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.

 

[PJW5813]

What are you worried about?
Your SA is not providing you with the service you wish for.
Go to someone else. I just can't see the point of repeatedly going to a SA that makes you feel that you 'don't want to continue like this'.
What have you got to loose?
If your buying history is important to you - remember it is with Hermes.
Any SA could leave tomorrow.

 

[kate2828]

What are you worried about?
Your SA is not providing you with the service you wish for.
Go to someone else. I just can't see the point of repeatedly going to a SA that makes you feel that you 'don't want to continue like this'.
What have you got to loose?
If your buying history is important to you - remember it is with Hermes.
Any SA could leave tomorrow.

I think it’s the politics of switching and having to see her in the boutique going forward and stories of how bad it is to switch! Isn’t history also important for a birkin or kelly? And that’s the other thing! I’ve been shopping with this sa for over a year and there’s never been one word from her about this. I have a birthday coming up next month and that’s why I’m even more frustrated. I’d hoped to drop hints about it to my sa. It’s a milestone birthday.

 

[PJW5813]

Oh, so you want a Birkin or a Kelly.
You are playing the game with no rules and nobody knows whether it has started or not. In the UK we have a radio programme with a game called 'Mornington Crescent'; it is about travelling around London ending when a member of the panel calls 'Mornington Crescent' (which is a proper place); it is completely random with different sets of imaginary 'rules' every time.
I can understand feeling awkward if you have been going to her usually when you go into the boutique and you now choose to go to someone else. You have got to get over it or continue to be disappointed by your experience.
You have to be honest and ask for what you want.

 

[kate2828]

Oh, so you want a Birkin or a Kelly.
You are playing the game with no rules and nobody knows whether it has started or not. In the UK we have a radio programme with a game called 'Mornington Crescent'; it is about travelling around London ending when a member of the panel calls 'Mornington Crescent' (which is a proper place); it is completely random with different sets of imaginary 'rules' every time.
I can understand feeling awkward if you have been going to her usually when you go into the boutique and you now choose to go to someone else. You have got to get over it or continue to be disappointed by your experience.
You have to be honest and ask for what you want.

Well doesn’t almost everyone who shops at hermes? Lol.

Yes, I just need to get over it. I have not had any interactions really with other SAs and do not want to be known as that person who switched SAs but what can I do. I also know that I am not the only one who has been frustrated by this sa because I’ve chatted with another tpfer on here who knows this sa and has had the same problems!

 

[PJW5813]

QED

 

[acrowcounted]

I think it’s the politics of switching and having to see her in the boutique going forward and stories of how bad it is to switch! Isn’t history also important for a birkin or kelly? And that’s the other thing! I’ve been shopping with this sa for over a year and there’s never been one word from her about this. I have a birthday coming up next month and that’s why I’m even more frustrated. I’d hoped to drop hints about it to my sa. It’s a milestone birthday.

Have you asked about a B/K during previous meetings yet? If you don't tell her what your wishing for, she won't be able to guess.

I personally would not switch SAs within the same store as I think that could cause unnecessary drama and awkwardness, especially if you haven't even asked about a B/K yet. My SA can be slow to return emails and calls but he always comes through for me. I've never received a thank you note but I have received several B and C offers which is far more important to me. Does your SA at least help you get things when face to face?

 

[kate2828]

Have you asked about a B/K during previous meetings yet? If you don't tell her what your wishing for, she won't be able to guess.

I personally would not switch SAs within the same store as I think that could cause unnecessary drama and awkwardness, especially if you haven't even asked about a B/K yet. My SA can be slow to return emails and calls but he always comes through for me. I've never received a thank you note but I have received several B and C offers which is far more important to me. Does your SA at least help you get things when face to face?

No I have not as I thought it would be a bit too early to ask.

This SA has never, not once returned a single email and I’ve sent at least half a dozen over the course of a year. I always have to follow up with a phone call and even then I don’t get calls returned most of the time. It’s very frustrating. Yes she is helpful face to face but when I’ve ask her to order something she has never fallen through.

See the dilemma? I don’t do much care about the thank you but the responsiveness. It boggles my mind. Doesn’t she want a commission?

 

[cocomlle]

Hi all, I have an sa that I just don’t think is working for me. She never responds to emails and is also not good about returning calls. She has never reached out to tell me about new items and she doesn’t follow through. And she has never written me a note for any purchase. But when I’m in the store she is attentive and helpful and friendly. Is this normal? Should I be switching? I hate the idea of doing it because I hear it’s bad to do so. Also I have built up a buying history with this sa. I just keep seeing on here how your SAs treat you and I am not being treated the same way. I am not a high maintenance client at all. Could it be because I am not a big spender? I am very thoughtful about my purchases. I only buy what I really like. My boutique is in a large city. I just want someone to be receptive! I am pretty frustrated. I love the brand but do not want to continue on like this. I have complained once after having several emails and two calls go unreturned; she finally got back to me and stated she’d just been very busy. I can understand that to an extent but i am too and the last thing I feel like doing is chasing down an sa! Any advice on what to do would be appreciated and your experiences with switching!

Sorry to hear of your frustration, but try not to have specific expectations based on what you read hear. I don't think there is such a thing as "normal" (or "rules" for that matter) when it comes to Hermes. Having worked retail for many years, it's sometimes hard to be "off the floor" to reply to emails/phone calls, check inventory for X number of clients etc. If you switch, sometimes the grass isn't always greener. Plus, I don't know how you would find an SA that meets everything off your checklist...do you outright ask them or will you take the time to start all over with someone else?

My own personal experience switching to another SA was very natural and I didn't really put too much thought into it. When my original SA left, he was thoughtful enough to refer me to all the other SAs and said they "loved" me and would be happy to work with me (I'm sure he was just being flattering/giving me lip-service, but I took it). The first time I went in after he left, it was weird and I did feel a little lost. I ended up working with an SA that just happened to be available. She is very sweet, helped me for several visits/purchases and called/followed up. I could have continued to work with her, but just switched to my current SA on a subsequent visit because she was available. I do feel she was meant for me though because we always had a connection and a lot in common, and I think the other SA knew that and was fine with it (at least I hope). Although I do receive thank you notes and return calls/emails, the personal connection is more important to me. Find what works for you. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[partialtopink]

I don’t see any issue with presenting your SA with a couple options for your next bag. It’s only natural that you learn more about what works for you as you go along. Now that you’ve carried a B30, you can talk about how much it works for your lifestyle. I got a Vert vertigo K last season and now feel like that color, at least in my lifestyle, would be much better suited in a B for me. I told my SA that I really wished I had gotten a B and now we are waiting for one to come in.

Besides, you would love a gold or etoupe so that just gives your SA more to work with. Two highly requested sizes and colors so better to have more to work with. The more your SA understands your lifestyle the better. You are building a bridge, not burning one IMO

Thanks for your input! Really appreciate it! I was unsure if my SA would be put off by my request, since I would probably have to resell my B35. I read somewhere on this forum that sometimes they don't honor requests if it's a duplicate color in a short time period. Obviously, I'm not looking to sell off ANY prized H acquisitions! This particular leather just seems to be too high maintenance for me, but the color is a favorite of all time. Now that I own a B30, I've found that they lighter and retain their shapes better.

 

[cavluv]

Thanks for your input! Really appreciate it! I was unsure if my SA would be put off by my request, since I would probably have to resell my B35. I read somewhere on this forum that sometimes they don't honor requests if it's a duplicate color in a short time period. Obviously, I'm not looking to sell off ANY prized H acquisitions! This particular leather just seems to be too high maintenance for me, but the color is a favorite of all time. Now that I own a B30, I've found that they lighter and retain their shapes better.

I totally get it! When I got a barenia B I sold my gold togo B and my SA joked with me that it’s a “don’t ask don’t tell” situation. They know I’m not a reseller so life happens. Wishing you luck that your next B comes soon!!!!

 

[Gigllee]

I’d be as frustrated, if not more, that anyone most especially a Sales Associate (spelling it out here to underscore the whole point and core purpose of an SA) is not returning calls or replying emails. Prestige and exclusivity aside, isn’t that just unacceptable? To not get you your dream Birkin or Kelly after several calls and ‘relationship building spend’ is a totally different debate. However to not acknowledge a call or email is really bad and I won’t park this under the high expectation umbrella. I want to think Hermes Management won’t be pleased to hear this. This is like dating... yeah you may not be my soulmate who assured me of happily ever ever after. However, how dare you add insult To injury by Ghosting me? I said that to illustrate how from my vantage point, this is not about B/K but an overall abysmal experience ...

 

[kadyooo]

Hi all, I have an sa that I just don’t think is working for me. She never responds to emails and is also not good about returning calls. She has never reached out to tell me about new items and she doesn’t follow through. And she has never written me a note for any purchase. But when I’m in the store she is attentive and helpful and friendly. Is this normal? Should I be switching? I hate the idea of doing it because I hear it’s bad to do so. Also I have built up a buying history with this sa. I just keep seeing on here how your SAs treat you and I am not being treated the same way. I am not a high maintenance client at all. Could it be because I am not a big spender? I am very thoughtful about my purchases. I only buy what I really like. My boutique is in a large city. I just want someone to be receptive! I am pretty frustrated. I love the brand but do not want to continue on like this. I have complained once after having several emails and two calls go unreturned; she finally got back to me and stated she’d just been very busy. I can understand that to an extent but i am too and the last thing I feel like doing is chasing down an sa! Any advice on what to do would be appreciated and your experiences with switching!

You are in the exactly situation when I was first trying to build a relationship with my SA, I was confused if I should switch to a different SA due to she never respond my call or email but friendly when we met, IMO every SA plays different strategy, It takes time to learn and know the way of your SA does, even tho I already established a good relationship with my SA now, she had fulfilled most of my wishlist ,I still not able to reach her through the phone mostly, so I just not to call her and try to stop by the shop let her know my wish, pick out a couple stuffs every visit, I bet that’s what my SA wants, I notice the treatment gets better over a period of time which she starts to send me holiday notes and reply my email more often.

 

[PJW5813]

This may not be the best/right approach, however if it were me in this case, I'd give a breather and maybe not visit the store for a while. A while here is relative to how frequently you currently go to the store. E.g - if you go in once a month, perhaps skip a month or 2 and go 3 months later.

Then on your next visit definitely engage her and be specific about what you are shopping for. Proceed to ask her the best mode of communicating with her in case there are specific scarves, fragrances, twillys etc that you would like her to help you locate (I wouldn't mention the ignored emails or phone calls cos that may seem some sort of way). To me this a way of asking if you could contact her later and how. If communication doesn't improve from there, I'd take it as perhaps she may have already amassed a large client base and isn't trying to add more but just focused on managing her clients cos and trust me that's a lot of work. This is fine though and not basis to switch SAs but perhaps from that juncture, be more transparent about what you are looking for be it B/K/C. As a side note and best practice - being known throughout the store will definitely serve you loads and your next SA might just walk into your hands vs you seeking a new one out. I would refrain from requesting a new SA ...cos those can be A bit dicey to manage.

I think this is a fine, well-considered response that acknowledges and addresses all the issues.
It gives a clear and logical plan of action.

 

[westcoastgal]

Hi all, I have an sa that I just don’t think is working for me. She never responds to emails and is also not good about returning calls. She has never reached out to tell me about new items and she doesn’t follow through. And she has never written me a note for any purchase. But when I’m in the store she is attentive and helpful and friendly. Is this normal? Should I be switching? I hate the idea of doing it because I hear it’s bad to do so. Also I have built up a buying history with this sa. I just keep seeing on here how your SAs treat you and I am not being treated the same way. I am not a high maintenance client at all. Could it be because I am not a big spender? I am very thoughtful about my purchases. I only buy what I really like. My boutique is in a large city. I just want someone to be receptive! I am pretty frustrated. I love the brand but do not want to continue on like this. I have complained once after having several emails and two calls go unreturned; she finally got back to me and stated she’d just been very busy. I can understand that to an extent but i am too and the last thing I feel like doing is chasing down an sa! Any advice on what to do would be appreciated and your experiences with switching!

If you want a B or K, you could also just tell her you are after one. It’s your dream bag etc. and that your bday is coming up. Just another idea. You could ask in person after your next small purchase.

I just want you to know that I don’t have an email or phone call relationship with my SA either. I also don’t get notes, ever. But when I go in my SA helps me, she’s glad to see me, and she tracked down a bag for me in another shop, and I really like her. SAs don’t always know what’s arriving into the shop, there are politics at work, I think they even forget sometimes until you remind them.

If I ask my SA about new leathers she will show me, but I need to ask. I need to tell her I want to know about new bag styles - if I do that then she tells me.

There might be an ideal SA on here that was described that seemed perfect, but they might not exist like that in every store. My SA is definitely not like some of the ones described.

I agree though that if you don’t have time to go in and you want more of an email and phone call relationship to occur before you go in, that she’s not the right SA for you.

 

[MotoChiq]

If you want a B or K, you could also just tell her you are after one. It’s your dream bag etc. and that your bday is coming up. Just another idea. You could ask in person after your next small purchase.

I just want you to know that I don’t have an email or phone call relationship with my SA either. I also don’t get notes, ever. But when I go in my SA helps me, she’s glad to see me, and she tracked down a bag for me in another shop, and I really like her. SAs don’t always know what’s arriving into the shop, there are politics at work, I think they even forget sometimes until you remind them.

If I ask my SA about new leathers she will show me, but I need to ask. I need to tell her I want to know about new bag styles - if I do that then she tells me.

There might be an ideal SA on here that was described that seemed perfect, but they might not exist like that in every store. My SA is definitely not like some of the ones described.

I agree though that if you don’t have time to go in and you want more of an email and phone call relationship to occur before you go in, that she’s not the right SA for you.

+1