My opinion of Hermes is changing...

[rainnebeauxday]

I think this is a little unkind. It is not 'none of them are willing to spend 5 figures on a bag' but more that they don't have 5 figures to spend on a bag. There concern is not 'if I buy this bag will it count against my quota' or some such other Hermes 1st world problem.
There is a lovely new thread on here: Reveal! My first little piece of Hermes!
It is a twilly and it is bringing such pleasure.
Surely the important thing is that Hermes does not compromise the quality of its lower priced items - so that whatever you buy can be something special. I agree we do live in a more label conscious world, but does that really matter?

Twenty years ago I bought my first piece of Hermes - a silk tie for £65 - it has no logo, just a label on the reverse, that would not normally be visible. I do now have a couple of bags, but my Hermes purchases a still mainly what you might consider entry level.

I'm obviously not Mrs.O, but I read her comment as meaning that many (not all) younger people (millennials?) do not consider a 10k+ bag something they want to invest in (even if they have the ability to do so). They might invest in a 10k bike or various tech items, however. Again, this is only how I read it, where I live this is how it is playing out. An expensive bag can be frowned upon, an expensive bicycle....not so much. I do hope that @MrsOwen3 comes back to clarify.

I also enjoy the smaller H items, but I have a love of the H brand in general...I tend to choose the H version of any item (scarf, SLG, shoes, bag) as long as it is financially feasible.

 

[MSO13]

I think this is a little unkind. It is not 'none of them are willing to spend 5 figures on a bag' but more that they don't have 5 figures to spend on a bag. There concern is not 'if I buy this bag will it count against my quota' or some such other Hermes 1st world problem.
There is a lovely new thread on here: Reveal! My first little piece of Hermes!
It is a twilly and it is bringing such pleasure.
Surely the important thing is that Hermes does not compromise the quality of its lower priced items - so that whatever you buy can be something special. I agree we do live in a more label conscious world, but does that really matter?

Twenty years ago I bought my first piece of Hermes - a silk tie for £65 - it has no logo, just a label on the reverse, that would not normally be visible. I do now have a couple of bags, but my Hermes purchases a still mainly what you might consider entry level.

I'm not sure you really read my posts or what exactly was unkind about my observation of actual customers at my store. I'm not making broad assumptions, I'm seeing who the new clients are when I'm in the store. I see what they ask for and they are not asking for 5 figure bags. I think your view that they simply can't afford it is much more presumptuous. These same clients have half a dozen Chanel flaps, 20+ LV monogram pieces, the latest gadgets etc that if you totaled them up would certainly afford them a 5 figure bag. They're members of this site posting in the other brand forums. Yes, some are younger and some may buy plenty of things that are not entry level items but that's not my point. My point is that they don't want the items that aren't visibly H because if you can't see the "status" there seems to be little point, to this specific group of clients.

I'm glad that a small purchase brings someone happiness the same as a Himalaya brings another member, the joy we get from our purchases shouldn't be measured by the price tag. I'm not judging anyone for what they spend or don't spend. I'm simply observing a change in the clients at my local store and what they ask for.

 

[MSO13]

I'm obviously not Mrs.O, but I read her comment as meaning that many (not all) younger people (millennials?) do not consider a 10k+ bag something they want to invest in (even if they have the ability to do so). They might invest in a 10k bike or various tech items, however. Again, this is only how I read it, where I live this is how it is playing out. An expensive bag can be frowned upon, an expensive bicycle....not so much. I do hope that @MrsOwen3 comes back to clarify.

I also enjoy the smaller H items, but I have a love of the H brand in general...I tend to choose the H version of any item (scarf, SLG, shoes, bag) as long as it is financially feasible.

Thanks, I certainly don't think the customers I'm observing want to invest in a subtle, unbranded, handmade heirloom bag. On your coast, they eschew conspicuous consumption, on my coast they want their spending to visible. I'm making no judgements about it, just an observation!

 

[rainnebeauxday]

Thanks, I certainly don't think the customers I'm observing want to invest in a subtle, unbranded, handmade heirloom bag. On your coast, they eschew conspicuous consumption, on my coast they want their spending to visible. I'm making no judgements about it, just an observation!

Now that is an interesting observation! I think that here it is alright for your purchases to be conspicuous, as long as they fall into the "correct" category. In any case, I read what you wrote originally and did not find anything offensive in it & did not think it was any sort of pecuniary shaming.

 

[MSO13]

Now that is an interesting observation! I think that here it is alright for your purchases to be conspicuous, as long as they fall into the "correct" category. In any case, I read what you wrote originally and did not find anything offensive in it & did not think it was any sort of pecuniary shaming.

Thanks, I think it's fascinating. So bikes, extravagant electric vehicles etc are "ok" but a leather purse is probably not?

I just see a group of younger people who constantly need fresh "content" for their various channels of social media and I don't believe they want to invest. I'm 40 and I think really carefully about what H I'm willing to invest in and if I need to constantly be showing off something new, I'm not going for a bag I'm expected to carry for life! Whether they can afford it or not, I have no idea but I just don't think it's on the radar for them.

 

[rainnebeauxday]

Thanks, I think it's fascinating. So bikes, extravagant electric vehicles etc are "ok" but a leather purse is probably not?

I just see a group of younger people who constantly need fresh "content" for their various channels of social media and I don't believe they want to invest. I'm 40 and I think really carefully about what H I'm willing to invest in and if I need to constantly be showing off something new, I'm not going for a bag I'm expected to carry for life! Whether they can afford it or not, I have no idea but I just don't think it's on the radar for them.

Exactly, anything tech, food, or travel is allowed, I think expensive watches & cigars are also on that list. Handbags, not so much. I am completely generalizing, and to be fair it is not this way in all areas of SF/East Bay. Where I am, we tend to try to keep our bags, jewels, designer anything, subtle or under wraps.

There are many layers to this, I think that what you said above ^ is valid.

 

[blktauna]

As someone who works in Chelsea Market, I can tell you that whole area is being over run with tourists and the stores that cater to them. I was wondering when either LV or Hermes would drift down from Madison Ave.

 

[nicole0612]

Now that is an interesting observation! I think that here it is alright for your purchases to be conspicuous, as long as they fall into the "correct" category. In any case, I read what you wrote originally and did not find anything offensive in it & did not think it was any sort of pecuniary shaming.

You must be on the West coast. This is completely the case in Seattle, where I live.

Update: I see from your later post that you are in SF area.

 

[PJW5813]

I think your view that they simply can't afford it is much more presumptuous. These same clients have half a dozen Chanel flaps, 20+ LV monogram pieces, the latest gadgets etc that if you totaled them up would certainly afford them a 5 figure bag. They're members of this site posting in the other brand forums. Yes, some are younger and some may buy plenty of things that are not entry level items but that's not my point. My point is that they don't want the items that aren't visibly H because if you can't see the "status" there seems to be little point, to this specific group of clients.

I do get the gist of your argument and I did state that I agree that we now live in a much more label conscious society.
However your assumption that these clients have "half a dozen Chanel flaps, 20+ LV monogram pieces..." is equally presumptuous unless you have actually interviewed them or observed the same people enough times to know that.

One never knows who are going to be the clients of the future, but if people are treated well and with respect they are likely to return.

 

[MSO13]

I do get the gist of your argument and I did state that I agree that we now live in a much more label conscious society.
However your assumption that these clients have "half a dozen Chanel flaps, 20+ LV monogram pieces..." is equally presumptuous unless you have actually interviewed them or observed the same people enough times to know that.

One never knows who are going to be the clients of the future, but if people are treated well and with respect they are likely to return.

Arguing-what you're trying to do with me
Observation-witnessing something and sharing your thoughts

One does know that one will not return to comment on this again because one's observations cannot be comprehended by one specific member.

 

[rainnebeauxday]

You must be on the West coast. This is completely the case in Seattle, where I live.

Update: I see from your later post that you are in SF area.

Indeed, Northern CA is much like where you are After Santa Barbara everything changes, in both directions (generally, of course we still have Palo Alto...).

 

[bostonbirkin]

I went to my H today and put my name down for one of the Funky "push order" Kelly bags. The handles represent, according to my SM, "horse speed" (fast, faster, fastest). I tried to research on the web about this 'use of color' and found nothing. Still, it's a cute story. The bags come in Malachite, Blue Electric, Craie, Indigo, Grizzly gold and Grizzly brown. Sizes 28 and 32. The handles are specific to the bag color-- no mixing and matching. All Indigos have the same handle, all Craie same handle, etc. I love the Indigo, but already have an Indigo Kelly, and my store didn't order the Grizzly in the picture which is beautiful. There is 4th handle that is a blue but a POP color. So, I put my name down for the 28 Kelly in Craie *as in the pic* I am a total slob, so my SA is on the fence about me owning a Craie bag. Lol.

I had gone into the H to see a push item, one I requested this past winter. It was a Black Kelly sellier, with a white canvas flap, the body was canvas too but all black (a new treated canvas that is waterproof) From afar it looked like epsom. Even my SA thought the body was leather and was surprised it was canvas. The sides were leather and the trim too. It was a lot to process!!! It didn't make my heart sing mostly because the treated canvas made me nervous. One part that was perfect was it had an outside pocket on the back, THAT was cool. It was REALLY expensive, would have been over 13K with tax, and for a bag that was mostly canvas, it made me nervous to pull the trigger. I will attach a picture..

 

[bostonbirkin]

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[bostonbirkin]

Yikes! Sorry the pictures are so MASSIVE. I will reduce the size if someone can advise me how?!?

 

[Hat Trick]

Yikes! Sorry the pictures are so MASSIVE. I will reduce the size if someone can advise me how?!?

Oh no, keep the pictures big! I want to drool!