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 shop at your local store please do a search in Hermes Shopping sub-forum and look for your store/region/country.

 

[Bdbunny]

I'm starting to run out of things to buy at H. I like the RTW but I don't need too many clothes. I have purchased a large amount of FJ and don't need anything else at this time. I have been shopping for a while, but am worried that if I don't continue shopping, my SA wont give me my SO when it comes in. Is that a thing? Do I need to keep up my spending?

Agree with above. Your SO is your SO, at least that's what I've been told as well. I don't think you need to keep up your spend if there's nothing you want to buy, but I would probably check in with your SA every now and then just to stay on their radar. Sometimes I send my SA an action shot or something. (Although that can sometimes lead to a remote purchase, so you have to be careful LOL!)

I myself am waiting on a SO I placed over a year ago...from a boutique I no longer shop at... so I will let you know if it's true that my SO is in fact my SO!!

 

[BreezyE]

Agree with above. Your SO is your SO, at least that's what I've been told as well. I don't think you need to keep up your spend if there's nothing you want to buy, but I would probably check in with your SA every now and then just to stay on their radar. Sometimes I send my SA an action shot or something. (Although that can sometimes lead to a remote purchase, so you have to be careful LOL!)

I myself am waiting on a SO I placed over a year ago...from a boutique I no longer shop at... so I will let you know if it's true that my SO is in fact my SO!!

Please keep us updated and I hope you get it soon!!

 

[Capitaliste]

I myself am waiting on a SO I placed over a year ago...from a boutique I no longer shop at...

I myself had a SO placed earlier this year in one of NYC stores (i.e., with my current SA in the home store). I was thinking about switching a store, where the other SA was willing to offer me a B35 by the end of this summer. My SA in the home store then basically threatened me that my SO will not be offered if I switch the store. My SA said I can get a B35 from her within a month but I doubt it.

If I need to switch a store, I can only do so after getting the SO I placed. The threat part was quite displeasing. So, I will stay with my current SA in the home store only if she offers me a second SO next year. I can keep you posted on how things go.

 

[BreezyE]

I myself had a SO placed earlier this year in one of NYC stores (i.e., with my current SA in the home store). I was thinking about switching a store, where the other SA was willing to offer me a B35 by the end of this summer. My SA in the home store then basically threatened me that my SO will not be offered if I switch the store. My SA said I can get a B35 from her within a month but I doubt it.

If I need to switch a store, I can only do so after getting the SO I placed. I will stay with my current SA in the home store next year only if she offers me a second SO. I can keep you posted on how things go.

Can you tell us how she said this to you??

 

[Capitaliste]

Can you tell us how she said this to you??

Sure.

So, here is what I said to my SA: "So, I stopped by the store in NJ while I was visiting my friend there. I was just curious if the SA there can offer me a bag [i.e., Kelly Messenger PM - which is a non-quota men's bag] I was looking for. The SA went into the stock room and soon after, she came back with the orange box and I was so surprised. She then took me to the private room and showed me and I was so excited. I immediately accepted it. As you know, I was thinking about getting it from the resellers, but I just got it from this store."

Before visiting this store, in my last phone text messages with my SA, I told her that I may get the Kelly Messenger PM from Fashionphile because they had a brand new one and it was only about 1,000 dollars more expensive than the retail price.

Then I added: "She and I also clicked so well and we talked for almost an hour. She also asked me about my wish lists. I said B30 touch (any neutral and GHW) for my mom and B35 (black/palladium) for myself. The SA told me to work with her and get the B35 by the end of this summer." Then I paused.

My current SA then said, "if you switch the store, your SO will be cancelled." (She said this exactly.) Then, she added that, "B35 is easy to get and I can get you a B35 early next month." (These are also exact words.)

I asked for advice from one of the TPFers here: Can the SO be cancelled? Not likely. But the "SO under your name" can still be offered to a different client (since I did not pay any deposit, etc.).


ETA: My SA also made it clear that me getting a Kelly Messenger PM from a different store is not a bid deal, because she was more worried about me getting that bag from the resellers. (I just want to make my statements very objective and fair.)

 

[acrowcounted]

If I need to switch a store, I can only do so after getting the SO I placed. The threat part was quite displeasing. So, I will stay with my current SA in the home store only if she offers me a second SO next year. I can keep you posted on how things go.

I'm curious why you feel so entitled to back-to-back SO slot offers. Its giving very entitled vibes and if you are appearing this way in front of your SA at Madison, it is becoming a bit more clear why you are having such difficulties. You should really try to understand that corporate is pushing for only newer clients who have never done SO before to receive SO slot offers (probably why you lucked into one already) and it would be pretty shocking, especially with your low non-leather spend, to receive two back to back. This kind of ultimatum would make any low-spending client more trouble than they are worth.

 

[Capitaliste]

I'm curious why you feel so entitled to back-to-back SO slot offers. Its giving very entitled vibes and if you are appearing this way in front of your SA at Madison, it is becoming a bit more clear why you are having such difficulties. You should really try to understand that corporate is pushing for only newer clients who have never done SO before to receive SO slot offers (probably why you lucked into one already) and it would be pretty shocking, especially with your low non-leather spend, to receive two back to back. This kind of ultimatum would make any low-spending client more trouble than they are worth.

True. Well, everyone is different (i.e., YMMV). It is their choice to offer me another SO slot or not, and I respect that. (I cannot force them to do anything for me.) It is also my decision if I want to switch a store or not (since it's my money and shopping should be fun). So, what's the problem here?

PS. I am really not into arguing with anyone here. So, please don't argue with me about my shopping styles. Thanks.

 

[WhiteBus]

When so many people contributing to this forum describe how difficult it is for them to get one bag of their dreams, reading about someone seemingly netting so many, it seems a little insensitive.
That is the answer to the question, 'What's the problem here?'

 

[Bdbunny]

Sure.

So, here is what I said to my SA: "So, I stopped by the store in NJ while I was visiting my friend there. I was just curious if the SA there can offer me a bag [i.e., Kelly Messenger PM - which is a non-quota men's bag] I was looking for. The SA went into the stock room and soon after, she came back with the orange box and I was so surprised. She then took me to the private room and showed me and I was so excited. I immediately accepted it. As you know, I was thinking about getting it from the resellers, but I just got it from this store."

Before visiting this store, in my last phone text messages with my SA, I told her that I may get the Kelly Messenger PM from Fashionphile because they had a brand new one and it was only about 1,000 dollars more expensive than the retail price.

Then I added: "She and I also clicked so well and we talked for almost an hour. She also asked me about my wish lists. I said B30 touch (any neutral and GHW) for my mom and B35 (black/palladium) for myself. The SA told me to work with her and get the B35 by the end of this summer." Then I paused.

My current SA then said, "if you switch the store, your SO will be cancelled." (She said this exactly.) Then, she added that, "B35 is easy to get and I can get you a B35 early next month." (These are also exact words.)

I asked for advice from one of the TPFers here: Can the SO be cancelled? Not likely. But the "SO under your name" can still be offered to a different client (since I did not pay any deposit, etc.).


ETA: My SA also made it clear that me getting a Kelly Messenger PM from a different store is not a bid deal, because she was more worried about me getting that bag from the resellers. (I just want to make my statements very objective and fair.)

I just want to explain that my situation is a little different. My SA from the store where I placed my SO last year was let go so I changed stores. I was reassured by the SM of the previous store, as well as the SM/SA of new store that I would still be able to receive my SO from the prior store when it arrives.

 

[880]

corporate is pushing for only newer clients who have never done SO before to receive SO slot offers

I have been told this at BH and Madison. The company is trying to accommodate new clients who do not have any or as many bags. In the context of this thread, the goal is to establish relationships with newcomers to the brand.

This kind of ultimatum would make any low-spending client more trouble than they are worth

Agree. BH and Madison have told me that high maintenance clients, esp. low spend ones, are dealt with as much tact and politeness as possible , with the hope that they will shut up and go away.* Customers like this— I hesitate to call them clients— do tend to be cautionary tales among management and staff.

A professional SA will always tell a customer that they are free to shop wherever they like; in any store that they like; with whomever they like. The point is to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for both parties and ultimately for the good of H’s bottom line.

But, it is a client relationship, beyond a single transaction, that incentivizes an SA to advocate for a client for a bag. An SA would rather forfeit a paltry commission than deal with entitlement and attitude (I’ve heard that from a lot of SAs lol). They are not actually in charge of who gets bags. And, yet they bear the brunt of a customer’s emotional upheaval.

A good SA relationship is not quantified by how little one spends to get a bag or how one games the system. But, of course, on TPF today, this would be a very unpopular opinion.

ETA: no one thinks @Bdbunny that you take advantage or game anything lol. You deserve that SO

*like in real life

 

[acrowcounted]

I was just genuinely sharing my experience about "what SO happens when one switches a store" (post #9,901), and I did not sign up for these arguments.

@papertiger - Can you please delete my posts (#9,903, 9,905, and this one [i.e., 9,909])? Thanks. I will stay quiet.

No one is arguing with you, I was genuinely curious where the lofty entitlement came from. Under all of your usernames, your prime difficulty with the Hermes brand seems to continually stem from a misalignment between your expectations and how Hermes actually operates. Expecting back to back SO opportunities or else you'll jump ship seems like another situation where your expectations won't be met and drama will follow. IMO understanding more reasonable expectations leads to a better experience and less hurt feelings. If your expectation for another SO was based on, for example, your SA saying "I promise you a second SO next year" then I would understand, and thus I asked, but if its just a demand from your side, IMO, you should just jump ship now and save the time; you'd probably actually be more likely to get a second SO opportunity from a new SA/store as you'd look like a "new client" again.

As for deleting your posts, I would hope that the mods would not continue to delete your posts and your usernames as it makes having open and honest conversations here on the forum quite difficult and lowers trust amongst members.

 

[HappySteve]

A professional SA will always tell a client that they are free to shop wherever they like; in any store that they like; with whomever they like. The point is to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for both parties and ultimately for the good of H’s bottom line. I find it distasteful that many try to game the system, but JMO

ETA: a good SA relationship is not quantified by how little you spend to get a bag, but of course, on TPF today, this would be a very unpopular opinion.

I so so agree with this!
I started my Hermes shopping with some bags in mind, let’s not lie… But, I always enjoyed there Home and RTW. So when I started buying more from the brand focus with my SA was always finding pieces I enjoyed and was eager to buy and use in my life… and occasionally she surprises me with bags I love… she knows what I like now and when she likes to surprise me… I barely know when I will get something and it makes it so much fun!
but we have all different ways to shop…

 

[Capitaliste]

No one is arguing with you, I was genuinely curious where the lofty entitlement came from. Under all of your usernames, your prime difficulty with the Hermes brand seems to continually stem from a misalignment between your expectations and how Hermes actually operates. Expecting back to back SO opportunities or else you'll jump ship seems like another situation where your expectations won't be met and drama will follow. IMO understanding more reasonable expectations leads to a better experience and less hurt feelings. If your expectation for another SO was based on, for example, your SA saying "I promise you a second SO next year" then I would understand, and thus I asked, but if its just a demand from your side, IMO, you should just jump ship now and save the time; you'd probably actually be more likely to get a second SO opportunity from a new SA/store as you'd look like a "new client" again.

As for deleting your posts, I would hope that the mods would not continue to delete your posts and your usernames as it makes having open and honest conversations here on the forum quite difficult and lowers trust amongst members.

Thanks for your clarification. I may have misunderstood the tones, but I appreciate your further explanation. In my previous posts (and in other threads), some people tend to be jealous or unhappy about my shopping methods of how I got QBs and non-QBs, so I may have over-reacted. (In the same vein, I try not to share detailed info here anymore.)

Regarding the entitlement: It was partly because of the threat. (I don't think the relationship would last long anyway with any kind of threats.) So, I decided to stay with my SA only if she offers me another SO opportunity after getting the first SO. [You are saying that I am unrealistic and I get it.] Second, in some Asian countries, the second SO opportunity from a switched SA/store is often easier. (This is not an uncommon approach among other VIPs and resellers, and I kinda wanted to test this for myself.) I will stop here regarding this matter.

Again, everyone shops differently, and I do not want to be involved in any arguments here. My posts are meant to share my experiences to help others, and that's all. (If I have questions, I will just DM you as I did before. 😂 As you know, I no longer post questions here.) Thank you.

 

[textilegirl]

After shopping with my SA for ten years or so I transitioned to a new SA as the first moved on to other opportunities thus I guess I'm in the situation of having 'maintained' two SA relationships. Although the SAs have rather different personalities and different styles of client interaction, both have been interested to learn my tastes and interests, and to share with me things they believe I might like. One texts, the other didn't; both shared outside interests and a few not very intimate family matters; both gave me some insights into boutique operations and corporate thinking (to be sure, neither was at all indiscreet).

I'm in the US, and was offered the opportunity to do an SO last year for the first time, and I've been solicited (and declined) to participate in a few special events held at the boutique. I've gotten the very distinct impression that an effort is being made to offer these sorts of opportunities to those who've not enjoyed them before. Frankly, I'd always assumed I was too small a fish at my boutique to be considered in these contexts, and I've just wandered along over the years, buying things I loved and passing on others. As much as I would love to do another SO, I doubt it's something I would raise with my SA (I have no idea of my spending, no intention to calculate it, no intention of asking, and every intent to be displeased if the subject is mentioned) because, as before, it seems that the new policy is to spread the opportunities around to those who've yet to experience them. My SA and SM know my interests, and I hope that I'll be considered should anything they know would make my heart beat faster comes in to the boutique. If not, well, there it is; I'll continue to shop as I have before, including for items at resale and especially for vintage and discontinued pieces.

ETA: I don't remember the context although it was organic so I took no offense, but my SA mentioned my spending at one point (this was how I knew it was visible somewhere in the Hermes databases). I don't remember anything more about it so I really don't know whether or to what extent it's been a factor in anything.

 

[Etriers]

I myself had a SO placed earlier this year in one of NYC stores (i.e., with my current SA in the home store). I was thinking about switching a store, where the other SA was willing to offer me a B35 by the end of this summer. My SA in the home store then basically threatened me that my SO will not be offered if I switch the store. My SA said I can get a B35 from her within a month but I doubt it.

If I need to switch a store, I can only do so after getting the SO I placed. The threat part was quite displeasing. So, I will stay with my current SA in the home store only if she offers me a second SO next year. I can keep you posted on how things go.

The interaction has to be mutually beneficial. Your SA obviously understood your casually delivered but clear threat to her as well, but it sounds like she handled it professionally. Keep in mind, throwing down the gauntlet usually only works once. If you try it again next year (Give me another SO or I’ll switch) she may not feel motivated to keep you.

Agree 💯 . No obligation to work with one person even if you were a direct referral. Even in the same store, an SA knows you can sho0 with whomever you like. And, it can take more than one or six visits to figure out whom you want to shop with. Having said that, SAs also get so many texts, that I don’t take it personally if they don’t respond.* They could simply have meant to and then gotten overwhelmed with something IRL at the store. Or be on vacation. Or other. Of course, to be top of mind for any desirable item including bags, it is more helpful (and efficient) to have a strong relationship** with one SA who can be your advocate, but things have a way of unfolding naturally if you let them.

*im used to this given that my own mom can go days without responding to my urgent texts too (on,y half joking lol)

ETA: ** by strong relationship, I don’t mean chatty, best friend types or even someone who makes bag offers (though these would naturally follow). I mean someone who understands your taste; who suggests items that you might not have picked or known about that you love; and, who is responsive to your needs without being pushy.

Thanks so much, I agree completely. And you’re right, my previous SA would occasionally forget to get back to me, but it was rare. I’m not expecting perfection or anything. My sense is I’m getting the cool “I don’t know you well enough yet,” thing, which I expected when I was a newbie. At this point, as an enduring client of the store and personal recommendee, it seems a little off target. I don’t know. We’ll see. If I’m to be treated as a new customer, I’ll just have fun with it, because this time I’m a free agent with a good/consistent track record.

When my SA left, she handed me over to another SA who was a trainee, I didn’t mind because when I met her, she was also a trainee but was able to help me with my purchases. She also said that I can come in the store and shop around to see if there’s any other SA I might like. Lucky I stuck with the referral SA and got a QB.

Thanks for your thoughts. That’s nice. It would be fun to have a trainee. There are some definite advantages there as well. I’m glad it worked out for you.

Shopping should be a pleasure not a chore.
I'd go into the store & just see who you connect with. One doesn't always have to be a high flyer nor
high maintenance to connect with an SA, but like yourself you'd want a SA that is courteous & respectful.
At times, I think there is so much unecssary pressure on the client.
This could be a good time to meander in & just see what happens. Good luck!

Thanks! For sure. Totally agree.