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.

 

[VigeeLeBrun]

A) Emails - twice a season (5 Stores)
B) Yes, but I tell my London local stores when I will be out of town for how long, and I come back to show them items that I bought from my travels.
C) Yes, they always do. Especially when new season items are in.
D) No, they always email me or text me on whatever the item may be.

I keep a good relationship with not just one SA from one store, I actually is friendly with a lot of SAs in all the stores that I regularly visit., and I do visit at least 5 stores regularly. Sometimes, the SA tells me "Why didn't you buy XXX from this store? Get it from us!!"

My SA is steely stern about my loyalty to her and her store and unless I go the reseller route I maintain a high degree of loyalty out of total respect for her. She is trying to make a living and treats me very well, so I see no reason to cruise into another H store and buy H when my SA will do unlimited USA searches for me and will attain any item that I want to buy. I know for a fact that if she thought that I was buying from many stores I would fall from grace with her.

 

[rocket4rocket]

My SA is steely stern about my loyalty to her and her store and unless I go the reseller route I maintain a high degree of loyalty out of total respect for her. She is trying to make a living and treats me very well, so I see no reason to cruise into another H store and buy H when my SA will do unlimited USA searches for me and will attain any item that I want to buy. I know for a fact that if she thought that I was buying from many stores I would fall from grace with her.

Its not quite the same here in London and definitely not the same in Hong Kong, all our stores carry different stocks, especially in clothes. NBS London store's clothes caters mainly for their European & Arab clients, and the Sloane Street store's selection of clothes caters mostly for their South-East Asian clients. Hong Kong stores have leather items that we don't have in any of the stores in London. Every store I visit has very different stocks. This is my only reason for visiting different stores. Does US SAs' have bonus basing on commission(s) as to how much items they sell to clients? I actually have asked this question to one SA and was told this isn't the case. If it was a K or B, I would have just stuck to one SA.

 

[lulilu]

My SA is steely stern about my loyalty to her and her store and unless I go the reseller route I maintain a high degree of loyalty out of total respect for her. She is trying to make a living and treats me very well, so I see no reason to cruise into another H store and buy H when my SA will do unlimited USA searches for me and will attain any item that I want to buy. I know for a fact that if she thought that I was buying from many stores I would fall from grace with her.

How was this communicated to you?

 

[westcoastgal]

How do you know you been offered a bag? I know this sounds ridiculous to ask but I am not sure.

I have a question too. If your SA gets really specific and says certain bags are coming in soon and gives you the information regarding them (there are several specific B30 and a few B25 I've indicated an interest in and she told me a few have been ordered by the SM and should arrive soon - and mind you I don't own a B yet nor am I holding my breath - does that mean one of them will be offered to me if it does come in? I think the SA just wants me to know that a few things I'm interested in are coming in? Any thoughts? What is the purpose of telling me about these items unless she will offer one of them? Has anyone else had this experience?

Also my friend and I have the same SA and she has recently been told about some of the same items I am interested in (as well as a few other items I'm not interested in). If something my friend wants that I want too is offered to me I'm going to feel uncomfortable about accepting it.

 

[VigeeLeBrun]

How was this communicated to you?

Her mannerisms when we spoke about my visiting other H stores, especially because I visit the BH store often and they have great inventory. My SA was clearly relieved when I told her that I looked but I didn't buy. I've known her for years and can read her very well.

She also goes out of her way to hold items for me, find items throughout the country and transfer them for me and provides excellent service in general.

 

[Notorious Pink]

I have a question too. If your SA gets really specific and says certain bags are coming in soon and gives you the information regarding them (there are several specific B30 and a few B25 I've indicated an interest in and she told me a few have been ordered by the SM and should arrive soon - and mind you I don't own a B yet nor am I holding my breath - does that mean one of them will be offered to me if it does come in? I think the SA just wants me to know that a few things I'm interested in are coming in? Any thoughts? What is the purpose of telling me about these items unless she will offer one of them? Has anyone else had this experience?

I was selecting a B to purchase (and actually purchasing it in that boutique) when the SA told me about a specific color B coming in this fall. I said that I will absolutely take "X" when it arrives (she said around September). Since then I have mentioned it several times and have let them know that I am saving for it. Let's see what happens!

 

[sparklyprincess]

Her mannerisms when we spoke about my visiting other H stores, especially because I visit the BH store often and they have great inventory. My SA was clearly relieved when I told her that I looked but I didn't buy. I've known her for years and can read her very well.

She also goes out of her way to hold items for me, find items throughout the country and transfer them for me and provides excellent service in general.

Hi Vigee, I've always wondered if SAs get credit (or maybe partial credit) for doing store transfers or charge sends.
I've been with my SA for some time now and I get the sense that she prefers selling things she immediately has in the store, over getting it from another store. She has transferred items for me if she can see that I really want it right away. But if it's something that I just casually ask about, she says she'll let me know when she gets it in.

However the SA I worked with before her (another store in a different state) always looked at inventory across the country for me. That was in the past though before all of the strict H rules came about maybe 5 or so years ago. So perhaps it was different back then.

 

[VigeeLeBrun]

Hi Vigee, I've always wondered if SAs get credit (or maybe partial credit) for doing store transfers or charge sends.
I've been with my SA for some time now and I get the sense that she prefers selling things she immediately has in the store, over getting it from another store. She has transferred items for me if she can see that I really want it right away. But if it's something that I just casually ask about, she says she'll let me know when she gets it in.

However the SA I worked with before her (another store in a different state) always looked at inventory across the country for me. That was in the past though before all of the strict H rules came about maybe 5 or so years ago. So perhaps it was different back then.

Love your screen name!!! sparklyprincess, my SA definitely prefers to sell what is in her store, there is no doubt about it. I make it a point to say that I would rather maintain store loyalty than look elsewhere but in some cases there are no other options but to do a transfer. My thoughts are that the stores split the commission but I do not have first hand knowledge of that, I'm simply guessing.

 

[Oryx816]

Her mannerisms when we spoke about my visiting other H stores, especially because I visit the BH store often and they have great inventory. My SA was clearly relieved when I told her that I looked but I didn't buy. I've known her for years and can read her very well.

She also goes out of her way to hold items for me, find items throughout the country and transfer them for me and provides excellent service in general.

Interesting that she would be upset. My SA is the complete opposite. If I am in another store and I see something I like, I message her a pic and her response is "Buy it! You must!" She gets what I want but she knows I travel a lot and she is happy for me if I spot something I like. We call it the "hunt", so sometimes she texts "pull the trigger!" I have told her that if I ever send her a pic of something she has in her store and wants me to buy from her, then just say so and I will. Only once did I text her a pic and she replied "I have it here", I told her to hold it as I would buy it from her instead. We are very direct with each other and I am so thankful for that especially when I read some of the stories here.

I will say though that my relationship with my SA is very casual. She sends me selfies and texts me on her days off and we get together for dinner when I am in the country. (My SA is in a nearby country, and I fly there for business and when she has "prey"). She is coming here for vacation now so we will get together on my home turf. As I write this I suppose it has really evolved into a friendship since we talk a few times a week and mostly about things other than H.

At the end of the day, they are all human beings with their distinct personalities just like the rest of us. Some people click and some don't. Some are more sensitive than others. I am happy to work with people who can be open and direct as that matches my personality best. Shopping needs to be fun for me--as long as I can laugh, enjoy myself and get my goodies that's all that matters! [emoji322]

 

[sparklyprincess]

Love your screen name!!! sparklyprincess, my SA definitely prefers to sell what is in her store, there is no doubt about it. I make it a point to say that I would rather maintain store loyalty than look elsewhere but in some cases there are no other options but to do a transfer. My thoughts are that the stores split the commission but I do not have first hand knowledge of that, I'm simply guessing.

Thank you for your thoughts Vigee!
I have long been a quiet admirer of yours here [emoji5]

 

[LDDChanel]

I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on sending my SA flowers. I recently got "the call" and wanted to do something to show her my appreciation. Are flowers okay to send? Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[MSO13]

I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on sending my SA flowers. I recently got "the call" and wanted to do something to show her my appreciation. Are flowers okay to send? Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Flowers can be sent to the store, they must keep them in their employee room where everyone can enjoy them so you might consider addressing the card to your SA, the managers and team. I'm sure they would love it!.

They may only accept gifts that can be shared by all staff like food, flowers, etc.

 

[lulilu]

I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on sending my SA flowers. I recently got "the call" and wanted to do something to show her my appreciation. Are flowers okay to send? Any thoughts would be appreciated!

I have found they love food -- candy, cupcakes, cookies -- they all share them.

 

[LDDChanel]

Flowers can be sent to the store, they must keep them in their employee room where everyone can enjoy them so you might consider addressing the card to your SA, the managers and team. I'm sure they would love it!.

They may only accept gifts that can be shared by all staff like food, flowers, etc.

I have found they love food -- candy, cupcakes, cookies -- they all share them.

Thanks ladies!

 

[rclimbing]

I have a question too. If your SA gets really specific and says certain bags are coming in soon and gives you the information regarding them (there are several specific B30 and a few B25 I've indicated an interest in and she told me a few have been ordered by the SM and should arrive soon - and mind you I don't own a B yet nor am I holding my breath - does that mean one of them will be offered to me if it does come in? I think the SA just wants me to know that a few things I'm interested in are coming in? Any thoughts? What is the purpose of telling me about these items unless she will offer one of them? Has anyone else had this experience?

Also my friend and I have the same SA and she has recently been told about some of the same items I am interested in (as well as a few other items I'm not interested in). If something my friend wants that I want too is offered to me I'm going to feel uncomfortable about accepting it.

It's been my experience that my SA wants me to prioritize what I want. He knows what the store is getting but does not know when. I specifically wanted the B35 Gris Mouette Verso Birkin and told my SA that was my top choice. When it came in, he said I have your bag. I think its best to be specific in terms of what you want. I gave my SA my top 3 choices.