FWIW, this does seem kind of unprofessional. People should be informed if their SA is leaving...else the client may continue to reach out to them etc.
Overheard Hermès
- Thread starter hermesgeek
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I have to disagree. This is retail shopping. From H’s perspective, the clients loyalty is to the brand, not a single sales person. The client is buying items from the company, not from a person.
If the sales person didn’t reach out to let someone know they were leaving, then the sales person probably didn’t think it was their business and is entitled to their privacy.
Sure but for a brand where loyalty to an SA is so key (#1 piece of advice across this forum, your relationship with your SA dictates your experience with the brand), you would think someone, be it SA, SM, etc, would let the client know that their main point of contact will no longer be there.
The client could be waiting on an SA for an order and have reached out about ordering an item, only to have the request go into the ether. This is a ultra luxury brand, better customer service is expected
The client could be waiting on an SA for an order and have reached out about ordering an item, only to have the request go into the ether. This is a ultra luxury brand, better customer service is expected
H is far from retail shopping. With the H game being played, you essentially are buying from the salesperson. The bags one gets are dependent on the SA if they deem you worthy of the hard-to-get bags. And the game is virtually different for each store.
I agree. I had an SA leave from my Celine store years ago. The manager was gracious enough to text me and transfer me over, and introduce me, to the new SA. And I was never a big client. I found that to be good practice.
I mean the point of buying luxury is also for the buying experience too right? If it wasnt, designer houses like hermes wouldn't invest so much in their boutiques and overall shopping experience.
Overheard at H madison in 2019:
Customer: "I want to try on the bag with holes in it!"
SA: "what? what bag with holes?"
Customer: "that grey bag with the holes!" *points to evelyne on display* LOL
I mean...the customer wasnt wrong hahahahaha
Customer: "I want to try on the bag with holes in it!"
SA: "what? what bag with holes?"
Customer: "that grey bag with the holes!" *points to evelyne on display* LOL
I mean...the customer wasnt wrong hahahahaha
Sorry, but you are incorrect. You are buying it from the boutique, and only if the manager is willing to have the SA offer it to you. There are exceptions to every rule, but “the relationship” is much more in the heads of the customers than it is in the heads of the staff. Most SAs do not receive commission for the sale of a quota bag, so it is in their best interest to have customers buy other stuff and then offer a quota bag afterwords. But this isn’t done without the approval of someone higher up the chain.
It’s not really a game, it’s sales. We have veered off topic though, so please back to boutique observations.
Back on topic, not overheard by me but by someone else.
We purchased the B35 mentioned previously and I brought the bag back to the boutique to buy some twillies for the handles for the wife to surprise her a bit. Our old SA self-admittedly was horrible at putting them onto handles. A lady was walking nearby and said “I’m more than happy to help. I love putting them onto handles”. This was before purchasing them, so she jumped in with the SA to find scarves that would look the best and then put them onto the bag. I guess it was pretty obvious that I was clueless about that stuff.
We purchased the B35 mentioned previously and I brought the bag back to the boutique to buy some twillies for the handles for the wife to surprise her a bit. Our old SA self-admittedly was horrible at putting them onto handles. A lady was walking nearby and said “I’m more than happy to help. I love putting them onto handles”. This was before purchasing them, so she jumped in with the SA to find scarves that would look the best and then put them onto the bag. I guess it was pretty obvious that I was clueless about that stuff.
You pretty much just said what I said...but with different words.
Also telling someone they are incorrect doesn't make you correct.
Back to topic yes.
At madison hermes I once overheard an SA sing an eminem song to themselves in a really low voice thinking no one would hear. I joined them and rapped the next line as I walked past 
They were embarrassed but delighted!
They were embarrassed but delighted!Hermes Madison-2014
Customer: "I'd like a bag. Something I can throw around"
I shivered when I heard "throw around" haha
Customer: "I'd like a bag. Something I can throw around"
I shivered when I heard "throw around" haha
we did close to it. we bought similarly expensive item with gift cards ($100) bc it was discounted to purchase the gift cards - frequent promotion in our major retail grocery stores.
the customer service representatives nodded in agreement that they also did the same things - bought the discounted gift cards to pay things e.g. bills, shopping, etc.
At a London boutique…
Customer (C): I want to buy a Picotin.
SA: Sorry m’am but we don’t have any in stock, we haven’t received any shipments lately.
C: I don’t believe you. My friend said they know you have Picotins today!
SA: I’m sorry but really we don’t have any in stock
C: *calls friend* They’re saying they have no Picos despite what you said!
Friend (F): *speaks to SA on loudspeaker* Are you sure? Have you double checked? Got someone else to check?! Then how are we supposed to get a bag??! This is ridiculous!
SA: erm, maybe you could also check on our website? Bags do occasionally appear there for purchase.
F: what website?
SA: Hermes.com?
F: what dot com?
SA: Hermes dot com, H E R M E S dot com
Customer (C): I want to buy a Picotin.
SA: Sorry m’am but we don’t have any in stock, we haven’t received any shipments lately.
C: I don’t believe you. My friend said they know you have Picotins today!
SA: I’m sorry but really we don’t have any in stock
C: *calls friend* They’re saying they have no Picos despite what you said!
Friend (F): *speaks to SA on loudspeaker* Are you sure? Have you double checked? Got someone else to check?! Then how are we supposed to get a bag??! This is ridiculous!
SA: erm, maybe you could also check on our website? Bags do occasionally appear there for purchase.
F: what website?
SA: Hermes.com?
F: what dot com?
SA: Hermes dot com, H E R M E S dot com
ooof. the massive sense of entitlement jumped outAt a London boutique…
Customer (C): I want to buy a Picotin.
SA: Sorry m’am but we don’t have any in stock, we haven’t received any shipments lately.
C: I don’t believe you. My friend said they know you have Picotins today!
SA: I’m sorry but really we don’t have any in stock
C: *calls friend* They’re saying they have no Picos despite what you said!
Friend (F): *speaks to SA on loudspeaker* Are you sure? Have you double checked? Got someone else to check?! Then how are we supposed to get a bag??! This is ridiculous!
SA: erm, maybe you could also check on our website? Bags do occasionally appear there for purchase.
F: what website?
SA: Hermes.com?
F: what dot com?
SA: Hermes dot com, H E R M E S dot com
ooof. the massive sense of entitlement jumped out
I know, right?? It's pretty much the theme of most of these stories.
I don't know if I should laugh at the ridiculousness, cry for the employees, or be angry and slap the entitlement out of some of these clients. Maybe all 3.
