Spend threshold for B/K/C

[acrowcounted]

This is exactly my conjecture.

tempting…
I also read somewhere that the home SA would be less upset if I bought a bag from another store than say a suite of RTW

I'm confused. The Madison SA told you that you'd still have to spend appropriately for an exotic quota bag offer, they aren't just going to offer it to you as a walk in. Your home SA would definitely be upset if you started spending what would be needed to get one at Madison on other things, and I'm sure that would need to include several thousands in RTW and FJ. It would nuke your home store relationship (I'm sure they'd happily continue to blindly sell you bait items but coveted bags will suddenly feel impossible...) I've seen several people fall to the allure of Madison in 2023/2024 and just be frustrated and end up walking away from multiple tens of thousands of dollars of prespend when their SAs slowly start ghosting them. I get that your current store may get less inventory but they still get some and now that your SA knows you are interesting in an exotic, she can start looking out for one for you.

 

[Letter]

I'm confused. The Madison SA told you that you'd still have to spend appropriately for an exotic quota bag offer, they aren't just going to offer it to you as a walk in. Your home SA would definitely be upset if you started spending what would be needed to get one at Madison on other things, and I'm sure that would need to include several thousands in RTW and FJ. It would nuke your home store relationship (I'm sure they'd happily continue to blindly sell you bait items but coveted bags will suddenly feel impossible...) I've seen several people fall to the allure of Madison in 2023/2024 and just be frustrated and end up walking away from multiple tens of thousands of dollars of prespend when their SAs slowly start ghosting them. I get that your current store may get less inventory but they still get some and now that your SA knows you are interesting in an exotic, she can start looking out for one for you.

Agreed. I have to say, as someone who shops at a low inventory store but visits NYC quite often, I understand the allure of the Madison store. It seems like they have so much to offer! I find the SAs to be very nice when it’s a one off purchase. But I would be wary of the temptation, NYC is not handing out QBs like candy - even if they kind of imply it’s possible.

 

[parisistherapy]

Thank you all! I will follow the advice shared here and stay the course because I’m truly not in a rush. (Admittedly the Madison experience albeit with NQB was exhilarating!)

 

[acrowcounted]

Thank you all! I will follow the advice shared here and stay the course because I’m truly not in a rush. (Admittedly the Madison experience albeit with NQB was exhilarating!)

I like to think of Hermes products as falling into one of two categories: Am I doing the SA a favor by buying this or is the SA doing a me a favor by selling it to me? Exotic non-quota bags definitely fall into the category of the client doing an SA the favor. Exotic non-quota bags are difficult to sell (higher price point, hard to resell, don't hold their value, delicate) and SAs get commission on them, which is typically a decent pay day as they are so expensive. Madison has the highest budget so they order the most of these bags but they are difficult to move (especially lesser favored styles like the Roulis, Verrou, and Plume, which can sit in the back room for months/even years). I'm not surprised that a Madison SA would be more than happy to unload them on a walk in client who is tied to another store (ie no pressure of getting a real QB for) as a one-off transaction. If you are actually interested in these non-quota bags, I'm sure your home SA would strongly appreciate you buying them through her.

 

[880]

As far as I understand it, an SA still needs approval for an exotic QB, and her monthly sale of those bags (any bags really) is balanced against her sales record of non leather items and other categories in that timeframe. Which is why an individual clients profile isn’t the only factor

I would also guess that exotic Non QBs and Exotic QBs are more popular at US Maisons Madison and BH than smaller stores (even those stores with high net worth clients in the tri state area). If only bc of the higher percentage of foreign clients and walk ins. My former SA told me for example August is busy with clients from the Middle East who are taking a break from the heat in their home countries.

So, while an SA would really want/ love to sell an exotic QB or non QB in terms of commission, she does have other metrics and will need /hope/ expect some help meeting those goals. Those bags would tend to go to those individuals who spend generously in other areas. In this post covid economy, even with the rest of the luxury sector like lvmh or kering losing some steam, I don’t necessarily see as much slow down in the top echelons.

That’s why I only advise going the boutique route if you love the non leather merchandise and have some patience.

 

[buddycutie]

“Quota bag” or not, they will all require a relationship and prespend so perfectly applicable for this thread.

Hi there,

I purchased few non quota bags online before starting the relationship with my SA last year, will there be negative impact to me abt getting the qb offer this year, I am now at 1:2.5 ratio. Or they don’t mind since the online spending is made before meeting my SA. Thanks

 

[addiCCted]

Hi there,

I purchased few non quota bags online before starting the relationship with my SA last year, will there be negative impact to me abt getting the qb offer this year, I am now at 1:2.5 ratio. Or they don’t mind since the online spending is made before meeting my SA. Thanks

Depends on how many bags we're talking about. They can see your online purchase so if you got 5 nqb they might delay your qb till next year...keyword being might. Always under discretion of the Sm

 

[acrowcounted]

Hi there,

I purchased few non quota bags online before starting the relationship with my SA last year, will there be negative impact to me abt getting the qb offer this year, I am now at 1:2.5 ratio. Or they don’t mind since the online spending is made before meeting my SA. Thanks

It probably won’t matter, though they do have profile bag limits which might work against you. They also have leather:non leather purchase history ratios. But as far as buying something from the website, yours is probably the least impactful example.

 

[buddycutie]

It probably won’t matter, though they do have profile bag limits which might work against you. They also have leather:non leather purchase history ratios. But as far as buying something from the website, yours is probably the least impactful example.

I only purchase one cardholder this year, the rest are from different departments (FJ, homeware, watches, rtw, scarf and shoes etc) which I really like and enjoy. My SA offered me non qb this year and I rejected all since I told him I got few online last year (being honest to him). I hope all of these will help.

 

[misg19]

How long after hitting a 2:1 spend would you say is reasonable to wait for a qb (not mk)? I like to think I have a pretty good relationship with my SA and my SA says she will call me when it arrives. I’ve been working with my sa for almost a year a now TIA

Edit - do the SAs keep track of which of their clients are in “queue” for a qb or is this magic formula determined by SM

 

[nikotama]

How long after hitting a 2:1 spend would you say is reasonable to wait for a qb (not mk)? I like to think I have a pretty good relationship with my SA and my SA says she will call me when it arrives. I’ve been working with my sa for almost a year a now TIA

Edit - do the SAs keep track of which of their clients are in “queue” for a qb or is this magic formula determined by SM

I’d say it depends on the QB you want and how often it is ordered at your store. I am waiting for months with 2.5x spend because I want a K28 retourne and it’s apparently rare at my store.

 

[acrowcounted]

How long after hitting a 2:1 spend would you say is reasonable to wait for a qb (not mk)? I like to think I have a pretty good relationship with my SA and my SA says she will call me when it arrives. I’ve been working with my sa for almost a year a now TIA

Edit - do the SAs keep track of which of their clients are in “queue” for a qb or is this magic formula determined by SM

It really depends on the store, your relationship and how picky you are on specs. If you’re waiting for one exact spec, it could take years as the SA can’t magically make a specific bag appear. In some stores 2:1 still isn’t enough for a size 25 bag either. Probably best to ask you SA for status and see how they respond. If they are really waffling, you probably need to spend a bit more to be competitive.

 

[addiCCted]

do the SAs keep track of which of their clients are in “queue” for a qb

depends on your SA's style. Some are very spontaneous and some are very organized.

 

[nikotama]

It really depends on the store, your relationship and how picky you are on specs. If you’re waiting for one exact spec, it could take years as they SA can’t magically make a specific bag appear. In some stores 2:1 still isn’t enough for a size 25 bag either. Probably best to ask you SA for status and see how they respond. If they are really waffling, you probably need to spend a bit more to be competitive.

I can't pass up the opportunity to pick your brain and ask a quick question - would you consider K28 retourne a very specific wishlist? (I am open to any hardware and colors except black and etoupe). Thank you

 

[acrowcounted]

I can't pass up the opportunity to pick your brain and ask a quick question - would you consider K28 retourne a very specific wishlist? (I am open to any hardware and colors except black and etoupe). Thank you

Nope! Very specific is: I will only take a B25 Togo noir GHW. Yours is very open.