Maintaining an H relationship

[papertiger]

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

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[880]

There seems to be a lot of confusion about whether or not getting a non QB bag will delay your QB offer. The answer depends on the status of your SAs leather allocation. Each SA has monthly sales targets and a yearly sales target. Let’s say it’s $100 a month adding up to $1,200 for the entire year. The monthly numbers are scrutinized but ultimately the one number the SA cannot miss is the yearly revenue number so you can miss one month and make it up in another month as long as your year end total meets the target. That $100 monthly target is broken down further into categories. I have no idea what the actual percentages really are so am making up percentages here just to further illustrate the process. Let’s say hypothetically the $100 is broken down into 30% leather, 30% fine jewelry and watches, 30% RTW, 10% home ware. I’m sure the leather category is broken down further between QB and non QB but let’s just lump all bags together in the 30% for now. Every bag your SA sells counts against his/her 30% leather allocation. They can fudge and go over a little in a month but must be at 30% or less for leather in their year end total. So whether your SA sells you a QB or non QB bag, it still counts against their monthly/ yearly 30%. The percentages are just as important as the total sales number at year end so an SA who makes the $1,200 year end target by selling $600 (50%) leather and 50% in all other categories will not be rewarded. So every bag your SA sells you is one less bag they have available to sell to the rest of their clients. So that’s why buying a non QB could delay your QB offer. And that’s also why buying in other categories matters. If your SA has a banner year and sells a total of $2,400 that year then he/she has an allocation of $720 instead of $360 for bags for that year so that’s more bags she/he can sell his/her clients. You could luck out if you are a primarily leather client if you happen to have an SA who has primarily RTW clients because you may get a bigger leather allocation than clients with SAs who have a more leather centric client base. On top of that your SA is also dealing with bag availability. They may have the leather allocation to assign to you this month but not the bag that meets your specs. In which case that leather allocation may go to a client for a bag that is currently in stock. So it’s not just the strength of your profile that determines your bag offers although that can obviously help move you up in priority. Of course exceptions are made for VVIP clients but for the vast majority of H clients, your SA has to factor in bag offers based on their available leather allocation paired with bag availability.

Thank you for explaining this so clearly. I wish this post could be a sticky for a variety of threads

 

[papertiger]

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TY

 

[textilegirl]

What I take from @DoggieBags excellent explanation is that for anyone hoping to have a big orange box for the holidays, if your bag expectations don’t line up with your SA’s ability to meet her numbers you are very likely to be disappointed, even if you’re the loveliest person to ever step into the boutique.

Maybe the SM has some discretionary ability to satisfy a serious VVIP, but in terms of ‘maintaining your relationship with your SA’ I have to presume that they will prioritize making their numbers over making you happy, especially this close to the end of the yearly reporting period.

 

[WhiteBus]

There seems to be a lot of confusion about whether or not getting a non QB bag will delay your QB offer. The answer depends on the status of your SAs leather allocation. Each SA has monthly sales targets and a yearly sales target. Let’s say it’s $100 a month adding up to $1,200 for the entire year. The monthly numbers are scrutinized but ultimately the one number the SA cannot miss is the yearly revenue number so you can miss one month and make it up in another month as long as your year end total meets the target. That $100 monthly target is broken down further into categories. I have no idea what the actual percentages really are so am making up percentages here just to further illustrate the process. Let’s say hypothetically the $100 is broken down into 30% leather, 30% fine jewelry and watches, 30% RTW, 10% home ware. I’m sure the leather category is broken down further between QB and non QB but let’s just lump all bags together in the 30% for now. Every bag your SA sells counts against his/her 30% leather allocation. They can fudge and go over a little in a month but must be at 30% or less for leather in their year end total. So whether your SA sells you a QB or non QB bag, it still counts against their monthly/ yearly 30%. The percentages are just as important as the total sales number at year end so an SA who makes the $1,200 year end target by selling $600 (50%) leather and 50% in all other categories will not be rewarded. So every bag your SA sells you is one less bag they have available to sell to the rest of their clients. So that’s why buying a non QB could delay your QB offer. And that’s also why buying in other categories matters. If your SA has a banner year and sells a total of $2,400 that year then he/she has an allocation of $720 instead of $360 for bags for that year so that’s more bags she/he can sell his/her clients. You could luck out if you are a primarily leather client if you happen to have an SA who has primarily RTW clients because you may get a bigger leather allocation than clients with SAs who have a more leather centric client base. On top of that your SA is also dealing with bag availability. They may have the leather allocation to assign to you this month but not the bag that meets your specs. In which case that leather allocation may go to a client for a bag that is currently in stock. So it’s not just the strength of your profile that determines your bag offers although that can obviously help move you up in priority. Of course exceptions are made for VVIP clients but for the vast majority of H clients, your SA has to factor in bag offers based on their available leather allocation paired with bag availability.

Is this the same regardless of continent?

 

[DoggieBags]

Is this the same regardless of continent?

Not sure. I should have specified that I was speaking to the U.S. system.

 

[haute okole]

@DoggieBags Thank you so much for this information. This makes so much sense. My Beloved SA actually requested that I not refer any new clients to him because it would detract his ability to offer the best bags to me. It also makes sense that long time, consistent clients are prioritized for over the “just in it for the bag” clients. I also see why newer potential lifestyle clients would be pursued. However, potential sometimes does not pan out, as we have seen from the frustration we see by some posters and the CA. litigants.

 

[Angiebbb]

Truth, unvarnished truth, MKs, B25/K25 at Madison or BH typically are minimum 3x for established clients, 4.5x for newer clients. $21K in a year is a 2 year wait for a QB at a flagship especially if a client shops around and has more than one store on their profile. However, there are some Madison clients who have numerous profiles nationally and internationally, but spend $22k on RTW in an hour. This is not a flex, this is reality. How else would Hermes continuously beat their estimates and margins. Don’t believe the Redditors or anyone else who claim to be repeatedly successful for less if they are not famous. So spend, one relationship with primarily one store and patience is key.

I know a few people who have relationships with multiple stores all around the world, get many QBs a year and spend on average less per bag than most. They all have successful businesses with offices around the world and in general spend six figures (and one spends a million dollars a year) if you combine all stores. One of these people gets QBs twice a year from Madison at around 10-12k prespend a bag. They are not famous. H always say QBs depend on a number of factors. I know a person that was in meetings with H discussing a deal and H’s employee in that meeting stated they love offering bags to young and beautiful people. At the same time I just saw this friend of mine who is a statuesque beauty, graduate from one of the best universities in the U.S., head trader in Europe and she couldn’t get her first wish fulfilled in a store there, and she spent enough to be allocated a bag anywhere in the U.S…So who knows…

 

[haute okole]

I know a few people who have relationships with multiple stores all around the world, get many QBs a year and spend on average less per bag than most. They all have successful businesses with offices around the world and in general spend six figures (and one spends a million dollars a year) if you combine all stores. One of these people gets QBs twice a year from Madison at around 10-12k prespend a bag. They are not famous. H always say QBs depend on a number of factors. I know a person that was in meetings with H discussing a deal and H’s employee in that meeting stated they love offering bags to young and beautiful people. At the same time I just saw this friend of mine who is a statuesque beauty, graduate from one of the best universities in the U.S., head trader in Europe and she couldn’t get her first wish fulfilled in a store there, and she spent enough to be allocated a bag anywhere in the U.S…So who knows…

My only purpose in posting is because I personally have a phenomenal long term relationship with my SA. Despite others experiencing frustration, mine has always been easy, no games.

 

[Angiebbb]

That’s why I was not in a rush but funny thing was other sa who sold 2nd bag which is Constance Elan told me that buying this not affect your chance to buy Kelly 😒

Don’t believe this, they want to sell. The same happened to me before, so this week for example I rejected all NQBs offered because I prefer to wait and get something better, if possible, by the end of the year (not in the U.S.)

I got very upset in the past because this SA I worked with wanted to sell this particular NQB, and then told me it wouldn’t affect my chances of getting this bag I wanted for the event of the year (or of a lifetime for many). The SA knew very well that that event was very important to me, it is impossible to get invited to, and that I don’t get invited every year. I got the bag he wanted to sell, but I was very clear I would not have bought it if it would impact in any way shape or form my ability to get a bag that would work for the event. And I asked the question more than once, and even asked SA to check with manager, so one could not say there was “miscommunication.”

Guess what? I got the bag, which I could have bought in Europe for 8.000 euros less (but I would never have inquired about this bag); then the event arrived and guess what I got? A bag that was not appropriate for the event because I heard that was all that was available. Both are gorgeous bags, but not exactly what I was looking for.

And then the same week three of my friends had offers for bags that would have worked for my event, and they had significantly lower prespend/total spend than me.

I could have bought a bag that worked on resale for less than what I paid for the first bag, and I informed the SA of that when buying the first bag.

So now every time they say - “I think you should take this,” “there is no limit” or blablabla, I just don’t believe it.

 

[Angiebbb]

@blushnbellinlvoe - I totally get what you are saying here and thank you.


@Daydrmer - I totally agree and I appreciate your comment. What you described is just perfect to me.


Yes! I am working on my own journey as well, and wanted to hear others' valuable experiences (in general and regarding my inquiry). And, I needed help when I struggle like this time.

I think what is very wrong here is the SA giving a timeline and not delivering. To say: “it might come by X date, no guarantees”, is very different than saying “it will come by x date.” Hopefully it will arrive by November 🤞🤞

I think the important point here is that the SA might be lying.

I know they lie all the time to everyone that gets in a store, so lying is part of the business. There is always a room full of bags, and they are not all allocated. Some times bags stay in the room more than a year.

Look what happened in Milano: bags were exchanged by cheaper bags, and they didn’t even realize a Himalaya was gone until much later.

I believe many SAs are truly nice and genuine and try to do the best for their clients. But I also believe some SAs lie to sell, string people along etc. It happened to me and it was a very unpleasant experience.

Hopefully it doesn’t happen to you. I sincerely believe your SA really likes you. Unfortunately we don’t know what they do/discuss internally.

Unfortunately nowadays I think in any store they control the number of bags offered to a person. It might be your SA wants to offer you the bag, but he might have to wait because of the other bags you got, even if the bags you got are harder to sell than women’s bags.

That is the reason I buy some NQBs on resale or online nowadays, I learnt the lesson. Maybe for the future is best to focus on getting SO/QB and when the quota is over for the year, request the NQBs.

I’m so sorry dear, I know it is upsetting 😢 , but let’s hope it will arrive soon. ❤️

 

[Angiebbb]

My only purpose in posting is because I personally have a phenomenal long term relationship with my SA. Despite others experiencing frustration, mine has always been easy, no games.

That is wonderful to hear dear. ❤️I pay attention to other people’s experiences and I really empathize because I had an unpleasant one.

I have this SA abroad that is wonderful to me, I moved stores to shop with this person and I couldn’t be happier. Very honest, very kind.

 

[Capitaliste]

@Angiebbb - Thank you for your encouraging words. I was just worried and doubtful about my SA's words, so I initiated this inquiry to get some more objective perspectives from more experienced TPFers and that's all.

But, to clarify, my SA told me an exact date as a timeline that she will offer me a bag. And, I also explicitly asked if we (my SA and I) are all good from 2 assistant managers and the director of the leather department, and my SA told me that she already got confirmed and approved from all these 3 supervisors. She said these exactly in our conversation in my last visit. It was me who is doubtful given my interactions with my SA in the past few months. So, we will have to see by the timeline and will find out. (I hope my SA will bring good news as she knows that I am a good candidate for MTM orders for men's RTW next year.)

I truly appreciate your and other TPFers' comments regarding my inquiry. Thank you!

 

[haute okole]

That is wonderful to hear dear. ❤️I pay attention to other people’s experiences and I really empathize because I had an unpleasant one.

I have this SA abroad that is wonderful to me, I moved stores to shop with this person and I couldn’t be happier. Very honest, very kind.

I too had unpleasant experiences at 2 separate stores, FSH and Ala Moana. I had one unpleasant experience at each location. Trust that after the one unpleasant experience, I did not give either store another chance. I was not treated in a manner that I thought was satisfactory so I moved on to BH and the service has been superlative. I see things at FSH and Ala Moana and have them transferred to BH so that my SA gets the commission on the FJ. Why reward anyone with your time and attention if you are not getting exactly what you want? Fool me once, shame on you, fool you twice… well, you know the saying. There are different styles for everyone. Do not settle, this is a lot of money and time to be somewhat satisfied. Shopping should be hilariously fun. It is for me and my girlfriends, literally hilariously fun.

 

[Angiebbb]

I too had unpleasant experiences at 2 separate stores, FSH and Ala Moana. I had one unpleasant experience at each location. Trust that after the one unpleasant experience, I did not give either store another chance. I was not treated in a manner that I thought was satisfactory so I moved on to BH and the service has been superlative. I see things at FSH and Ala Moana and have them transferred to BH so that my SA gets the commission on the FJ. Why reward anyone with your time and attention if you are not getting exactly what you want? Fool me once, shame on you, fool you twice… well, you know the saying. There are different styles for everyone. Do not settle, this is a lot of money and time to be somewhat satisfied. Shopping should be hilariously fun. It is for me and my girlfriends, literally hilariously fun.

Hi dear, it is true, I just switched in the U.S. and it has not been easy either. I had spent quite a bit with prior SA. When I asked the new SA what might be possible bag-wise this year after spending some with the new SA (only QB I got at this store was 6 months ago, I didn’t get any other bags since), the new SA was very rude to me. Then I stood my ground and mentioned that H sells bags, and if I have to be mistreated every time I mention the word “bag”, I would rather only shop in Europe that I spend less and I am treated better. I repeated that I had spent a good amount with the prior SA and had had issues with bag allocation before, and that I didn’t want a replay of that. The funny part is that, when I switched, I had my reservations about working with this person because I have three friends that told me they didn’t have a good experience with this SA, but since this SA really wanted my account and reached out to me, I thought it would be better, not worse. I already have prespend for another QB, but it seems this SA wants me to spend twice the amount since most of the prespend went to the prior SA.

That night I couldn’t sleep the whole night, so rude the person was. My husband was livid.

Not sure what to do now, because I don’t feel like working with this person anymore, but then switch a second time in the same store doesn’t seem ok either. It is not acceptable to be mistreated in any way shape or form. My husband has a much smaller account in another store and I’d rather go there with him that they are so incredibly loving to us than go to this place where I have my account. I actually love texting with my husband’s SA, I just went to this exhibition and send these photos to the SA because we both love the same type of art, and now the SA is reaching out to the artist to buy pieces from him. My husband loves his SA so much that he wants to buy furniture to put in a place abroad and wants his SA to have the sale.

 

[OnlyModa]

Totally agree with this, but one has to have trust in their SA to do this, and Op seems to have issues with trusting his SA.

I also think it helps to 1) not be a jerk, 2) not be an entitled jerk, 3) and as our dear @haute okole said, spend freely and spend happily. THEN the bags magically appear without asking.

Today my SA asked me if I truly didn’t want just a regular bag (after DH spent freely and happily at a menswear event). And I reminded that I was waiting for THE bag. You spend and bags magically happen.