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.

 

[Capitaliste]

The topic of shopping in Paris came up and my SA was very clear about it being a big no-no. I know they can see how many QB’s have been purchased and that can effect offers I would get but I’m curious what everyone else thinks or has experienced.

I love discussing this matter and I am also willing to learn from the discussion. Here is what I learned from one of the SAs in Madison Maison a few days ago: The SA (not my SA) told me explicitly that my US account is not connected to other regions such as Asia and Europe. He told me that what I purchased in Paris, which includes any QBs, can not be seen in Madison Maison. [Note: I know that some TPFers will not agree with this, but that's what I heard from the SA.]

Then, my further question is this: Maybe individual SAs in the US cannot see QBs purchased elsewhere, but maybe some senior-level managers can and therefore decide whether to offer the next QB or not? (I have no clue about this yet.)

Also in Paris, individual SAs cannot track my US account at all. (I used their phones to find my info; only my French accounts [online and physical] showed up.) But, I am sure that senior- or higher-level managers may be able to see both of my French and US accounts since they are the same in terms of name, phone, address, etc.

One thing I also learned is that, it may not be wise to believe what others say in this Forum sometimes. Remember: stories can be told with facts and some rumors/lies/thoughts.


ETA: I will be going into 4 different boutiques (excluding my home store) in the US soon, and will find out more info about these (or more specifically, the "K/B" count under my US account) when talking to the other SAs.

 

[FaubourgTropical]

One thing I also learned is that, it may not be wise to believe what others say in this Forum sometimes. Remember: stories can be told with facts and some rumors/lies/thoughts.

^^^^^THIS.

Not maliciously, of course but simply our experiences are different, not the bible (regardless how some people put it).

There are also those who posts everywhere, giving opinions on everything, only to find out later that there’s a disclaimer buried somewhere that the comment only applies to a certain country. It’s hard sometimes to establish any useful info, especially when the story is further obscured by the wish to maintain privacy.

For me, it’s still a great resource to have. There are some consistently helpful members with tons of knowledge that have kindly shared their experiences here. If you spend as much time as me on TPF, you’ll soon find out who they are

 

[880]

My SA in the US always says that buying overseas is not cheating. I do not know if she realizes how much I buy though. I know she can see it but I am not convinced she looks. I am still really relucted to walk into the US store wearing/carrying what I buy in Europe. The two relationships are different. My European SA is great at getting me "basic" bags and our relationship is very transparent. In the US it is a fine song and dance but I get more unique offers.

My US SA (home store) says the same. They were thrilled that I got great deals in St Barth. They understand that if I’m in Asia and need to de-stress from family, that I might shop (Hermes is 800 meters from my place there lol). And, they say what goes on in Paris stays in Paris lol.

This may be because my spend abroad is a small fraction of my local spend and I travel a lot

I show my SAs what I have and what I bought in part bc I do not come into a store with a wishlist. I expect them to find things that will tempt me to buy. They can’t do that if they don’t know what’s already in my closet.

My NY SA and my FSH SA both say they cannot see what my other profile has listed. But both FSH and Madison tailor offers to my taste. No one will ever offer me a pop color bag; a feminine bag; bag charms; twillies; twillanes; heavily logo-Ed stuff; t shirts ; most shoes; first floor merchandise; or fine jewelry. Most likely, with few exceptions, no one will offer exotic bags bc I prefer a lower price point.

They’re also thrilled to see my other purchases (mainly RTW) bc every boutique has a different buy.

recently, I started a new relationship with a new store and a new sales associate. The topic of shopping in Paris came up and my SA was very clear about it being a big no-no. I know they can see how many QB’

I think everyone should go by what their SA tells them. Full stop Especially if one is starting a new relationship and the shopping rhythm has not yet been established.

In the US, I only shop at my home store. My SA also makes it easy for me to be loyal. He does preorders or transfers (no obligation, though I don’t ask unless I’m reasonably sure of purchase; and they will order from the warehouse, website, or world search. In exchange, I don’t buy anything unless I’m sure, and I rarely if ever return; and I’m pretty easy going

The SA (not my SA) told me explicitly that my US account is not connected to other regions such as Asia and Europe. He told me that what I purchased in Paris, which includes any QBs, can not be seen in Madison Maison.

This is my experience from both Madison and FSH. I feel that if either maison wants to offer a bag they will; if they don’t want to they won’t.

I get a QB offer and 1-2 non QB offers from FSH on each visit (twice a year). I get more offers from my home store. But, I reject more than I accept. I’ve only accepted a maximum of three QBs annually between the two stores once. I don’t have the budgeT, storage space, or bandwidth for more.

HTH

ETA: I do not shop in any store but FSH while in Paris. All of my profiles worldwide are under the same name DH. For the purposes of Hermes, I am DH’s plus one .

 

[carolle]

I should have clarified that this opinion was from the Hermes management perspective not that of my DH or myself; and it was said more in the vein of we appreciate clients who happen to go this way. I simply posted it as one information point to add to the thread.

I would hope that all readers of the public threads not take any post as gospel truth, but merely as a narration of OP’s conversations and experiences with Hermes SMs and SAs. To be clear, I do not see my relationships with my SAs as strictly transactional; I not only buy from them, but they also help shape and refine my taste and aesthetic. It is a pleasant and respectful exchange regardless of whether I purchase something at that moment. I do not see my buying items I love as means to get something else.

From my own personal experience, anyone who has read my posts can see that while I am fortunate to be able to spend more at this stage in my life (I’m 56), I started on TPF with a very modest budget. I am also not in that rarified one percent of shoppers to whom Hermes offers limited edition pieces; and, I am thinking of buying one mid priced item of RTW in the next collection. (Mid-priced relative to the other items in this collection is still not inexpensive). I am also a big advocate of only buying what one loves and will use (cost per wear) and mixing vintage with new.

I see a trend towards blaming Hermes for one’s own personal decision to increase individual prespend. I find this distasteful, and so do my SAs. Of course, Hermes as an entity is in the business of making profit; it expects a great deal from its sales staff and management; it has chosen to restrict supply of its most popular items; so, the client facing employees have to figure out a fair way to allot product. A salesperson has zero control over corporate policy, and simply has to do her job. She also wants her clients to be happy with what they buy so that they come back. This is not a one way street. Just as I would never shop with any SA that didn’t respect my taste AND my budget, I also don’t feel entitled to QBs when I hit some magic number. I also don’t take it as a personal indictment if I am not offered a bag. Precovid, I don’t think any of us OGs calculated spend ratios at all except as a personal budgeting tool (as in, can I afford this item lol). We are all in charge of our own spending.

Love this 880. And I find this is true for me as well. Hubby has always been supportive of my shopping habits, but it is only recently that he started getting RTW from H. We have been shopping in our home store since 2009. Took him 15 years! But my SA frequently came to him with bag offers for me - I think mostly because he goes to her to get me gifts for big occasions (40th bday, 50th bday and 20th and 25th anniversary). I am tempted to say that he has more influence when it comes to getting QB offers .

And yes, I think H management appreciates it when they see their products as being part of your lifestyle - and that comes with shopping over a variety of métiers and over a period of time.

As for prepends - I've always known you have to buy other things to get a Birkin/Kelly. After all, Michael Tonello published a book on this over a decade ago. But the attention recently to prespends, reset of prespends, non QBS vs QBs (am not sure this was a term back in 2009 when I first started shopping at H) has gotten to the point that it has become a pre-occupation and is toxic. I can imagine this taking away a lot of the pleasure you get from shopping...in which case, what is the point?

 

[Letter]

I am so jet lagged since getting home I cannot remember if I said this already. Before my kids and I left for Paris one of the friendly SAs in my store counseled me to buy whatever I could in Paris because the prices were so much better. So it’s clear that Paris shopping is not frowned upon in general. Your particular SA may feel differently obviously, especially if you are not spending enough at home to keep them fat and happy. Also - I could see this varying from country to country.

 

[880]

I am so jet lagged since getting home I cannot remember if I said this already. Before my kids and I left for Paris one of the friendly SAs in my store counseled me to buy whatever I could in Paris because the prices were so much better. So it’s clear that Paris shopping is not frowned upon in general. Your particular SA may feel differently obviously, especially if you are not spending enough at home to keep them fat and happy. Also - I could see this varying from country to country.

💯 An SA may advise exclusivity, not just bc of commission, but to manage a clients bag expectations.

Hermes as a premier international brand actually wants its clients to shop as much and in as many locations as possible. My local SA says that this is why a client is free to shop with any SA they like in any boutique.

Hermes as a company does not care if a particular client obtains QB offers. So the company values those clients who reliably purchase other metiers on their merits and who do not nickel & dime their spend. A number of SAs and SMs have voiced these opinions in Asia, Europe, and the US. They are not ideas originating with me, and they are not directed personally at any particular TPF member.

I do know this view is antithetical to most threads on TPF and even this relationship thread which is mainly focused on how to get the most coveted bag with the least spend.

 

[Ceeje89]

Another data point for my SA explicitly telling me to shop freely in Paris on a recent trip and get a bag if I’m able. And I quote “I won’t think you’re cheating on me! And if you don’t get anything text me when you get back and we’ll get you taken care of” She even gave me some pointers, tips, and tricks to keep in mind when trying for walk in appointments. They didn’t end up working out be c’est la vie!

Now that all being said, I am not a big or frequent spender so she def could have been saying that as a way to have a client’s bag wants taken care of elsewhere and her not have to deal with it haha but I choose to not look that far into it and assume positive intent on her part.

 

[acrowcounted]

Another data point for my SA explicitly telling me to shop freely in Paris on a recent trip and get a bag if I’m able. And I quote “I won’t think you’re cheating on me! And if you don’t get anything text me when you get back and we’ll get you taken care of” She even gave me some pointers, tips, and tricks to keep in mind when trying for walk in appointments. They didn’t end up working out be c’est la vie!

Now that all being said, I am not a big or frequent spender so she def could have been saying that as a way to have a client’s bag wants taken care of elsewhere and her not have to deal with it haha but I choose to not look that far into it and assume positive intent on her part.

Did she "take care of you" once you got back home?

 

[Ceeje89]

Did she "take care of you" once you got back home?

Not yet but I’m not expecting anything too soon or on a timeline either. On my subsequent visit post-Paris I put in my first official wishlist via her phone. I didn't realize it was so official with a form filled out saying I am interested in X bag, in Y size, with Z leather, and these colors, at least here in the US.

She seemed very straightforward during that convo about “our store never gets this or that so don’t bother asking,” “oh you like this combo? You’d be first in my list if we get that,” etc and did not do or say anything which would give me concern that I would not be offered what I like should the right thing show up. Nor did she hint at additional spending, profile building, etc.

I’m in no hurry and not trying to spend my way to a bag ASAP or anything. I shop 1x-2x/year as this store is 3 hours away and usually spend $2k-$5k each trip. My SA is always responsive to me via text for appointments but I do not shop remotely and I always get a big hug when I come in. So I like to think we have a good/functioning shopping relationship, I just try not to overthink it and so far my shopping experience has been 100% fun at my home H.

All that rambling to say I recognize my perspective and experience is likely very different than others on the forum.

 

[Capitaliste]

I have a question: If I have my HSS order placed already in my home store and move to a different store/SA, will I still get the HSS order when it is ready from the current home store? Or, is it safe to stay with the current SA until I get the SO? Thank you!

Here's a detailed context: My SA in the home store is aware that I am waiting for BBB35 and Kelly Messenger PM this year since this past Feb/March. She mentioned that I can get the messenger bag when it comes, but I have had no word from her in the past 3 months or so. And no words on the BBB35 either when my home store actually got lots of bags in box leather recently. (By the way, the pre-spend is not an issue, I don't think.) Recently, I met a super nice SA in the other store who offered me a Kelly Messenger PM right away (even before looking at my profile). We clicked immediately and she checked my profile. She then asked my wish list. She also said/implied that I can get Birkin 35 by the end of the summer or early fall. (I also told her that I scored some bags from Paris; She loves the idea of shopping in FSH and had no problem with this, so it's a big relief for me. [She mentioned that US and French accounts are not linked and that I don't have to worry about it.]) Long story short, the SA I met in the other store seems very motivated to help me, and since she offered me a bag immediately, I am now thinking about switching the store/SA. But what will happen to my HSS order in the current home store?

PS. My SA in the current home store kinda knew that I would eventually get the messenger bag from resellers soon (because I implied), but I told her explicitly that I got the bag from the other store recently, and she seems OK and happy for me.

 

[WhiteBus]

Buy what you want when you can
Don't allow yourself to be seen as a client who can be retained by the elastic string of dangled expectations.

 

[addiCCted]

I have a question: If I have my HSS order placed already in my home store and move to a different store/SA, will I still get the HSS order when it is ready from the current home store? Or, is it safe to stay with the current SA until I get the SO? Thank you!

Here's a detailed context: My SA in the home store is aware that I am waiting for BBB35 and Kelly Messenger PM this year since this past Feb/March. She mentioned that I can get the messenger bag when it comes, but I have had no word from her in the past 3 months or so. And no words on the BBB35 either when my home store actually got lots of bags in box leather recently. (By the way, the pre-spend is not an issue, I don't think.) Recently, I met a super nice SA in the other store who offered me a Kelly Messenger PM right away (even before looking at my profile). We clicked immediately and she checked my profile. She then asked my wish list. She also said/implied that I can get Birkin 35 by the end of the summer or early fall. (I also told her that I scored some bags from Paris; She loves the idea of shopping in FSH and had no problem with this, so it's a big relief for me. [She mentioned that US and French accounts are not linked and that I don't have to worry about it.]) Long story short, the SA I met in the other store seems very motivated to help me, and since she offered me a bag immediately, I am now thinking about switching the store/SA. But what will happen to my HSS order in the current home store?

PS. My SA in the current home store kinda knew that I would eventually get the messenger bag from resellers soon (because I implied), but I told her explicitly that I got the bag from the other store recently, and she seems OK and happy for me.

Well imagine you are the SA. You just offered your client a very coveted HSS slot and then you see he went elsewhere shopping with some other SA. How do you think you would feel? Esp in US where client loyalty to the store is really valued?

Just my opinion but I don’t think it bodes well. But as suggested before, you should shop how you want.

 

[acrowcounted]

I have a question: If I have my HSS order placed already in my home store and move to a different store/SA, will I still get the HSS order when it is ready from the current home store? Or, is it safe to stay with the current SA until I get the SO? Thank you!

Here's a detailed context: My SA in the home store is aware that I am waiting for BBB35 and Kelly Messenger PM this year since this past Feb/March. She mentioned that I can get the messenger bag when it comes, but I have had no word from her in the past 3 months or so. And no words on the BBB35 either when my home store actually got lots of bags in box leather recently. (By the way, the pre-spend is not an issue, I don't think.) Recently, I met a super nice SA in the other store who offered me a Kelly Messenger PM right away (even before looking at my profile). We clicked immediately and she checked my profile. She then asked my wish list. She also said/implied that I can get Birkin 35 by the end of the summer or early fall. (I also told her that I scored some bags from Paris; She loves the idea of shopping in FSH and had no problem with this, so it's a big relief for me. [She mentioned that US and French accounts are not linked and that I don't have to worry about it.]) Long story short, the SA I met in the other store seems very motivated to help me, and since she offered me a bag immediately, I am now thinking about switching the store/SA. But what will happen to my HSS order in the current home store?

PS. My SA in the current home store kinda knew that I would eventually get the messenger bag from resellers soon (because I implied), but I told her explicitly that I got the bag from the other store recently, and she seems OK and happy for me.

You’ll still get the a la carte order when it comes in but I imagine the transaction will be extremely awkward. Regardless, you haven’t enjoyed nor trusted your home store SA for a long time so if you found someone you trust more, make the switch. That being said, I personally think and have expressed that you’ve been too hard on your home SA. Also, this new SA may be “love bombing you” to get you as a client so you may not really be seeing the true story yet. The grass isn’t always greener, especially if as you’ve said a few times, your H shopping/bag collection is almost complete.

 

[GabrielleS]

Your SA seems to have gotten you a lot in a short time and is honest about what isn’t available. It doesn’t seem like a dangling expectations to make you spend more situation.

Since the other SA has already taken your wishlist you SA will see it in the system. If there is damage as a result, it’s too late to change it.

 

[parisistherapy]

Is there general advice on what metiers tend to sell out more quickly / have more limited inventory? I’d guess RTW is popular. I’d like to space out my purchases more but am always having FOMO about stock.