Paris trip for Hermes

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

Please try to stay on topic. I realise because of the complexity of some of the posts members may veer off but in answer do not 'go there'.

For info and questions on US customs please post on the thread below: post https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/us-customs-discussion-airports-importing.905560/

Detaxing (to US from Europe) https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/best-way-to-detax-after-h-in-europe.178302/

or non-US destinations: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/does-h-store-paris-wants-to-ship.605014/page-3

For questions relating to prices https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/reference-hermes-current-prices.102567/page-357

For traveling with boxes https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...me-hermes-boxes-when-traveling.1044553/page-5




I will leave this reminder as a sticky because tthis is often a thread that new members (or new Hermès lovers) post on - hopefully temporarily.
 
Sorry for the late report! It's been very busy these days... especially with a toddler!

We're in Paris for our 5th anniversary celebration... I planned to stay in Paris for 9 days mainly because of the Kelly hunt in FSH. I booked an apartment just 2 mins walk away from FSH.

So here's my story... it was LONG.

Day 1: 11/18 (Fri)
We arrived Paris the night before and stayed up late for unpacking. I got up late and went to FSH around 10am, they stopped giving out appointments when it was almost my turn :sad: I went back to the store at around 5pm to look for appointments, sure enough, none was available.

Day 2: 11/19 (Sat)
Initially I didn't want to go that day coz based on what I read here, chances to score something on Saturday is slim. However since my husband was still sleeping with the baby and I got nothing to do, why not. I got there at around 9:20am, there was approximately 25 people in front of me at the main entrance. I was given a 12:20pm slot. Then I checked out some bracelets and requested to hold a Rivale double tour in black with gold hardware. I didn't purchase it at that time coz I told the SA that I had an appointment for handbags later that day and the SA said she could hold it for me till I finished my appointment.

Then I left the store and went back to my apartment to have some breakfast. Right after I had my first bite, I saw my appointment got moved forward to 11:40am. Like 15 minutes later I got a text "Your sales advisor is almost ready. You will soon receive the place of your appointment."

I rushed back to the store immediately but then I found out my appointment was pushed back to 12:00pm again. DUH!

Finally at 11:55am I got a text saying "Naomi is now available to meet you. Please meet a hostess at the leather department on the upstairs."

I was so lost coz I never went upstairs!

I went up there and did not know who I should talk to. There were so many SAs. I ran into a SA and told her I got the text, it turned out she was Naomi! She is Asian (not trying to bring up the race issue here but since I remember I read some posts about Asian SAs tend to reject B/K requests by Asian customers... guess some of you might be interested in this detail) and I am Asian too, so at first I really planned for the worst and did not expect to go home with anything except the bracelet.

We sat down in the consultation area. We chatted a little bit, then we started the business. She asked me what I was looking for, I told her I was looking for Kelly 28 or 32, but since I have never tried on the actual bag, I have no idea what size would suit me the best. She asked me if it was for myself and I said yes. She also asked me for hardware and color preferences, I told her I prefer gold hardware and neutral colors, no green, but am open to anything.

She wrote everything down in detail, and said they usually don't have deliveries on Saturday, would I consider colors like orange? I answered "perhaps I could check it out and see if I like it...?"

And last question was if I would be interested in anything else. I told her I would be interested in accessories like some charms or twilly, if I am offered a bag.

Then she left without asking for my passport. So I didn't know what my chances were. I looked around and noticed that the couple who were in line in front of me were actually sitting behind me and being served by another SA. They were offered some non B/K items right at that consultation area. One small box and one flat box, probably an Evelyne and a charm.

After like 10 mins, she came back and said, like she mentioned earlier, since they didn't have deliveries on Saturday, all K28 and K32 were all gone. However she got a K35 in blue, she said perhaps I could check it out to see if I like it since I had never tried on the actual bag. I said sure, but I anticipated it would not be the colors I like. Afterall it was a Saturday afternoon, I did not have high hopes and think there would be any nice color left.

Then she asked me to follow her into the room. Out of my surprises there were 5 boxes sitting on the table! She carefully opened the biggest box first. Since I did not have any expectations, when I saw the bag I believe I had my mouth wide open! The color is so beautiful, almost like black - my top choice of colors. She said it's indigo blue, but very close to black indeed. I tried it on with the strap, to be honest I am not quite sure about the size, it seems a little big on me, but after I texted my husband for opinion and he responded "Would you get it if it was in smaller sizes but in Olive?", I decided to get it. LOL

After I told Naomi that I would take the Kelly, she proceeded to show me the rest of the boxes. First she showed me the little rodeo, it's so cute. Then she showed me an apple coin purse charm, a bearn wallet, an insert. I decided to get the rodeo, although she told me that the apple charm is kinda rare, but I have no knowledge about it and would still prefer the rodeo.

Then we went downstairs to pick a twilly. I was carefully following her and was getting more nervous as I noticed some people were staring at me and the big box on Naomi's hands.

I picked a twilly quickly and then we went to the cashier. I ended up with a K35, a twilly, a rodeo pm and a rivale double tour bracelet! The entire experience was fantastic and I was treated nicely by both Naomi and the SA who sold me the bracelet.

Thanks for letting me share such a long story :smile: Sorry I forgot to take pics of the twilly and the bracelet...

View attachment 3527928View attachment 3527929View attachment 3527930

Congratulations on your blue indigo kelly! On June 23, 2015, I got my K32 Blue Indigo GHW retourne on my first try at FSH. I know how excited you must be!!! This color is amazing! A beautiful navy which can also pass for black in the evening! I loved reading your story and share your joy!
I wanted to come back to add that the size looks AMAZING on you!!! Great modeling shot!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: princesscathryn
I'm in Paris now and find the entire Hermes shopping experience to be very stressful. I live in the USA and am able to get bags fairly easily within the allotted quota. In Paris it all feels so stressful. The standard answer is - we don't have any bags today. How can this be? You're a handbag shop. I'm curious to know who and how they decide is worthy of being offered a bag? Any ideas?
 
  • Like
Reactions: millivanilli
I am learning so much. Will be visiting Paris on January 11-15. However, it is also before Paris fashion week (18-26). Do you think the stock can be effected by this event?

I think you will be ok if it's the week before fashion week. Fashion week itself is tough. I don't know if they save up bags in advance for it. I doubt it. Good luck!!!!
 
Sorry for the late report! It's been very busy these days... especially with a toddler!

We're in Paris for our 5th anniversary celebration... I planned to stay in Paris for 9 days mainly because of the Kelly hunt in FSH. I booked an apartment just 2 mins walk away from FSH.

So here's my story... it was LONG.

Day 1: 11/18 (Fri)
We arrived Paris the night before and stayed up late for unpacking. I got up late and went to FSH around 10am, they stopped giving out appointments when it was almost my turn :( I went back to the store at around 5pm to look for appointments, sure enough, none was available.

Day 2: 11/19 (Sat)
Initially I didn't want to go that day coz based on what I read here, chances to score something on Saturday is slim. However since my husband was still sleeping with the baby and I got nothing to do, why not. I got there at around 9:20am, there was approximately 25 people in front of me at the main entrance. I was given a 12:20pm slot. Then I checked out some bracelets and requested to hold a Rivale double tour in black with gold hardware. I didn't purchase it at that time coz I told the SA that I had an appointment for handbags later that day and the SA said she could hold it for me till I finished my appointment.

Then I left the store and went back to my apartment to have some breakfast. Right after I had my first bite, I saw my appointment got moved forward to 11:40am. Like 15 minutes later I got a text "Your sales advisor is almost ready. You will soon receive the place of your appointment."

I rushed back to the store immediately but then I found out my appointment was pushed back to 12:00pm again. DUH!

Finally at 11:55am I got a text saying "Naomi is now available to meet you. Please meet a hostess at the leather department on the upstairs."

I was so lost coz I never went upstairs!

I went up there and did not know who I should talk to. There were so many SAs. I ran into a SA and told her I got the text, it turned out she was Naomi! She is Asian (not trying to bring up the race issue here but since I remember I read some posts about Asian SAs tend to reject B/K requests by Asian customers... guess some of you might be interested in this detail) and I am Asian too, so at first I really planned for the worst and did not expect to go home with anything except the bracelet.

We sat down in the consultation area. We chatted a little bit, then we started the business. She asked me what I was looking for, I told her I was looking for Kelly 28 or 32, but since I have never tried on the actual bag, I have no idea what size would suit me the best. She asked me if it was for myself and I said yes. She also asked me for hardware and color preferences, I told her I prefer gold hardware and neutral colors, no green, but am open to anything.

She wrote everything down in detail, and said they usually don't have deliveries on Saturday, would I consider colors like orange? I answered "perhaps I could check it out and see if I like it...?"

And last question was if I would be interested in anything else. I told her I would be interested in accessories like some charms or twilly, if I am offered a bag.

Then she left without asking for my passport. So I didn't know what my chances were. I looked around and noticed that the couple who were in line in front of me were actually sitting behind me and being served by another SA. They were offered some non B/K items right at that consultation area. One small box and one flat box, probably an Evelyne and a charm.

After like 10 mins, she came back and said, like she mentioned earlier, since they didn't have deliveries on Saturday, all K28 and K32 were all gone. However she got a K35 in blue, she said perhaps I could check it out to see if I like it since I had never tried on the actual bag. I said sure, but I anticipated it would not be the colors I like. Afterall it was a Saturday afternoon, I did not have high hopes and think there would be any nice color left.

Then she asked me to follow her into the room. Out of my surprises there were 5 boxes sitting on the table! She carefully opened the biggest box first. Since I did not have any expectations, when I saw the bag I believe I had my mouth wide open! The color is so beautiful, almost like black - my top choice of colors. She said it's indigo blue, but very close to black indeed. I tried it on with the strap, to be honest I am not quite sure about the size, it seems a little big on me, but after I texted my husband for opinion and he responded "Would you get it if it was in smaller sizes but in Olive?", I decided to get it. LOL

After I told Naomi that I would take the Kelly, she proceeded to show me the rest of the boxes. First she showed me the little rodeo, it's so cute. Then she showed me an apple coin purse charm, a bearn wallet, an insert. I decided to get the rodeo, although she told me that the apple charm is kinda rare, but I have no knowledge about it and would still prefer the rodeo.

Then we went downstairs to pick a twilly. I was carefully following her and was getting more nervous as I noticed some people were staring at me and the big box on Naomi's hands.

I picked a twilly quickly and then we went to the cashier. I ended up with a K35, a twilly, a rodeo pm and a rivale double tour bracelet! The entire experience was fantastic and I was treated nicely by both Naomi and the SA who sold me the bracelet.

Thanks for letting me share such a long story :) Sorry I forgot to take pics of the twilly and the bracelet...

View attachment 3527928View attachment 3527929View attachment 3527930

Update: I expressed to my husband that I am not sure if K35 is the perfect size for me, so he was very nice to stand in line this morning and try to find me a smaller Kelly. He was about the 25th in line but a lot of ppl jumped in the queue minutes before the store opened so he ended up with an appointment time at 2:30pm.

He was finally served at 2:35pm on the ground floor by SA named Asya. She told him that the inventory was very low but she would still check for him. After 15 seconds (that's what my husband quoted) she came back saying they had no stock. And when my husband tried to see if he could get an appointment with her tomorrow, she said the appointment is available within the same day only (which we know that is not true).

My husband came back pissed and sweared he would stand in line earlier tomorrow LOL. He just needs to make sure he wouldn't see Asya again as he believes she is not sincere.

He was in line with a Taiwanese couple who failed all their attempts since last Saturday. He said after his first attempt, he found me super lucky to be offered a Kelly with no purchase history, especially on a Saturday.
 
Update: I expressed to my husband that I am not sure if K35 is the perfect size for me, so he was very nice to stand in line this morning and try to find me a smaller Kelly. He was about the 25th in line but a lot of ppl jumped in the queue minutes before the store opened so he ended up with an appointment time at 2:30pm.

He was finally served at 2:35pm on the ground floor by SA named Asya. She told him that the inventory was very low but she would still check for him. After 15 seconds (that's what my husband quoted) she came back saying they had no stock. And when my husband tried to see if he could get an appointment with her tomorrow, she said the appointment is available within the same day only (which we know that is not true).

My husband came back pissed and sweared he would stand in line earlier tomorrow LOL. He just needs to make sure he wouldn't see Asya again as he believes she is not sincere.

He was in line with a Taiwanese couple who failed all their attempts since last Saturday. He said after his first attempt, he found me super lucky to be offered a Kelly with no purchase history, especially on a Saturday.

Your husband is so sweet! Wish him good luck tomorrow! [emoji6]
 
I am learning so much. Will be visiting Paris on January 11-15. However, it is also before Paris fashion week (18-26). Do you think the stock can be effected by this event?

I went around the time of men's fashion week last January and I was offered bags on both visits. I went mid-week though, think i arrived on a Wednesday or Thursday. Also last year, sadly, was not as busy in Paris.
 
I'm in Paris now and find the entire Hermes shopping experience to be very stressful. I live in the USA and am able to get bags fairly easily within the allotted quota. In Paris it all feels so stressful. The standard answer is - we don't have any bags today. How can this be? You're a handbag shop. I'm curious to know who and how they decide is worthy of being offered a bag? Any ideas?

In general, Hermes likes to offer bags to customers who enjoy all products of the brand not just their bags. Buying other non-Birkin/Kelly items is a way to show them that. For FSH, it seems that they do offer bags to tourists that have no previous history more than other stores in the world. It depends on the SA, the timing you go, the manager who approves the bags and how open minded you are with the colors/leathers. By reading the posts here, it seems that bight colored bags are offered more often than neutrals. If you are open to many colors/leathers and have some purchase history, it shouldn't be too hard to get a bag there.
 
In general, Hermes likes to offer bags to customers who enjoy all products of the brand not just their bags. Buying other non-Birkin/Kelly items is a way to show them that. For FSH, it seems that they do offer bags to tourists that have no previous history more than other stores in the world. It depends on the SA, the timing you go, the manager who approves the bags and how open minded you are with the colors/leathers. By reading the posts here, it seems that bight colored bags are offered more often than neutrals. If you are open to many colors/leathers and have some purchase history, it shouldn't be too hard to get a bag there.

Great post. Great summary.
 
In general, Hermes likes to offer bags to customers who enjoy all products of the brand not just their bags. Buying other non-Birkin/Kelly items is a way to show them that. For FSH, it seems that they do offer bags to tourists that have no previous history more than other stores in the world. It depends on the SA, the timing you go, the manager who approves the bags and how open minded you are with the colors/leathers. By reading the posts here, it seems that bight colored bags are offered more often than neutrals. If you are open to many colors/leathers and have some purchase history, it shouldn't be too hard to get a bag there.

Very well said [emoji106]
 
  • Like
Reactions: chica727 and ffy22
Update: I expressed to my husband that I am not sure if K35 is the perfect size for me, so he was very nice to stand in line this morning and try to find me a smaller Kelly. He was about the 25th in line but a lot of ppl jumped in the queue minutes before the store opened so he ended up with an appointment time at 2:30pm.

He was finally served at 2:35pm on the ground floor by SA named Asya. She told him that the inventory was very low but she would still check for him. After 15 seconds (that's what my husband quoted) she came back saying they had no stock. And when my husband tried to see if he could get an appointment with her tomorrow, she said the appointment is available within the same day only (which we know that is not true).

My husband came back pissed and sweared he would stand in line earlier tomorrow LOL. He just needs to make sure he wouldn't see Asya again as he believes she is not sincere.

He was in line with a Taiwanese couple who failed all their attempts since last Saturday. He said after his first attempt, he found me super lucky to be offered a Kelly with no purchase history, especially on a Saturday.
First, congrats on your kelly.

But this is at least the 2nd time i read people jump in line "with their friends" which is total bs to me. If anyone else sees this, please try to say something or else it will continue. They are probable resellers anyway since how likely is it that 15 men travel to paris together to shop at hermes?
 
First, congrats on your kelly.

But this is at least the 2nd time i read people jump in line "with their friends" which is total bs to me. If anyone else sees this, please try to say something or else it will continue. They are probable resellers anyway since how likely is it that 15 men travel to paris together to shop at hermes?

I think it is unfair to all the people waiting in line that friends join in. You have waited patiently for your place in line and then get bumped further down only to potentially not get an appointment time. I think this should be brought up the with security at FSH (if they are there monitoring the line up prior to opening time). [emoji53]
 
  • Like
Reactions: periogirl28
Top