. I asked for one item that I needed now and radio silence. The SA had promised a bag would arrive for me soon but then started acting strange when I approached the subject. I went to the store, I talked to the person’s manager. “Nothing is guaranteed, everyone is waiting…” You know, the same story. Then started saying maybe during summer a bag , or the end of year. I mentioned I thought it would be a good idea to switch associates. The person mentioned that I’ve been a year with the SA, that should keep the same. If I wanted another one, should be mindful that this new SA would have his/her own clients. To say I was disappointed with the treatment I received is an understatement after dropping 45k there. The SA’s manager mentioned he would tell the SA to keep an eye out for the bag. As everyone is well aware, there are always bags available. I don’t feel like contacting the SA to order anything from him (who knows if he would reply) nor to keep coming to ask if the bag arrived. At the same time, I don’t want to lose 45k prespend there. Honestly, I just feel they will string me along. A friend suggested I should return my last big purchase to another store and buy everything again with an SA that is nice to me. Another suggested I should pass or text every two weeks to check on the bag. Also, send one small thing here and there to this SA that I am stuck with saying I want it and just get that small thing and follow up on the bag. If this SA doesn’t reply, that I should go to the store manager. What do you suggest I do in this situation?

This query might be store location specific, so I would start by recommending that you read store specific threads and also BKC prespend thread (easy to find via search function). In my large US Maison, it is the manager and not the SA who decides, and the SA cannot offer you or any of his clients the bag, unless it is allotted to them. And, a leather SA has a better chance of getting the bag to offer than a non leather SA. QB prespend in the US is a moving target, and demand is high. I maintain a 5X spend (excluding leather and first floor merchandise) between bag offers which is a bit higher than your current prespend, and I’ve waited a comparable length of time for the right offer. (However, I rejected 2 25QBs last year from my home store and 1 25B from FSH). A store does NOT always have specific QBs in stock.

A US H SA does tend to go radio silent if they don’t have a good answer. And, since this SA silence has been reported numerous times in the h subforum, I tend to believe it’s store policy. I also don’t know what specific non QB item you want, but there has been an 18-36 month delay on some home items. My SA, though able to offer two QBs last year, could not find chypres in my size and preferred color. I would always recommend talking to your SA before the manager. I do think the manager was being honest with you re a store transfer to another SA you do not know. If I had to recommend store specific SA changes, I would have suggested going a few times and seeing if another SA appealed, and effecting a more organic change. All of this is best handled in person.

ETA: taking two popular non QB bag offers could also delay your QB, simply bc the store will try to be fair in allocating bags. There are certainly higher spenders at my store who have waited a similar amount of time, with no non QB bags. I would have honestly tried talking to your SA in person about the likelihood of wait, but depending on seniority and department, she honestly may not know. Unfortunately, no amount of prespend entitles one to the bag of choice.

 

[Daydrmer]

I have a questions regarding what to do about SA and a store in particular. I spent 45k plus and have been waiting for a QB for 15 months. Took 2 non QB in the meanwhile. I mentioned to the SA that now I would like to wait for a QB before buying other items that I am interested in. I asked for one item that I needed now and radio silence. The SA had promised a bag would arrive for me soon but then started acting strange when I approached the subject. I went to the store, I talked to the person’s manager. “Nothing is guaranteed, everyone is waiting…” You know, the same story. Then started saying maybe during summer a bag , or the end of year. I mentioned I thought it would be a good idea to switch associates. The person mentioned that I’ve been a year with the SA, that should keep the same. If I wanted another one, should be mindful that this new SA would have his/her own clients. To say I was disappointed with the treatment I received is an understatement after dropping 45k there. The SA’s manager mentioned he would tell the SA to keep an eye out for the bag. As everyone is well aware, there are always bags available. I don’t feel like contacting the SA to order anything from him (who knows if he would reply) nor to keep coming to ask if the bag arrived. At the same time, I don’t want to lose 45k prespend there. Honestly, I just feel they will string me along. A friend suggested I should return my last big purchase to another store and buy everything again with an SA that is nice to me. Another suggested I should pass or text every two weeks to check on the bag. Also, send one small thing here and there to this SA that I am stuck with saying I want it and just get that small thing and follow up on the bag. If this SA doesn’t reply, that I should go to the store manager. What do you suggest I do in this situation?

Move to another store and start all over again. They are under no obligation to offer you a QB. You telling your SA you will stop shopping until you get a QB and speaking to the manager most likely burned that bridge.

They may offer you a “go away” QB. If they do, count your blessings take the bag and move to another store for any future purchases. And do not repeat the mistakes you made here.

I also would not take either friends advice.