Hello everyone! As promised, here is my detailed account of getting my 2nd Birkin from FSH.
Tuesday (November 24)
We (DH and I) arrived in Paris in the afternoon from visiting family in London and since our hotel was close to FSH, we decided to make a quick stop. We arrived around 515 and there were around a dozen people inline. We waited for around 45 minutes and then we met a lovely, super sweet young female SA. She noted my wish list and then checked inventory. At this point, I asked for a b30 in Epsom leather in a bright color, preferably in rouge casque, blue electric, anemone or a shade of pink. I specifically stated that I was not interested in orange, white, or gold (since my other Birkin is a 35 in Gold). I also said the I am open to hardware color. The SA came back empty handed and apologetic. She then gave us her card and then asked us to return the following day and ask for her. I asked her what I should do when I return and what time would be best. She said to skip the line and ask the host/hostess to call her directly. She also said enjoy Paris and come back to the store whenever we feel like it. (What I didnt say, because I didn't want to look like a crazy person, was that I was so excited to be in Paris and at FSH that I would come back a thousand times, If I had to lol [emoji6])
Wednesday (November 25)
We went to FSH around 11:45am. The store was packed... It must have been a 2 hour line. DH went to stand at the back of the line (just incase) and I took the card of my new SA to find the hostess. I told the hostess I was here to see my SA. The Hostess then called my SA and told us to wait in the waiting area because she was with a client. We waited for 15 minutes then the SA came and found us and took us to the RTW section. The SA asked for my wish list again and I repeated it to her exactly as I had the evening before. She took the passport again and checked inventory. She came back empty handed again and said that Epsom was much difficult to find than Togo and that their stock had been on the low side since the attacks. She asked if I was open to Togo Leather or a size 35. I said no but that I would expand my color choice to the lovely Etain. DH then told her how much I had been wanting a bag and that he hoped we would find it on this trip. He asked when we should come back. She said not to waste so much time at the store and to enjoy Paris and that my bag would find me whenever it was meant to be. She also said that she didn't think anymore stock would be arriving today and to return the following day, if we wanted. In all, we spent around 35 minutes at the store.
We decided to go to our favorite lunch spot in the Latin Quarter and head to Serves store afterwards. I had brought with me the card of a young male SA that had helped us buy a few things during our last Paris trip this past June. We arrived at the store around 245pm. We waited 15 minutes for Him to return from lunch. Luckily, he remembered us from the summer and showed us a few things we were interested in. I repeated my same Birkin wish list (without Etain) but he said they didnt have any inventory and that he thought i should check FSH since they get so much more stock and that I'd have a much better chance of getting a very specific bag there. I then asked him to see a sample of the b30 since I had never tried one on before. The sample was in rouge casque! While, I loved the color, I thought that the size was much smaller than I expected. The SA allowed me to take some pictures of me holding the bag so I could slowly decide about the size. After giving it much thought,I decided that a b30 would not be as functional for me (even though it'd be much lighter) so I should get a b35. DH and I left Serves and planned to return on Friday since the SA would be off on Thursday, in case we struck out again at FSH. (We were leaving on Saturday).
Thursday (November 26)
We went to FSH around 12:00pm. The store was once again packed... It must have been another 2 hour wait. DH went to stand at the back of the line and I took the card of my new SA to find the hostess. I told the hostess I was here to see my SA. The Hostess then called my SA and told us to wait in the waiting area. We waited for 5 minutes then the SA came and found us and took us to a more quiet area. I reminded her of my wish list but this time expanded to a b35, Togo leather(since it's my favorite leather) and added the color Etain. She left to check the stock and this time, came back with a big orange box and asked us to follow her into a fitting room. She said that this bag was not on the list of my colors but she hoped I would like it. She revealed a b30 in Epsom in Blue sapphire with gold hardware. I stared at it for a long time, trying to love it, but I just didn't... And the size still seemed too small for me. While it was beautiful, it just was not what I wanted and I had decided prior to my trip that was not going to settle....especially on color....And that I would not buy something just because it was offered unless it sang to me! So, with heavy heart, I said no to the bag...I could tell the SA (and poor DH) were disappointed and I repeatedly apologized to her (them) but she totally understood and agreed that i should not buy it unless I loved it! I then asked her if any other color or size options were available. She said only raisin in a 30 and 35. As that didn't really appeal to me either, I asked when I should come back to have a better chance. She said they anticipate receiving a shipment that afternoon so come back around 3pm.
DH and I left to have a leisurely lunch, and I worried that I had made the wrong decision in rejecting the blue sapphire and raisin bags. I was getting nervous that I may not be offered another bag . Finally, in what seemed like forever, we returned to FSH around 315 pm. Again, we didn't wait in line (which the SA guessed was around 1.5 hours long). She said they had a Kelly in rouge casque, a b30 in blue electric and a b 35 in etain. I choose the b35 and squealed with delight when I finally got to hold her!! She's perfect for me!!! 🙂🙂🙂🙂. After saying; "yes yes yes", we proceeded to other departments because i wanted to buy a few matching accessories. I had much success with other accessories and jewelry but asked for a Rodeo charm during every visit but got a no.
During this entire experience, we were dressed very very casually. I was mostly wearing jeans or leggings tucked into my waterproof boots with a sweater, a north face bubble jacket, and a
Gucci crossbody. DH was dressed similarly. Neither of us had on any Hermes products. This time, however, We had purchase history in France (from FSH, Serves and St Tropez) from this past June. I definitely think it helped us establish ourselves as being lovers of Hermes products and not resellers...and therefore the SA felt more comfortable telling us about the stock availability. The SA mentioned that it was possible to get a bag every 4 months. I was a bit surprised to hear this (because I was under the impression that it was every 6 ish months), but relieved actually because it hadn't been a full 6 months since our last visit to Paris.
I owe a huge debt to the contributors of this thread, as I've read it all the way through, twice now, and all the advice has been simply invaluable. Thanks for letting me share my story...sorry, I know it's verbose and that I have a tendency to ramble...lol.
Without further adieu..... Here she is [emoji8]
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I will also try my luck later on this month.
