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.

 

[chicinthecity777]

Are you serious? What would you do if you were in another store like a grocery and someone cut in front of you? You'd say pardon/excuse me/sorry but I think I was next...? No need to obsess to such detail as to what distance or where you should position yourself from the SA or client it's down to your discretion. At the end of the day you have to be assertive this isnt being confrontational you're just standing up for yourself otherwise you'll be there all day with people cutting in left and right!

I can't believe this discussion has been going on so long either! Whenever I experience that an SA was about to serve the client arriving after me because they lose track, I just put my hand up and say to them "sorry to interrupt but I am the next inline", in any store.

 

[cream_puff11]

I would like to share with you my recent success story at FSH.

Me and DH booked a two week trip to Paris hoping for my 1st constance. I was granted appointment on my 5th try. We were supposed to go to Strasbourg but cancelled it as I prioritize the bag more than the trip.

My appointment was at 1:20pm but was moved to 1:50pm. As soon as I arrived, the SA escorted me to the second floor and asked me what she can do to help me. I said I wanted a C 18 in gray epsom RGHW but open to other hardware as well. She asked if I want something else and I said a K20 or 25 could work only if with my color preference.

After 5 mins, I was escorted to a private room and there goes my C18 epsom etoupe PHW waiting for me. I was in awe!!!

On the following day, my DH was granted appointment for a 5:20pm slot. I was hesitant at first as it was too late and might be low on stock by that time. But decided to cancel another scheduled trip again for that day because again, i prioritize the bag more than the trip.

Our appointment was moved to 6:20pm and my hope was almost gone as I am quite sure by that time they may not offer me anything. But as soon as I arrived a different SA assisted us and told him what I wanted which is same as yesterday but prioritizing K than C as I have scored a C18 yesterday.

Again, we were escorted to a private room and showed me a C24 in Rouge H epsom GHW. I did not like the color even if SA told me it is a sought after color and considered neutral. I gladly returned it and ask for something bright and girly. SA came back with C24 in rose pourpre evercolor. I loved it!

So now I am coming home with a C18 and C24. I just hope I was right in getting the rose than the rouge.

Sharing this success story to give hope to all aspiring constance carrier with no history purchased.

This is my 4th time in Paris and this is definitely one for the books!

 

[mauihappyplace]

I would like to share with you my recent success story at FSH.

Me and DH booked a two week trip to Paris hoping for my 1st constance. I was granted appointment on my 5th try. We were supposed to go to Strasbourg but cancelled it as I prioritize the bag more than the trip.

My appointment was at 1:20pm but was moved to 1:50pm. As soon as I arrived, the SA escorted me to the second floor and asked me what she can do to help me. I said I wanted a C 18 in gray epsom RGHW but open to other hardware as well. She asked if I want something else and I said a K20 or 25 could work only if with my color preference.

After 5 mins, I was escorted to a private room and there goes my C18 epsom etoupe PHW waiting for me. I was in awe!!!

On the following day, my DH was granted appointment for a 5:20pm slot. I was hesitant at first as it was too late and might be low on stock by that time. But decided to cancel another scheduled trip again for that day because again, i prioritize the bag more than the trip.

Our appointment was moved to 6:20pm and my hope was almost gone as I am quite sure by that time they may not offer me anything. But as soon as I arrived a different SA assisted us and told him what I wanted which is same as yesterday but prioritizing K than C as I have scored a C18 yesterday.

Again, we were escorted to a private room and showed me a C24 in Rouge H epsom GHW. I did not like the color even if SA told me it is a sought after color and considered neutral. I gladly returned it and ask for something bright and girly. SA came back with C24 in rose pourpre evercolor. I loved it!

So now I am coming home with a C18 and C24. I just hope I was right in getting the rose than the rouge.

Sharing this success story to give hope to all aspiring constance carrier with no history purchased.

This is my 4th time in Paris and this is definitely one for the books!

Great story. One of my favorite H colors is Rouge H BUT the Right color for you is the one you wanted... the only wrong choice would settling for “ the right choice”(according to other people’s taste)
Enjoy your beautiful bags!!!

 

[GoldFish8]

I would like to share with you my recent success story at FSH.

Me and DH booked a two week trip to Paris hoping for my 1st constance. I was granted appointment on my 5th try. We were supposed to go to Strasbourg but cancelled it as I prioritize the bag more than the trip.

My appointment was at 1:20pm but was moved to 1:50pm. As soon as I arrived, the SA escorted me to the second floor and asked me what she can do to help me. I said I wanted a C 18 in gray epsom RGHW but open to other hardware as well. She asked if I want something else and I said a K20 or 25 could work only if with my color preference.

After 5 mins, I was escorted to a private room and there goes my C18 epsom etoupe PHW waiting for me. I was in awe!!!

On the following day, my DH was granted appointment for a 5:20pm slot. I was hesitant at first as it was too late and might be low on stock by that time. But decided to cancel another scheduled trip again for that day because again, i prioritize the bag more than the trip.

Our appointment was moved to 6:20pm and my hope was almost gone as I am quite sure by that time they may not offer me anything. But as soon as I arrived a different SA assisted us and told him what I wanted which is same as yesterday but prioritizing K than C as I have scored a C18 yesterday.

Again, we were escorted to a private room and showed me a C24 in Rouge H epsom GHW. I did not like the color even if SA told me it is a sought after color and considered neutral. I gladly returned it and ask for something bright and girly. SA came back with C24 in rose pourpre evercolor. I loved it!

So now I am coming home with a C18 and C24. I just hope I was right in getting the rose than the rouge.

Sharing this success story to give hope to all aspiring constance carrier with no history purchased.

This is my 4th time in Paris and this is definitely one for the books!

Lovely! Is that RGHW?

 

[ayc]

I would like to share with you my recent success story at FSH.

Me and DH booked a two week trip to Paris hoping for my 1st constance. I was granted appointment on my 5th try. We were supposed to go to Strasbourg but cancelled it as I prioritize the bag more than the trip.

My appointment was at 1:20pm but was moved to 1:50pm. As soon as I arrived, the SA escorted me to the second floor and asked me what she can do to help me. I said I wanted a C 18 in gray epsom RGHW but open to other hardware as well. She asked if I want something else and I said a K20 or 25 could work only if with my color preference.

After 5 mins, I was escorted to a private room and there goes my C18 epsom etoupe PHW waiting for me. I was in awe!!!

On the following day, my DH was granted appointment for a 5:20pm slot. I was hesitant at first as it was too late and might be low on stock by that time. But decided to cancel another scheduled trip again for that day because again, i prioritize the bag more than the trip.

Our appointment was moved to 6:20pm and my hope was almost gone as I am quite sure by that time they may not offer me anything. But as soon as I arrived a different SA assisted us and told him what I wanted which is same as yesterday but prioritizing K than C as I have scored a C18 yesterday.

Again, we were escorted to a private room and showed me a C24 in Rouge H epsom GHW. I did not like the color even if SA told me it is a sought after color and considered neutral. I gladly returned it and ask for something bright and girly. SA came back with C24 in rose pourpre evercolor. I loved it!

So now I am coming home with a C18 and C24. I just hope I was right in getting the rose than the rouge.

Sharing this success story to give hope to all aspiring constance carrier with no history purchased.

This is my 4th time in Paris and this is definitely one for the books!

Gorgeous!! Congrats!!

 

[eagle1002us]

So that comes back to my original question - how to deal with line cutters.

When the SA is helping someone, I want to give them space, both for the patron and the SA. I don't want to hear their conversation, because I don't want mine heard either. And in my mind it's a globally understood manner - think of the yellow line in front of a bank teller or passport control. Those line cutters go right up to the glass case and hang out there! That's something I'd never do. In where I live, most sales associates (as I mentioned even fishmongers and butchers) keep track on the often non-existing line. The display case is wide, patrons get there from all directions, there's just no line to speak of. It depends on the courtesy of the patrons and the fishmonger. At my local H, if my SA is helping someone, I just need to get her eye contact from a distance. but that also means she's always on the look out, unlike what's being discussed so far.

I actually have empathy for the SAs for having to deal with the same crowd _every_single_day_ - can you imagine what it is like to turn down tens if not hundreds of people coming in desperately trying different ways to buy a B/K, and the number of times you have to tell them to go to the other two stores, and they are never satisfied? At the end of the day, I have the appointment, the line cutters don't. But I'm wasting precious vacation time.

I would hate to switch to grocery/survival mode at FSH because... while as much as I want to get a purse I want, this is supposed to be a luxury experience and I'd feel stupid afterwards for having to treat it like buying a piece of meat! The question is why should I have to? Unless someone tells me it's the French way.

Now that I'm reading about "undivided attention to the current customer", I was thinking if there's a chance they may not even have a visual of my presence - Should I have thrown myself in front of the SA so that I can get his/her next attention? What is the "correct" distance from the previous patron? What should have been said if the SA acknowledges the line-cutter first instead of me? How do the French deal with line cutters.

Can you simply catch the eye of the SA (unless she/he doesn't look around her) and smile so she'll know you're waiting? I'm not saying this will work. You are gracious to consider the notion of personal space but obviously cultural norms are being established that it's ok to get closer to the SA. In fact, the other customer might wonder why you hadn't and just concluded you were hanging out. Somebody said it was a cutthroat experience at FSH.
At banks in the US, as I recall, if someone was too close to your interaction with the teller (remember those days?) the teller would tell them to stand back behind the line. Somebody's got to enforce civility!
Could you tell the person who cut in front of you that you were in line before them? Maybe they are confused about why you're not drooling directly over the other customer's interaction with the SA.
I'm starting to think there is no right way to handle this situation. The whole world shops at FSH and all these cultures/peoples will probably have a different sense of personal space.
I am so glad there's no longer a line each morning to get into FSH. So many people would just cut in front (I think) that it would make it a very unpleasant experience to call them out.

 

[Pokie607]

I would like to share with you my recent success story at FSH.

Me and DH booked a two week trip to Paris hoping for my 1st constance. I was granted appointment on my 5th try. We were supposed to go to Strasbourg but cancelled it as I prioritize the bag more than the trip.

My appointment was at 1:20pm but was moved to 1:50pm. As soon as I arrived, the SA escorted me to the second floor and asked me what she can do to help me. I said I wanted a C 18 in gray epsom RGHW but open to other hardware as well. She asked if I want something else and I said a K20 or 25 could work only if with my color preference.

After 5 mins, I was escorted to a private room and there goes my C18 epsom etoupe PHW waiting for me. I was in awe!!!

On the following day, my DH was granted appointment for a 5:20pm slot. I was hesitant at first as it was too late and might be low on stock by that time. But decided to cancel another scheduled trip again for that day because again, i prioritize the bag more than the trip.

Our appointment was moved to 6:20pm and my hope was almost gone as I am quite sure by that time they may not offer me anything. But as soon as I arrived a different SA assisted us and told him what I wanted which is same as yesterday but prioritizing K than C as I have scored a C18 yesterday.

Again, we were escorted to a private room and showed me a C24 in Rouge H epsom GHW. I did not like the color even if SA told me it is a sought after color and considered neutral. I gladly returned it and ask for something bright and girly. SA came back with C24 in rose pourpre evercolor. I loved it!

So now I am coming home with a C18 and C24. I just hope I was right in getting the rose than the rouge.

Sharing this success story to give hope to all aspiring constance carrier with no history purchased.

This is my 4th time in Paris and this is definitely one for the books!

I absolutely love rose pourpre - definitely “fun and girly”! Great scores. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[mcmug17]

Are you serious? What would you do if you were in another store like a grocery and someone cut in front of you? You'd say pardon/excuse me/sorry but I think I was next...? No need to obsess to such detail as to what distance or where you should position yourself from the SA or client it's down to your discretion. At the end of the day you have to be assertive this isnt being confrontational you're just standing up for yourself otherwise you'll be there all day with people cutting in left and right!

Oh hell yes I'm serious. I may sound obsessed but trust me I'm not. I despise of the line cutters while trying to learn my way to prevent future incidents. There aren't really line cutters to speak of at where I live because people care about cutter off others to begin with. When in doubt, as in there are several patrons who can't figure who got there first, it's always "please go ahead of me", and then "ladies first" kind of attitude. How am I supposed to know what the future line-cutters intentions are until the moment they start speaking to the SA? Using grocery shopping as the example at where I live - people walk up to the fish case trying to look at what's available and they hang out there (me included), but they are conscious of who's already been waiting and never disrupt the order. So if disrupting another one's conversation is totally acceptable, I'll start doing it!

Thank you for the approval!

 

[mcmug17]

Can you simply catch the eye of the SA (unless she/he doesn't look around her) and smile so she'll know you're waiting? I'm not saying this will work. You are gracious to consider the notion of personal space but obviously cultural norms are being established that it's ok to get closer to the SA. In fact, the other customer might wonder why you hadn't and just concluded you were hanging out. Somebody said it was a cutthroat experience at FSH.
At banks in the US, as I recall, if someone was too close to your interaction with the teller (remember those days?) the teller would tell them to stand back behind the line. Somebody's got to enforce civility!
Could you tell the person who cut in front of you that you were in line before them? Maybe they are confused about why you're not drooling directly over the other customer's interaction with the SA.
I'm starting to think there is no right way to handle this situation. The whole world shops at FSH and all these cultures/peoples will probably have a different sense of personal space.
I am so glad there's no longer a line each morning to get into FSH. So many people would just cut in front (I think) that it would make it a very unpleasant experience to call them out.

This is obviously an art I have not mastered. Catching the eye of someone vs staring is something I need to practice. I've already concluded that it's the cultural difference that's putting me in a difficult spot based on the comments I received.

Just very recently I amped up my "courage" to speak up during travel - towards a guy who tried to get into the baggage drop line before me. I said to him "there's a line" in an "I think" assertive way, and his yelled at me saying "I'm late for my flight!". To hell with me I felt bad for him so I didn't push on! So same thing - A little part of me felt bad when I hear them asking for an appointment...

But like you said there's no correct way to handle this and I'm coming to accept that. Back in the days where you can only wait for an SA to serve and people had to wait for almost all day (I've done that for maybe 10 mins?), to the queue system where people woke up at 3am for the spot (nope), to today's appointment system. This is by far the most civilized system yet. I bought all my holy grails because of these appointments but I would have been totally OK to never get my HGs if I had to go through the crazy systems before.

 

[BagsofOC]

I would like to share with you my recent success story at FSH.

Me and DH booked a two week trip to Paris hoping for my 1st constance. I was granted appointment on my 5th try. We were supposed to go to Strasbourg but cancelled it as I prioritize the bag more than the trip.

My appointment was at 1:20pm but was moved to 1:50pm. As soon as I arrived, the SA escorted me to the second floor and asked me what she can do to help me. I said I wanted a C 18 in gray epsom RGHW but open to other hardware as well. She asked if I want something else and I said a K20 or 25 could work only if with my color preference.

After 5 mins, I was escorted to a private room and there goes my C18 epsom etoupe PHW waiting for me. I was in awe!!!

On the following day, my DH was granted appointment for a 5:20pm slot. I was hesitant at first as it was too late and might be low on stock by that time. But decided to cancel another scheduled trip again for that day because again, i prioritize the bag more than the trip.

Our appointment was moved to 6:20pm and my hope was almost gone as I am quite sure by that time they may not offer me anything. But as soon as I arrived a different SA assisted us and told him what I wanted which is same as yesterday but prioritizing K than C as I have scored a C18 yesterday.

Again, we were escorted to a private room and showed me a C24 in Rouge H epsom GHW. I did not like the color even if SA told me it is a sought after color and considered neutral. I gladly returned it and ask for something bright and girly. SA came back with C24 in rose pourpre evercolor. I loved it!

So now I am coming home with a C18 and C24. I just hope I was right in getting the rose than the rouge.

Sharing this success story to give hope to all aspiring constance carrier with no history purchased.

This is my 4th time in Paris and this is definitely one for the books!

Both are stunning!!!!!

 

[bagshopr]

Your new Constance bags are gorgeous and I love your color choices! How lucky that you were able to get two.

 

[tripfare183]

Rejected for an appointment the third time this morning and leaving Wednesday next week. Now I am wondering if it would have been safer to apply several times before my arrival, given that the store is closed on Monday so I have 2 more tries left.

 

[LKNN]

No to comparing with other bags. Yes they went to the window with the smaller items and swatches. I actually love the vert vertigo which I have, so I guess I should focus on that. The thing is the manager couldn’t get me a new receipt because the bag was bought with my husbands passport and he didn’t come with me the second time, and it would mess up the vat refund form since they have to correspond. She did offer her card and offered to mail me the new receipt once the refund goes through, so I’ll follow up with her but in my experience refunds can take up to two months.

I guess I just wanted everything to be perfect. It’s odd that the leather and size is correct but the color off by a shade of green. I wonder if it was human error somewhere down the line with mislabeling the color due to shades being so close.

Anyone else thinking they would have used the store's receipt mishap as a way to secure a second bag, ha? 'Oh the stress of having the wrong color listed on my receipt-- only a (second) k can cure the agony

 

[LKNN]

oh I hope it's just that the sa is on vacay...ur post makes me a bit nervous though...

This

I was in Paris from Wed-Sunday with my mom to celebrate both of our birthdays, with Kellys and Birkins in mind of course.

We weren't able to get appointments at FSH until Saturday so we made daily walk-in appointments at both Sevres and George V. Up until Friday, we hadn't received any Birkin or Kelly offers during our walk in appointments. I was shown a black Jypsiere, a Verrou and etoupe Evelyne at George V, which I turned down. My hopes were diminishing each day. On a bright note, I got to meet and take a photo with Sofia Coppola at Sevres. She was absolutely lovely and sweet.

Then finally on Friday at Sevres, I was finally offered my first Kelly! A Bleu Brighton retourne K25 in Swift and GHW!!! Although my first choice was a sellier K25/28, I was thrilled and could hardly contain my excitement.

Later that evening, my mom and I both got texts confirming our appointments at FSH for Saturday. We couldn't believe our luck that day.

We arrived at FSH for my mom's appointment the next day. The SA was very sweet and asked for our wishlist. We told her we were looking for a sellier Kelly in 25 or 28 or a Birkin 25 or 30, neutral colors preferred and GHW.

While we were waiting for the SA to return, a couple sitting behind us said we were lucky to have our SA. The woman knew many others who had been successful with that particular SA. So I was hopeful!

The SA returned without any boxes but said the magical words, "Please come with me madame."

In the dressing room, she presented us with a B30 togo in Etoupe and GHW! Of course we took it

Overall, a magical and successful trip to Paris. Just so sad to return home on Sunday night and to hear of the fire at Notre Dame the day after...

Drooling over the bb! I need my next bag to be in swift!

 

[JA_UK]

Rejected for an appointment the third time this morning and leaving Wednesday next week. Now I am wondering if it would have been safer to apply several times before my arrival, given that the store is closed on Monday so I have 2 more tries left.

It wouldn't have made any difference, there is no formula to applying for these appointments it's down to pure luck and the amount of applicants. If you had applied before you left you may have scored an appointment that you couldn't attend. Just keep applying and if you have time go to the store to see if you can be slotted in. Also remember there are 2 other stores that you can try to get an appointment for unless you're dead set at only going to FSH.
Good luck, fingers and toes crossed for you!