I also agree that if you are a man, and you’re buying a fair amount of men’s rtw, you are somewhat fast tracked. Especially if you’re asking for a bag that isn’t top of every woman’s list. I bought a few, somewhat pricey, men’s rtw items last year and literally got a bag two days later. I had never thought about it but it was like a switch.
Spend threshold for B/K/C
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I’m still deciding how to best ask as there’s mixed suggestions on asking this. Has anyone actually asked before via text?
What is it you want to ask and what is your motivation for asking?
If you really just want to address your main desire of getting both bags, and you don't potentially mind blowing up everything by putting stuff in writing, I would just text "so I know you said I had to prespend xx for a mini lindy and yy for a C18. If I spent xx + yy could I get both bags? Would I have to wait between getting the bags?"
It is no secret that men's RTW is one of the preferred métiers. Some other preferred categories also include furniture and men's watches. But, the generally accepted norm is, "buy what you love."
One must not confuse "the least desirable size" of a Birkin (e.g., 35 or larger) with "easiness of getting it." The former is simply the expression of the demand side. Most clients want a size of 25 or smaller, and that seems fair as it is the expression from the client pool.
In my US home store in 2024, when I had my pre-spend ratio around 0.8:1 for BBB35, my SA explicitly told me that I can easily [yes, she said this!] get a B25 if B35 (in black box leather) does not arrive in our specified timeline. My SA gave/offered me multiple B25 options, but I declined them all since none of my family members were interested in B25. I instead kept spent assuming that I have not yet reached a 1:1 ratio for a black box B35. (I then acquired a gold B35 phw in togo instead with a ratio of 1.554:1.) ETA: My SA in the US home store has repeatedly told me that B25/K25 are easier than B35. My guess is that the store receives B25/K25 much more frequently than B35. So, Is B35 easier...? It may be if and only if they have multiple ones in stock. Otherwise, not necessarily.
Earlier this year, I had a chance to meet 2 SAs from 2 different stores in Las Vegas. They both explicitly told me that I can get a B25/K25 for a ratio of 1:1 by switching a store/SA. But, they also advised me to stay with my current home store if I am after a B35 or any larger bags because they rarely receive big bags. ETA: Of course, advice from these SAs and actual spending may not be always aligned. So, I think finding the right SA is also important.
Again, I am just sharing my experience. If it is not helpful, just move on. YMMV.
One must not confuse "the least desirable size" of a Birkin (e.g., 35 or larger) with "easiness of getting it." The former is simply the expression of the demand side. Most clients want a size of 25 or smaller, and that seems fair as it is the expression from the client pool.
In my US home store in 2024, when I had my pre-spend ratio around 0.8:1 for BBB35, my SA explicitly told me that I can easily [yes, she said this!] get a B25 if B35 (in black box leather) does not arrive in our specified timeline. My SA gave/offered me multiple B25 options, but I declined them all since none of my family members were interested in B25. I instead kept spent assuming that I have not yet reached a 1:1 ratio for a black box B35. (I then acquired a gold B35 phw in togo instead with a ratio of 1.554:1.) ETA: My SA in the US home store has repeatedly told me that B25/K25 are easier than B35. My guess is that the store receives B25/K25 much more frequently than B35. So, Is B35 easier...? It may be if and only if they have multiple ones in stock. Otherwise, not necessarily.
Earlier this year, I had a chance to meet 2 SAs from 2 different stores in Las Vegas. They both explicitly told me that I can get a B25/K25 for a ratio of 1:1 by switching a store/SA. But, they also advised me to stay with my current home store if I am after a B35 or any larger bags because they rarely receive big bags. ETA: Of course, advice from these SAs and actual spending may not be always aligned. So, I think finding the right SA is also important.
Again, I am just sharing my experience. If it is not helpful, just move on. YMMV.
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I mean if we are going by what H employees say versus actual experiences of what happens then it should be noted that Pierre-Alexis Dumas himself has explicitly said that no spending at all is necessary. "Whatever we have we put on a shelf and it goes" So, there we go, topic solved!
I'm fairly certain (ultimately who knows) that no matter what I spent or how nice I was at my boutique a B35 would be very difficult to obtain/not easy to get/nothing in the back room for you today/etc. I'm confident in this assertion because after years of shopping there with the same SM and two different SA's I can predict with reasonable accuracy what the SM will order at Podium. For a number of reasons, that will not be a B35, or most any other large bag. The SM knows the boutique clientele and is very successful at catering to their needs. I suspect this is the case at quite a few boutiques, and the 35s that are 'miraculously available' are there because they just showed up in a shipment from Paris and no one in the demographic of the boutique's clientele wanted a 35, so lucky you!. Nothing wrong with this; I suspect I've been the beneficiary of just this phenomenon and I couldn't be more pleased.
What I think this demonstrates is that in terms of a spend threshold, which subject this thread has circled around for several years now, is that you need to spend enough to be on your boutique's radar, a level that is likely different for each boutique. But if you have very specific specs, and they are the same as many other boutique clients, your chances of success are utterly unpredictable and out of your control.
So, as has been well-stated on average once a week in this thread, your choices are 1) to decide that you have enough interest in Hermes products beyond handbags that you're content to continue to patronize the boutique, spending whatever you wish on whatever product you wish, and see how things go over time; 2) to decide that there are likely not enough Hermes items that are your style, to your liking, within your budget parameters, or whatever other reason, and therefore you will avail yourself of reseller opportunities, putting your 'pre spend' to that activity; or 3) to decide that the whole process is just so distasteful and that there are other bags that suit your needs well enough (bespoke perhaps?) that you will move on from Hermes and enjoy your relationships with other purveyors. Each of these is a valid approach IMO; it's just a matter of pursuing whichever strategy suits your personality and won't make you crazy. It really is just a bag.
What I think this demonstrates is that in terms of a spend threshold, which subject this thread has circled around for several years now, is that you need to spend enough to be on your boutique's radar, a level that is likely different for each boutique. But if you have very specific specs, and they are the same as many other boutique clients, your chances of success are utterly unpredictable and out of your control.
So, as has been well-stated on average once a week in this thread, your choices are 1) to decide that you have enough interest in Hermes products beyond handbags that you're content to continue to patronize the boutique, spending whatever you wish on whatever product you wish, and see how things go over time; 2) to decide that there are likely not enough Hermes items that are your style, to your liking, within your budget parameters, or whatever other reason, and therefore you will avail yourself of reseller opportunities, putting your 'pre spend' to that activity; or 3) to decide that the whole process is just so distasteful and that there are other bags that suit your needs well enough (bespoke perhaps?) that you will move on from Hermes and enjoy your relationships with other purveyors. Each of these is a valid approach IMO; it's just a matter of pursuing whichever strategy suits your personality and won't make you crazy. It really is just a bag.
B35 might have a lower overall demand than B25. But in the past few years, H has also significantly decreased the supply of B35. There are a lot more B25 being offered now than years ago.It is no secret that men's RTW is one of the preferred métiers. Some other preferred categories also include furniture and men's watches. But, the generally accepted norm is, "buy what you love."
One must not confuse "the least desirable size" of a Birkin (e.g., 35 or larger) with "easiness of getting it." The former is simply the expression of the demand side. Most clients want a size of 25 or smaller, and that seems fair as it is the expression from the client pool.
In my US home store in 2024, when I had my pre-spend ratio around 0.8:1 for BBB35, my SA explicitly told me that I can easily [yes, she said this!] get a B25 if B35 (in black box leather) does not arrive in our specified timeline. My SA gave/offered me multiple B25 options, but I declined them all since none of my family members were interested in B25. I instead kept spent assuming that I have not yet reached a 1:1 ratio for a black box B35. (I then acquired a gold B35 phw in togo instead with a ratio of 1.554:1.) ETA: My SA in the US home store has repeatedly told me that B25/K25 are easier than B35. My guess is that the store receives B25/K25 much more frequently than B35. So, Is B35 easier...? It may be if and only if they have multiple ones in stock. Otherwise, not necessarily.
Earlier this year, I had a chance to meet 2 SAs from 2 different stores in Las Vegas. They both explicitly told me that I can get a B25/K25 for a ratio of 1:1 by switching a store/SA. But, they also advised me to stay with my current home store if I am after a B35 or any larger bags because they rarely receive big bags. ETA: Of course, advice from these SAs and actual spending may not be always aligned. So, I think finding the right SA is also important.
Again, I am just sharing my experience. If it is not helpful, just move on. YMMV.
So it is really not necessarily easier to get B35s these days. In the distant past (at least 6-7 years ago), my former SA would have sold my DH a Porosus B35 at no additional “pre spend’ (she would never talk about that term) if we could have flown in to get it. In those days, quota also were not as strict. But those days are long gone.
Please don’t take any of my words personally, because I did not mean to address you in particular but am commenting on my own experience. In my experience and what has been told to me by my SA, especially in Beverly Hills, B35s are a relatively easy because none of the VIPs have the basic leather B35 on their wishlist. So for a newer collector, I would definitely recommend putting this one on their list. People who are higher on the preference list because of spend, tenure or relationship want B25, B20s, K20s and K25s and quota blue boxes.It is no secret that men's RTW is one of the preferred métiers. Some other preferred categories also include furniture and men's watches. But, the generally accepted norm is, "buy what you love."
One must not confuse "the least desirable size" of a Birkin (e.g., 35 or larger) with "easiness of getting it." The former is simply the expression of the demand side. Most clients want a size of 25 or smaller, and that seems fair as it is the expression from the client pool.
In my US home store in 2024, when I had my pre-spend ratio around 0.8:1 for BBB35, my SA explicitly told me that I can easily [yes, she said this!] get a B25 if B35 (in black box leather) does not arrive in our specified timeline. My SA gave/offered me multiple B25 options, but I declined them all since none of my family members were interested in B25. I instead kept spent assuming that I have not yet reached a 1:1 ratio for a black box B35. (I then acquired a gold B35 phw in togo instead with a ratio of 1.554:1.) ETA: My SA in the US home store has repeatedly told me that B25/K25 are easier than B35. My guess is that the store receives B25/K25 much more frequently than B35. So, Is B35 easier...? It may be if and only if they have multiple ones in stock. Otherwise, not necessarily.
Earlier this year, I had a chance to meet 2 SAs from 2 different stores in Las Vegas. They both explicitly told me that I can get a B25/K25 for a ratio of 1:1 by switching a store/SA. But, they also advised me to stay with my current home store if I am after a B35 or any larger bags because they rarely receive big bags. ETA: Of course, advice from these SAs and actual spending may not be always aligned. So, I think finding the right SA is also important.
Again, I am just sharing my experience. If it is not helpful, just move on. YMMV.
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I want to chime in although i have no experience 
just based on everyone's discussion here, I think SAs will tell you which bags are easy to get when that bag is not in your wishlist and when you actually want to get it, they may have a different narrative
I bet that Hermes knows their demand well enough and price discriminate among their clients (and hence each has a different experience)
Of course I agree that SA relationship matters, but we never know to what extent.
ETA: I'd think SA relationship matters first for them to understand which types of clients you are (and choose the strategy accordingly). But maybe I am overestimating their sophistication
just based on everyone's discussion here, I think SAs will tell you which bags are easy to get when that bag is not in your wishlist and when you actually want to get it, they may have a different narrativeI bet that Hermes knows their demand well enough and price discriminate among their clients (and hence each has a different experience)
Of course I agree that SA relationship matters, but we never know to what extent.ETA: I'd think SA relationship matters first for them to understand which types of clients you are (and choose the strategy accordingly). But maybe I am overestimating their sophistication
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IMO, I think many may read this thread in hope of finding a concrete way of achieving a quota/hard to get bag. If only Hermes was that easy. There are so many variables that can create an offer. The relationship with your SA, SM, longevity, time between offers, availability, bag desirability, etc., in addition to spend all, at varying degrees, are too hard to predict for me. If others reading through this thread find any of the information helpful, that's great. Good luck to everyone.
This is so true, when I communicated my list to my SA she told me getting a Kelly in my preferred sizes/colors is a lot more doable than a Verrou lolI want to chime in although i have no experience
I bet that Hermes knows their demand well enough and price discriminate among their clients (and hence each has a different experience)
ETA: I'd think SA relationship matters first for them to understand which types of clients you are (and choose the strategy accordingly). But maybe I am overestimating their sophistication
All that to say, even non-QB can be difficult if they don’t order it. 😔
Agree. I think the spend threshold might be subject to constant change. But, not so fast that it would reflect day to day shifts in stock market or other factors. I also agree with you and @haute okole, that someone who is after a basic leather will have a harder time (more competition) than someone who wants an exotic B. The pool of people who can afford and want to spend for an exotic is still that much smaller.
💯 esp as peoples accounts (of their prespend) seem to vary considerably from post to post (this is a general assertion, not meant to target any one person)
Guess it also depends on the relationship and the transparency of the SA.
Maybe I am lucky or in the minority, or maybe I just am not afraid to ask questions or have straightforward conversations...but when/if ever the topic of bags comes up, my SA and SM tell me what's doable and what's not--because there's nothing to hide.
Now that doesn't mean they'll definititvely say "you'll get x bag by y time"--but they'll explain which type/size bags are more realistic (or likely to be available sooner) and which ones have a longer 'waiting list' (either by prespend or senority).
No harm in those innocent and respectful conversations, as I think the majority of SAs do want to actually help their clients, and SMs have no reason to be biased (other than feedback via their SAs).
Maybe I am lucky or in the minority, or maybe I just am not afraid to ask questions or have straightforward conversations...but when/if ever the topic of bags comes up, my SA and SM tell me what's doable and what's not--because there's nothing to hide.
Now that doesn't mean they'll definititvely say "you'll get x bag by y time"--but they'll explain which type/size bags are more realistic (or likely to be available sooner) and which ones have a longer 'waiting list' (either by prespend or senority).
No harm in those innocent and respectful conversations, as I think the majority of SAs do want to actually help their clients, and SMs have no reason to be biased (other than feedback via their SAs).
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