In the last year, I’ve purchased a few SLGs and now a bag directly from LV - my older purchases were all pre-loved. I’m in central New Jersey and don’t have a store close to me, plus with COVID, I’ve only shopped LV online. Should I try looking for an SA for future purchases? Other than sourcing hard to find items what are the benefit to working with an SA instead of purchasing directly from the website? Particularly since I won’t be shopping in store.
Should I find an SA?
- Thread starter Gretiemorris
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Well that’s the main benefit. They can hunt down hard to find items, help you get items from limited/new collections. Help you with possible future repairs. For example I have a repair in right now that I wouldn’t have trusted sending in without the help of my SA. If anything goes wrong I have a contact person that’s on my side.
I'm wondering the same thing. I'm new to LV and purchased my first two bags online a couple of weeks ago. I went back into the store to look at the Vavin and some bandeaus but decided to think on the Vavin and they didn't have many bandeaus to choose from. I asked the SA who was helping me if should could give me her card so I could let her know if I decided to make the purchase. She said they weren't allowed to do that. Is that right? I thought that was odd.
If you develop a really good relationship, you can get invited to store events. You don't have to be an LV corporate-level VIC (very important client, have to spend 10s of thousands in one year) to get invited, more of a VIC to a CA at that store, who then asks their manager if they can invite you.
Item sourcing is so much easier with a CA. CAs have access to warehouse stock, which you don't have access to if you shop online. Most of my items have been obtained in-person, despite being out of stock consistently. I rarely pre-order, and I can get most limited or new releases within a week or two of release, if not the day or a day before. LV likes to raise prices on new releases that fly off shelves. Expect around a $50 USD increase within a month if that item is difficult to restock.
If you end up wanting to collect LV items in a short time span, you can easily meet the ban requirements online. A ban online is a ban in-store. Usually applies to people who start collecting LV, and want to get as many slgs and classics as soon as possible to beat price increases. LV has been increasing prices regularly since the pandemic started, and my CA doesn't think they'll stop. People are buying regardless, so she won't be surprised if another one happens soon.
Personally, I don't think there's any harm in having a CA you go to for purchases. I shop mainly with one, but I do have others. It just makes getting items you like easier, and I feel like repair responses are faster too. There are other perks too... Basically, a CA can "break" the rules at their discretion. If you technically are banned but the CA knows you genuinely love and enjoy the brand, they can get a manager to approve the sale. If there are items they aren't supposed to sell, like replacement straps for a bag you don't have, they can get it too.
If you end up loving LV, it's worth having a relationship with a CA.
Item sourcing is so much easier with a CA. CAs have access to warehouse stock, which you don't have access to if you shop online. Most of my items have been obtained in-person, despite being out of stock consistently. I rarely pre-order, and I can get most limited or new releases within a week or two of release, if not the day or a day before. LV likes to raise prices on new releases that fly off shelves. Expect around a $50 USD increase within a month if that item is difficult to restock.
If you end up wanting to collect LV items in a short time span, you can easily meet the ban requirements online. A ban online is a ban in-store. Usually applies to people who start collecting LV, and want to get as many slgs and classics as soon as possible to beat price increases. LV has been increasing prices regularly since the pandemic started, and my CA doesn't think they'll stop. People are buying regardless, so she won't be surprised if another one happens soon.
Personally, I don't think there's any harm in having a CA you go to for purchases. I shop mainly with one, but I do have others. It just makes getting items you like easier, and I feel like repair responses are faster too. There are other perks too... Basically, a CA can "break" the rules at their discretion. If you technically are banned but the CA knows you genuinely love and enjoy the brand, they can get a manager to approve the sale. If there are items they aren't supposed to sell, like replacement straps for a bag you don't have, they can get it too.
If you end up loving LV, it's worth having a relationship with a CA.
Thank you! This is super helpful! I probably won’t buy more than a couple items each year but I will definitely look for a CA when I’m ready to buy again.
I’ve never heard of or had this happen. Any and every LV store I’ve gone to, the CA has always offered me their card. This is odd.
Yeah, I felt kind of stupid, like I didn’t know how things worked. She was just a little short with me too. When I asked to see the bandeaus she acted like I was bothering her. This was in the Chicago store, btw. I Was looking forward to forging a relationship with a CA. But that put a bad taste in my mouth and I think I might just order the Vavin online Instead. Or maybe go to Nordstrom.
Michigan Avenue? Had a similar experience. I deal with the Northbrook store and sometimes it's the same experience. I don't like it when I'm spending what I think is a lot of money and they act like they're too busy or I'm wasting their time, even though I always buy something.