I was in the SF boutique last Saturday, and saw someone got offered a mini kelly ii in the men's dressing room while I was checking out men's RTW. From the distance, I couldn't tell the exact color, but it looked like dark navy. They have bags.
San Francisco Hermes Store
- Thread starter cawowyn
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Hi there! I agree with the other poster. She is giving great advice. I would just call to make an appointment and hope that whoever you get paired up with will be with someone you can see yourself working with. I am new at this and I have asked the very same question many times on different platforms for a SA recommendation and receiving little responses. I think Hermes is different -- you just have to go in and start a relationship with an SA. If one doesn't work out, try again. I hear a lot about SF being competitive but at this point, I've decided to just enjoy the journey and build my relationship with my new SA and hope that someday, she'll think of me when my dream bag is available. I don't plan on having a set budget either. Just buy what I love. Oh and don't be intimated - I was but after my appointment, I felt good about it and had a great time. Do it!
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I agree that an SA that worked for one person might not be the best for an other. It’s all an inter personal relationship between the SA and the client. My only concern was that since I cannot be a very high spender, moving different SA’s might become too expensive for me as per my understanding the 1.5:1 ratio (on an average for a b/k) should be with one SA. This spend ratio is already a huge deal for me plus the cost of the bag that I want to avoid switching too many SAs. How ever I will approach this with a positive mind and hope that I get an SA that I enjoy taking this journey with. Thanks again for your thoughts and advice, greatly appreciate it!Hello,
I believe SF is very competitive and from what I've seen at the store, yes, there are some serious ballers in the bay area.
I wanted to let you know that I was also intimidated to start the journey. This is just my personal humble opinion, but I don't share my SA recommendation because I don't know you, not sure how my SA would feel about connecting a fellow TPFer but a stranger none the less. I think my SA is wonderful, but she may not be the right person for you, I've only made one recommendation of my SA in person (pre covid), which is to my best friend of 20 years. But even then, she and my SA didn't click, my friend made her own relationship with a different SA at the Palo Alto store.
I honestly believe that you should book an appointment with any SA that is available and start your journey there. You mentioned that you are interested in some of their pieces, and eventually a bag. I think starting the shopping experience is the first step. Once you create your profile at the store, they'll be able to see your purchase history.
I can't recall all of the SA's I've gone through to find my current one, I honestly thought she was the only one that I've ever shopped with, but organizing my office and going through the receipt cards, I realized I have 4-5 different business cards from the same SF store. The 4-5 different SAs treated me well, I shopped for the items I was interested in. It started with SLG, shoes, bracelets, scarves, belts, eventually bags and others with my current SA. One started a wish list for me early on, but never reached out when new items came in.
I didn't drop ridiculous amount of money before meeting my SA. After meeting her, that's another story.
Best wishes and happy to chat further via here or PM!
Thank you so much for your thoughts, advice and words of reassurance. I agree enjoying the journey is very important as we will remember the journey when ever we see the bag once we get it. I will book an appointment and hope that I get a good and understanding SA. I just don’t want my spend ratio to get affected when I switch SAs as the spend ratio is already very high and it is an expensive hand bag. I am so glad to have this forum and the support of the fellow TPFers. Hope you continue to enjoy your H journey and get your dream bag soon!Hi there! I agree with the other poster. She is giving great advice. I would just call to make an appointment and hope that whoever you get paired up with will be with someone you can see yourself working with. I am new at this and I have asked the very same question many times on different platforms for a SA recommendation and receiving little responses. I think Hermes is different -- you just have to go in and start a relationship with an SA. If one doesn't work out, try again. I hear a lot about SF being competitive but at this point, I've decided to just enjoy the journey and build my relationship with my new SA and hope that someday, she'll think of me when my dream bag is available. I don't plan on having a set budget either. Just buy what I love. Oh and don't be intimated - I was but after my appointment, I felt good about it and had a great time. Do it!
I hope the same for you too! I used to think about the whole spending ratio too but I don’t think we have much of a choice since the reselling market is double the price. So either way, I think we have to pay a lot
But I think we both just need to take it slow and buy one or a few things at a time and space it out to where it’s within our budget at the time of making those small purchases as suppose to tallying it up at the end. Easier to accept
I think it’ll be worth it once we get offered our dream bag. Fingers crossed!
Hello Abuls, if the 1.5:1 ratio is a huge deal for you, you may also consider exploring the possibility of going the reseller route, which you can get the exact Hermes bag in the size/color/hardware combination you like. I am sorry to say this..., but I am not sure if you are aware there is currently bag shortage with Hermes boutiques. It is becoming more difficult even for regular clients to obtain a desirable handbag (B/K/C/mini lindy, etc.). A 1.5:1 ratio may not be sufficient for you to get a quota bag (B,K) in a competitive store like SF boutique, especially the inventory is low nowadays. There are long-term clients at SF boutique who don't get offered a quota bag this year even at 2:1 ratio....
So, I just hope to let you know that even when you hit 1.5:1 ratio, there is possibility that you may not be offered a quota bag, and you may be disappointed eventually if your end goal is to get a quota bag from Hermes.
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Thanks, Yes I have been hearing this and frankly worries me. But I would rather spend money in getting other H items I really like instead of shelling the same amount of money to get just the bag. Also I don’t want to encourage the huge mark ups in the reseller market and I also want the boutique experience. I am not in a hurry though and can wait..hopefully the shortage issues will be sorted out soon.Hello Abuls, if the 1.5:1 ratio is a huge deal for you, you may also consider exploring the possibility of going the reseller route, which you can get the exact Hermes bag in the size/color/hardware combination you like. I am sorry to say this..., but I am not sure if you are aware there is currently bag shortage with Hermes boutiques. It is becoming more difficult even for regular clients to obtain a desirable handbag (B/K/C/mini lindy, etc.). A 1.5:1 ratio may not be sufficient for you to get a quota bag (B,K) in a competitive store like SF boutique, especially the inventory is low nowadays. There are long-term clients at SF boutique who don't get offered a quota bag this year even at 2:1 ratio....
So, I just hope to let you know that even when you hit 1.5:1 ratio, there is possibility that you may not be offered a quota bag, and you may be disappointed eventually if your end goal is to get a quota bag from Hermes.
Agree, looking at it just as a pre-spend to get a bag can be frustrating. Thanks really for your suggestions!!I hope the same for you too! I used to think about the whole spending ratio too but I don’t think we have much of a choice since the reselling market is double the price. So either way, I think we have to pay a lot
But I think we both just need to take it slow and buy one or a few things at a time and space it out to where it’s within our budget at the time of making those small purchases as suppose to tallying it up at the end. Easier to accept
I think it’ll be worth it once we get offered our dream bag. Fingers crossed!
Okay, good luck to your journey. I think if you are more open to a wider range of bag offerings (different size/colors, etc.), your chance would increase.
Yeah and I think that maybe when we get our first bag, the door will open for other opportunities as well along with a good working relationship with our SAs.
When I made my appointment, it took a week before they confirmed it.
Does anyone know if there is a craftsman at the SF store? I got pen on my Barenia K and wondered if they could clean it.