Paris trip for Hermes

[papertiger]

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.

 

[Anna Davis]

I do think you should keep the bag or resell it. I’m not sure why it was carried to Paris if you didn’t attempt to return it (perhaps unknowingly that you couldn’t). Some people keep the protective plastic on things, wear them, and return them with the thought that, ‘well, if the SA can’t tell it’s used it doesn’t matter.’ I hope that’s not the case. I’m trying to think positive, but it’s hard to understand why you would tout a bag overseas unless you planned on wearing it.

I think it would be preferable to resell as a bag in new condition than return to a store as unused.

Congrats on your Paris score. I’m not sure if you 100% like it or not, but it seems like your conquest was met. Either way, you have two lovely bags that can be lifetime pieces.

I first thought I would maybe exchange for a Birkin if one was available and thinking that was available from not sure where (read on some forum), then decided it’s not worth the hassle and I was afraid my SA in US could lose commission, so decided to keep the Kelly. I thought if I don’t get a Birkin, and I’m past return period once here, I would use it. Didn’t really think it thru I suppose. Trip was last min, booked few days prior to flight. But I agree after more thought, I should just keep both bags. I know they are difficult to get and I do think the Kelly is a beautiful bag. It seems a little lighter too. Will be good for evenings and when I don’t really need to get to phone, etc. as much. Or for business as it’s a dark, more professional color. Love the Magnolia, but it feels very Barbie. Still figuring out what to best wear it with. So far wearing it with matching lipstick and black outfit is my fav. like in this photo.

 

[disappeared]

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I first thought I would maybe exchange for a Birkin if one was available and thinking that was available from not sure where (read on some forum), then decided it’s not worth the hassle and I was afraid my SA in US could lose commission, so decided to keep the Kelly. I thought if I don’t get a Birkin, and I’m past return period once here, I would use it. Didn’t really think it thru I suppose. Trip was last min, booked few days prior to flight. But I agree after more thought, I should just keep both bags. I know they are difficult to get and I do think the Kelly is a beautiful bag. It seems a little lighter too. Will be good for evenings and when I don’t really need to get to phone, etc. as much. Or for business as it’s a dark, more professional color. Love the Magnolia, but it feels very Barbie. Still figuring out what to best wear it with. So far wearing it with matching lipstick and black outfit is my fav. like in this photo.

Sorry to be off topic on this thread but for your info in the future, SAs dont get commission from B/K (quota bags).

 

[Lovebb12]

Thank you for posting your story. I have never thought of that. Maybe I should have think out of the box when I kept being rejected by the system too. I believe your approach for things will get you most of the things in your life.

Thank you for sharing!

Hi Everyone,

I scored my 30 Birkin Magnolia Togo today! We arrived in Paris last Friday 8/24 late and only my husband applied for appointment for that day but was declined.
We both applied for Saturday and only my appointment was granted for about 5:30 pm but then moved up to about 4:45 that we rushed for. I was offered a B35 etoupe by a male SA that didn’t seem super friendly. I already have a K28 in black, which feels heavy for me so I wanted a 30 or 25. He also went and brought out a faded red color (don’t recall name). I almost took the 35, in fact told him I will take it (he has me fill out my info), but then I called my local US FL SA and she coached me into waiting on 35 as I don’t want a large bag and they get those more often. I was feeling a little cocky since I scored the K28 pretty easily with maybe $200 shopping history in US and then being offered B35 on first try at FSH. Well that changed. Next 2 days (for Monday and Tuesday), we were both rejected.

Last night feeling desperate and wanting to get out of Paris (people smoke, diesel smell everywhere), I played business woman. I got onto LinkedIn at about midnight and found some people who work at FSH and tried to connect with them. I also sent 2 “InMails,” to 2 employees I found in management capacity saying I need help with appointment as I rejected the B35 and we keep being rejected for appointment. I also complimented one SA who sold me my belt who was beyond helpful, patient and kept telling me to wait for right bag. To my surprise at 8:50 am I received a message from one LinkedIn individual that I have an appointment at 10:30 (he must have made it as I was rejected today from appointment system).

We went at 10:30, were assigned SA. Told her I rejected a B35, told her what colors I liked, which I didn’t, that palladium silver hardware is a must and off she went. No water was offered this time like last when I was offered the B35. I was worried. About 10 min later she came out with lots of bags and asked us to go to dressing room to show them to us. I instantly liked the B30 Magnolia. My response to it was WAY more favorable than to etoupe 35 which looked brown to me (I don’t like brown colors). I really wanted a black or gray one so was a bit disappointed but at this time after all the rejections (including asking for cancellations and other store), that I was being offered the right size.

Since I just got my Kelly in US couple weeks ago, I am trying to exchange it there for store credit and wait for Black Birkin I think as Kelly is a pain to get in and out of although it’s a pretty bag.

Excited about the B30 and hubby is happy I am happy. I literally cried last night in public (not overly much) when I saw appointments are a rejections, LOL. He felt bad for me.

I am super, super worried though Magnolia will show wear way more than black. I know I can send it back in one day etc but still super concerned. What is your experience with longevity or bags looking like new with lighter or bright colors? When you send back to Hermes, do they come back looking new? Will post pic shortly.

Sorry to be off topic on this thread but for your info in the future, SAs dont get commission from B/K (quota bags).

 

[Sock the cat]

Although being heavy, this is the most classic and one of the most coveted combos. Congrats!

I agree. I requested black or orange B30. I was offered a black B35. I took it. Yes it’s heavy. And I don’t want to waste a probably once in a lifetime offer in Paris.

Thank you all. I hope I made the right choice of taking the offer. The SA said this is “the Color” although the size is not perfect. I have wanted to have a bag in this combo for some time actually.

As I am going back to Paris in late Sept, can anyone advise how it works for the quota of B or K in France? I will definitely be trying to get appointments at FSH again, and will be going to Bordeaux during weekend as well (I believe there is an H shop there?). Just wonder if they will offer me another B or K now that I bought one in early August?

 

[Sock the cat]

Thank you so much for sharing!

I should have joined this forum earlier!!!

If I knew that’s the case re the spending, could have bag something nicer at the other two. Not even feel like to mention the total amount of none bag items of my bill. Yes we need them, well at least 2/3 of them, but could have played smarter and get a better bag.

Well, lesson learnt!

Thank you for all your kind words and all your experience.

Sorry you didn’t get B or K this time. It happens. I have been to FSH for like 4-5 years now and I have also been rejected more than once. I was also disappointed and that’s why I now do my research before my trip to increase my chance of getting my dream bag.

Do you mind sharing how much you spend on non-leather items? Try George V next time. My friend also got a b30 last year after she bought a jacket there.

 

[Lovebb12]

Hi I think the spence of mine doesn’t present a thing and it will be easily made others think that they are ( not I am) not spending enough so they didn’t get it, which is wrong according to this forum.

But I do think if you have slightly better purchase history at fhs you might get an appointment quicker.

I talked about it because the other member share her luck at GV and her spence isn’t little but let’s put down this way, mine was far more. That why I said if I have read all this threads previously and play my card more carefully, I could have bag one at the other two stores.


But, do not fall into the ‘ I didn’t spend enough to get an appointment’// ‘I didn’t spend enough to get the handbag’ impression, according to many people here, it wasn’t their case at all. On the contrary, if you set up a spending target but not getting anything ideal and buying too much things you don’t need, you might feel even worse afterwards. I guess if you want to play cards with the stores, to get bags, you better ask people with more experience with luck of bought bags in the end, which will be a better reference.

I didn’t get the bag because I didn’t play my card right at two other stores, which I didn’t realised when sales were trying to get more items for me so that I can buy a bag later. I was too new to this game at that point.

Sorry you didn’t get B or K this time. It happens. I have been to FSH for like 4-5 years now and I have also been rejected more than once. I was also disappointed and that’s why I now do my research before my trip to increase my chance of getting my dream bag.

Do you mind sharing how much you spend on non-leather items? Try George V next time. My friend also got a b30 last year after she bought a jacket there.

, I think the

 

[Lovebb12]

For b/k you only allowed to buy one of them every 6 months in theory, in France.

Thank you all. I hope I made the right choice of taking the offer. The SA said this is “the Color” although the size is not perfect. I have wanted to have a bag in this combo for some time actually.

As I am going back to Paris in late Sept, can anyone advise how it works for the quota of B or K in France? I will definitely be trying to get appointments at FSH again, and will be going to Bordeaux during weekend as well (I believe there is an H shop there?). Just wonder if they will offer me another B or K now that I bought one in early August?

ij

 

[Lovebb12]

Hi, that’s very good to know!

I am anxious to know, if that’s the case, doesn’t it mean that, sales has 0 interesting in serving customers who want to buy b/k?

If they have 1-2 b/k a day to sale to customers, they will tend to sell it to people who they made most money from/ or they just feel like to at the point of meeting the customers, all the other customers will be the unlucky ones, who has to either come home with an empty hand or just buy whatever the sales offering even its not a b/k/c?

Sorry to be off topic on this thread but for your info in the future, SAs dont get commission from B/K (quota bags).

 

[Lovebb12]

A question for all the lucky girls, for those you successfully scored one ( b/k/c) in fsh, which of the following do you think made you get the bag?

1) purely lucky , the sales was in good mood and there were stocks.

2) in general I am a sweet person and people like to give me things I wanted. ( surely it included politely respected the sales etc.)

3) in general I am better at negotiated things and I played smart during the purchasing, so that sales agree to get me the bag.

4) I made the sales aware I am perfectly fit into their market and they love to sell me their b/k/c

 

[Lovebb12]

Hi disappeared, by any chance do you know will sales make commission from the other leather items such as wallet?

Those from leather department who are in charge of Selling bags, are they also making commission if say I bought bags from them but also reserved none leather items the previous day, then pay all of them together, will the one serve me at buying bags also get commission from my reserve items? Although the reserve items will be initially under another sales’s because he/ she help reserve those none bag items?

 

[theultimateemily]

It’s my first post on the forum, been lurking for quite sometime now and thought sharing my experience could be helpful for your next trip to FSH looking for a Birkin.

I went on a Monday morning, around 11 am. Walked in without an appointment as I didn’t make the draw from previous day, went straight to the scarf counter, asked to see some cashmere scarves and took two (red for mum, black for myself), made casual jokes along the way and the process was about 10 minutes. The SA then asked if I wanted to see anything else. I asked to see some wallets, then we moved to the wallet counter. This part is key as you want to have the same SA assist you and not pass you off to their “colleague” in the wallet section. I looked at some wallets and decided on a Gris Etain Bearn wallet after some brief comparison. I made it a point to ask the doorwoman’s opinion on colour, making exchanges with other store staff and made sure it was fun and pleasant. Then he asked for my profile to see if I had been in the system, and was shocked to find out that it was my first Hermes visit in France. He then asked if I needed anything else, I whispered to him (as many ears were around my section), “could you show me some bags please”, and he asked me what kind. I told him I’m looking for a smaller bag in “either size 25 or 26”, a Lindy or a Birkin. He got the idea and took me to the lady that manages leather appointments in the centre podium. He spoke in French and I think he asked her to free his schedule. The SA then asked me to wait by the men’s section - I waited for about 10 minutes with my heart pounding and he showed up with a small box. He walked me upstairs to a private room and told me that I was very lucky today. It was a B25 in Etoupe with a horseshoe stamp. The VIP that placed an order really lost out on this one... I picked two orange twillies to go with the bag. The purchase was then delivered to my hotel the same afternoon. It was quite a pleasant initial experience, however, my experience in other stores have not been quite so pleasant. So it really depends on your luck...

 

[periogirl28]

Thank you all. I hope I made the right choice of taking the offer. The SA said this is “the Color” although the size is not perfect. I have wanted to have a bag in this combo for some time actually.

As I am going back to Paris in late Sept, can anyone advise how it works for the quota of B or K in France? I will definitely be trying to get appointments at FSH again, and will be going to Bordeaux during weekend as well (I believe there is an H shop there?). Just wonder if they will offer me another B or K now that I bought one in early August?

I am sorry but generally it's unlikely you can buy 2 quota bags within 2 months. Bordeaux and the whole of France is linked if I am not wrong. So your August purchase can be seen. You can request for non-quota bags.

 

[periogirl28]

A question for all the lucky girls, for those you successfully scored one ( b/k/c) in fsh, which of the following do you think made you get the bag?

1) purely lucky , the sales was in good mood and there were stocks.

2) in general I am a sweet person and people like to give me things I wanted. ( surely it included politely respected the sales etc.)

3) in general I am better at negotiated things and I played smart during the purchasing, so that sales agree to get me the bag.

4) I made the sales aware I am perfectly fit into their market and they love to sell me their b/k/c

2)

 

[periogirl28]

It’s my first post on the forum, been lurking for quite sometime now and thought sharing my experience could be helpful for your next trip to FSH looking for a Birkin.

I went on a Monday morning, around 11 am. Walked in without an appointment as I didn’t make the draw from previous day, went straight to the scarf counter, asked to see some cashmere scarves and took two (red for mum, black for myself), made casual jokes along the way and the process was about 10 minutes. The SA then asked if I wanted to see anything else. I asked to see some wallets, then we moved to the wallet counter. This part is key as you want to have the same SA assist you and not pass you off to their “colleague” in the wallet section. I looked at some wallets and decided on a Gris Etain Bearn wallet after some brief comparison. I made it a point to ask the doorwoman’s opinion on colour, making exchanges with other store staff and made sure it was fun and pleasant. Then he asked for my profile to see if I had been in the system, and was shocked to find out that it was my first Hermes visit in France. He then asked if I needed anything else, I whispered to him (as many ears were around my section), “could you show me some bags please”, and he asked me what kind. I told him I’m looking for a smaller bag in “either size 25 or 26”, a Lindy or a Birkin. He got the idea and took me to the lady that manages leather appointments in the centre podium. He spoke in French and I think he asked her to free his schedule. The SA then asked me to wait by the men’s section - I waited for about 10 minutes with my heart pounding and he showed up with a small box. He walked me upstairs to a private room and told me that I was very lucky today. It was a B25 in Etoupe with a horseshoe stamp. The VIP that placed an order really lost out on this one... I picked two orange twillies to go with the bag. The purchase was then delivered to my hotel the same afternoon. It was quite a pleasant initial experience, however, my experience in other stores have not been quite so pleasant. So it really depends on your luck...

Congrats you may have been offered a store SO.

 

[theultimateemily]

Congrats you may have been offered a store SO.

Thank you - very lucky indeed.

Also wanted to add that the SA asked me about colour, and I told him neutral colours and pointed at my outfit (I was wearing monochrome shades only). I think that helped him get an idea of my style.