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.

 

[Chrismin]

Perhaps give your SA some time to settle in at the new store & see how receptive her SM is to
having her work within limitations that might be set before her..
Was there an item(s) that your SA knew you were interested in?
If you are prepared to "travel" a distance to work with this SA, it could work, that's up to you
Great SA's are hard to walk away from once they get to know your look & style, so there are
some considerations on your part, but I think I'd be patient & wait to hear from her..

Great advice ! Thanks 😊

 

[Gin&H]

I have a question regarding shopping resale. For those who purchase both from your SA at a boutique and resale, how comfortable are you about that? Does your SA know? Is purchasing from resale considered just as bad as being a reseller?

Editing to add: I am not interested in purchasing something my SA can source for me. It’s about an item your SA tells you unlikely to be in an offer.

Hi @Kuma_Lisa, I’m posting my answer here since it may help others with this question too. Are you referencing push offer type items like box and barenia? Or more like blue box bags?

I actually asked a similar question when I was planning my first boutique visit regarding wearing vintage H bags since I actually started with vintage H. With the advice and support of other sage TPFers, I’ve worn my vintage pieces and actually also wore a preloved 2016 barenia halzan to the boutique. My SA was very excited when she saw my halzan and asked me how I was able to get it. I was upfront with her that I bought it preloved. She didn’t seem weirded out but rather acknowledged that it’s so rare to see those pieces anymore and it gave us a chance to organically talk about our love for heritage leathers. So in essence, I think if it’s vintage or a preloved push offer type of bag, I don’t think the SAs are put off by that. But…YMMV and other TPFers may have other perspectives and advice to give. Hope that helps!!

 

[Kuma_Lisa]

Hi @Kuma_Lisa, I’m posting my answer here since it may help others with this question too. Are you referencing push offer type items like box and barenia? Or more like blue box bags?

I actually asked a similar question when I was planning my first boutique visit regarding wearing vintage H bags since I actually started with vintage H. With the advice and support of other sage TPFers, I’ve worn my vintage pieces and actually also wore a preloved 2016 barenia halzan to the boutique. My SA was very excited when she saw my halzan and asked me how I was able to get it. I was upfront with her that I bought it preloved. She didn’t seem weirded out but rather acknowledged that it’s so rare to see those pieces anymore and it gave us a chance to organically talk about our love for heritage leathers. So in essence, I think if it’s vintage or a preloved push offer type of bag, I don’t think the SAs are put off by that. But…YMMV and other TPFers may have other perspectives and advice to give. Hope that helps!!

You are so kind!! I am still relatively new here and thank you for helping me with my original post on Hermes Chat. The bag I am really interested in is actually pretty basic compared to push offer type bags or Blue Box Bags. It’s the color I particularly love combined with the size and hardware specifics I want AND how small our home boutique is, my SA didn’t think this specific bag could be offered to us in a foreseeable future. I would like to be candid with her, but I wasn’t sure if ‘honesty is the best policy’ applies to Hermes in all cases.

 

[Gin&H]

You are so kind!! I am still relatively new here and thank you for helping me with my original post on Hermes Chat. The bag I am really interested in is actually pretty basic compared to push offer type bags or Blue Box Bags. It’s the color I particularly love combined with the size and hardware specifics I want AND how small our home boutique is, my SA didn’t think this specific bag could be offered to us in a foreseeable future. I would like to be candid with her, but I wasn’t sure if ‘honesty is the best policy’ applies to Hermes in all cases.

In that case, I think that may be a little more tricky to be upfront about if it’s something not push offer/vintage/no longer in production.

 

[pyrexia]

In that case, I think that may be a little more tricky to be upfront about if it’s something not push offer/vintage/no longer in production.

I feel honesty is always the best policy. I work with a few SAs across different boutiques around the world, and I am very upfront with everyone of them that I do shop in other boutiques, and at resellers/vintage (from time to time). My primary aim is to buy what I want, and to be honest, I can't really be bothered about where it comes from. If my SA can secure item(s) for me, I am happy to spend all my money with them.

Even more so if the item is something your SA isn't certain of being able to procure, then I would just go ahead and purchase it from wherever. My SAs are very happy when I procure something that they know I've been looking for, even if it wasn't from them.

 

[FaubourgTropical]

Even more so if the item is something your SA isn't certain of being able to procure, then I would just go ahead and purchase it from wherever. My SAs are very happy when I procure something that they know I've been looking for, even if it wasn't from them.

I am sure there are different perspectives and aims in this board depending on different needs and wishes but as a 'normal'* shopper, I share this approach. I shop to get what I want. If the store cannot procure it for me, I go somewhere else. That applies from grocery to Hermes to properties.

*normal as buying what one uses, not a collector, not a reseller, not an influencer, not trend setter, etc, etc.

 

[Gin&H]

I feel honesty is always the best policy. I work with a few SAs across different boutiques around the world, and I am very upfront with everyone of them that I do shop in other boutiques, and at resellers/vintage (from time to time). My primary aim is to buy what I want, and to be honest, I can't really be bothered about where it comes from. If my SA can secure item(s) for me, I am happy to spend all my money with them.

Even more so if the item is something your SA isn't certain of being able to procure, then I would just go ahead and purchase it from wherever. My SAs are very happy when I procure something that they know I've been looking for, even if it wasn't from them.

I am sure there are different perspectives and aims in this board depending on different needs and wishes but as a 'normal'* shopper, I share this approach. I shop to get what I want. If the store cannot procure it for me, I go somewhere else. That applies from grocery to Hermes to properties.

*normal as buying what one uses, not a collector, not a reseller, not an influencer, not trend setter, etc, etc.

@Kuma_Lisa clearly I’m also newer and I can understand the uncertainty about obtaining newer items from resale but more seasoned H lovers with a wealth of experience have weighed in and sounds like stick to your gut! Ultimately it’s a business and I’m sure as long as you continue to shop with your SA, they’ll be happy to maintain that relationship. HTH!

 

[storytotell]

I am a remote client and used to visit my home store every 1.5 months. Currently, I am looking to visit every 3 months or so due to my work schedule and other financial priorities. I am not looking for a second QB this year/or even the next year, but at the same time, I want to make sure my SA does not think I am coming to the store only when I am looking for a QB.
Looking for tips on the best ways to maintain relationships with my SA while I am not actively shopping.

 

[acrowcounted]

I am a remote client and used to visit my home store every 1.5 months. Currently, I am looking to visit every 3 months or so due to my work schedule and other financial priorities. I am not looking for a second QB this year/or even the next year, but at the same time, I want to make sure my SA does not think I am coming to the store only when I am looking for a QB.
Looking for tips on the best ways to maintain relationships with my SA while I am not actively shopping.

Three months sounds like a perfectly fine normal cadence. I wouldn't be concerned at all, especially if you're not seeking a QB in short order.

 

[storytotell]

Three months sounds like a perfectly fine normal cadence. I wouldn't be concerned at all, especially if you're not seeking a QB in short order.

Thanks!

 

[Letter]

I am a remote client and used to visit my home store every 1.5 months. Currently, I am looking to visit every 3 months or so due to my work schedule and other financial priorities. I am not looking for a second QB this year/or even the next year, but at the same time, I want to make sure my SA does not think I am coming to the store only when I am looking for a QB.
Looking for tips on the best ways to maintain relationships with my SA while I am not actively shopping.

My guess is if you don’t ask for a QB every time you go in your SA won’t think that’s why you’re coming in. I think normal non-pestering type of people underestimate how much others harass their SAs for bags.

 

[misg19]

There are times i visit the boutique and every thing i ask my SA for has no sizing or not available. I usually cross reference the H site before I go to my appointments. I try to find similar items I may like but at times, I’ll have to walk out empty handed and I feel somewhat guilty for “wasting” my SAs time. Does anyone else feel this way? also does leaving empty handed negatively impact the relationship ? Im not a VVVIP client but I’d say I have consistently decent spend.

 

[parisistherapy]

There are times i visit the boutique and every thing i ask my SA for has no sizing or not available. I usually cross reference the H site before I go to my appointments. I try to find similar items I may like but at times, I’ll have to walk out empty handed and I feel somewhat guilty for “wasting” my SAs time. Does anyone else feel this way? also does leaving empty handed negatively impact the relationship ? Im not a VVVIP client but I’d say I have consistently decent spend.

Have you tried texting your SA items you’re looking for so that they could do a search and transfer them in? I have the same experience at my small local boutique and that’s what I have to do. I generally only come in when my SA texts me that the items I’ve requested have arrived in store

ETA: earlier in our relationship, before I learned to text first, I had to leave empty handed maybe twice, on busy saturdays, after my SA tried to show me $$$$ FJ pieces unprompted 🙃. That did not seem to affect our relationship as I scored my QB pretty early and at pretty low prespend

 

[misg19]

Have you tried texting your SA items you’re looking for so that they could do a search and transfer them in? I have the same experience at my small local boutique and that’s what I have to do. I generally only come in when my SA texts me that the items I’ve requested have arrived in store

Unfortunately, I can only email my SA, she does not permit texting. She normally takes 2-3 days to respond and her inbox is always full so she just asks me to come in store when there’s items I want. Not the most efficient, I know, I’d much prefer a simple text. When I am store, she keeps my non bag wishlist and will email me if those items do indeed come in.

 

[storytotell]

I think normal non-pestering type of people underestimate how much others harass their SAs for bags.

Haha you are right