First of all, I really appreciate and would like to thank everyone here who wished me well. You guys really rock! Unfortunately, result of Monday morning ended as another failure.
I know success story is more exciting and fun but for those who are interested, I'll go ahead with how the experience went again.
There were only about 8-9 people on the queue when we arrived at FSH, even though it was around 9:20, with no one at the side door. We were right after a very hot looking Asian lady, who turns out to be a flight attendant, at least from my sister's eavesdropping of her chatting with two other Asian girls in front of her.
More groups arrived in next 10 mins, but rather slower than expected. Around 10am, the queue was almost to the end of the store. The count at side door was only 5, when I strolled over there to exercise my leg pain off from standing.
Then the line jumpers begin! A middle aged man comes to join the single young dude who was right front of the two girls FA was chatting with. Right behind the lady who was first of the line comes two other ladies. Ten minutes pass and couple ladies come all laughing and stands next to the young guy and middle aged man mentioned above. Apparently, it's a family of four and I guess the girls did not want to get up so early?
At this point, the three girls in front of me looked very upset, of course. And the FA actually goes over to the family and asks if there would be more people joining later. I'm sure what she really wanted to say is "you need to get to the end of this line." I get that they came as a family and all but the whole attitude was very rude and off. It was as if they could not see the angry eyes of those who were staring behind them. Whatever they found funny, I could not understand the language but showed not a hint of guilt when cutting in nor apology when the FA talked to them.
Soon after that, a middle aged lady approach the FA and starts to say something in Chinese. Even though I could only understand few words, it was very obvious she was asking a favor. Something along how she didn't know and help a fellow Chinese person, etc. FA told her, what I assume to be how it isn't fair and she has to wait like others. Sister thought FA was so cool, lol.
By this time I notice a tall older man standing very near the front door, almost staring at it. Sis later tells me she saw him getting out of the mini van parked next to us but didn't know what he was doing.
Turns out, when it was the time for opening, the minivan door opens and a family of eight comes out! And for some reason, they just walk over and go through the doors as the very first ones!! Sis says the tall man was the driver and was supposedly line holder for the family while they wait all comfy in the car. What gives him the right to just walk up to the front and how the ones in the front let him do that, I have no idea.
FSH on that day does the entering in groups, letting in several at a time. So after that family of eight goes in, the security holds us, what was the first group of the line for a minute before he gives approval again. And tge next group to enter was cut off right before the FA. Security is communicating with the side entrance security it seems, and at this point, it is obvious side doors folks are entering while we are to wait. A minute passes and we were let it, running to the inside queue. They are letting in the people at the side entrance as I approach the queue and omg. Now everyone from the side door were inside. So those who were waiting for hours are standing with the folks from side entrance, who must have waited less than 20 minutes!
As I impatiently wait on the queue at the leather department, I see the two girls who was front of FA getting appointments. For the first time in this trip, I was not seeing a SA right away, even though there was less people waiting in the front of outside queue than other two days! Person who set up my appt says don't worry as I'll probably get earlier time than assigned 11:20 slot, as I am "the first group."
We went upstairs to kill time till, and I get a text my SA is ready to see me at the leather downstairs, just as I was chatting with RTW SA. Sis got her text few sec later, but hers says 2nd floor leather. She sighed as she saw the name of her SA and send me off saying she knows she's not getting her bag.
My SA turns out to be busy by the time I went downstairs and I was to wait a bit. Meanwhile, I see some customers talking to the appt assignment ladies, with a piece of paper size of a biz card with hand written time. I think, if you do not have a phone or cannot receive the texts, they still assign you a slot and get those cards, to come back at given time. But those card holders were all having some sort of problem actually getting a SA, so this system apparently needs some tweaking.
I had to wait for my SA even longer than expected, my sis was done and came down by the time my SA went to "check" the inventory. Sis got no again. SA was of nationality she expected, from the hint of her name. And she says she was another rushing kind, as the one she met on Sunday. Feeling crushed when her SA returned empty handed, sis asked for a Herbag instead. SA also said no to that as well, which sis suspected she didn't even bother to really check, lol. I don't know if that was the truth but she says she literally stepped away and came back just too fast.
Sis complained about how speedy SA was, adding the fact how she didn't even have the time to actually receive the beverage she was offered and accepted. Again, I asked "you were offered a drink?!"
Yes. I know it's not a big deal. It isn't that I actually want a drink. But the fact I am always taken to places having a drink looks out of place is the true upsetting part. While I am aware they are busy, it seems I am always getting asked for my preferences in middle of a circus kind of locations, with other customers standing right next to me. And if I was the SA, I wouldn't waste time offering drinks if I want to get rid of my customer quick. So I just feel as if my past SAs knew they would be saying no even before they took down my requests.
Btw, my SA of the day was a very youthful and cute girl who seemed a lot friendlier than the first two of the weekend. A lot more American girl next type character than typical French ladies. However, she did not write down anything when I asking for my preferences. So another bad sign?
She told me never to come during the weekend as it's not worth the trip due to no delivery. Yet we all heard of those who got their bags on the weekends here. She also commented how I should not give up and try again and again. She sounded genuine and sweet about it but urgh, I am really getting tired of rejections from FSH.
While I know most of the members here went through the same process. But I am just not getting any good vibes from the store, hence gotta have a new strategy and move on. And if I go back there again, I feel no need to ever get on the queue before the opening time. It doesn't matter if you are there early or not. And with people arriving past 10:20 getting the same time as those who must have waited 2 hrs, there is no point of waiting in the cold with dead feeling in the legs.
Good part of yesterday was we dropped by Sevres as we needed to go LV at St Germain. I didn't get anything there but the experience of the store was much nicer than how I remember it from my last visit in July. It was hard to get someone to help me there back then but full of nicer SAs on this visit. There were several things I liked, but need to think about more. I'd probably go back there today and get some of those things. SA at the leather yesterday was actually the friendliest H SA I ever met in Paris so the ended not so bad.
Would report back later if any better luck in Paris! Thanks again for everyone's support.
