Spend threshold for B/K/C

[miss mitzi]

I am coming here hoping for some Hermes counseling LOL!!!!! We should have a counseling thread maybe 🤔

I started with Hermes again after a number of years away from buying at the store. Was not after a bag previously- more jewlery like CDCs and some shoes. Starting in January this year I started back at the store and buying things that I would love and of course, hoping to be offered a B or K. I am now 11 months in and probably spent close to twice as much as a B or K would cost. My SA hasn’t asked for my wishlist nor has she hinted that anything will be offered to me. I have been quite polite and I get along great with my SA. I have been patient but I am getting SO tired.
I am a really forward person but I know Hermes doesn’t really work like that so I have been playing the game, buying things I love and waiting politely and patiently. Below is the list of things I have purchased over the past 11 months 😆

Jan-Nov:
4 belts
6 shawls and scarves
1 sweater dress
2 shoes
1 hat
2 pegase rodeos
1 scarf ring
1 mosaic tray

I also got a Picotin in the first month of my journey (January). The Pico is not included in my almost 2x spend.

Would love to hear your opinions, thoughts and any counseling you can offer me before I drop out of this game due to mental anguish lol 😂 Thank you!

I get you. I started in Nov 2021, probably at the height of the post pandemic luxury craze. It was frustrating to me at the time that my SA would never engage in bag discussions. Fast forward 3 years, 5 QB and 1 special order later, I love my SA.

Looking back, I understand why my SA would never engage in bag discussions at the beginning. It seems like, at least in my experience, our store might like to get $25k-$30k prespend for newbies. For all my QBs, I noticed my SA would start the conversation only after a min of $20k, and more like above 2:1 of a size 25 QB is reached.

Another reason could be your SA is like mine? Mine only engages or gives any hope or hints when I’m truly close or she’s confident she can get a bag for me. Usually after the convo started, I get a bag within 1 month.

If you are already at 2X of a size 25 QB, I think you are close. Might just need a little more, like another 0.5X or even 1X, if your store is super competitive. Hang in there!!

It will happen.

 

[periogirl28]

Thank you! It does! I was considering some dishware. I am not super interested in their watches and fine jewlery though. Think that will negatively affect?

Not if you let your SA know why. 🙂

I think it always helps to be quite candid, but ultimately everyone has such a different experience because there are so many factors involved. Even at a rough 2:1, it might not be enough at your particular store, for this current situation and for your preferred bag specs. Especially for a first QB.
I am sorry to go on this way but H shopping has become thus. Very different from my own journey but we can only give advice which might help now.

 

[bagloverss]

I get you. I started in Nov 2021, probably at the height of the post pandemic luxury craze. It was frustrating to me at the time that my SA would never engage in bag discussions. Fast forward 3 years and 5 QB bags and 1 special order later, I love my SA.

Looking back, I understand why my SA would never engage in bag discussions at the beginning. It seems like, at least in my experience, our store might like to get $25k-$30k prespend for newbies. For all my QBs, I noticed my SA would start the conversation only after a min of $20k, and more like above 2:1 of a size 25 QB is reached.

Another reason could be your SA is like mine? Mine only engages or gives any hope or hints when I’m truly close or she’s confident she can get a bag for me. Usually after the convo started, I get a bag within 1 month.

If you are already at 2X of a size 25 QB, I think you are close. Might just need a little more, like another 0.5X or even 1X, if your store is super competitive. Hang in there!!

It will happen.

thank you! Question though- is there a reset if my spend? I started in January. If I don’t get offered a bag by the end of this year - does my spend reset at some point? Or is it after I am offered a QB?

 

[bagloverss]

Not if you let your SA know why. 🙂

I think it always helps to be quite candid, but ultimately everyone has such a different experience because there are so many factors involved. Even at a rough 2:1, it might not be enough at your particular store, for this current situation and for your preferred bag specs. Especially for a first QB.
I am sorry to go on this way but H shopping has become thus. Very different from my own journey but we can only give advice which might help now.

this is great advice! I think I will get some dishware I have use for and will bring up the B and K at that time. I am normally a “you don’t ask, you don’t get” person- so this has been a challenge for me LOL

 

[miss mitzi]

thank you! Question though- is there a reset if my spend? I started in January. If I don’t get offered a bag by the end of this year - does my spend reset at some point? Or is it after I am offered a QB?

From what I read here for years: No. Pre spend does not expire by the end of the calendar year.
It’s more like because there’s a limit on 2 QB a year, if you get your bag next Jan, it counts toward the 2 QB max you can get in 2025.

 

[careerhunter168]

I get you. I started in Nov 2021, probably at the height of the post pandemic luxury craze. It was frustrating to me at the time that my SA would never engage in bag discussions. Fast forward 3 years, 5 QB and 1 special order later, I love my SA.

Looking back, I understand why my SA would never engage in bag discussions at the beginning. It seems like, at least in my experience, our store might like to get $25k-$30k prespend for newbies. For all my QBs, I noticed my SA would start the conversation only after a min of $20k, and more like above 2:1 of a size 25 QB is reached.

Another reason could be your SA is like mine? Mine only engages or gives any hope or hints when I’m truly close or she’s confident she can get a bag for me. Usually after the convo started, I get a bag within 1 month.

If you are already at 2X of a size 25 QB, I think you are close. Might just need a little more, like another 0.5X or even 1X, if your store is super competitive. Hang in there!!

It will happen.

Not if you let your SA know why. 🙂

I think it always helps to be quite candid, but ultimately everyone has such a different experience because there are so many factors involved. Even at a rough 2:1, it might not be enough at your particular store, for this current situation and for your preferred bag specs. Especially for a first QB.
I am sorry to go on this way but H shopping has become thus. Very different from my own journey but we can only give advice which might help now.

@miss mitzi and @periogirl28 it sounds like first qb requires higher prespend. Should we expect the subsequent qb to be a bit easier?

 

[miss mitzi]

@miss mitzi and @periogirl28 it sounds like first qb requires higher prespend. Should we expect the subsequent qb to be a bit easier?

I can only speak for my own experience. Mine didn’t get easier until the 4th, which was two years after I started.

From what I read here, my take is that it has to do with how competitive the store is and how the store views/evaluates your relationship. For example: are you into the H lifestyle? (Translation: can they trust you to spend and spend or will you dash after you get your bag).

 

[periogirl28]

@miss mitzi and @periogirl28 it sounds like first qb requires higher prespend. Should we expect the subsequent qb to be a bit easier?

Ok here I cannot advise as when I started there was no requirement for any of this. For first QB now I am consolidating intel I get from friends who started a new relationship recently/ post Covid and my various SAs. Some stores are very strict, so each QB requires a certain prespend and in other continents it doesn't require any spend at all, not even for the first. 🙂

 

[Gin&H]

this is great advice! I think I will get some dishware I have use for and will bring up the B and K at that time. I am normally a “you don’t ask, you don’t get” person- so this has been a challenge for me LOL

I’m in a similar relationship with my SA. I’m also typically an open and direct person. I started shopping at H earlier this year and have had a great relationship with my SA. My SA never asked me about bags I’m interested in and I actually never brought it up either. l just kept buying what I loved. At the end of an appointment, I had picked out RTW pieces I wanted to purchase; I must’ve been about 2.2:1 at that point because she showed me a couple non quotas that I politely declined and stated why they weren’t for me. Then she said she wanted to show me one more and brought out a big box which was a B30. If I hadn’t fallen in love with the bag she offered me, I would’ve used that as a segue into what I would like. I think you should keep buying what you love at your own pace you feel comfortable. At the end of your next appointment when your SA asks, “is there anything else you want to look at?” Use that as an opportunity to ask your SA about trying on bags. That’ll give you a chance to talk about what size, color, etc you like. You’ve shopped with your SA for 11 months now. That’s longer than most people’s romantic relationships. I think you’re safe to ask about bags without coming off as being just in it for the bags lol. Also, if you’re interested in a B30, you may not be far off from being competitive! You’ve gotten wonderful advice from many others and hope my 2 cents just help add to your piggy bank that others have already added to!

 

[careerhunter168]

@miss mitzi and @periogirl28 thank you for sharing your experiences

 

[bagloverss]

I’m in a similar relationship with my SA. I’m also typically an open and direct person. I started shopping at H earlier this year and have had a great relationship with my SA. My SA never asked me about bags I’m interested in and I actually never brought it up either. l just kept buying what I loved. At the end of an appointment, I had picked out RTW pieces I wanted to purchase; I must’ve been about 2.2:1 at that point because she showed me a couple non quotas that I politely declined and stated why they weren’t for me. Then she said she wanted to show me one more and brought out a big box which was a B30. If I hadn’t fallen in love with the bag she offered me, I would’ve used that as a segue into what I would like. I think you should keep buying what you love at your own pace you feel comfortable. At the end of your next appointment when your SA asks, “is there anything else you want to look at?” Use that as an opportunity to ask your SA about trying on bags. That’ll give you a chance to talk about what size, color, etc you like. You’ve shopped with your SA for 11 months now. That’s longer than most people’s romantic relationships. I think you’re safe to ask about bags without coming off as being just in it for the bags lol. Also, if you’re interested in a B30, you may not be far off from being competitive! You’ve gotten wonderful advice from many others and hope my 2 cents just help add to your piggy bank that others have already added to!

Yes this is so helpful and I appreciate it!!

 

[ladysarah]

As far as spending for SOs/holding back SOs is concerned, I bought two Kellys after I placed my last SO (I *think* one was at end of the year and one was in the next calendar year, so not quite two in a year?). I picked up my SO in late spring/early summer this year, and I did not spend anything meaningful in that store prior in 2024 - I am not sure I bought anything at all. My SA just said "Hey, do you wanna come in?" and we figured out a time, and when I walked into the private room, they had my SO.
I would be furious and disappointed if someone tried to hold me up for more spend while picking up a 10K€ bag

I have another SO outstanding at a store that I only visit once a year or so (that said, I have been a customer there for well over 10 years now). I can't imagine that they are going to ask me to trawl through FJ or something when I pick it up, but, you never know!

I do wonder if some of this behavior is assumption that newer customers who get an iconic bag will stop buying, or only buy as "prespend" for bags, whereas they know that some of us are firmly on the H-ook forever 🤣

Well, do let us know if you are asked to ‘trawl through FJ.´ My own experience is somewhat similar I never felt under pressure to ‘prespend ‘ though being a regular customer is sort of the same thing.

 

[cap4life]

Hi, TPFers -

I have questions about the pre-spend. I have recently got a QB (gold Birkin 35) and am done for this year from my home store in the US. During my last visit, my SA and I also discussed the plan for the calendar year 2025.

The plan she told me was that (1) I would pick up the special order (placed in March this year) when it arrives, and (2) she would wait and get a black box Birkin 35 (BBB35) for me. She said that the BBB35 can come in January or December 2025, and she does not know when it will arrive but will still prioritize this BBB35 for me. (She was somehow optimistic as she mentioned that more Box leather bags will come in my home store next year.)

My questions are as follow:
(1) If I start pre-spend in January 2025 and receive the SO first, does my pre-spend re-set to $0 for BBB35? If so, is it better to pre-spend after receiving the SO?
(2) If the BBB35 arrives in March or April 2025 (prior to the SO), and my pre-spend is pretty minimal by then, will the SM still approve it for me? Or, is it pretty much "no"?

I have been exploring the resellers for BBB35 (for example, see: https://madisonavenuecouture.com/pr...alf-palladium-hardware?variant=39934873895006). I am trying to make a good strategy for next year as I am not a high spender; I would appreciate your advice/suggestions. Thank you!

(1) If I start pre-spend in January 2025 and receive the SO first, does my pre-spend re-set to $0 for BBB35? If so, is it better to pre-spend after receiving the SO?
How pre-spend works is a bit of a myth so take all the advice you’re given with a grain of salt. But from my experience, yes pre-spend will reset once you get your SO. Think about it from your SAs perspective, what incentive does she have to give you two QBs back to back with no commission earning items bought in between?
(2) If the BBB35 arrives in March or April 2025 (prior to the SO), and my pre-spend is pretty minimal by then, will the SM still approve it for me? Or, is it pretty much "no"?
If the BBB35 arrives first and you haven’t spent much, I don’t think it would go to you. Unless your SA can make a case that you will spend more after getting this QB.

 

[Capitaliste]

(1) If I start pre-spend in January 2025 and receive the SO first, does my pre-spend re-set to $0 for BBB35? If so, is it better to pre-spend after receiving the SO?
How pre-spend works is a bit of a myth so take all the advice you’re given with a grain of salt. But from my experience, yes pre-spend will reset once you get your SO. Think about it from your SAs perspective, what incentive does she have to give you two QBs back to back with no commission earning items bought in between?
(2) If the BBB35 arrives in March or April 2025 (prior to the SO), and my pre-spend is pretty minimal by then, will the SM still approve it for me? Or, is it pretty much "no"?
If the BBB35 arrives first and you haven’t spent much, I don’t think it would go to you. Unless your SA can make a case that you will spend more after getting this QB.

Thank you, @cap4life. I got lots of great suggestions from others and you. I've decided to "shop as usual" in 2025. Thank you for your comment and I wish you have a great Thanksgiving break.

 

[bagloverss]

Just wanted to express my thanks for this board and the wonderful people that gave me some great advice a week ago. I had a GREAT talk with my SA today openly about my desire for a B or K and to understand the process and when I might get one. No promises were made but the discussion gave me some hope! I think the best way to this is a good relationship with your SA. 🩷