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.

 

[Twinkle.84]

So g

How did you get your first Birkin , I’d love to hear that experience . You just “simply asked “ I’m sure . Spent 10,s of thousands of dollars on stuff and it just magically fell on your lap ?

I bought it from a reseller. I didn’t want to step into a boutique after witnessing all the craziness that had been displayed all over. While I do hope to get a Birkin or Kelly on my next trip to Paris. I’m okay with not getting one. They just don’t want my money.

And before anyone starts. Yes I have walked in to a boutique since. But my first encounter with the intern was good enough to walk out if it wasn’t for the lovely make up stylist at the boutique. After that I met another lovely SA and that’s because I was asking for things that I had seen online but wanted to try before buying.

 

[FrenchNewbie]

Thank you @BreezyE . I really appreciate you saying these words and apologizing for everyone’s responses . This is a forum where we should be able to talk about our frustrations and our excitement’s. I’m simply talking about how my experience has been in Paris and it wasn’t a good one unfortunately. I understand and hear EVERYONE . I shouldn’t hate a whole city for my experience at one retailer . I have just been wanting a Birkin for YEARS AND YEARS and it seems like it’s never going to happen . I have looked at resellers as others have stated but for a fresh from the boutique Birkin ( which is what I want ) are $30,000 . Others that are less expensive are all worn out , stretched out handles , crumpled sides , all the things I want to happen from MY using it , not someone else . I’m not willing to pay a premium for something used and abused by someone else and that is 5,10,20 years old . Everyone on this forum is privileged to even be walking into such special boutiques and I have ALWAYS walked in with a smile on my face and kindness for SA’s since I know how hard it is to tell people they don’t have anything that you want . I understand THEIR frustration as well . I have always been so nice and met with utter distain by so many SA’s who have been so rude to my husband and I . I also take very good care of myself and walk in looking stylish and clean and nice . Everyone has a journey and I’ve only been sharing my experiences with the boutiques which haven’t been great .

I also understand there are more failures at the lottery system than wins. It’s just not fair at all .

Thank you so much for validating my feelings . I really appreciate you more than you know . People on here really do think they are the great gate keepers of Hermes .

If it makes you feel better, I also agree with and understand and have many times experienced what you expressed. The fact that one nasty human being (aka an SA) has the influence to determine whether to actually help you or dismiss you is attrocious.

Like you said, the mere fact that all us here can afford high-end luxury brands is a privilege in and of itself...but despite innocently walking in with a smile and KNOWING you can afford it, to still be treated like crap is very frustrating and demeaning and hurtful. It does make one feel a certain way, so your feelings are validated. Sending hugs & warm wishes your way

 

[londonbridge1605]

The H lottery system in Paris is a game of chance. Some win some don’t. The reality is, the odds of winning is low and rare.

Dear @C.F - Alongside you, there may be hundreds of thousands who tried and failed over the years. Just because you have a want (a Birkin) for a very long time, it doesn’t mean that you’re entitled to one just because you nicely or tried the lottery repeatedly. Can you throw a hissy fit? Sure you can. We hear you and feel you. Many ladies empathise and try to jump in to offer to share their experiences. No one is invalidating how you feel. We hear you my dear.

But I think I want to ask you a fundamental question. Are you really in love with Hermes the brand and have a appreciation for it’s products and offerings eg the scarfs, cups and saucers that you expressed disdain for for OR you’re merely in love with the idea of owning a Birkin?

Many on this forum have offered you alternatives eg the reseller route but you’re not open to it. So what gives darling? You’ll continue to cry foul?

IMO, there’s no magic formula for Paris. If you don’t win lottery, perhaps go in-store, buy what you love and appreciate and maybe you’ll hit it off with an SA who is willing to advocate for a QB slot for you. If you don’t, say adieu and enjoy your hols. You can continue to play the lottery too. C’est tout!

 

[C.F.]

T

If it makes you feel better, I also agree with and understand and have many times experienced what you expressed. The fact that one nasty human being (aka an SA) has the influence to determine whether to actually help you or dismiss you is attrocious.

Like you said, the mere fact that all us here can afford high-end luxury brands is a privilege in and of itself...but despite innocently walking in with a smile and KNOWING you can afford it, to still be treated like crap is very frustrating and demeaning and hurtful. It does make one feel a certain way, so your feelings are validated. Sending hugs & warm wishes your way

Thank you very much for having some compassion unlike some other people on this forum .

 

[Swanky]

Hi, ALL posts must be respectful, please cut the snark. This thread is specifically about Paris + Hermes, if you're not discussing that, you're off topic.

 

[haute okole]

T

Thank you very much for having some compassion unlike some other people on this forum .

xx Good luck. I was advised by my French friends to always say Bon Jour immediately when meeting someone, specifically Bon Jour during the day or something equivalent depending on the time of day.

 

[norigirl]

Okay i am back to report success!! No leather appointment, walked in and was just incredibly nice and explained to the leather desk our situation. Someone was late for their appointment so we were taken upstairs and the birkin gods blessed us! I am beyond beyond excited ❤️

Please share what you got!!!! And did you have any purchase history in Paris?

 

[C.F.]

xx Good luck. I was advised by my French friends to always say Bon Jour immediately when meeting someone, specifically Bon Jour during the day or something equivalent depending on the time of day.

Merci Beaucoup ❤️

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

So g

How did you get your first Birkin , I’d love to hear that experience . You just “simply asked “ I’m sure . Spent 10,s of thousands of dollars on stuff and it just magically fell on your lap ?

I didn’t ask… I had very little pre-spend…. Just small leather goods and fragrance my SA knew I really really loved the brand and I’d mentioned not as a hint but in conversation what my dream bag was and when those exact spec’s arrived in store about 8 months later she called me and gave me first refusal on it.
Attitude counts for a lot in the world of sales especially when it comes to luxury goods… a nice demeanour can do you more favours in getting what you want than millions in the bank.
Also please take a breath and think about how blessed you are to be healthy ( I hope) able to do transatlantic travel in order to shop.
Paris is a wonderful city and even if you can’t find what you want to buy the Hermes stores there are a joy just to walk around… heck I get a kick just seeing stuff I could never dream of owning!
I wish you the best and it really is just a bag and not worth getting bitter over.

 

[QuelleFromage]

xx Good luck. I was advised by my French friends to always say Bon Jour immediately when meeting someone, specifically Bon Jour during the day or something equivalent depending on the time of day.

This is important and very much applicable to the topic. It’s not uncommon for folks from other cultures to launch into a conversation, question, or demand without a greeting… I hear this happening sooooo much in the Paris stores. Always say “bonjour” (or “bonsoir”) and if possible address the person you’re speaking to. You might feel (or even sound) a bit formal with “Bonjour, Madame” but it’s better than sounding rude!

 

[HermesHabit]

Okay i am back to report success!! No leather appointment, walked in and was just incredibly nice and explained to the leather desk our situation. Someone was late for their appointment so we were taken upstairs and the birkin gods blessed us! I am beyond beyond excited ❤️

Congratulations! Would love to see a pic of your new birkin

 

[haute okole]

This is important and very much applicable to the topic. It’s not uncommon for folks from other cultures to launch into a conversation, question, or demand without a greeting… I hear this happening sooooo much in the Paris stores. Always say “bonjour” (or “bonsoir”) and if possible address the person you’re speaking to. You might feel (or even sound) a bit formal with “Bonjour, Madame” but it’s better than sounding rude!

Yes! I heard it is the height of rudeness to go straight into conversation without the salutation. This is not commonly known to Americans, most think a nod and a smile will do, but it does not.

 

[luxecamper]

Sharing my experience going to all three stores in Paris last week! I was there for a week, but went into Hermes only 2 days. Gonna try to be as detailed as possible, so bear with me!

Tried the lottery every single day and did not get an appointment. I did not receive any rejection emails either towards the end of the week, which seems to be in line with others in this thread.

What I purchased:

1. Tailored Black Pants
2. Sunglass pouch
3. Loop wallet in multi-color way

Sevres (1st Day):
What I wore: Tailored pants and a white blouse with my kelly 32
Walked in and waited roughly 5-10 min to get helped in the leather department. Found the sunglass pouch in the new season colors (Yuca on the outside and Sun on the inside) so I just grabbed it. Went up to the bag desk and asked if I could get an appointment. The SA went to go talk to the manager and said that he was going to try and get me in but not very likely since it was already 4:30 PM. They didn't have spots so I was told to come back the next day to try again.

George V (2nd Day):
What I wore: Head-to-toe Hermes RTW (no hermes bag)
Walked in to just browse and grab some fun SLG. Was helped by a very unhelpful and displeased SA, but I did like the wallet so I just bought it. Asked for bags and she told me that I needed an appointment, even if it was non-quota. I went to go see some RTW but not much was available in my size so I left.

FSH (2nd Day):
What I wore: Same day as George V
I ended up walking towards FSH so I popped in. Went straight to RTW and bought the pants I've been looking for in my size! Went downstairs and asked about a bag appointment. The SA was very kindly informed me that there was nothing available today.

George V (2nd Day):
What I wore: Same day as George V
Ended up being near George V and it was raining so I decided to walk in again. Went to the bag department and asked someone who looked like a manager if they had any non-quota bags. The 'manager' looking person told one of the SAs to help me out. He asked what non-quota bags I was interested in, so I said Mini Bolide or Mini Lindy. They offered me a Bolide Epsom 25 in Mauve Sylvester and said that they were out of the mini bolide and the mini lindy. He also said that if there were any other non-quota I was interested in, he does have a few and could check for me. I did not ask since I knew I was not interested in purchasing any other bags!

My personal takeaway: I tried when I had the time and only purchased items I actually loved. Although I was a bit sad initially about not getting a leather appointment, I left Paris not feeling like I had overspent my money or my time. Every experience is different, but just go in with your love for the brand! If you feel even a little like something doesn't feel right, don't buy it.

As far as actual tips for Hermes shopping goes:

• Try and identify who looks kind of like a 'manager' - sometimes you can kind of just tell that they are more 'senior'(?). I found that most lower level SAs will just say no, but the managers will have the power to say yes if they want to.
• I also do think how you dress does matter. If you are in their RTW, great. But honestly, just looking put together and wearing their scarves, accessories or even little goods to show that you love the brand I think is important. I think they are just looking for signs that you are already a fan and a loyal customer to the brand.
• They seem to change out their SAs during the day as well. Visiting earlier than later in the day had new SAs helping out, and that helped me ask for bags again without annoying the same ones!

Hopefully this is helpful! Happy to answer any questions

 

[Veritybelle]

T

Thank you very much for having some compassion unlike some other people on this forum .

I’m very sorry you have had such a negative experience. I’m sure plenty of us feel your pain, but in your shoes I do think that if a shopping expedition was making me hate an entire city, I would want to re-examine my relationship with the shopping. It’s very disappointing not to have your H hopes fulfilled on a trip to Paris, but based on what other posters have said elsewhere in this thread, you were likely just one of perhaps 30,000 other people who were also disappointed on any given day.

It feels personal, when you think you are being rudely dismissed, but the stats show that the overall situation is simply not personal to you. It probably takes a pretty thick-skinned leather SA in Paris to withstand all the entreaties from disappointed, enraged and/or entitled would-be customers. It can’t be fun being the person who has to disappoint every walk-in, and your rejection was likely not personal at all (assuming you weren’t one of the enraged or entitled supplicants).

If you want a new B, you basically have three choices - (1) be patient, kind, respectful and spend enough to make you an established customer of your boutique who is front of mind when bags are allocated for offers, (2) spend the equivalent amount on the reseller markup on a new/pristine B (either way you’re probably spending the same) or (3) try your luck with the truly terrible odds in the Paris lottery. All those options may be unpalatable to you, but fundamentally they are not “unfair“ in the sense that it’s the same for all but a tiny minority of clients.

I hope with some time to reflect on the experience your disappointment will pass and that you will find your dream bag and remember all the other wonderful things that Paris has to offer that have nothing to do with luxury shopping.

 

[fashionpl]

Sharing my experience going to all three stores in Paris last week! I was there for a week, but went into Hermes only 2 days. Gonna try to be as detailed as possible, so bear with me!

Tried the lottery every single day and did not get an appointment. I did not receive any rejection emails either towards the end of the week, which seems to be in line with others in this thread.

What I purchased:

1. Tailored Black Pants
2. Sunglass pouch
3. Loop wallet in multi-color way

Sevres (1st Day):
What I wore: Tailored pants and a white blouse with my kelly 32
Walked in and waited roughly 5-10 min to get helped in the leather department. Found the sunglass pouch in the new season colors (Yuca on the outside and Sun on the inside) so I just grabbed it. Went up to the bag desk and asked if I could get an appointment. The SA went to go talk to the manager and said that he was going to try and get me in but not very likely since it was already 4:30 PM. They didn't have spots so I was told to come back the next day to try again.

George V (2nd Day):
What I wore: Head-to-toe Hermes RTW (no hermes bag)
Walked in to just browse and grab some fun SLG. Was helped by a very unhelpful and displeased SA, but I did like the wallet so I just bought it. Asked for bags and she told me that I needed an appointment, even if it was non-quota. I went to go see some RTW but not much was available in my size so I left.

FSH (2nd Day):
What I wore: Same day as George V
I ended up walking towards FSH so I popped in. Went straight to RTW and bought the pants I've been looking for in my size! Went downstairs and asked about a bag appointment. The SA was very kindly informed me that there was nothing available today.

George V (2nd Day):
What I wore: Same day as George V
Ended up being near George V and it was raining so I decided to walk in again. Went to the bag department and asked someone who looked like a manager if they had any non-quota bags. The 'manager' looking person told one of the SAs to help me out. He asked what non-quota bags I was interested in, so I said Mini Bolide or Mini Lindy. They offered me a Bolide Epsom 25 in Mauve Sylvester and said that they were out of the mini bolide and the mini lindy. He also said that if there were any other non-quota I was interested in, he does have a few and could check for me. I did not ask since I knew I was not interested in purchasing any other bags!

My personal takeaway: I tried when I had the time and only purchased items I actually loved. Although I was a bit sad initially about not getting a leather appointment, I left Paris not feeling like I had overspent my money or my time. Every experience is different, but just go in with your love for the brand! If you feel even a little like something doesn't feel right, don't buy it.

As far as actual tips for Hermes shopping goes:

• Try and identify who looks kind of like a 'manager' - sometimes you can kind of just tell that they are more 'senior'(?). I found that most lower level SAs will just say no, but the managers will have the power to say yes if they want to.
• I also do think how you dress does matter. If you are in their RTW, great. But honestly, just looking put together and wearing their scarves, accessories or even little goods to show that you love the brand I think is important. I think they are just looking for signs that you are already a fan and a loyal customer to the brand.
• They seem to change out their SAs during the day as well. Visiting earlier than later in the day had new SAs helping out, and that helped me ask for bags again without annoying the same ones!

Hopefully this is helpful! Happy to answer any questions

View attachment 5853851

Very pretty items. Did you post the name of the black pants in the RTW thread? I've not seen it on the Hermes website.