new rule - no Kelly or birkin to walk ins??

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#106
DownButNotOut said:
Thanks for replying. :smile1: I might try ringing the London boutiques anyway, I suppose I have absolutely nothing to lose, but I will not have any expectations of success in order to avoid being disappointed when they say no.

A Hermes Kelly is second on my wishlist (after a new kidney of course), but since I cannot do anything but wait for a kidney, I was hoping that I could distract myself by trying for a Kelly. The only thing worse than being depressed about not having a new kidney (yet), is being depressed about not getting a kidney AND being bummed out about not getting my dream bag.

I really really hope you get your Kelly soon, jmen. :smile1:
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DownButNotOut, wishing you health and happiness ahead. Take care!
 
#109
so a quick update re: purchasing a Birkin without establishing a relationship with a SA...I called my SA at Madison a couple weeks ago like she suggested, but since she was busy with another client, I left a voicemail. Days passed, and no return call. I totally understand why a SA would want to develop a relationship with a new client before offering an available Birkin, and why a "known" client would receive a higher level of service and first priority for rarer H items.

Rather than using my Picotin as a jumping off point and adding accessories etc down the road, I'll likely go the reseller route to purchase my first Birkin. Thanks to the ebay seller recommendations on TPF, I've seen some great deals online.

Fingers crossed that I'll soon be able to share pics of my own Birkin in the coming months!
 
#110
jc8811 said:
so a quick update re: purchasing a Birkin without establishing a relationship with a SA...I called my SA at Madison a couple weeks ago like she suggested, but since she was busy with another client, I left a voicemail. Days passed, and no return call. I totally understand why a SA would want to develop a relationship with a new client before offering an available Birkin, and why a "known" client would receive a higher level of service and first priority for rarer H items.

Rather than using my Picotin as a jumping off point and adding accessories etc down the road, I'll likely go the reseller route to purchase my first Birkin. Thanks to the ebay seller recommendations on TPF, I've seen some great deals online.

Fingers crossed that I'll soon be able to share pics of my own Birkin in the coming months!
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some SA's don't respond voicemail. i'm an established client and my SAs don't respond messages i leave on voicemail so i only leave a message if i don't need a response. otherwise, i try to catch them on the phone or in person.
 
#113
apey_grapey said:
i agree and this is what i usually do, but i assumed jc8811 does not have the SA's mobile number.
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Alas, I don't have my SAs cell number. I actually shouldn't even call her my SA since I only bought with her once :)

I have a couple dozen H scarves that I've bought over the years, but I've never purchased with one exclusive SA, so I never cultured a relationship with any particular associate.

Ironically I have a great job in finance and can easily afford to buy a Birkin, but an Hermes SA just doesn't want to sell me one! :)
 
#114
jc8811 said:
so a quick update re: purchasing a Birkin without establishing a relationship with a SA...I called my SA at Madison a couple weeks ago like she suggested, but since she was busy with another client, I left a voicemail. Days passed, and no return call. I totally understand why a SA would want to develop a relationship with a new client before offering an available Birkin, and why a "known" client would receive a higher level of service and first priority for rarer H items.

Rather than using my Picotin as a jumping off point and adding accessories etc down the road, I'll likely go the reseller route to purchase my first Birkin. Thanks to the ebay seller recommendations on TPF, I've seen some great deals online.

Fingers crossed that I'll soon be able to share pics of my own Birkin in the coming months!
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I was offered a choice of one Birkin out of two options on Madison two weeks ago. It was authorized before by SM. I turned them down, had one and didn't want the other. They were telling everyone that they had nothing even if they weren't asking and wearing a Jypsiere or other Hermes bag. The stock room door was open for a second, orange boxes to the ceiling. SA were running with shrink wrapped boxes to private room with buyers. It was a real insight to how they operate plus a turn off for me. I went in for a Berline bag and never asked for a Birkin. I bought the Berline bag at my local Hermes store over the weekend.
I hope you get your Birkin.
 
#115
harlequin6 said:
I was offered a choice of one Birkin out of two options on Madison two weeks ago. It was authorized before by SM. I turned them down, had one and didn't want the other. They were telling everyone that they had nothing even if they weren't asking and wearing a Jypsiere or other Hermes bag. The stock room door was open for a second, orange boxes to the ceiling. SA were running with shrink wrapped boxes to private room with buyers. It was a real insight to how they operate plus a turn off for me. I went in for a Berline bag and never asked for a Birkin. I bought the Berline bag at my local Hermes store over the weekend.
I hope you get your Birkin.
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Its unfortunate that there is so much deceit and BS when it comes to buying a Birkin. That's why I often leave the store with a bad taste in my mouth. I never feel the SAs are honest when I ask questions about a Birkin or Kelly. Indeed the way they sell their merchandise can be a real turn off and from what I read about others' shopping experience in Hermes, I find it is a funny and sad way of doing business.
 
#117
tequila29 said:
Its unfortunate that there is so much deceit and BS when it comes to buying a Birkin. That's why I often leave the store with a bad taste in my mouth. I never feel the SAs are honest when I ask questions about a Birkin or Kelly. Indeed the way they sell their merchandise can be a real turn off and from what I read about others' shopping experience in Hermes, I find it is a funny and sad way of doing business.
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It's not even just bags either! I was at Madison Ave visiting from out of town and one SA said that all leather bracelets are "out" and nothing else was available (this was after looking at silks first). In the same visit, I ended up at enamels about 5 min later. After choosing a few with a different SA, she opened the drawer and closet with literally 40-50 additional bracelets including lots of Rivales, KDT, KD, AND CDCs! In another visit to Madison, a SA whom I was working with (already picked out a GM shawl and 90 cm carre and she was trying to be helpful) told me that all leather bracelets were out (looking for a UV Rivale GHW) and that only KDT was available in this combo. Lo and behold, she brings me a new KDT and it turns out to be a Rivale. She didn't even notice until I pointed it out and was pretty embarrassed.

So I learned a few things from this visit: (1) Some SAs just have a bad attitude or bad day and won't even show you non-bag items! (2) some H SAs are just not that good and assume that everything is out out since having low stock is so common (3) if you can, you should force them to look anyways because you never know what's hiding in there :) (4) at busy stores, just wander around to get another SA if your first one doesn't work out (although this may not work with bags!) (5) The only thing I think that they're mostly honest about is silks.
 
#118
mc100 said:
It's not even just bags either! I was at Madison Ave visiting from out of town and one SA said that all leather bracelets are "out" and nothing else was available (this was after looking at silks first). In the same visit, I ended up at enamels about 5 min later. After choosing a few with a different SA, she opened the drawer and closet with literally 40-50 additional bracelets including lots of Rivales, KDT, KD, AND CDCs! In another visit to Madison, a SA whom I was working with (already picked out a GM shawl and 90 cm carre and she was trying to be helpful) told me that all leather bracelets were out (looking for a UV Rivale GHW) and that only KDT was available in this combo. Lo and behold, she brings me a new KDT and it turns out to be a Rivale. She didn't even notice until I pointed it out and was pretty embarrassed.

So I learned a few things from this visit: (1) Some SAs just have a bad attitude or bad day and won't even show you non-bag items! (2) some H SAs are just not that good and assume that everything is out out since having low stock is so common (3) if you can, you should force them to look anyways because you never know what's hiding in there :) (4) at busy stores, just wander around to get another SA if your first one doesn't work out (although this may not work with bags!) (5) The only thing I think that they're mostly honest about is silks.
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This is what I had experienced in Madison store as well. Being a big store, I think it is really hard to find a nice SA cuz SA cannot go over to other department to sell you stuff you want.
 
#119
It is all part of the game with Hermes in US. If you buy other items bracelets, watches, other bags, you will get a Birkin or Kelly by staying in touch with sales person. There is absolutely zero chance of getting a B or K without buying other products first. I have been offered two B's and one K this year by becoming a very good customer for other items. At least this way I get other items and do not have to go reseller route with the risk and overpriced bags.
 
#120
elva1989 said:
This is what I had experienced in Madison store as well. Being a big store, I think it is really hard to find a nice SA cuz SA cannot go over to other department to sell you stuff you want.
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Actually, my SA at Madison told me that now the SAs are required to work part of their week in accessories and the rest of their time in handbags. She suggested that if I came in to see her again, to make sure that I looked for her on the other floors before going downstairs to handbags.

Whether this is entirely true, who knows. She's also the same SA who told me I wouldn't have to wait ~ 4 months to purchase a Birkin :)

Why oh why do I want a Birkin??!?! Maybe because they're GORGEOUS :)
 
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