my always rejected kelly and birkin shopping! experience

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#31
anilin3 said:
true true... but to be a regular or repeat customer, someone has to start somewhere, no ?
the SA should give that chance to anyone..u would never know that particular someone could be one of your best customers.. in my opinion though :smile1:
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Absolutely true. I guess the SAs try to gauge whether that'll happen, based on first impressions or whatever rapport they strike up with the first time customer. Not the best way to go about things, for sure, but in areas with high tourist traffic, that may be their only option. For that reason, I like to try striking up a conversation with whatever SA greets me about the different leathers, different bag styles, Hermes history, whatever gets a conversation going that's not specifically about a Birkin. If I get a cold or curt answer when trying to talk about things like that, I know not to bother asking about a Birkin or anything else, for that matter! :p Good luck, and enjoy your trip!
 
#33
ouija board said:
Absolutely true. I guess the SAs try to gauge whether that'll happen, based on first impressions or whatever rapport they strike up with the first time customer. Not the best way to go about things, for sure, but in areas with high tourist traffic, that may be their only option. For that reason, I like to try striking up a conversation with whatever SA greets me about the different leathers, different bag styles, Hermes history, whatever gets a conversation going that's not specifically about a Birkin. If I get a cold or curt answer when trying to talk about things like that, I know not to bother asking about a Birkin or anything else, for that matter! :p Good luck, and enjoy your trip!
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Very true.
Some SAs are curt even when asking about non-Birkins/Kellys. Whether you get one that is like that or not, is really the luck of the draw.
 
#34
I had my first experience of hearing customers being told 'No, no Birkins or Kellys today' a few days ago.

I was speaking to a SA, with whom i had dealt with in the past and we were looking at the different accessories they had when out of the blue he said quietly, 'You don't want a Birkin today?'. I thought..hmmm maybe he had one instore or something but he went on to tell me a list of colours in different sizes of Birkins and Kellys (at least 15 in total, my head was spinning and could not believe my ears!).

Really, I have no idea how they decide who to say 'yes' or 'no' to. I went in dressed very casually and with fitflops and was not looking to buy a bag so i left with just a small item. But i did spend ages ohhing and ahhing at everything i saw in store especially the scarves and twillies and the poor SA just tagged along and smiled. Such a sweetie.

Oh and I am not a regular customer and was pleasantly surprised that the SA remembered my name as i had only bought a twilly in the past from him. It is true that it is the luck of the draw IMO. And being polite, friendly and patient helps too.
 
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#35
been to FSh and Geroge V several times in June2010 with no luck and received a horrible customer service .. they dont have to sell me the bag OK i understand but at least behave nicely!
 
#37
anilin3 said:
dreamdoll : hello too. so happy that i can find blog about my passion :) well wish me luck. i think i need it badly :crybaby:

hermesmonkey : really? i thought SA everywhere are the same? or maybe in the states they know what customer service means. lol. any particular store to visit in the states?

pyrexia : thank you :hugs:

tnw : yap. that lindy really brightened my day. well at least i don't come home empty handed now. wil still try for a birkin or a kelly though. love those two to death
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See Darra in the Charlotte, NC store. You'll be treated like royalty! (PM me for her info if you want it.)
 
#39
i was wondering about the same thing.. how they decide who to say yes or no?
someone shouldn't judge a book by its cover right? :cool:

anyway, where was this happened? please share



misssA said:
I had my first experience of hearing customers being told 'No, no Birkins or Kellys today' a few days ago.

I was speaking to a SA, with whom i had dealt with in the past and we were looking at the different accessories they had when out of the blue he said quietly, 'You don't want a Birkin today?'. I thought..hmmm maybe he had one instore or something but he went on to tell me a list of colours in different sizes of Birkins and Kellys (at least 15 in total, my head was spinning and could not believe my ears!).

Really, I have no idea how they decide who to say 'yes' or 'no' to. I went in dressed very casually and with fitflops and was not looking to buy a bag so i left with just a small item. But i did spend ages ohhing and ahhing at everything i saw in store especially the scarves and twillies and the poor SA just tagged along and smiled. Such a sweetie.

Oh and I am not a regular customer and was pleasantly surprised that the SA remembered my name as i had only bought a twilly in the past from him. It is true that it is the luck of the draw IMO. And being polite, friendly and patient helps too.
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#43
ouija board said:
Absolutely true. I guess the SAs try to gauge whether that'll happen, based on first impressions or whatever rapport they strike up with the first time customer. Not the best way to go about things, for sure, but in areas with high tourist traffic, that may be their only option. For that reason, I like to try striking up a conversation with whatever SA greets me about the different leathers, different bag styles, Hermes history, whatever gets a conversation going that's not specifically about a Birkin. If I get a cold or curt answer when trying to talk about things like that, I know not to bother asking about a Birkin or anything else, for that matter! :p Good luck, and enjoy your trip!
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This is my impression too.

On my first visit I think the SA could sense my genuine excitement at being there. I went just to see, not really to get a bag. I don't live close to a H boutique and to go to one, after reading about Hermes history and leather, was a big deal for me. I think that made a difference. She was impressed by what I knew as she said most people just want a bag irrespective of the ins and outs of leather types etc. She was glad I was so specific as most people aren't. She has treated me wonderfully ever since.

Some boutiques DO seem to judge by appearance. Not all do though. If you are pleasant, courteous and not demanding then you will have a better chance.
 
#44
Sometimes I don't quite get Hermes' business strategy. Do they purposely make the Hermes to be unnecessarily hard to obtain to maintain this 'exclusivity' feel?
If I were an Hermes store manager I will know that everything eventually comes down to sales revenue. If I had a few "free" (not on hold) Birkins, I'd sell it to anyone who wants to get it, no matter I've seen them before or not.
Then if I ran out of Birkins, I would then just re-order for more to be sent from Paris, no? Unless Hermes is genuinely struggling to meet the demand, I can't quite understand why they have to maintain this hard to get feeling and cherrypick their customers?

Look at Rolex for example - they've been popping watches like no tomorrow and people still buy them like hot cakes. If I want to get a Daytona or a Yachmaster, as long as I have the money now, I can just walk in to a shop and check if it's on stock or not.
If not, I'd put down maybe 2-3 grand deposit, and ask them to give me a call when it arrives and I bet you I would get a Daytona within 2-3 months max - simple as that.
I don't need to buy some cheaper watches or wait for the secret whisper from the SA to be offered a Daytona. And I bet you Rolex has as much markups (if not more) than Hermes on their products and they are producing like maybe more than 600,000 pieces of watch every year.
 
#45
what, the sa said you have to purchase clothes before they will sell you a birkin??? WTF???

do they want a sale or not???

do they want customes to return to shop again or not???
 
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