Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

Please focus on the title of this thread rather than each other, TY

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[aprilflowers]

My SA has been on parental leave since June. I recently messaged her to make an appointment. I messaged her as usual but this time, instead of an imessage, a text was sent. Does this mean she is no longer with Hermes?

 

[880]

My SA has been on parental leave since June. I recently messaged her to make an appointment. I messaged her as usual but this time, instead of an imessage, a text was sent. Does this mean she is no longer with Hermes?

Is your SA in the EU? Mine, from FSH, was on parental leave for almost two years. I messaged; emailed; texted for appointments, and I got a variety of replies in different formats back. If she was only gone since June, she may simply still be away. Can you contact your store or manager directly to find out?

 

[acrowcounted]

My SA has been on parental leave since June. I recently messaged her to make an appointment. I messaged her as usual but this time, instead of an imessage, a text was sent. Does this mean she is no longer with Hermes?

I would call the store and ask who ever answers what your SAs expected return date is.

 

[aprilflowers]

Thank you, @880 and @acrowcounted! I called the store, and she is in fact coming back tomorrow!

 

[JLO1]

I asked my SA for an item he/she did not have in stock but it is listed on the website. Why would the SA not offer to have it transferred or say: would you like to come in and we can order it? Does the SA not make a comm from transfer in or assisted website purchase?

 

[acrowcounted]

I asked my SA for an item he/she did not have in stock but it is listed on the website. Why would the SA not offer to have it transferred or say: would you like to come in and we can order it? Does the SA not make a comm from transfer in or assisted website purchase?

They cannot transfer from the website. They can order from the website unless it’s a bag or a petit H item but, yes, you have to be there in person. It may be more trouble than it’s worth to them. If you are really keen though you could reply “oh, I see it’s on the website though, should I stop in on Friday and place the order with you?”

 

[JLO1]

thank you just as I figured - more trouble than its worth...

 

[hbr]

How does one “maintain” the relationship if there’s not much shopping happening? And, another issue is that my SA is a 3 hour flight away so swinging by the store to say hello doesn’t work. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

[acrowcounted]

How does one “maintain” the relationship if there’s not much shopping happening? And, another issue is that my SA is a 3 hour flight away so swinging by the store to say hello doesn’t work. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

I would argue that it’s a business relationship so if you arent shopping, there isn’t much to maintain. I understand that the real question is “how do I stay in my SA’s good graces so they offer me bags when I’m not shopping?” but if it’s a relatively new relationship (ie doesn’t go back years and years) it’s not really a reasonable expectation when they have other clients who are stopping by and shopping. I would just touch base when there is a product you want to order and otherwise, lay low. They arent going to forget you when you pop back up to shop!

 

[Bdbunny]

How does one “maintain” the relationship if there’s not much shopping happening? And, another issue is that my SA is a 3 hour flight away so swinging by the store to say hello doesn’t work. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

I was going to say basically what @acrowcounted said... To me, "maintaining a relationship" = "shopping and buying stuff."
As sweet and nice my SAs are to me, I am fully aware that it is a business relationship and they don't ACTUALLY want to be my best friend in real life! I also live a distance away from my store, but since they are very busy, even if I could just "swing by," I wouldn't do that just to shoot the breeze without buying something I wanted/needed at the time. I do keep in regular touch with my SAs but usually it's them texting me about something new that has arrived at the store or something coming for next season and they're asking if I want them to pre-order for me, or something I asked for that just arrived. This may lead to a few text exchanges about our personal lives but I don't routinely text them just to say hi without a reason.

I think it's ok not to be talking to your SA all the time. I would reach out when there's something you want to purchase or when you know you are visiting again to set up an appointment. Just let things happen organically.

 

[hbr]

I would argue that it’s a business relationship so if you arent shopping, there isn’t much to maintain. I understand that the real question is “how do I stay in my SA’s good graces so they offer me bags when I’m not shopping?” but if it’s a relatively new relationship (ie doesn’t go back years and years) it’s not really a reasonable expectation when they have other clients who are stopping by and shopping. I would just touch base when there is a product you want to order and otherwise, lay low. They arent going to forget you when you pop back up to shop!

I was going to say basically what @acrowcounted said... To me, "maintaining a relationship" = "shopping and buying stuff."
As sweet and nice my SAs are to me, I am fully aware that it is a business relationship and they don't ACTUALLY want to be my best friend in real life! I also live a distance away from my store, but since they are very busy, even if I could just "swing by," I wouldn't do that just to shoot the breeze without buying something I wanted/needed at the time. I do keep in regular touch with my SAs but usually it's them texting me about something new that has arrived at the store or something coming for next season and they're asking if I want them to pre-order for me, or something I asked for that just arrived. This may lead to a few text exchanges about our personal lives but I don't routinely text them just to say hi without a reason.

I think it's ok not to be talking to your SA all the time. I would reach out when there's something you want to purchase or when you know you are visiting again to set up an appointment. Just let things happen organically.

Thank you both! I guess the challenge I’m having is that there aren’t a ton of items that I want, or need at the moment. So, trying to maintain the working relationship via purchases is a bit challenging right now. I don’t want to spend money for the sake of spending if the items I’m buying are not things that I love or want/need. I know that it’s important to maintain a steady purchase history, especially since this is a new relationship. It’s definitely a balance between all of these things!

 

[880]

I was going to say basically what @acrowcounted said... To me, "maintaining a relationship" = "shopping and buying stuff."
As sweet and nice my SAs are to me, I am fully aware that it is a business relationship and they don't ACTUALLY want to be my best friend in real life! I also live a distance away from my store, but since they are very busy, even if I could just "swing by," I wouldn't do that just to shoot the breeze without buying something I wanted/needed at the time. I do keep in regular touch with my SAs but usually it's them texting me about something new that has arrived at the store or something coming for next season and they're asking if I want them to pre-order for me, or something I asked for that just arrived. This may lead to a few text exchanges about our personal lives but I don't routinely text them just to say hi without a reason.

I think it's ok not to be talking to your SA all the time. I would reach out when there's something you want to purchase or when you know you are visiting again to set up an appointment. Just let things happen organically.

💯 My SAs aren’t going to forget me if I’m not in the mood to shop for a bit. They will soon find stuff to entice me back into the store lol. A lot of the time I don’t even plan to buy a particular item. But, if I am browsing, sometimes lovely things just turn up. If I stop in, it’s bc I’m interesting to see if there is something new. I also don’t feel any pressure in the sense that if I want to think about something, I’m fine coming back a second time. Of course, I don’t take up excessive time if they are busy, and I don’t ask them to hold something unless I’m really pretty sure I will purchase. I also personally dislike returning items, so I’m quite sure when I pull the trigger.

ETA: SAs also know that your life does not revolve around them. They aren’t going to forget you if you are traveling or busy For example, my SA and SM knew I couldn’t make events in October, so suggested DH and I make an appt when we are available so we could re connect with the head tailor who is visiting from FSH later on. It’s not explicitly a shopping event, but of course, if there is something interesting, we’re open to the idea.

 

[hbr]

💯 My SAs aren’t going to forget me if I’m not in the mood to shop for a bit. They will soon find stuff to entice me back into the store lol

My SA doesn’t try to entice me at all. That’s the weird part. He’s sent me a few ideas on items but they were not me at all and I was very nice about guiding him away from those items and towards other items I’d be interested in. I think it may help for me to open that door so to speak and give him the green light in making more suggestions 😄

 

[hermesandchanel]

I would argue that it’s a business relationship so if you arent shopping, there isn’t much to maintain. I understand that the real question is “how do I stay in my SA’s good graces so they offer me bags when I’m not shopping?” but if it’s a relatively new relationship (ie doesn’t go back years and years) it’s not really a reasonable expectation when they have other clients who are stopping by and shopping. I would just touch base when there is a product you want to order and otherwise, lay low. They arent going to forget you when you pop back up to shop!

100%

 

[Bdbunny]

Thank you both! I guess the challenge I’m having is that there aren’t a ton of items that I want, or need at the moment. So, trying to maintain the working relationship via purchases is a bit challenging right now. I don’t want to spend money for the sake of spending if the items I’m buying are not things that I love or want/need. I know that it’s important to maintain a steady purchase history, especially since this is a new relationship. It’s definitely a balance between all of these things!

Honestly then I wouldn't do anything until there is something you want to buy. Of course no one is saying to buy something just for the sake of buying something. However, even if you text them to say hi, what I've found in the past is that eventually they will bring the conversation back to shopping and ask you if want some particular thing. They send a text or a video and say "oh this came in and I thought of you!" And if you don't want it, you'll have to say no and make it an awkward end to the convo. Of course if you like it, even better.