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.

 

[cravin]

Chiming in as the husband.

We almost always shop together at H and our SA definitely prefers it that way. When the wife is trying on RTW or looking at something, he and I can discuss what I would like and discuss surprises I’d like to get the wife, and vice versa. It’s more efficient use of his time when we are both there for an appointment. This week, I actually went in solo because I happened to go into the office. I bought the wife a simple ring that she’s been interested in for Mother’s Day (going into the office is a rare event for me). I went in, bought the ring, a couple minutes of chit-chat and I was out in 10 minutes. Very transactional and not as fun as being there with the wife. SA says while I’m heading to the door “Bring her with you next time. You’ll stay longer” in a joking manner.

Yes it’s an SA’s job to sell, but when you have a good one, they also really enjoy making people happy. It is a customer service role, so when it’s working with a couple, SA can gather info from the spouse on what will make the other happier IMHO.

 

[storytotell]

+1 on the point for “specific and coveted” offers. I feel like being very specific in your wishlist is an under-emphasized factor for what makes the spend ratio go up

I guess the question is how to politely decline an offer if your wishlist is very broad and if there are implications of declining an offer coming out of a wide-open wishlist.

I suppose if that is not your first/second/third bag, you may be open to a wider range of specs, whereas once you've got a few QBs already, you may be looking for unique specs, leading to these insane ratios.

 

[momoc]

I guess the question is how to politely decline an offer if your wishlist is very broad and if there are implications of declining an offer coming out of a wide-open wishlist.

I suppose if that is not your first/second/third bag, you may be open to a wider range of specs, whereas once you've got a few QBs already, you may be looking for unique specs, leading to these insane ratios.

Always just be honest. If you don’t actually have a broad wishlist, don’t say that. Declining offers is completely fine - tell the SA what part of the offer you didn’t like (ie this is not your color, you don’t want that leather, etc) so they know. Absolutely no need to overthink it; simply say what the truth is. Let your SA know what you actually want, it can be anywhere from “I only want B25 in black togo with PHW” to “I want any K25 sellier in a neutral color” to “I want a mini Kelly, no preference on leather or hardware, open to most colors as long as it’s not reds or yellows”…as specific and as broad as you want.

The broader the more chances you will have, but settling and lying is not worth it if you are after something specific. I definitely do not recommend saying you are open to more options when it’s not true. That actually leads to situations where your SA is offering something matching what you said is your wishlist, likely having worked and fought for you for that bag, but you say no. That imo makes the SA feel like they wasted their effort getting the bag for you and will be more wary about going to bat for you in the future.

tldr: just be honest. If it’s something specific, be patient and understand it can take longer. But no need to lie about it.

 

[GabrielleS]

I guess the question is how to politely decline an offer if your wishlist is very broad and if there are implications of declining an offer coming out of a wide-open wishlist.

I suppose if that is not your first/second/third bag, you may be open to a wider range of specs, whereas once you've got a few QBs already, you may be looking for unique specs, leading to these insane ratios.

If you put a bag on your wishlist, your SA will expect you to buy it. If you decline something you put on your wishlist and ask for something else, it likely won’t go over well. Your SA will advocate for you to the SM based on your wishlist.

If you have a specific wish, it’s fine to be specific (but make sure the item is in production and has been ordered by the store) and wait. I am always very, very specific. I’ve had some unexpected offers of items I didn’t ask for but I have never put anything on my wishlist that I wasn’t prepared to happily buy.

 

[periogirl28]

I don't think it's necessarily just a French thing but forming a "relationship" of sorts with the people you shop with anywhere is always more fun then a simply transactional one. SAs are not exactly friends but they don't have to be total strangers either. I have long treated everyone similarly from my vegetable seller uncle here in Asia, to H SAs and even if I don't ask much (self confessed introvert) I end up being told about family, friends, upcoming holidays, life events etc and it makes everything much more warm. That extra warmth probably explains why a few SAs at H have kept in contact even if they have changed roles, stores, or have retired aren't even in the business anymore.
DH only shops with me mostly while travelling. Most of my visits are in my own but he too has his own account and buys only work ties, owns one bag, one watch, did his Horizon and loves petit h. He has never purchased a single belt, any menswear or shoes.
Whatever works for each individual or family, just simply being sincere and authentic is enough. It's not only about spend.
He does however appreciate the craftsmanship and soul which goes into the items Hermes (and his other tailors/ shoemakers who handcraft his things) make. I think therein lies the reason why we have been so fortunate in our relationship with Hermes for the last almost 18 years.

 

[peachkid]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement and such helpful insights 🥰 I really appreciate it!!
I did spot a limited edition Kelly on resale that I really like and I was wondering… IF I do buy a bag on resale, would it look bad if I bring that into the store because the SA would know I didn’t buy it there..? I could come up with some story that it’s my mothers or something.. wondering if it helps to go in with one their bags not purchased in-store ie does it signal that you appreciate their brand / have money to buy the rarer lines OR does it offend the SA that you didn’t buy your first QB thru them and seems like you’re into resale and flipping the bags?

 

[Crapples]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement and such helpful insights 🥰 I really appreciate it!!
I did spot a limited edition Kelly on resale that I really like and I was wondering… IF I do buy a bag on resale, would it look bad if I bring that into the store because the SA would know I didn’t buy it there..? I could come up with some story that it’s my mothers or something.. wondering if it helps to go in with one their bags not purchased in-store ie does it signal that you appreciate their brand / have money to buy the rarer lines OR does it offend the SA that you didn’t buy your first QB thru them and seems like you’re into resale and flipping the bags?

Your SA won’t care about the provenance of the bag and if asked you should be honest IMHO (because lies always come back to bite you). If anything, if you’re able to appreciate and source a special piece, your SA will probably be jazzed on your behalf. FWIW a sales manager commented on my Evelyne 29 (not at all special or unique) and when I was honest about getting it from H dot com, she was super happy for me, noting how hard it can be to get a bag from the website.

 

[Deleted 793791]

IF I do buy a bag on resale, would it look bad if I bring that into the store because the SA would know I didn’t buy it there..?

From my experience only: I actually asked this to my SA when I was waiting for my bag in the past 3-6 months. (I wasn't too patient when I looked back... ha!) I think it depends on the SAs, but my SA told me not to buy it from the resale market for multiple reasons (e.g., authenticity). She then assured me that I will eventually get ALL the bags I want and it is just a matter of time. My SA also told me that I just need to be patient. And... she was absolutely right. I just waited and she has recently offered me to put a special order (HSS) for my next quota bag. For my SO, I will go either mini Kelly or K25 for my sister. (I am a guy and don't need anymore QBs. ETA: Well, I still want a B35 for myself, but I know I will get it later this year anyway.)

Also, my pre-spend to get this SO (since last November 2023 when I got the first QB) was around 3-4k (excluding a K42, a mens non-quota bag - fyi, all mens bags are non-QBs in my store). So, it was also a teachable moment for me that the relationship with the SA is the most critical factor and not the pre-spend ratios. (I no longer believe in the prespend ratios and am a believer that having a strong SA/store relationship can beat anything.)

Again, this is based on my experience. Btw, I started shopping at H since August 2023. So, I still am a newbie like you. 😄

 

[880]

I guess the question is how to politely decline an offer if your wishlist is very broad and if there are implications of declining an offer coming out of a wide-open wishlist.

Agree with @momoc to be honest and be yourself , and if you can give relevant feedback as to rationale, it only helps. I do not have a wishlist, and my SAs simply offer what they think would suit me. (Of course, that means I am open about what I accept at home and with my FSH SA, but since they knew about each other from the very start, it’s not an issue.

IF I do buy a bag on resale, would it look bad if I bring that into the store because the SA would know I didn’t buy it there..?

Don’t overthink. If it’s a limited edition, they are often quite complimentary esp. as they may not have seen one before. Honesty is simpler, but you dont have to say anything at all, except perhaps you love it and are fortunate. But, I shop at Madison and FSH primarily, and I vaguely recall someone posting about an issue in Asia ( perhaps a refusal to spa a bag that wasn’t from the store or something).

 

[acrowcounted]

From my experience only: I actually asked this to my SA when I was waiting for my bag in the past 3-6 months. (I wasn't too patient when I looked back... ha!) I think it depends on the SAs, but my SA told me not to buy it from the resale market for multiple reasons (e.g., authenticity). She then assured me that I will eventually get ALL the bags I want and it is just a matter of time. My SA also told me that I just need to be patient. And... she was absolutely right. I just waited and she has recently offered me to put a special order (HSS) for my next quota bag. For my SO, I will go either mini Kelly or K25 for my sister. (I am a guy and don't need anymore QBs. ETA: Well, I still want a B35 for myself, but I know I will get it later this year anyway.)

Also, my pre-spend to get this SO (since last November 2023 when I got the first QB) was around 3-4k (excluding a K42, a mens non-quota bag - fyi, all mens bags are non-QBs in my store). So, it was also a teachable moment for me that the relationship with the SA is the most critical factor and not the pre-spend ratios. (I no longer believe in the prespend ratios and am a believer that having a strong SA/store relationship can beat anything.)

Again, this is based on my experience. Btw, I started shopping at H since August 2023. So, I still am a newbie like you. 😄

Prespend for a SO is a bit different than for a normal quota bag offer. Total profile lifetime spend, future spend potential, and overall relationship are much more significant for SO decisions. The $22k difficult to sell mens bag that you bought surely actually helped you there. Also, they get brownie points for having clients put in orders for off-trend bag styles. It was likely assumed that you would be ordering a men's bag for yourself, even a B35, so it will be interesting to see their reaction when your family member orders a K20/25 instead. Hopefully they will be professionally polite and go along with it happily.

 

[Deleted 793791]

Prespend for a SO is a bit different than for a normal quota bag offer. Total profile lifetime spend, future spend potential, and overall relationship are much more significant for SO decisions. The $22k difficult to sell mens bag that you bought surely actually helped you there. Also, they get brownie points for having clients put in orders for off-trend bag styles. It was likely assumed that you would be ordering a men's bag for yourself, even a B35, so it will be interesting to see their reaction when your family member orders a K20/25 instead. Hopefully they will be professionally polite and go along with it happily.

Great point! I am sure that there have been lots of factors before offering me an SO. Your comment is helpful and am learning new info already.

My SA knew that I am looking for B35 (or B40 previously) for myself and another QB for my sister this year. My SA already suggested that I should be able to get a B35 this year and it is a matter of time. She said that K20 or K25 is very difficult to get nowadays and suggested me to use this SO chance for K20 or K25 (because B35 is easier). For the SO, I think I will try the exotic one (e.g., 2 colors of ostrich or ostrich+alligator combinations). I am still doing my homework learning about the SO process. 😅

 

[acrowcounted]

Great point! I am sure that there have been lots of factors before offering me an SO. Your comment is helpful and am learning new info already.

My SA knew that I am looking for B35 (or B40 previously) for myself and another QB for my sister this year. My SA already suggested that I should be able to get a B35 this year and it is a matter of time. She said that K20 or K25 is very difficult to get nowadays and suggested me to use this SO chance for K20 or K25 (because B35 is easier). For the SO, I think I will try the exotic one (e.g., 2 colors of ostrich or ostrich+alligator combinations). I am still doing my homework learning about the SO process. 😅

You'll want to keep researching. Exotic SO is a separately offered thing (ie getting a SO offer does not mean you can make an exotic bag unless they specifically say as such). Also, you cannot mix skins. A full ostrich bag is generally allow under a standard SO offer.

 

[Deleted 793791]

You'll want to keep researching. Exotic SO is a separately offered thing (ie getting a SO offer does not mean you can make an exotic bag unless they specifically say as such). Also, you cannot mix skins. A full ostrich bag is generally allow under a standard SO offer.

Haha, what can I say. I am a newbie! I indeed need to keep searching for SO process. 🤣

 

[tinkerbell68]

I guess the question is how to politely decline an offer if your wishlist is very broad and if there are implications of declining an offer coming out of a wide-open wishlist.

Definitely something I think about...last year I declined seven or eight offers. Most were of bags that were not on my wishlist at all (MK, Birkin three in one, Birkin en desordre) but some were in line with my items on my list (a B30 in etoupe that was too similar to my gold B30 and a couple of B30 touches that were very similar in color to other bags in my collection) and yet I declined. I had good reasons to decline which I explained to my SA and with which she agreed, but I still worry a bit. When I saw her on Friday, she commented on how hard it is to find a bag for me and we refined my wishlist together. Fingers crossed.

 

[cap4life]

I don't think it's necessarily just a French thing but forming a "relationship" of sorts with the people you shop with anywhere is always more fun then a simply transactional one. SAs are not exactly friends but they don't have to be total strangers either. I have long treated everyone similarly from my vegetable seller uncle here in Asia, to H SAs and even if I don't ask much (self confessed introvert) I end up being told about family, friends, upcoming holidays, life events etc and it makes everything much more warm. That extra warmth probably explains why a few SAs at H have kept in contact even if they have changed roles, stores, or have retired aren't even in the business anymore.

Well said. I think in the US and especially in bigger cities, shopping is much more transactional and quick. You get what you’re looking for, pay ideally through self check out and Apple Pay and leave haha. The method of shopping you describe is very traditional where you go to separate experts for your produce, your baked goods, your clothing etc. Taking time to allow the expert to get to know your tastes so that they can offer you things that you’re more likely to buy at the appropriate time. And you as a client get a chance to build up trust in their expertise.

Hermès is much more on the latter end of the spectrum, sometimes annoyingly so for some of us Americans 😂. For me, I appreciate that Hermès and some other luxury houses encourage their SAs to hyperfocus on clients, conversing with them in a way that naturally reveals their clients’ lifestyle, tastes and needs. A good SA can do this so well, that they’ll bring you things that you instantly fall in love with and readily compliment your style. The best SA will do this while (discretely) keeping your avg and stretch spend based on your history in mind. So “building a relationship” - allowing the SA to get to know you, getting to know them, and trusting them to recommend good things that you then buy - is worth the time and effort.