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.

 

[stephbb9]

Hi,
So finally after almost a year applying for a leather appointment I scored one for today. I’m in the eu so I booked my flights yesterday, took 6am flight to Paris. My appointment was at sevres aroud 2pm. I came earlier as I wanted to buy some more things but they had nothing from my list including rtw and homeware, I only bought silver ring. The sa who I was buying a ring with was super grumpy and clearly wasn’t happy that she has to deal with me.
Then i went to leather appointment desk and asked if I can be seen earlier. I waited another 30 min and the lady came to me. Asked what I wanted. I firstly asked to try on birkin 25/30 and mini kelly. She brought birkin 25 and kelly mini. She was just looking at other people without any interest of me while I was trying bags on. Then without even asking what I want, what colour etc she told no bck, nothing. No neutrals as everyone asking for neutrals and no other colours. Of course that was a lie, while I was waiting I have seen people taken to the private rooms, I’ve seen people without the appointments taken there as well and leaving with a boxes with birkins and kellys. I was heartbroken as I waited for the appointment so long, woke up today at 3 am, took an early flight just to hear that they don’t have a bags the sa only offered me mini evelyne in noir and picotin 18 in vert cypress which I declined.

Did you actually see people buying B or K?
I managed to get an appointment this week but was told the same as you. I was taken to a private room where they showed me lots of other bags but said they had no stock in the QB.
I have gotten some K, B, C from the store before…
I got a picotin with flowers, which I did want to see.
The SA rushed me too and it wasn’t my most pleasant experience there.
The selection in scarves was very poor too.

 

[Colorfulsugar]

Did you actually see people buying B or K?
I managed to get an appointment this week but was told the same as you. I was taken to a private room where they showed me lots of other bags but said they had no stock in the QB.
I have gotten some K, B, C from the store before…
I got a picotin with flowers, which I did want to see.
The SA rushed me too and it wasn’t my most pleasant experience there.
The selection in scarves was very poor too.

I saw a male SA walking out of private rooms with a client and carrying box with a sticker and there was Kelly written on it, I could see it as the SA stopped to talk to other SA next to me while I was waiting for my appointment

 

[Queenk2]

I am visiting Paris in August and would love to purchase the Roulis 23 in black. I have just contacted my hotel concierge to obtain an appointment (leather). Is this the way to handle this? Can the concierge alert the store as to what I want to purchase? Any and all feed back will be greatly appreciated!
Karen

 

[chibi12]

Hello All,
Wondering if I make purchases online (HERMES France website), would the SA at the store in France know about those purchases?

Thank you.

Yes, Im in the EU country and FSH SA was able to see all my online purchases not only the once’s I’ve made from French website.

In Paris, does purchasing items online then returning > repurchasing in store for tax refund build on top of your store profile? Or does it detract from it because you are not loyal to the store?

 

[880]

In Paris, does purchasing items online then returning > repurchasing in store for tax refund build on top of your store profile? Or does it detract from it because you are not loyal to the store?

IMO any premier luxury boutique would frown upon behavior like this, which is essentially a return due to buyers remorse. The boutique can see on line history and returns, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to find the exact item in the store. With respect to Paris FSH, a store profile is unnecessary to bag acquisition via lottery. Long-standing FSH clients, who have the potential for regular high spend, may obtain coveted bag offers during prescheduled visits with their personal SAs, but that would not apply to newcomers to the brand. For those who obtain such offers, the fact that they primarily shop at a ‘home’ store is not held against them.

ETA: clients with prearranged appointments may have access to offers unavailable to lottery appointments. And, some SAs may be limited in what coveted QBs they can offer for reasons unavailable to the public.

 

[San2222]

In Paris, does purchasing items online then returning > repurchasing in store for tax refund build on top of your store profile? Or does it detract from it because you are not loyal to the store?

i have purchased shoes online and my paris sa had no issues with issuing a return for me to claim tax refund though the processing at the cash register did take a lot longer than normally so think the sa was just doing me a favor.

 

[periogirl28]

Did you actually see people buying B or K?
I managed to get an appointment this week but was told the same as you. I was taken to a private room where they showed me lots of other bags but said they had no stock in the QB.
I have gotten some K, B, C from the store before…
I got a picotin with flowers, which I did want to see.
The SA rushed me too and it wasn’t my most pleasant experience there.
The selection in scarves was very poor too.

Shopping in the run up to and during Fashion Week tends to be a lot more challenging... my SAs are running around crazily, they are fully booked for appointments and bags are probably flying off the shelves/ out of the dungeons, to VIP clients.

 

[chibi12]

IMO any premier luxury boutique would frown upon behavior like this, which is essentially a return due to buyers remorse. The boutique can see on line history and returns, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to find the exact item in the store. With respect to Paris FSH, a store profile is unnecessary to bag acquisition via lottery. Long-standing FSH clients, who have the potential for regular high spend, may obtain coveted bag offers during prescheduled visits with their personal SAs, but that would not apply to newcomers to the brand. For those who obtain such offers, the fact that they primarily shop at a ‘home’ store is not held against them.

ETA: clients with prearranged appointments may have access to offers unavailable to lottery appointments. And, some SAs may be limited in what coveted QBs they can offer for reasons unavailable to the public.

Sorry I’m not sure I understand, why is it buyers remorse? The purpose for the return in this scenario is only to get tax refund, but I plan on keeping the items (especially since, like you said, you often cannot find the same items in the stores).

I am asking if it will detract from one’s store profile (as I hear it is viewed as such in the US) because I have a new SA relationship at FSH and don’t want them to be upset if I am purchasing items online that I cannot find in store.

The ideal situation — and what I am hoping to confirm — is whether doing so will build my Paris profile positively because it shows I am purchasing items I love

 

[Ruedubac]

Hi,
So finally after almost a year applying for a leather appointment I scored one for today. I’m in the eu so I booked my flights yesterday, took 6am flight to Paris. My appointment was at sevres aroud 2pm. I came earlier as I wanted to buy some more things but they had nothing from my list including rtw and homeware, I only bought silver ring. The sa who I was buying a ring with was super grumpy and clearly wasn’t happy that she has to deal with me.
Then i went to leather appointment desk and asked if I can be seen earlier. I waited another 30 min and the lady came to me. Asked what I wanted. I firstly asked to try on birkin 25/30 and mini kelly. She brought birkin 25 and kelly mini. She was just looking at other people without any interest of me while I was trying bags on. Then without even asking what I want, what colour etc she told no bck, nothing. No neutrals as everyone asking for neutrals and no other colours. Of course that was a lie, while I was waiting I have seen people taken to the private rooms, I’ve seen people without the appointments taken there as well and leaving with a boxes with birkins and kellys. I was heartbroken as I waited for the appointment so long, woke up today at 3 am, took an early flight just to hear that they don’t have a bags the sa only offered me mini evelyne in noir and picotin 18 in vert cypress which I declined.

(That brought back the anger in me...) OH, I got 1 of those SA in the past too..... Extremely disrespectful as no matter what an SA is selling, at least they can look at the customer with a fake smile and say nothing in stock. The 'looking at other people part' really bothers me.
As you might have noticed, you get better service at a bakery in Paris when you buy your croissant.... If they hate their jobs so much, they can do something else...
Do hang in there, someday, the right SA will show up. And in a way, be glad that you DID NOT buy anything from that rude SA....if you got the evelyne or picotin, you would have given her commission to reward her unprofessional behavior (Glass 1/2 full way of thinking it).

 

[Ruedubac]

Did you actually see people buying B or K?
I managed to get an appointment this week but was told the same as you. I was taken to a private room where they showed me lots of other bags but said they had no stock in the QB.
I have gotten some K, B, C from the store before…
I got a picotin with flowers, which I did want to see.
The SA rushed me too and it wasn’t my most pleasant experience there.
The selection in scarves was very poor too.

I know there are always BK, not sure about C.
As in a good appointment in the past, while waiting, I overheard an SA telling her customers that there were no BKC at all, not in any colors or sizes, and offered them picotin.....
But when I got into the private room, I was offered 2 B to choose from which I got 1 in my dream color.
So, it really depends on the SA.......they do have stock. I was not expecting any bags since I am not VIP and I heard there was no special bags...but surprised to be offered 2 to choose from.

 

[880]

The ideal situation — and what I am hoping to confirm — is whether doing so will build my Paris profile positively because it shows I am purchasing items I love

I’m sure any FSH SA will do an in person return for on line merchandise for VAT as part of their job and as a professional courtesy as per @San2222 . I personally don’t think any returns show love of the brand or help build profile, nor do I think profile is necessary, but you should do whatever you would like to do. If you are concerned, simply ask your SA if she has the time and inclination to do it.

I did reply more extensively as to my minority opinion on returns, but it seemed somewhat OT for this thread. I tagged you in this thread, but I could have also moved my post to unpopular H opinions.

Maintaining a H relationship

Please focus on the title of this thread rather than each other, TY If you find it very hard to ignore certain people, please feel free in adding them to your 'Ignore' list. For advice on how to obtain a B/K/C please go to the reading room in the Reading Room The Newbie's HOW DO I GET A BIRKIN...

forum.purseblog.com

Part of my above post to you in this thread was in response to other posts that are insulted at an SAs perceived rudeness or temerity in saying no BKC available when other clients walk out with offers. This wasn’t in response to your statement, but i include it here as pertinent to this thread. It was simply my understanding that SAs, even those who are assigned to bag appts, have a limit as to how many BKC they are authorized to offer and to whom. (this may be why my FSH SA asks me to make prearranged appts with plenty of advance notice). Given the situation of limited BKC and increased demand, and the entitlement of many Paris shoppers. I think it’s simply company policy to say no BKC available when they do not or cannot offer for any reason. The day I met my FSH SA and got my first FSH offer 25K, I had asked for a cargo 25 and explained my preference for dark colors. My SA said none available. I did subsequently discover that another TPFer, who has a far lengthier tenure shopping FSH, was there around the same time and received a sesame cargo 25. I think it’s important not to take anything personally and to realize if they say none available, it’s simply none available for you at this time. Where this might tie into your query might be that IMO only, love of the brand, doesn’t mean laboriously calculating spend to get to some QB.

 

[excalibur]

I know there are always BK, not sure about C.
As in a good appointment in the past, while waiting, I overheard an SA telling her customers that there were no BKC at all, not in any colors or sizes, and offered them picotin.....
But when I got into the private room, I was offered 2 B to choose from which I got 1 in my dream color.
So, it really depends on the SA.......they do have stock. I was not expecting any bags since I am not VIP and I heard there was no special bags...but surprised to be offered 2 to choose from.

It’s part of H strategy:
1. no need to treat clients with decent courtesy coz they will always come back. 2. Create an illusion of very low bag supply, the demand will naturally go up, and equilibrium price will increase.
3. Make clients buy other stuff especially the not-so-popular items to boost earnings report, and make them wait and beg for the IT bags. Repeat step 1.

People will always overcrowd Paris because it’s Paris!

My 2 cents

 

[yellowtulips]

Hi TPFers! I just got invited to a private shopping appointment/event on a Sunday at the Faubourg Saint Honore location in March (during Paris Fashion Week). I’m not a local but was invited and considering flying out for the event. Has anyone had a similar experience of attending such appt or receive an invite to the same event? Thanks in advance.

 

[lesoriginale]

Congratulations! Glad it worked out for you. Would you be happy sharing the specs of the bags you got at FSH?

Hi! Of course! So i asked for neutral colors in gold hardware as I am a "ghw" type of woman and the SA that assisted me was so pleasant and i think she really listened to what I requested and so she gave me a mini lindy in caban ghw, mini evelyne gold on gold and picotin vert cypress in ghw. the picotin i gave to my mom as a gift it was really an unforgetable experience even if i did not score a BKC. I really felt grateful that day that all my hard work coming to the store everyday while in paris paid off.

 

[scndlslv]

In Paris, does purchasing items online then returning > repurchasing in store for tax refund build on top of your store profile? Or does it detract from it because you are not loyal to the store?

I have done this at stores in Paris and Monaco. I was told to do this by an SA to ensure that I was able to get specific items I wanted, which were available online, when there's no guarantee they'd be in the store when I arrived. I purchase them online a week before I arrive and have it delivered to the store. I then show up to pick it up and they do a return and repurchase giving me the VAT. It's not a big deal.