Okay - sad but interesting Paris story from this week and I need your feedback on what I could have done differently. To give full background, I am from the US and currently do not own any Hermes, and was hoping this would be the 1st!
Thanks to you all and this forum, I researched and researched prior to my trip to Paris that landed me here on Monday morning. I had done the research and was prepared to tackle trying to get a B 35 in a True Red Color and open on hardware and leather - but I wanted to be specific in my request and that was a red B 35. I knew it would be a stretch, however, I was here and wanted to try.
So let the story begin! We were extremely exhausted getting off the plane and rested and didn't get out until after 7, so Monday was a no go. I kind of wanted to "feel" things out at each of the stores so I didn't go online until Tuesday morning to request an appointment to hopefully get for Wednesday morning. That day we proceeded to do tourist items and our 1st stop was at the Sevres store around 1:00 p.m. I politely asked to get an appointment to see Leather Handbags and they immediately responded saying there was not a wait. The sales lady immediately came over and I made my request, in which she said they had no handbags in the store. So we further discussed belts and shoes, and tried both on - hoping to be able to get a bag and purchase all together. Since there was no bag - I told her I would check back when in area again and she agreed. Also, while there, there was multiple request and no one got bags - at least from what I could see.
So we continued touring the town and got over to FSH, at this time it was around 6 and I knew I wouldn't get in - but I wanted to scope out the store anyway, with hopes that I would get an appointment one day this week. Plus from reading on here, it never hurts to ask!
Upon arrival in the store, I was nicely greeted by a Hostess, which I will refer to as HS going forward and Men's Sales Consultant, who I will refer to as MS going forward. We were very polite in our initial exchange. Of course I asked if there were any leather openings and they both said No. They then both proceeded to say I should come back tomorrow after 3 or request the online appointment. At that time, I told them that I had already put in my request for Wednesday and was hopeful to get an appointment. We then continued to small chat and I explained to them what bag I was looking for and we discussed colors, size and hardware in casual conversation. Again, both appeared to be very nice and genuine. We wrap up the conversation and I said Hope to see you all soon and went to look for my husband in the men's department. Upon sitting waiting for my husband the MS approached me and said what is your name as you have it listed in the online request, I immediately smiled and spelled out my name and he typed it in the notes section of his phone. He then said, "we hope to see you tomorrow" and walked off. I was on cloud 9 at that point and thought it was very positive.
My husband and I leave the store and continue our tourism. Well, I was waiting on the notification text and to my surprise I was able to score my 1st appointment for Wednesday, yesterday, morning at 10:30 a.m. Based on you all's feedback, I felt I was "lucky" to get an appointment on the 1st try and for a 10:30 a.m. Slot - so I was so excited and could sleep all night, hoping Wednesday would go well.
On Wednesday morning, my husband and I are in line at 10:15 a.m. Ready for the go at 10:30 a.m. - Upon walking in, I was greeted by the HS with a smile and she stated please head to the 2nd floor to meet your consultant. I was nervous , but excited and hopeful! My consultant was a nice probably early 30's lady and she asked if we could go downstairs since it was already getting crowded up top and of course I said sure. Once down, she asked about drinks then she retrieved those and then came back for my bag request. I was very nice and polite, as suggested, and requested the B 35 in Red, open on Togo or Clemence and hardware. She asked if I had any other request or wish list items and I said No. She then left. Well, she was back in about 7 minutes and was apologetic that they did not currently have that bag in store, not sure when they would get it and don't know about shipments. During this time, the HS, MS, and my consultant were speaking in French and I didn't know what they were saying, but they were talking and looking at me. She then asked if I was interested in seeing anything else and I said, No thank you - I would really like the B35 - she was persistent is asking, but I was firm on what I wanted. She thanked me for coming in and encouraged me to keep coming back and to try the other stores as well.
Needless to say, I was sad, but understood. Based on the rejection, I wasn't sure if I could come back daily and undertake that. So as I proceeded to leave, the HS and MS came up to me and said they both were "so sorry" that they didn't have the bag and when was I leaving town. I stated that I was leaving Friday evening and they were like can you come back tomorrow and I said sorry, No, we are planning to go to Amsterdam for the day and I would not be able to make it. They both said - we wish you could come tomorrow - you "should" be able to get this bag and "we want you to be able to get this bag." I said I am very very interested in this bag, however this is not a girls trip where I can spend all my time going from Hermes to Hermes, my husband wants to enjoy our vacation and take it all in, not with just shopping. They both said they understood and asked if I could come on Friday before I left and I said I would try. I also asked if I was in the area, could I stop back by this afternoon to see if any were delivered and after we discussed using my husband passport, they both said Yes, and that they would try to get me an afternoon appointment.
As we proceeded to leave the HS wrote down here e-mail address and said, please e-mail me this afternoon and I will let you know if it is a good time to come in, and again, my hopes got up, as her e-mail address was unsolicited. So around 4 I e-mailed and asked for an update and should I come in and she said the store was extremely busy, so don't try to make today, Wednesday afternoon, however, to please keep her posted on my Thursday schedule and she would try to get me in on Thursday or Friday. I thanked her and went on about my day!
After a long all day trip to Versailles on Wednesday and not getting back to our hotel until 1:00 a.m., we opted for a bike tour instead of going to Amsterdam. The bike tour was scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
So Thursday morning, today, we headed out for our bike tour and had a great morning. So 1:00 p.m. I e-mailed the HS and asked did she think I would be able to get in this afternoon and she said Yes, please come by. So, Again, my heart is racing and I have hope that it may happen today. I get to the store around 4:00 p.m. And go see the HS and she says she has me in the queue and it will be a few minutes. She also states that she is going to see if MS can sell me the bag. He then comes over and greets me. He says give me a few minutes and I will go check. So Again, I am waiting anxiously and hopeful. Well after about 10 minutes the HS and the MS come over and are overly apologetic and saying they don't have the bag. However, they had it this morning and it SOLD. So at this time I am heart broken and distraughy. Saying to myself, what are they doing to me. Are they playing games with me or what is truly there intent - I don't understand!
They both then say, can you come back tomorrow before you leave and at this time, I am really over it, because I thought I built rapport, the MS had given me his business card the HS was corresponding with me via e-mail, so I really thought they were genuine. I was very upset and I said, No, we have more tours booked for tomorrow and then we need to head to the airport, not wanting to be delated or humiliated again. At that time, I also explained that last Friday was my birthday, and I was very hopeful to get a bag. They then again apologized and said, can you please come try again tomorrow, but I was so hurt - I stood firm and said No. I told them both it was very nice to meet them and I left the store, with no bag and no hope!
Later this evening, I received and e-mail from the MS saying he was very sorry I couldn't get the bag and that it was a pleasure to meet me. He cc'd the HS and said please let us know the next time you are in Paris and we will make sure you get a bag!
So, I am dumbfounded and don't understand why they were so friendly and appeared to be offering an Olive Branch, but when it was time to get a bag - it was a NO GO!! I was thinking they were trying to be helpful, had I not met them, I probably would have rescheduled appointments and went to all 3 stores multiple times, but they were giving me the impression that they were trying to help me and sadly I fell for it!!
Sorry for the long story, but I wanted to included all of the details. Please be candid with me as this was my first go and obviously it did not work - What could I have done different!!
