My opinion of Hermes is changing...

[mistikat]

Just a friendly reminder once again ...

There are threads on declining quality, on treatment in stores, on stock availability ...

This thread is narrower in scope - is your opinion changing. If the posts are solely a discussion about quality or the above noted topics, please post in one of those threads.

Thanks again.

 

[Encore Hermes]

Here's the link to the bag. At 0.32 you can spot how the craftsmen is sewing up the stitch of the loops where the straps go through with a sewing machine...

Thank you! Interesting.... I couldn't see the videos, it said error occurred but when I quoted you and copied the YouTube info from your post then posted on utube they showed
if anyone is having the same problem just do that.

Again thank you and sorry for not adding substance to the thread but I wanted let the poster know that I saw that they answered my question

 

[MYH]

Hi all - I wanted to revive this thread because I do not have a very high opinion of Hermes at the moment. Long story short, they screwed up a repair on my clic bracelet and would not take responsibility for it. After I got home, it did not sit well with me so I called my SA at the boutique, let a VM, and told him I would like the repair corrected. It's been 5 days and he still hasn't called me back. I think he is just going to try to ignore me and hope I forget all about it. This compounded with my skunky kelly from last year and news of the price increase percentages coming up later this month are totally turning me off to Hermes. I will still contribute to this forum and show/discuss the stuff I already have, but unless they correct the mistake they made with my clic repair, I think I might just stop going to the boutique and enjoy the things I already have.

I've even gone in my closet and revived my love for my Chanel bags and will start to wear those more now. I've also recently noticed Fendi has a lot of lovely new things and even Gucci's new bag designs are up my alley.

For me, Hermes used to be the end all be all, but I think those days are over.

 

[Gixxer]

... Long story short, they screwed up a repair on my clic bracelet and would not take responsibility for it. ..... For me, Hermes used to be the end all be all, but I think those days are over...

This is terrible MYH, what/how did they screw up with the repair? Also, have you considered writing to your state/country's Managing Director? Even speaking to the SM?

 

[Kitty S.]

This is terrible MYH, what/how did they screw up with the repair? Also, have you considered writing to your state/country's Managing Director? Even speaking to the SM?

+1.
Would you like to share with us the repair issue in more details? Is it the SA that is not responsive to you or the store overall? Is there another boutique nearby?

 

[Masik]

LuvBolide - I think to me, the number of GM I'm buying declined recently has more to do with colorways rather than cashmere quality. For the past 3 seasons, the colorways are either obnoxiously bright or awfully muddy, or a to-the-face mix of both, not elegant like they used to be... Must be to serve the new younger client base. Ruined several nice designs already (Sous l'Egide de Mars and Peuple du Vent, for example). Very sad.
Vent over. I'm saving money anyway.

I'm super late to the discussion, but THANK YOU for voicing this! I felt the same way EXACTLY: cws are not tasteful anymore, color combinations more often than not are tacky (to say it politely) and I'm unable to bring myself to spend that kind of money on something so tastelessly colored. The example are numerous and plenty. ugh!

 

[JenW]

My opinion of Hermes changed about four years ago. I know this is an old discussion and you've probably heard all of these reasons but here are mine:


1. Treated like crap in a store I had patronised for years and spent a lot of money in. They cater to tourist trade now. I started to feel that my longterm SA was laughing at customers behind her hand.


2. Declining quality. The skunk bags others have mentioned. Cashmere/silk GM shawls that are as thin as tissue paper (H could learn a thing or two from Loro Piana). Twills with tiny pulls along the hem from a rouletesse using a dull needle. IMO Ferragamo twills are superior.


3. Insane prices. I can afford it but would feel stupid paying these prices. I look for value and quality and H is offering neither IMO.


4. Declining design quality. Twills now have fewer silkscreen passes, designs are not as complex. The coloways are off-putting and not classic. H seems to have go from 'timeless' to 'trend of the moment.' Some designs look dated after only two years.


These things have caused even my vintage H to lose their luster. I have no more H bags, no more GM cashmere/silk shawls and have sold all but a few twills.


Thanks for letting me share. I am not in this forum much now that I am off of H but I did a search and found this discussion.

 

[amrx87]

This is very interesting to read. I am researching my first Hermes purchase right now, and I know that a decline in quality has been a topic in many forums. Preloved is more economical, and oftentimes you'll end up with a superior quality bag compared to what's on the shelves in the boutiques. Thanks for your insight!

 

[marbella8]

You know, thanks to this forum, I went for pre-owned/vintage bags over new ones. I must say I am not a fan of being told, albeit it, by a lovely SA, that I have to purchase a few hundred, if not thousand dollars worth of things I don't want, to then be allowed to buy one Kelly, in a color and he combo I may not even want, which is inferior in leather quality and craftsmanship of older Kellys.

I for one, don't get sold on this idea. I truly don't need other things, have enough twillys and a couple bracelets from years ago, and a scarf I never use.

Even with my Kellys and Evelynes though, I reached for my Tom-Ford era Gucci crossbody for a road trip with the family this week and so glad I did, because my Kellys or Evelynes wouldn't have fared as well as that Gucci bag. I stuffed it with things, putting it where we put our feet in the car, without a care.


Don't get me wrong, I love my Kellys and Evelynes, but I am over the H hype, if you know what I mean. I love using my H bags, but I think with the bags' decline in quality and ridiculous-wait times for newer bags, and having to basically bend over backwards to get a bag, the H-boutique route are off putting to me for now.

 

[charmesh]

You know, thanks to this forum, I went for pre-owned/vintage bags over new ones. I must say I am not a fan of being told, albeit it, by a lovely SA, that I have to purchase a few hundred, if not thousand dollars worth of things I don't want, to then be allowed to buy one Kelly, in a color and he combo I may not even want, which is inferior in leather quality and craftsmanship of older Kellys.

I for one, don't get sold on this idea. I truly don't need other things, have enough twillys and a couple bracelets from years ago, and a scarf I never use.

Even with my Kellys and Evelynes though, I reached for my Tom-Ford era Gucci crossbody for a road trip with the family this week and so glad I did, because my Kellys or Evelynes wouldn't have fared as well as that Gucci bag. I stuffed it with things, putting it where we put our feet in the car, without a care.


Don't get me wrong, I love my Kellys and Evelynes, but I am over the H hype, if you know what I mean. I love using my H bags, but I think with the bags' decline in quality and ridiculous-wait times for newer bags, and having to basically bend over backwards to get a bag, the H-boutique route are off putting to me for now.

I totally agree about being pressured to buy things I don't want to get things I don't want. And I'm not even trying to get a Birkin or Kelly. They never seem to have what I ask for, but resellers have dozens of bags on offer. So clearly the bags aren't as rare as the boutiques are trying to make us believe

 

[perlerare]

My opinion about Hermes as a brand, as a Maison of luxury, as a French fleuron, has changed. For many reasons. Mainly for their customer service un-consistency, and continuous compromising with quality.

My love for Black Box Kelly bags has not changed. At all. I love them more than ever !

 

[catsinthebag]

You know, thanks to this forum, I went for pre-owned/vintage bags over new ones. I must say I am not a fan of being told, albeit it, by a lovely SA, that I have to purchase a few hundred, if not thousand dollars worth of things I don't want, to then be allowed to buy one Kelly, in a color and he combo I may not even want, which is inferior in leather quality and craftsmanship of older Kellys.

I for one, don't get sold on this idea. I truly don't need other things, have enough twillys and a couple bracelets from years ago, and a scarf I never use.

Even with my Kellys and Evelynes though, I reached for my Tom-Ford era Gucci crossbody for a road trip with the family this week and so glad I did, because my Kellys or Evelynes wouldn't have fared as well as that Gucci bag. I stuffed it with things, putting it where we put our feet in the car, without a care.


Don't get me wrong, I love my Kellys and Evelynes, but I am over the H hype, if you know what I mean. I love using my H bags, but I think with the bags' decline in quality and ridiculous-wait times for newer bags, and having to basically bend over backwards to get a bag, the H-boutique route are off putting to me for now.

I know exactly what you mean. And I haven't even been pressured to buy stuff to get a bag that may not be exactly what I want. I also love my Kellys and Evelyne, but I'm kind of over it. For the last month, I've been carrying a Longchamp nylon bag because of this horrible New
England winter. At first I hated "having" to carry it and leave my pretty bags at home, but you know what? Now I'm loving how carefree it feels. I probably will get another Evie at some point, and I'll always be a sucker for the scarves and shawls, but right now I just want a little more Longchamp in my life! And at that price point, I can get a bag in an unusual color and not have a heart attack worrying if I'll get enough use out of it to justify the price, or worry about it getting damaged.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the Hermes aesthetic, but the hype and urgency has left me, at least for right now.

 

[marbella8]

I know exactly what you mean. And I haven't even been pressured to buy stuff to get a bag that may not be exactly what I want. I also love my Kellys and Evelyne, but I'm kind of over it. For the last month, I've been carrying a Longchamp nylon bag because of this horrible New
England winter. At first I hated "having" to carry it and leave my pretty bags at home, but you know what? Now I'm loving how carefree it feels. I probably will get another Evie at some point, and I'll always be a sucker for the scarves and shawls, but right now I just want a little more Longchamp in my life! And at that price point, I can get a bag in an unusual color and not have a heart attack worrying if I'll get enough use out of it to justify the price, or worry about it getting damaged.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the Hermes aesthetic, but the hype and urgency has left me, at least for right now.

Yes, I have to agree with you, agreeing with me, lol! I am with you, it was so easy to use that Gucci bag with no worries, whereas if I had taken one of my Evelynes, I would not have been as carefree, especially because none of mine are that dark. Longchamp is so lightweight and easy, I can see how you feel. I will be honest- I still want a blue Kelly, probably in a 28, maybe 32, but think I want to hold off for a while before looking for one. I am going to take out some of my other bags from other brands and rotate them for some variety in between the H bags.

 

[628628]

H makes the blandest, most defective RTW, accessories, and jewelry in comparison to other designers and they still sell. They don't have to offer the best customer service or high-quality products they were once known for. There will always be people who will pay for "sweeteners" to get a bag.

I only buy bags as a walk-in these days. I still have a "relationship" but I no longer pin my hopes on getting a bag from anyone nor do I believe in buying 20-30K worth of accessories to get a bag that isn't exactly what I want anyway. I spent money on "relationships" and sometimes my SOs and requests never arrived. I told them I'll buy accessories if you have what I want.

They can definitely lose my business and still thrive. They don't have to focus on old customers' satisfaction. All old customers can do is write or say negative things about them, but they'll still be laughing their way to the bank.

 

[toujours*chic]

To me, Hermes is now just another chain store, albeit a high-end one. I am so glad I did my damage around Y2K. It is more interesting and fun to find well-made gems by less popular designers (Delvaux, Valextra, etc.) and independent artisans.


Unfortunately, Hermes is not the only brand that has seen a decline in quality- LV, Chanel, Gucci- something had to give with the explosion in demand. Sadly it was product quality and customer relations.