My opinion of Hermes is changing...

[Elaria]

You are welcome to your opinion, but I think that resellers are in the game even more than we are....they buy non-leather in bulk to get B/K credit, stand in line at FSH, pay off VIPs, etc. , so yes, they play the game in bulk to make a profit from those of us who do so as individuals, therefore, buying from them is part of the game.

But as far as I’m concerned I’m not playing it, they’re doing all the hard work. I would never pay $25k for a non-exotic B/K to a reseller either. Thanks for explaining.

 

[QuelleFromage]

But as far as I’m concerned I’m not playing it, they’re doing all the hard work. I would never pay $25k for a non-exotic B/K to a reseller either. Thanks for explaining.

Each to their own; to me resellers buy right into the game. If H didn't play a game, they would not have a business. And, in reverse, resellers encourage the H game. It is only my opinion.

 

[Monique1004]

I really like Valextra. I plan to buy a bag from them soon too.

I just bought my 3rd valextra & very happy with it. There's also Valextra thread here. Delvaux's getting too expensive too fast. I'm not happy with that. I love Valextra.

 

[PJW5813]

You are welcome to your opinion, but I think that resellers are in the game even more than we are....they buy non-leather in bulk to get B/K credit, stand in line at FSH, pay off VIPs, etc. , so yes, they play the game in bulk to make a profit from those of us who do so as individuals, therefore, buying from them is part of the game.

Resellers are the reason for 'the game'.
Some members remember a time before 'the game' when you could go into Hermes and buy, or order, whatever you wanted, assuming it were available. Increased publicity of socialites brought demand which exceeded supply. The point where resale value exceeded purchase price provided a business opportunity. 'The game' evolved in an attempt to reduce supply in the secondary market.

This does not excuse poor service or poor attitude from shop assistants.
As texasgirliegirl wrote

...After all, they are the ones selling retail and YOU are the one in a position to make a purchase...

However they are human beings too and might question whether customers cultivating/developing 'relationships' with them are doing so purely to get a Birkin.

 

[werner]

I think high school is pretty analogous, but, as someone who has been flamed in this very forum for defending my ethnicity, high school seems to be everywhere. The great thing is that we grow out of caring about high school
I love Hermès bags, scarves, and many other items, and I love several people at my various stores - doesn't mean I love the corporation or its policies. I will consider my SA's commission when I buy. Otherwise - no interest in playing games. The games BTW extend way beyond H - how about the resellers? I'm looking for a K28 in black box PHW but nope, not going to pay $25K for it as one reseller is currently asking!

You're so right, Quelle Fromage. The reseller asking $25k for a K28 black box is off the charts. No non-exotic is worth that outrageous ask - a 300% markup.

 

[werner]

I live in a city with a flagship boutique and have only made one visit....the SAs were beyond elitist. All my shopping is done over the phone, through emails and texts, across the country, from SLGs, scarves, etc. to SOs, with the same SA I've worked with for over 15 years. Totally stress free. I do admit to purchasing from reasonable resellers.

 

[princessmaggie]

I have to say, I agree with you especially re. Chanel. I haven’t spent nearly as much money there as I have at H, but I receive wonderful treatment from my SA every time I go in, even if it’s been months since my last visit. Like you, I’ve gotten the same “We’ll call you when it comes in,” message over and over at H. By contrast, my Chanel SA was able to find me a specific card case (and had it shipped from Hawaii) when everyone else had told me it either wasn’t ordered or was sold out.

Kind of funny given Chanel’s reputation for being the boutique that refused to serve Julia Robert’s character in “Pretty Woman.”

It wasn't Chanel in Pretty Woman!!

 

[EllenTsai]

You are welcome to your opinion, but I think that resellers are in the game even more than we are....they buy non-leather in bulk to get B/K credit, stand in line at FSH, pay off VIPs, etc. , so yes, they play the game in bulk to make a profit from those of us who do so as individuals, therefore, buying from them is part of the game.

I agree and to me I dislike resellers more than playing H game
Re-sellers competes with the non-reselling shoppers for the limited amount of stock that gets produced.
Why am I paying someone S$10000-30000 (Lecrin) mark up so they can play the H game on a larger scale, snatch up more desirable bags and then sell to me with S$10000-30000 mark up again?
If I play the H game in my boutique then I can get the scarves, bracelets, SLG... etc I like.

 

[PJW5813]

I agree and to me I dislike resellers more than playing H game
Re-sellers competes with the non-reselling shoppers for the limited amount of stock that gets produced.
Why am I paying someone S$10000-30000 (Lecrin) mark up so they can play the H game on a larger scale, snatch up more desirable bags and then sell to me with S$10000-30000 mark up again?
If I play the H game in my boutique then I can get the scarves, bracelets, SLG... etc I like.

Yes indeed.
But we are making the distinction between re-sellers specialising in new, unused bags and sellers of older used, pre-loved bags or mistake purchases.

 

[EmileH]

I agree that some of the SA's are rude. I recently purchased a bag and wasn't even offered water as I was shopping. It may not seem like a big deal, but it's frustrating to get average service when you're spending so much money. Some are really nice, though!

At least the Hermes SA's aren't as bad as the SA's at Cartier.

Omg so true about cartier. Although in my experience it was cartier corporate policies that caused the issue. My SA was trying very hard to make things work. (I have run into nasty cartier SAs elsewhere.) But overall I think cartier corporate stinks. With Hermes I don’t really think it’s corporate policy causing the issues. It is some SAs choosing to manipulate those policies in order to try to maximize their own sales.

 

[suziez]

Two years ago I was new to Hermes..I live part time up north where there is a franchise boutique. I walked in and wanted to look at leathers and colors not knowing too much about the brand. I was helped by snobby sa that was less than helpful. I told her I was looking for my first Birkin. She told me they were only for good clients. As I had only shopped in the store twice before I was disheartened..I was offered a birkin a couple of months later much to my surprise. She was still not warm and cuddly but maybe that was her personality. I bought quite alot that summer and I returned a bag that didn't work for me and received the store credit......what I wasn't told was that I could not use that credit for a b, k or c. When I finally was told several months later, I was also told that I need to purchase more things in the store.
That was it for me. I found this forum, found a new boutique where i live the other half of the year and found an sa that is beyond fantastic. (actually got her name from this forum too). From the day I stepped foot into my new home store I was made to feel welcome and I have become good friends with my sa as well. Everyone that I have met in the boutique is warm and friendly and beyond helpful. And never once has what i need to spend been brought up in conversation or innuendo.
So, in the end, I guess it's the sa that makes the difference. I am fortunate to have found a gal that is super terrific and caring.

 

[catsinthebag]

It wasn't Chanel in Pretty Woman!!

It wasn’t? The store wasn’t named in the movie, but I had always heard it was based on Chanel.

 

[Notorious Pink]

Each to their own; to me resellers buy right into the game. If H didn't play a game, they would not have a business. And, in reverse, resellers encourage the H game. It is only my opinion.

You're so right, Quelle Fromage. The reseller asking $25k for a K28 black box is off the charts. No non-exotic is worth that outrageous ask - a 300% markup.

I absolutely agree with both of you....a ridiculous game that the rest of us ultimately pay for, one way or another.

 

[QuelleFromage]

Yes indeed.
But we are making the distinction between re-sellers specialising in new, unused bags and sellers of older used, pre-loved bags or mistake purchases.

Absolutely, I mean professional resellers who "flip" new bags.
I think what burns me the most about those people is that the same SAs who are snotty to real people who are purse lovers are often the ones who sell to these flippers - and some of them are taking cash to do so. How dare they be rude to normal shoppers!

 

[QuelleFromage]

You're so right, Quelle Fromage. The reseller asking $25k for a K28 black box is off the charts. No non-exotic is worth that outrageous ask - a 300% markup.

Sadly it's only about double retail (box and sellier are so expensive in store) but from normal resale price it is close to 300%! That bag has been for sale quite a while now and my guess is it will remain so