Wanted to share my very recent experience at FSH.
1) Previous purchase history at Hermes: A few wallets, perfumes and colognes. Never tried building a profile at a store mostly because I didn't think it was worth the effort. As a result, no SA relationship and definitely no concentration of purchases in a single shop.
2) Was indecisive as between Kelly and Birkin, but think I preferred to get the Kelly because of the cross-body strap. Was open to either.
3) Went to Paris for Easter weekend. Signed up for an FSH appointment for Friday, and Saturday, and didn't score either. My hotel is across the street from the FSH store so I figured I'd stop by and throw up a stink. The SAs assured me it was random. I bought a scarf in protest, and said I'd consider buying another if they gave me an appointment (it was an obvious joke).
4) FSH was closed on Sunday and Monday. But I got an appointment for today... at 1820.
5) Definitely didn't think there would be anything left by the time I got there. But my appointment came, and the staff was extremely friendly and honest with me. I made very broad requests (basically, I asked for a Kelly or Birkin in certain sizes and in broad color categories; I didn't want an exotic leather or weird colors, esp not for my first Birkin). SA went down and came back with a big box.
6) Box contained a 35 Birkin in (I think the color was) Azure. It was a bit too loud for me, and I declined. She said they have a 30 B Epsom in Etain, and a Kelly in some green color in stock, and she could try to bring them, but no guarantees they would be still there by the time she went downstairs.
7) Kelly was apparently sold, but the 30 B Epsom Etain came up. From what I knew about the color from seeing it online, I wasn't sold. But when I saw the bag in person, I was in love. So I bought it.
I asked the SA whether I should come back another day for a Kelly. She said not in the near term but to try for the Kelly later this year. I will likely do just that.
Overall, I'm really happy about this bag. At the end of the day, it's just a bag. I'm glad I was able to get one without much effort or buying items from Hermes that I didn't really want (i.e., I'm not buying a bag I don't want to get a bag I do want). I also don't like overpaying (i.e., I'd never buy a Birkin in the US). I was very frank with the SA about these points. I was thinking my candor would be so off-putting that she'd refuse to sell me the bag. But it made her more candid and I think I made a good SA relationship, although I don't know if/when I'll ever use it again. I bought the second scarf.
Advice for people ITT wanting this bag and from FSH, with my anecdotal evidence:
1) Don't travel to Paris on weekends for this. If the appointment thing is truly a lottery, the lottery pool will be a lot larger for what is probably the same fixed number of spots. The math just doesn't work in your favor. If I go again to buy another bag, it'll easily be for Tues, Weds, Thurs. Never Fri, Sat, or Sun.
2) Wear a good attitude. I saw a lot of people who were obviously eager, anxious., envious (?), or otherwise just unpleasant. Just go in and have fun. If you don't get what you want, it's NBD.
3) I was able to get a B on my first try without even putting in that much effort. It seems like in the past there was a line system. I'm so glad that's gone. I don't wait in line unless it's for fast food, and fast food is the only exception because the line should move quickly right? Anyways, my point is I think people over-emphasize the relationship building aspect here. It's definitely applicable for everything non-FSH, but from what I can tell the only way your relationship matters is your spot in the day your appointment falls on (but I don't have a lot of data to support that unfortunately). When the person was trying to pull up my profile, it was hilarious because she didn't find anything. Although I had pulled out my wallet to show a leather color I liked, so she knew it wasn't my first Hermes purchase.
Pix are here. Sorry for the lighting.
