Let me start by apologizing in advance for this super-long post. I wanted to share my SFH experience with this group as the stories I have read on this thread were very helpful to me. Here goes...
My sister (fraternal twin) and I went to SFH on the day we got to Paris, Friday 21 August at about 5:00 PM. My sister wanted a B or K 40 and I wanted either in 35. After about a 10-minute wait on the short leather goods queue, we met an SA whom I heard turning down the pair before us - I noticed he didn't make any effort to check. On our turn at the counter, I asked specifically to buy a bright colored B or K in size 40 or 35. The SA asked for my color preference and I said orange, red or any other bright color with gold hardware. He wrote down the details and asked for my name and country of origin which he took down as well. He returned to the counter after about 5 minutes with a large orange box and ushered us to a quiet corner of the men's section where he slowly revealed an orange Kelly 40 PHW. I said it was beautiful and that my sister would take it. I thanked him and then said that I also wanted one in 35. He explained that he couldn't sell two bags in a single transaction so I asked if I could come back the next day. He discouraged us saying that the stock was low on Saturdays but that Monday would be better. He also mentioned that each person could only get one bag in 6 months. He was warm and professional - very to-the-point vs friendly. I asked for his name and he wrote it on an SFH card. As you can imagine, we were were ecstatic at scoring a Kelly and hopeful I'd get one as well. A lovely Asian lady (a customer) followed us outside, congratulated my sister and asked for success tips. I suggested being specific about the request (as that's what I did) and we wished her luck.
Monday - my sister and I again went to SFH and joined the leather goods queue. This time the line was very long. While contemplating whether or not to wait, I heard a very warm hello. It was the SA who had sold my sister the K30. He took us off the line and hosted us in a quieter part of the store. This time he was a lot more friendly and chatty. He asked someone to serve us drinks and then took down again the details of what I wanted. He returned about 10 minutes later empty-handed but asked how long I'd be in Paris. I said I'll leave on September 4th and he asked if I could come to SFH on the 3rd saying my chances would be higher then. This time he gave me a specific time in the morning and another in the afternoon. I thanked him and said I'll come back on Sept 3rd.
Sept 3rd - once again, my sister and I returned to SFH at about 11:30 AM. The line was incredibly long but this time I asked the hostess at the leather goods section for the SA (now my SA) and she said he hadn't come in that morning. He might be at a training course that would end at about 1:30. I was disappointed but recalled he'd also given me a 2:00 PM appointment so we left and returned at about 1:55 PM. He still wasn't there so we joined the incredibly long line. After about 10 minutes, I spotted my SA coming into the store. He didn't appear to see me but shortly after, the hostess I had spoken to earlier said he was in, ushered my sister and I to sit in a quieter area and served us drinks as we waited for him. He showed up about 5 minutes later and took my bag details again. I added more colors this time, making it more broader as I was leaving the next day - he said he remembered. It was a long wait of about 15 minutes but he returned with a large orange box. I was in heaven. He slowly revealed a K35 sellier in rouge casaque epsom leather and PHW. I told him it was beautiful "I am in love", to which he smiled and remarked "So soon? I see it was worth the wait." It was certainly worth the wait. Even though my sister and I would have preferred GHW, we feel very fortunate to have got the exact bag colors we wanted and it was a great experience. I'll post pics of both bags in a moment - as soon as I figure out how to.
Hope this is in some way useful to others looking to buy a bag in Paris. The stories on this thread provide great research and the rest is down to time and chance in my opinion.
