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.

 

[Rose.b]

I just came back from fsh with the worst H experience in my life. After my 4th rejection on appointment, I decided to go straight to the store today to ask for appointment cancellation/replacement and also to browse for my wishlist on slg and shoes. Upon arriving, I headed straight to the leather section but I was rejected politely (I knew the chances of cancellation will be low as tomorrow is PH and everyone obviously wouldn’t cancel a H appointment). I then went upstairs to look for shoes. Found one that I was keen to buy, waited few minutes to see if there was any SA available, none. I walked around the whole shoe department to find someone to assist me but every SA was tied up with something. DH and I then seated at the sofa while glazing around to check if we could catch any SA to assist on the sizing. After few minutes of waiting, we saw a SA walked by (we were aware that she was assisting a client). DH suggested that maybe I could ask her for the sizing and if she’s not available to help she can refer us to anyone else from the department, or at least know that we are waiting so she can attend to us once she’s done. So I walked up to the SA and asked. To our surprise, the SA replied me “Did you see that I’m with a client?” in a cold dead tone. We were shocked by her rudeness! She looked away immediately after saying that. I told DH that I don’t want the shoes anymore and we headed downstairs. (At this point, please tell us if we were being insensitive for bothering her while she’s with a client.)

This is not our first time in fsh but definitely our worst encounter. DH was so disappointed and kept complaining about how the service has deteriorated. I told him maybe it was just that particular SA. We went to the leather department (the appointment counter) and told the SA what happened. We were surprised, again, that she didn’t even want to hear us out but kept telling us that we should wait. IMO it’s not about the waiting time, it’s about the attitude and service. Honestly who here doesn’t wait to purchase a H? Though the whole conversation was short, but it was rude enough to turn me off.

 

[sailormoon]

Just curios , are u Asian Singaporean ?

 

[Aimee3]

I just came back from fsh with the worst H experience in my life. After my 4th rejection on appointment, I decided to go straight to the store today to ask for appointment cancellation/replacement and also to browse for my wishlist on slg and shoes. Upon arriving, I headed straight to the leather section but I was rejected politely (I knew the chances of cancellation will be low as tomorrow is PH and everyone obviously wouldn’t cancel a H appointment). I then went upstairs to look for shoes. Found one that I was keen to buy, waited few minutes to see if there was any SA available, none. I walked around the whole shoe department to find someone to assist me but every SA was tied up with something. DH and I then seated at the sofa while glazing around to check if we could catch any SA to assist on the sizing. After few minutes of waiting, we saw a SA walked by (we were aware that she was assisting a client). DH suggested that maybe I could ask her for the sizing and if she’s not available to help she can refer us to anyone else from the department, or at least know that we are waiting so she can attend to us once she’s done. So I walked up to the SA and asked. To our surprise, the SA replied me “Did you see that I’m with a client?” in a cold dead tone. We were shocked by her rudeness! She looked away immediately after saying that. I told DH that I don’t want the shoes anymore and we headed downstairs. (At this point, please tell us if we were being insensitive for bothering her while she’s with a client.)

This is not our first time in fsh but definitely our worst encounter. DH was so disappointed and kept complaining about how the service has deteriorated. I told him maybe it was just that particular SA. We went to the leather department (the appointment counter) and told the SA what happened. We were surprised, again, that she didn’t even want to hear us out but kept telling us that we should wait. IMO it’s not about the waiting time, it’s about the attitude and service. Honestly who here doesn’t wait to purchase a H? Though the whole conversation was short, but it was rude enough to turn me off.

Terrible! I will be in Paris in a couple of days. My husband has no patience to play the Hermes game so if I don’t get an appointment I don’t think I dare bring him there. What is PH?

 

[Rose.b]

Just curios , are u Asian Singaporean ?

No I’m not. But are suggesting that it’s because of my nationality?

 

[Rose.b]

Terrible! I will be in Paris in a couple of days. My husband has no patience to play the Hermes game so if I don’t get an appointment I don’t think I dare bring him there. What is PH?

Public Holiday. If there’s no appointment it’s so hard to buy anything because the SA are always tied up and once you get someone, he/she will only be in charge of that department. You’ll have to wait and find new SA to assist if you’re buying other items. Experience like this just push people away.

 

[sailormoon]

No I’m not. But are suggesting that it’s because of my nationality?

Well me myself is Asian , I do see different when they serve non Asian ... lol. ... no offence..

 

[ZZZZZZZ]

I'm asian too and never had that kind of experience in FSH or other store. I think nationality shouldn't be brought up as a main factor for bad service.. We should put it this way maybe its a long day for the SA and they are doing the same thing over and over again. Sometimes as customer we might also ask them many things and in the end we didn't buy.. It may cause them having a bad day. And I know its their job and is not an excuse for that SA behaviour.

 

[Rose.b]

Yes I second that. I don’t think it is because of nationality hence I never bring that up. I’ve been to fsh and other stores many times throughout the years, but I was never once treated like that.

Well I can’t say that it’s a long day for her, as I was there an hour after

 

[KH8]

(At this point, please tell us if we were being insensitive for bothering her while she’s with a client.)

This is not our first time in fsh but definitely our worst encounter. DH was so disappointed and kept complaining about how the service has deteriorated. I told him maybe it was just that particular SA. We went to the leather department (the appointment counter) and told the SA what happened. We were surprised, again, that she didn’t even want to hear us out but kept telling us that we should wait. IMO it’s not about the waiting time, it’s about the attitude and service. Honestly who here doesn’t wait to purchase a H? Though the whole conversation was short, but it was rude enough to turn me off.

Um... I am Asian.... and during my past 8.5 years working in Europe, I learned not to interrupt and I always wait until I am called upon.....(no matter how much time I have already spent waiting.. and for the record, I have waited for more than 1.5 hours just to be served in Sevres at the SLG department and my patience was WELL paid off). This is nothing personal...... and to think of it the other way, if I am with a SA, and people keep coming up to ask my SA for assistance, I would be a bit annoyed too.... Full attention from my SA would be very much expected for luxury brand experiences. And imagine, that 10 mins time the client had with the SA could be his or her 7th try with the appointment system....

and that's why I don't bring my hubby nor friends... I always go alone...
but then my time cost is very low... so if waiting could get me what I desire, it's well worth it... lol....

Cheer up!! ^^

 

[Rose.b]

.. the store opens. It’s definitely not an excuse for her to reply any client in such cold and direct manner because of whatever reasons? (& I definitely did not ask too many questions, I only asked for the size of a shoe)

Well maybe it’s not her bad day, it’s mine. Haha.

 

[Rose.b]

Um... I am Asian.... and during my past 8.5 years working in Europe, I learned not to interrupt and I always wait until I am called upon.....(no matter how much time I have already spent waiting.. and for the record, I have waited for more than 1.5 hours just to be served in Sevres at the SLG department and my patience was WELL paid off). This is nothing personal...... and to think of it the other way, if I am with a SA, and people keep coming up to ask my SA for assistance, I would be a bit annoyed too.... Full attention from my SA would be very much expected for luxury brand experiences. And imagine, that 10 mins time the client had with the SA could be his or her 7th try with the appointment system....

and that's why I don't bring my hubby nor friends... I always go alone...
but then my time cost is very low... so if waiting could get me what I desire, it's well worth it... lol....

Cheer up!! ^^

I see where you’re coming from. Maybe I shouldn’t be asking so much from a H SA Just some correction tho, I didn’t approach a leather department SA, I asked a SA who’s working in shoe department as she was standing aside waiting for her client to try the shoes.

 

[GoldFish8]

.. the store opens. It’s definitely not an excuse for her to reply any client in such cold and direct manner because of whatever reasons? (& I definitely did not ask too many questions, I only asked for the size of a shoe)

Well maybe it’s not her bad day, it’s mine. Haha.

Just curious, if you knew she was helping someone else why would you ask her to get your shoe size? It seems you kinda knew it was a “no no” to disturb her.. yet you are surprised that she curtly told you no? You had only been waiting a few minutes. Maybe the person she had been helping had been waiting hours. Sorry to be the voice of dissent. But SA’s are human too. Patience is Key with Hermès. It’s like that in the US too. If all Sa’s Are tied up helping people at the store, you just have to wait. If you can’t wait, then leave and come back. Maybe look at it from SA’s point of view.

 

[sarahfl]

Slightly off topic. Anyone in Paris this past weekend experienced the protestors? Wondering if this is a routine now on the weekends.

My sis was there 2 weeks ago. Her hotel was on Champs-Elysee. Although she didn't mention about the protectors, there was a taxi strike on the Monday when she needed to go to the airport. She had to bribe the hotel door man to get a ride from sb he knew in the end.
Also George V stock was soo low. They didn't even have the shoes, jewelry or CDC bracelet that she was looking for.

 

[chicinthecity777]

Based on what I can see in Hermes boutiques in different locations in the world, generally, it won't get you anywhere if you deliberately interrupt/intercept an SA who is already help another client. If all SAs are clearly busy, wait until an SA is free, then approach and put your request forward. It's just a common courtesy to the SA & the client who they are helping.

 

[showgratitude]

It is rude to have disturbed her if you clearly knew that she was assisting someone else. However, the SA could have addressed the issue in a straight-forward yet (customer-service) appropriate way by saying something like: “Sorry, I am busy assisting another client now. Please go to the desk for assistance.” Can you imagine if you went to the grocery and the clerk treated you the same way.. and she responded to you in that manner? I am sure many won’t tolerate it. But then if you truly love H and want to “play the game”, you will have to suck it up.

I just came back from fsh with the worst H experience in my life. After my 4th rejection on appointment, I decided to go straight to the store today to ask for appointment cancellation/replacement and also to browse for my wishlist on slg and shoes. Upon arriving, I headed straight to the leather section but I was rejected politely (I knew the chances of cancellation will be low as tomorrow is PH and everyone obviously wouldn’t cancel a H appointment). I then went upstairs to look for shoes. Found one that I was keen to buy, waited few minutes to see if there was any SA available, none. I walked around the whole shoe department to find someone to assist me but every SA was tied up with something. DH and I then seated at the sofa while glazing around to check if we could catch any SA to assist on the sizing. After few minutes of waiting, we saw a SA walked by (we were aware that she was assisting a client). DH suggested that maybe I could ask her for the sizing and if she’s not available to help she can refer us to anyone else from the department, or at least know that we are waiting so she can attend to us once she’s done. So I walked up to the SA and asked. To our surprise, the SA replied me “Did you see that I’m with a client?” in a cold dead tone. We were shocked by her rudeness! She looked away immediately after saying that. I told DH that I don’t want the shoes anymore and we headed downstairs. (At this point, please tell us if we were being insensitive for bothering her while she’s with a client.)

This is not our first time in fsh but definitely our worst encounter. DH was so disappointed and kept complaining about how the service has deteriorated. I told him maybe it was just that particular SA. We went to the leather department (the appointment counter) and told the SA what happened. We were surprised, again, that she didn’t even want to hear us out but kept telling us that we should wait. IMO it’s not about the waiting time, it’s about the attitude and service. Honestly who here doesn’t wait to purchase a H? Though the whole conversation was short, but it was rude enough to turn me off.