Thanks for the kind words and positive encouragement! I love the sentiment to just be confident and get things done. I need more of that everywhere I go
SA experience (need advice)
- Thread starter HKsai
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Thanks for the kind words and positive encouragement! I love the sentiment to just be confident and get things done. I need more of that everywhere I go
The walking you out thing is shocking.
I would do one of two things:
Speak to the friendly SA and tell her that you would like to work with her in future, and let her know any planned future purchases.
or
Ask to see the store manager and ask for a recommendation of another SA. You don't need to go into detail, just register your dissatisfaction.
Contrary to a lot of people's perceptions, H really needs the smaller purchases and occasional buyers, and I mean at much lower spending levels than yours. They need to sell the keychains, less expensive bracelets, fragrances, etc. It's a huge part of their revenue. They should be grateful for the buyers of shawls and Evelynes...this is their bread and butter and also the future buyers of more products.
I would do one of two things:
Speak to the friendly SA and tell her that you would like to work with her in future, and let her know any planned future purchases.
or
Ask to see the store manager and ask for a recommendation of another SA. You don't need to go into detail, just register your dissatisfaction.
Contrary to a lot of people's perceptions, H really needs the smaller purchases and occasional buyers, and I mean at much lower spending levels than yours. They need to sell the keychains, less expensive bracelets, fragrances, etc. It's a huge part of their revenue. They should be grateful for the buyers of shawls and Evelynes...this is their bread and butter and also the future buyers of more products.
I think this just reinforces my perception that this particular SA doesn't want to be bothered. Perhaps she has lots of clients and doesn't care that she was so obvious in her intention. That a store would allow this attitude and treatment of customers to foster is the reason I suggest another store.
Agree with everyone in that you should get a new SA, Customer service is one of the most important aspects of my shopping experiences and IMO you didn’t get any service from this SA. Don’t matter to me if I’m buying a simple twilly or a bag worth thousands, I expect to be treated politely. Recently my SM was complaining about the customer service that she received from MB when buying her new car and she stated that from a luxury brand she expected more. For me that’s the same as my H shopping. If you show a love for the brand then I don’t think you really have to spend loads of money to be offered coveted items ( in my country anyway)
I would definitely change that SA. You should be able to enjoy your shopping and purchasing experience. I find that it's best to have a genuine relationship with your SA rather than solely a monetary one. When I was offered my first B I had only purchased a few bracelets and my SA is far from pushy. She knows what I like and she tries to show me what may interest me but never pushing me to buy one or the other. In fact, sometimes when i tell her I may want something, she knows that i wouldn't get any use out of it, she tries to tell me to maybe purchase something else instead or not purchase it at all. I hope you find an SA that you can genuinely connect with.
Being bothered sends a very negative message & very well might have chased this client away
permanently from H.
I'm not positive that the store is aware of this behavior from their SA.
The OP can share her experience with the store manager or she can just find another SA & feel
more comfortable in the environment of that H store
I can empathize your situation because I have similar experience with my ex-SA. I had given business to this SA since the store opened and being Asians, I thought that she would be more understanding of items that work for me. Over the years, I felt that she was taking advantage of my loyalty and took me for granted. I would walk in the store and she would make me wait over other clients and only gives me items in colors that are not popular. Being in a location where there are lots of wealthy Asians, I know that I can't match her new clients so I took the business away and started shopping in Vegas where I can get the respect that I deserve from a premium brand. Don't let this discourage you from the love of H. And not to be biased, I find that a lot of Asian SAs take their clients for granted and are very pragmatic in terms of offering different service levels based on their clients spend. I used to frequent my store weekly and would always leave with something but that does not seem to satisfy her appetite. The only time that I would hear from her would be close to month end when she can't meet her quota (and she literally told me that fact) and that I should get something to help her out.Thanks for the kind words and positive encouragement! I love the sentiment to just be confident and get things done. I need more of that everywhere I go
A good tip to change the SA without awkwardness(if you mind) : try to ask her/he which day will she / he be off, then go to the store on that day then you get a new SA to start with. Be very honest to the new one ( if that’s the one) that you would like to have a swap.
The new one will definitely know when is the best time to invite you to the store without bumping into the previous SA.
There’s bad SA but there’s also nice SA in H as I know. And I can say, mostly those bad ones get the attitude from their supervisors or managers. That’s why they think they can behave like that and get away as their superiors do the same. I would say complaining the managers may not be really helping the situation. Because sadly most of the lux stores nowadays care only about $$ / numbers, they only care when you are a vvvip....
p.s I work in luxury retail and I don’t support behavior like that.
The new one will definitely know when is the best time to invite you to the store without bumping into the previous SA.
There’s bad SA but there’s also nice SA in H as I know. And I can say, mostly those bad ones get the attitude from their supervisors or managers. That’s why they think they can behave like that and get away as their superiors do the same. I would say complaining the managers may not be really helping the situation. Because sadly most of the lux stores nowadays care only about $$ / numbers, they only care when you are a vvvip....
p.s I work in luxury retail and I don’t support behavior like that.
The closes H boutique is 3 1/2 hrs drive (each way) for me. I went once and the service was not nice (which I will not get into) so, I am curious.... is there any of you that has an SA at another location then where you live? I always wait until I go to Paris to get my H goods but would love to have someone here also to buy from.
I ask for HKsai also, maybe he/you could find an SA in another store/city/state if none works out where he lives.
I ask for HKsai also, maybe he/you could find an SA in another store/city/state if none works out where he lives.
Your experience and narrative really captured my feelings and experience. My area is also saturated by older/more mature wealthy Asians. I walked into a store and people are already carrying their B K or C. I know my purchases are insignificant but I know that eventually I can work toward getting my mom a birkin in 2/3 years. I really wanna explore the world of Hermes and learn more about it. It’s just disappointing because the SA was helpful until the one time that I’m not purchasing. I intend to buy a scarf or shawl every month or so but then I also want to purchase stuff that I want and not buy stuff for the sake of buying stuff. If my mom tries the sample and love it, I’m more willing to get it for her in the future. I just have such different experience in other stores. Again, I’m sure it doesn’t apply to all stores and SAs. I just want to talk about my experience and ask for experienced buyers their opinions on what would be realistic for me to expect moving forward. Thanks!!
Sorry about your bad experience...
SA aint worth YOUR time!
just plain wrong my friend!
I would not put up with that.
But can i just add - i keep reading about spending in order to build up a relationship with store to be offered bags. It astounds me to this day!! Why must you spend an amount for them to contact you for bags?
I have never experienced that in the Hermes stores before! Usually walk in or they call me to ask if I am interested in an HAC/Kelly/Birkin (assuming these are the bags in reference). It never happened the first time (i was a student walking into the store in shorts and tshirts and tennis shoes - literally on my way to tennis training) and it hasnt happened now. Is this only in some countries?
Maybe you should try another store if they are making you spend money first in order to get a bag. I would be very disappointed if such a premium label did that to me.
Once again sorry for your bad experience.
SA aint worth YOUR time!
just plain wrong my friend!
I would not put up with that.
But can i just add - i keep reading about spending in order to build up a relationship with store to be offered bags. It astounds me to this day!! Why must you spend an amount for them to contact you for bags?
I have never experienced that in the Hermes stores before! Usually walk in or they call me to ask if I am interested in an HAC/Kelly/Birkin (assuming these are the bags in reference). It never happened the first time (i was a student walking into the store in shorts and tshirts and tennis shoes - literally on my way to tennis training) and it hasnt happened now. Is this only in some countries?
Maybe you should try another store if they are making you spend money first in order to get a bag. I would be very disappointed if such a premium label did that to me.
Once again sorry for your bad experience.
Wow! My SA practically told me that I need to spend the same amount of a birkin to be offered to see one. Argh the sad thing is I can probably spend just enough for a birkin but I don’t know if I can pretty much spend just as much to be offered to see one :S
Thank you for sharing and sorry you have to even be put in this situation. As a paying customer, we should demand respect everywhere and especially at a lux retailer like H; the SA's actions seem appalling.
Have been mostly a lurker on the Hermes forum but wanted to share experiences for contrast. I am new to H but have all positive experiences even with just small purchases from the U.S. When I recently brought my relatives visiting from Hong Kong into my H store, they were impressed with the service. And my relatives are experienced H customers (high disposable income, retired in their 40's, no kids, etc. I estimate my aunt to have onwards of 20-30 B/K/C, fine jewelry, leather, scarves, etc.) They told me they hated the Hermes shopping experience in HK, the SAs were so snobby and rude, hence they have taken their business elsewhere like Japan, Macau, and Paris. They said the service is SO much better and they couldn't stand the sub-par treatment at the local stores where the shopping experience was no longer enjoyable to them. I know not everyone can travel to make purchases but we can decide how and where to spend our money, and not enable bad SA's unacceptable behaviors.
Have been mostly a lurker on the Hermes forum but wanted to share experiences for contrast. I am new to H but have all positive experiences even with just small purchases from the U.S. When I recently brought my relatives visiting from Hong Kong into my H store, they were impressed with the service. And my relatives are experienced H customers (high disposable income, retired in their 40's, no kids, etc. I estimate my aunt to have onwards of 20-30 B/K/C, fine jewelry, leather, scarves, etc.) They told me they hated the Hermes shopping experience in HK, the SAs were so snobby and rude, hence they have taken their business elsewhere like Japan, Macau, and Paris. They said the service is SO much better and they couldn't stand the sub-par treatment at the local stores where the shopping experience was no longer enjoyable to them. I know not everyone can travel to make purchases but we can decide how and where to spend our money, and not enable bad SA's unacceptable behaviors.
I'd recommend that OP observe the SA behaviour in his home store. If most of them behave like the money-minded SA and that nice helpful SA is the odd one out, then best to change store altogether. (HKsai = Hongkong 香港仔? Lots of H boutiques in Hongkong). I've dropped in on most of the stores in Singapore and settled on my home store due to many reasons, the main factor being how the SAs treated me.
There was one particular SA at the local flagship who tried to convince me to be a turncoat. She said rather unpleasant things about my home store and strongly encouraged me to go to the flagship instead. So I asked her what the flagship could offer me that my home store could not. Sadly, instead of perhaps expounding on a better variety of goods or a higher chance of getting something I might desire, she proudly gave me this circular argument: the flagship is better, and it is better because it is the flagship. I could foresee misery in my future if she became my SA
. Oh, and add to that her screeching indignation and disbelief that I wasn't shopping there to score a B/K/C, well let's just say I didn't go back again.
There was one particular SA at the local flagship who tried to convince me to be a turncoat. She said rather unpleasant things about my home store and strongly encouraged me to go to the flagship instead. So I asked her what the flagship could offer me that my home store could not. Sadly, instead of perhaps expounding on a better variety of goods or a higher chance of getting something I might desire, she proudly gave me this circular argument: the flagship is better, and it is better because it is the flagship. I could foresee misery in my future if she became my SA
. Oh, and add to that her screeching indignation and disbelief that I wasn't shopping there to score a B/K/C, well let's just say I didn't go back again.
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