My opinion of Hermes is changing...

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#226
Leah said:
^ It's called negative brand association. And I will put my hand up and admit that seeing endless birkins carried by the Kardashians, various football Wags and reality tv "celebrities" put me off the birkin for a long time...In the EXACT same way that seeing birkins carried by every third woman walking down Madison Ave made me turn to OTHER Hermes bags. ALL these sightings collectively made me feel that Hermes birkins became celebrity "IT bags" and put me off birkins for sometime.
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I totally agree with this!
Am beginning to fall in love with other understated bags tat H has instead of the extremely common B or K that everyone seems to be toting nowadays.
Also, there are people who have a decent "relationship" at a local H store because its NOT all about a b or a k but simply because we love the other stuff that H has. A perfect silk scarf, a silver ring, or just a simple shirt for the husband. So I am quite appalled when a friend told me that Hermes is "worthless" if she doesnt get a Birkin or Kelly because she's just not interested in all the other stuff n would pay premium to a reseller. Another friend tells me outright that she will buy from a reseller because she doesnt have the money to build a relationship but wants to own a birkin because everyone seems to have one these days.. :/
But oh well, different strokes for different folks.
 
#227
dollychic said:
I totally agree with this!
Am beginning to fall in love with other understated bags tat H has instead of the extremely common B or K that everyone seems to be toting nowadays.
Also, there are people who have a decent "relationship" at a local H store because its NOT all about a b or a k but simply because we love the other stuff that H has. A perfect silk scarf, a silver ring, or just a simple shirt for the husband. So I am quite appalled when a friend told me that Hermes is "worthless" if she doesnt get a Birkin or Kelly because she's just not interested in all the other stuff n would pay premium to a reseller. Another friend tells me outright that she will buy from a reseller because she doesnt have the money to build a relationship but wants to own a birkin because everyone seems to have one these days.. :/
But oh well, different strokes for different folks.
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:goodpost:Exactly! I have no idea why people reminis about the fictional good old days when Hermes was more exclusive and perfect, - brands are evolving to fit the world we live in after all.
 
#228
toujours*chic said:
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.
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Is there an independent artisan thread? I'm looking for one.
 
#229
marbella8 said:
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.
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Oh, I won't say I'll never want another Kelly! Just that the urgency is gone. I may want one, someday, but the gotta-have-it-now feeling has vanished.

My Evelyne is blue sapphire, so it's dark enough to be worry-free, but the problem this winter is I don't want to carry any open-top bags because the snow gets in! I guess if there's one positive to this winter, it's that I have grown to appreciate less-expensive, functional bags. Eveylne, with its open top, is out. So is the fiddly Kelly. And my staple, the leather Garden Party, is out as well for its open top and its inability to fit over my heavy Canada Goose parka.

It will be interesting if my love of H bags re-emerges when spring comes ...
 
#230
catsinthebag said:
Oh, I won't say I'll never want another Kelly! Just that the urgency is gone. I may want one, someday, but the gotta-have-it-now feeling has vanished.

My Evelyne is blue sapphire, so it's dark enough to be worry-free, but the problem this winter is I don't want to carry any open-top bags because the snow gets in! I guess if there's one positive to this winter, it's that I have grown to appreciate less-expensive, functional bags. Eveylne, with its open top, is out. So is the fiddly Kelly. And my staple, the leather Garden Party, is out as well for its open top and its inability to fit over my heavy Canada Goose parka.

It will be interesting if my love of H bags re-emerges when spring comes ...
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I really do enjoy my Kellys, despite the fact that I am always thinking of what to do with my cell phone if I close it, lol! Like you, I can never say no to a beautiful Kellly! I never thought about the fact that snow would fall into the Evelyne, lol! Good to remember never to take to snowy climates!
 
#231
My opinion of Hermes has always been the same until I found the purse forum! In the past I always admire Hermes as high end brand for it's quality but not so much for the style because when I was younger, I felt the style was little on the elegant and conservative side, not how I imagine to fit my lifestyle, hence after buying some shoes in the past (long time ago) I stopped and continue admiring and seeing on others (and on my DBF who is a fan of the brand).

However as I am getting into a different stage now I rediscovered Hermes, and thanks to all the wonderful and stylish ladies on the purse forum really open up my eyes that how the style can turning into something that might work for me.... :graucho:

I hope no one hates me by saying this.... I don't read those Hollywood celebrities carrying H bags, because some of them wearing the H bags are turning me off on the brand.

My vision on Hermes being elegant and conservative always the same, and NOW the ladies on here making the brand much more fun and stylish for my casual lifestyle.
 
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#232
628628 said:
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.
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I hope you do realize those are fake "relationships". They're merely a false business ruse to play on your emotions, earn your trust and obtain your money. These H employees are not your lifeline, people you can ring when things goes amok etc
 
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#233
hermes_lemming said:
I hope you do realize those are fake "relationships". They're merely a false business ruse to play on your emotions, earn your trust and obtain your money. These H employees are not your lifeline, people you can ring when things goes amok etc
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A bit cynical and harsh, perhaps, and an over generalization of the nature of the relationship. Maybe a better characterization is that the relationship is one of sales person and client. Depending on the relationship in question, it can range from cordial to professional to friendly. As it happens, I have a true friendship with my SA, one that extends beyond that of sales person and client. It is insulting to my intelligence and to her professionalism to think that she is actually engaging in a false business ruse to play on my emotions and extract my money. Sorry to be OT, but I couldn't leave your comment hanging out there.
 
#234
MrsJDS said:
A bit cynical and harsh, perhaps, and an over generalization of the nature of the relationship. Maybe a better characterization is that the relationship is one of sales person and client. Depending on the relationship in question, it can range from cordial to professional to friendly. As it happens, I have a true friendship with my SA, one that extends beyond that of sales person and client. It is insulting to my intelligence and to her professionalism to think that she is actually engaging in a false business ruse to play on my emotions and extract my money. Sorry to be OT, but I couldn't leave your comment hanging out there.
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+1, perfectly said, MrsJDS! :hugs:
 
#235
MrsJDS said:
A bit cynical and harsh, perhaps, and an over generalization of the nature of the relationship. Maybe a better characterization is that the relationship is one of sales person and client. Depending on the relationship in question, it can range from cordial to professional to friendly. As it happens, I have a true friendship with my SA, one that extends beyond that of sales person and client. It is insulting to my intelligence and to her professionalism to think that she is actually engaging in a false business ruse to play on my emotions and extract my money. Sorry to be OT, but I couldn't leave your comment hanging out there.
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:tup:
I believe 628628 is a regular customer at her boutique and has had her fair share of offers for hard-to-get Hermes bags. She hardly needs to be educated on what a relationship between an SA and customer means and entails... ;)

My FSH SA is the very first to encourage me to buy outside of Hermes if I send him a photo of an Hermes bag that I really covet and cannot purchase at the boutiques at that moment. He will even send me photos of Hermes items that he thinks I might like that are found elsewhere (yes including non-Hermes outlets.)

While I wouldn't say we are each other's confidantes, he has become a dear friend and a trusted SA. I even send him links to some stories that I've read here and he has helped verify what's true and what's not ;)

And btw, I would never run to him (or any SA for that matter) if things go awry in my life. But then who does that? :p
 
#236
I did not bash H's RTW or any of their merchandise in that post. 628628 did.

I admire H's merchandise. Always have and probably always will.

I merely pointed out the obvious - the "relationship" with the H staff . You want their merchandise. They want your money.
 
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#238
dollychic said:
Well i think its really quite 2-way.
Im sure the sales staff have no lack of people buttering up to them in hopes of scoring a b or k so whats new. 😝
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Oh I know. Lol I hear all kinds of stories. But do you go over for their house for christmas, etc? Kwim?

Don't get me wrong. I personally find the staff to be really friendly but I am also cognitizant that it's in everyone's best interest to be curteous, etc.

However back to the original topic of the thread. When I first learned about Hermes I was in high school and this brand had their notoriety because how expensive their bags sold for. I heard this on the radio

Then I didn't revisit the brand until well into my 30s and I saw a magazine clipping that caught my eye. From that point on, I grew to appreciate the brand and what it has to offer.

I luckily missed out on the infamous skunk phase. But I was aware of the decline in quality of production, not only by witnessing it first hand but also from discussing it with the staff at my Alaskan boutique as well as reading the observations from others on tpf. That in addition to the atrocious annual price hikes. Heck another tpfer informed me that her grandma paid for an exotic B what a normal nonexotic B goes today! The hikes even shock my SA from time to time, as well as the quotas (eg cdc, B &Ks).

I never thought in a million years I would be lucky enough to own anything from this regal brand. Heck I remember being turned away during my first visit when I popped in with my magazine clipping. Oy, I was so green and naive. Despite my presentable attire and manners, lol they said "no ms hl, we don't have such and such" (hint: try again later).

So I made a mental cue of who said not and dog gone it, I never gave up. Came back later and asked another SA and viola.

I guess that's part of the allure, eh? The infamous cat and mouse game. So even know I've come to "befriend" a most of my local staff, do I personally consider us friends, bussom buddies? No. This is a business. They sell, we buy.
 
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