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.

 

[waterlily112]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now again, the biggest advantage to trying Paris as a short term visitor is that it’s the one place in the world where you have a relatively decent chance of getting a quota bag with little to no prespend/relationship (assuming you get a lottery granted appointment). If you are a short term visitor and dropping 10k or more in hopes of getting a bag, you’re doing it wrong. Spend that money on your relationship at home. JMHO.

Agreed. I've been offered 4 quota bags between 2015 through 2019, all from different SA's and my total spending excluding the bags is less than $5000 euros on random things like scarves, rodeos, and tilly's. Not sure if they've changed the rules since pandemic, but earlier this year I know for sure two girls who went to Paris for the first time and both got offered quota bags without pre-spend. I really think the stock is just really low at the moment.

 

[Ruedubac]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now again, the biggest advantage to trying Paris as a short term visitor is that it’s the one place in the world where you have a relatively decent chance of getting a quota bag with little to no prespend/relationship (assuming you get a lottery granted appointment). If you are a short term visitor and dropping 10k or more in hopes of getting a bag, you’re doing it wrong. Spend that money on your relationship at home. JMHO.

I totally agree.
As I have heard of so many lucky people getting quota bags in Paris with very little or even no pre-spend.
I personally believe that it is important to buy things we like, as anything we add on to the purchase which we do not really enjoy might make us regret someday. In the beginning of my Hermes journey over 10 years ago. I used to purchase items to get a quota bags...and most of those early years' pre spent items ended up in the back of the closet and not enjoyed at all. All my recent years' purchases for pre-spend are not really pre-spend, they are items I wanted even if the brand do not offer those gorgeous quota bags have you seen some of the new wallet colors? all those pastels are driving me crazy hee hee. Living in Paris for now is really enabling me to visit that store often as whenever I thought I have enough wallets, boom, a new color showed up online (posted by others) and I have a new goal. LOL.


Hope everyone's wish list come true in 2022.

 

[880]

Hi,
I was at George V today looking for SLG and overheard 3 groups with appointments and they all got offered Evelyne and non quota bags....1 group even mentioned that they bought over 40k worth of fine jewelry but still no quota bags....seemed like stock is low there.....as I can't imagine 40k euros with no quota bags....in my home country even 12k ish + good SA can get a quota bag...


p.s. I was stalking a special edition Bearn wallet LOL, so, I do visit the store often now as my nephew is visiting and he wishes to get one in Asia (where he lives) but none could be found.

@waterlily112

I think it was easier pre covid or when things started to open up and there were very few clients

Post Covid, I think It would be difficult (due to supply chain and increased demand) to be offered a BKC in desirable specs with only a 1-1.5 prespend ratio at a local boutique (not Paris). This is from what I’ve read on TPF; what I’ve learned in conversation with SAs and other clients; and, my own experience (US flagship )

i was fortunate to have obtained a 25K at FSH (zero pre spend at FSH; in fact I had never been there before) earlier this year, but I think, based on reading this thread, it’s slower but more certain to build a relationship and get offers through your local SA. I don’t buy anything unless I love it, and I do try to course the majority of my purchases through my home SA.

 

[waterlily112]

@waterlily112

I think it was easier pre covid or when things started to open up and there were very few clients

Post Covid, I think It would be difficult (due to supply chain and increased demand) to be offered a BKC in desirable specs with only a 1-1.5 prespend ratio at a local boutique (not Paris). This is from what I’ve read on TPF; what I’ve learned in conversation with SAs and other clients; and, my own experience (US flagship )

i was fortunate to have obtained a 25K at FSH (zero pre spend at FSH; in fact I had never been there before) earlier this year, but I think, based on reading this thread, it’s slower but more certain to build a relationship and get offers through your local SA. I don’t buy anything unless I love it, and I do try to course the majority of my purchases through my home SA.

Congrats on the 25K offer! Yeah just like you, I know several girls who got offer at FSH without pre-spend this year - just checked their IG's they were there 1st week of March, so dropping $40k in Paris just seem a bit overkill imo, and defeat the purpose of trying there where we can save the money with a trusted SA back home.

 

[pink_carnation]

I agree with the last few posters.

I think it's also important to remember that we have no idea how their appointment went and what bag specs they asked for. It could have been very specific (i.e. kelly 25, sellier, epsom, rose sakura, ghw and only these specs) or a size that is very hard to get (mini kelly), which would lower their chances of being successful. Not saying you should ask for specs you don't want, but IMO flexibility will likely improve (but not guarantee!) your chances of success.

I'm hoping to try my luck in Paris this fall, and this would be my first quota bag so I have room in my collection to be able to give a wider range of specs that would work for me. I think the more mature your collection, the pickier you'll be, and that's where it makes more sense to build a relationship with your local store (or go the reseller route), or you try for that dream combo with the idea that this would be a great 'bonus'.

 

[Hobbiezm]

I can share my perspective since I moved from my local store to Paris- I had been buying from my local US SA for a while and though it was never awkward, I did realize that it took a long time for the trifecta BKC to be offered. She was however very responsive so I enjoyed ordering some shoes and small items with her.

I travel for work and my extended family live in France. I had for a seconds never thought to move to Paris though I was getting small things here and there. Eventually, I got a bracelet and scarf and it helped me secure a SA in Sevres.

In the last 3 years, I’ve stopped regularly (2 times a year) and got some RTW, shoes and even fine china. I am working with a new SA at FSH but he mentioned he has arranged something for me… he wouldn’t say anymore but I’m excited! Fingers crossed and I’ll definitely share pics of the store.

 

[C4l3B]

Did anyone did the luggage customization? Is it still on display at level 2 of fsh?

 

[Martyp]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now again, the biggest advantage to trying Paris as a short term visitor is that it’s the one place in the world where you have a relatively decent chance of getting a quota bag with little to no prespend/relationship (assuming you get a lottery granted appointment). If you are a short term visitor and dropping 10k or more in hopes of getting a bag, you’re doing it wrong. Spend that money on your relationship at home. JMHO.

Absolutely! Spending a lot in Paris, with their specific system, won't guarantee a quota bag. That's really luck + stars aligned (+SA)
A friend just got a B30 last week after 40 tries at the appointment lottery. She only bought makeup and 1 or 2 "cheap" accessories in the past.

 

[Martyp]

Also, I asked an SA why everything is so hard to get now, even a single pair of shoes, she said it's gonna be like this for months, probably until the end of the year...

 

[CKT]

My friend has been in Paris for over a month, has applied for appointments every day with her passport and her husband's passport, has walked in asking for cancellations, and she STILL hasn't had any luck getting an appointment. It's such an awful experience, I feel so bad for her.

Same thing happened to me as well and many others I heard from. Don’t take it too seriously, enjoy Paris!

 

[eagle1002us]

I totally agree.
As I have heard of so many lucky people getting quota bags in Paris with very little or even no pre-spend.
I personally believe that it is important to buy things we like, as anything we add on to the purchase which we do not really enjoy might make us regret someday. In the beginning of my Hermes journey over 10 years ago. I used to purchase items to get a quota bags...and most of those early years' pre spent items ended up in the back of the closet and not enjoyed at all. All my recent years' purchases for pre-spend are not really pre-spend, they are items I wanted even if the brand do not offer those gorgeous quota bags have you seen some of the new wallet colors? all those pastels are driving me crazy hee hee. Living in Paris for now is really enabling me to visit that store often as whenever I thought I have enough wallets, boom, a new color showed up online (posted by others) and I have a new goal. LOL.


Hope everyone's wish list come true in 2022.

@Ruedubac I think you are living in heaven. Speaking for myself I am very susceptible to seeing something new, particularly a really new color (not just yet another variation of blue-green, which was so hot for so long) and off I go pursuing a new "vision" of myself. I am very susceptible to suggestion selling and the prompting from magazine ads or editorials.

 

[chibi12]

As a foreigner, is it possible to establish an SA relationship in Paris to get appointments directly, place a SO, or get access to a limited edition bag?

How often should one go, and how much to spend to establish this relationship?

 

[nzilbz98]

As a foreigner, is it possible to establish an SA relationship in Paris to get appointments directly, place a SO, or get access to a limited edition bag?

How often should one go, and how much to spend to establish this relationship?

I think when it comes to establishing a relationship with any SA, people often overlook the fact that they are humans too. If you meet an SA that you are polite to and not a pain to work with and they do the same, that relationship will form naturally and will become less about how much you spend (just talking about spending money in terms of establishing a relationship, not whether you will be able to get the items you are after). If you are able to visit every now and then and spend money on items that you actually like, you'll be in a good place. While spending money is important, loyalty and basic human decency will probably get you far.

 

[lovehermesin]

Was in Paris last month for a week hoping to to get offered a quota bag. It was frustrating as it’s even harder to get an appointment.
Now my local SA even said DONT SPEND right now because there’s NO stock on quota bag. (my thoughts if I spend more on baits SM will give it to me - but not the case AT THE MOMENT)
Gotta to let go of the quota bag obsession at the moment until inventory is back to normal.

 

[stephbb9]

I think the stock varies a lot from one week to an other.
I was there at Xmas time and there had nothing left especially because of Covid. Other people were told the same during the appointments.
The SA who helped me said that Hermès lowered production when Covid started as they had to close the stores for a while. They didn’t want to have bags sitting there and no buyers.
Then when they reopened they had tons of stock and people walked out with like 3 bags (but only 1 quota).
Then the stock went low.
The SA said that they are never been told what comes in until it arrives for safety reasons (not to get robbed!).
So sometimes there are bags and sometimes not. The best chance is to keep trying and go often I guess.
The appointment system is horrible but if you have tried unsuccessfully several times they may make an exception if you ask them and have history with them. Dress well, it helps.
This is what happened to me.
Got a Kelly 25 in August 21, then no stock in December on B or K. Got offered a Constance but it wasn’t real love. I got a Mosaique at Sevres later on (longer strap so better for me).
Mini K are the hardest to get.
Quota used to be a bag every 6 months but not sure if it’s 2 a year now and you can get them at once. I shopped with my profile and my husband.

Was in Paris last month for a week hoping to to get offered a quota bag. It was frustrating as it’s even harder to get an appointment.
Now my local SA even said DONT SPEND right now because there’s NO stock on quota bag. (my thoughts if I spend more on baits SM will give it to me - but not the case AT THE MOMENT)
Gotta to let go of the quota bag obsession at the moment until inventory is back to normal.