*Warning long post *
Even tough I'm not good at storytelling I decided to post my experience because I have followed this thread almost from when it started and I really enjoy reading everyone's stories.
I have been to Paris and visited the 3 stores since 2010 but I never tried buying a Birkin or Kelly. I just bought some smaller items, bracelets, a couple of Evelyne bags and scarves. It wasn't until last year that I was ready and decided I wanted a Kelly or a Birkin so I tried for my birthday in June 2016.
I arrived in Paris I remember it was exactly the day after FSH had introduced the new system. After I checked in my hotel I went to the boutique unsure of how the system worked and eventough I arrived at around 14:00 I was able to get an appointment at 18:00.
I met a young SA and she was very polite but from the beginning of our conversation she told me they were very low in stock and after writing my wish list, she went away to look. After about 10 min she came back and told me everything was sold out for the day.
The next day I woke up earlier and was at FSH approx 15 min before the store opened. There was a long line, I got an earlier appointment I think it was around 15:00. The time remained the same I remember both times, it did not change like it has happened to some of you lately.
This time I met a male SA and he was also very kind. He wrote my list and told me they hadn't had delivery for a couple of days but he would do his best to find a bag. After checking he came back empty handed and apologized. We talked for a bit and I asked to see the sample of the bags I was looking for, to try out and see which one was best. After this visit I was a bit disappointed because I had other plans the following days and I wouldn't be able to stand in line.
I went for lunch at a place that is very near the Sèvres boutique. After eating I decided to go there and have a look, my previous impressions of that store were that they always had low stock on leather goods.
I went in and there was so many people waiting to get help from the SAs at the leather department. They had only Evelyne bags and canvas totes on display I remember clearly. It was a bit funny because all the Evelyne (maybe 4) were the same color and size.
I could hear every customer was asking for bags and the SAs were repeating over and over again that the display was the only bags available, nothing else. The SAs looked a bit annoyed by the fact that there wasn't a clear line and some customers were interrupting each other. Customers grabbing wallets the SAs were showing to other customers, very rude...
I was just standing there and I felt quite hopeless, it seemed it would take hours to get help.
I was about to leave then suddenly a female SA approached me and asked me if I needed help. I had not seen her before and I didn't even think she worked in the leather department. I told her I was waiting to see if any of the leather/bags SAs would be available. She told me she was available and asked me what I was looking for. I was direct and said I was looking for.
She told me right away they didn't have any Birkin or Kelly and they were low in stock due to the season and number of visitors Then she offered me to show the samples to check out since I was unsure of the bag I wanted. Even tough I had seen them in FSH I accepted because she was so nice and seemed very genuine. I'm happy I did because the samples there were of course different leathers and colors from the samples at FSH.
She then showed me the leather swatches so I could see the range of colors.
Even if she couldn't offer me a bag I was very happy with the experience. I thanked her and before I was going to leave she gave me her business card and said I could call her or email her some days in advance before if I was coming to Paris again and she would try to find a bag for me. I thanked her again and left, it was the last visit to an Hermes boutique that trip.
Around 6 months later, I didn't have any Paris trip planned but then I saw the thread here in the forum about the Hermes winter sale and since I was free those days I decided to book a flight, to see if I found some nice scarves.
I still had the wish of a bag but after so long time I didn't think the SA would remember me, considering we met only once and that I didn't buy anything from her.
I decided there was nothing to loose and I emailed her asking if she remembered me and the dates I would be in Paris.
She replied very quickly and she knew exactly who I was, she even remembered some of the clothing I was wearing.
I was completely overwhelmed by her good memory, considering the volume of customers this stores get everyday.
She also wrote she would be working those dates and I was welcome any day, she would do her best at finding a bag for me.
So it was finally January and I took a flight to Paris, I headed to Sèvres on the first day of my trip and asked the hostess for my SA. She met me after about 15 min because she was with other customers.
She greeted me and said she had something to show me, I was really happy then because I wasn't sure before if there would be any bag at all for me.
The wishlist I sent her by mail was short:
* Birkin or Kelly 40 in black togo and PHW
We went into another area and she brought out a huge box still wrapped in plastic. She opened and there is was!
A Birkin 40cm in black Togo and PHW
It was gorgeous! I tried it on and she said they had not received any black Kelly 40 and they rarely got delivered that size.
While I was trying the bag in front of the mirror she said if i wanted I could come back after a couple of days (I was staying 3 days) and perhaps a Kelly would come in and I could try both and decide. She would keep the Birkin reserved for me, I was so thankful at how accommodating she was.
I agreed and left, fast forward two days later I came back to the store and met her again, we went to the same area of the store and she said that unfortunately there was no Kelly size 40 delivered in the last days. But I had already thought very much the days before and I knew I wanted the Birkin. So I said I would take it, she brought out the bag again for me to see and she offered me something to drink.
We talked a little and she said it was very hard to give everyone the chance to buy a bag because the supply is never enough.
I went to the counter, paid for my bag and she placed the orange shopping bag inside a huge white bag, very discrete.
I thanked her and left, I took a taxi directly to the airport and took my flight home.
I couldn't be happier with my purchase, I never thought I would be able to own exactly the bag I wanted.
I feel so lucky and thankful to get this kind of service, and I really doubt it would have happened the same way in FSH. I was at the right place at the right time and met the right SA [emoji16]
Not once this time that I was looking for a Birkin/Kelly I was asked for my passport, neither I was asked if I had purchased there before. Only when I paid for my bag the lady at the counter asked my name and she was able to find all my info such as adress and country of residence, I guess from previous purchases.
I guess we will never fully understand Hermes rules [emoji4]
Here is my bag and thanks for reading this far:
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