Different people will give you different answers, but my SM says that SLGs do count in your profile [they use the word "profile", instead of "prespend"].
Spend threshold for B/K/C
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💯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).
I
I hope you get THE BAG darling, I am cheering for you ❤️❤️😘😘
How does one even start such a conversation? Last time I even tried to bring the conversation up on what I need to do to get the bag on my wish list, my SA shut it down quickly by saying I should just buy what I like and her job is to help me find those pieces. So realistically how do you know where you stand if most SA’ won’t engage in this topic with details? Feels like one is playing the game completely blind. Do most people wait until they hit at least 1:1 before really bringing this topic up more heavily?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).
My advice would be to let it happen organically. You don't necessarily have to engage in a conversation specifically about your wishlist.
If it makes you/your SA more comfortable, you can maybe just keep it generic by either asking what the store's usual slow sellers are or what the popular bags/sizes are. Like my SM would tell me what they likely order at Podium, how often they order, what specs are more likely to come in a push order, and/or what type of products they usually order based on the "environment" of their clientele...as each store is different. None of that info has specifics, but it at least is meant as a guide to help clients guage expectations accordingly.
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Well the only way your SA will truly know your expectations is to bring it up before you get too deep in spending, if a bag is truly your main goal.
Otherwise if you really love the brand and just want to enjoy buying things you like...your spend will all accumulate organically. Then you can have a "check in" convo with your SA once you feel you have hit the mark that justifies a bag.
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Yes, they absolutely do help build your profile. And in the US too. But is it the most effective way? Probably not.
I asked to changes SAs exactly for that. I was much over 1:1 and asked if we could review my list and if she could give some advice on what could be possible or not. I tried that twice.
She went off on me, and then said that there are less shipments, that she didn’t know, she didn’t have visibility, that it is so stressful people asking about bags etc.
I said - don’t worry, I will ask corporate. They were aware she had done the same a few months before. I let it be then.
Corporate wasn’t happy. They told me that no SA should do that, and that no SA should be telling people that it is stressful when they ask about bags. I was very complimentary that the SA would reply to me and at least did find some products I wanted, while the prior SA would answer after 15-20 days after 3-5 follow-ups. SA was not off nor on vacation.
That lesson I learnt - I will not work with any SA in the future that cannot provide direction and/or that will not discuss bags.
Hermes sells bags. Most people are interested in bags.
There are SAs that will discuss bags openly and provide direction/guidance. It is so refreshing. I just found one like that.
Disclaimers: I am sharing "my" experience. If it is not helpful, move on. No argument is necessary. Also, I have no intent to offend or discredit anyone here. YMMV; How and what worked for me may not work for others.
I started my H journey in the summer of 2023 in CT. Back then, my goal was to get the Birkin 30 in black/ghw for my mom's birthday in December 2023. So, I had a very specific timeline for myself. I spent about $6,000 in a month or so with a (semi senior?) male SA there. I tried to bring up the B30, but he did not even listen to my wish, and in fact, he acted as if he's a racist. (I honestly don't know if he actually is a racist or not, but my gut is saying that he is.) So, I knew that my plan was not going well.
Then, I visited one of the stores in NY and met an SA (who is now my current SA). I clicked so well with her, and told her directly that I really want to get the B30 black/ghw for my mom's birthday. (Yes, I expressed which specific bag I really want in the very first meeting!) She reviewed my purchase history and profile together with me, and suggested to switch a store and work with her directly. In that meeting, she also promised me that she would help me get the exact bag by the timeline. (We mutually set a timeline that is "by the end of November 2023" since I will be gone in December.) ETA: In that meeting, I also told her that I only learned recently about Hermes because of my mom and sister. I expressed to her very specifically that I am bag-centric (but not literally) since I want to buy bags for my family members, and I myself am not into Hermes bags or Hermes per se. (Side note: But then, I also got addicted to Birkin bags later.🤣)
I hesitated a bit since my pre-spend amount was quite significant (at least to me) in CT. I visited the store in CT again, but the SA still acted like a jerk. So, it was the moment I decided to move to NY. I then started working with my current SA, and it was still the late summer of 2023. And, here is the outcome: I received the exact specs of bag (i.e., B30 in black/ghw/togo) within 3 months (i.e., a week or two before Thanksgiving) with a pre-spend ratio of 0.932:1; Fyi, this ratio excluded any online purchases or those from the CT boutique.
Side note: I happened to visit the boutique in CT in the summer last year [I even posted the boutique pictures in the CT thread], and the SM greeted me. (She remembered me very well.) She and I clicked, and she reviewed my profile. I directly told her that I left the store because of that racist-acting SA. (I explained what happened to me.) She apologized several times to me. She took my wishlists (i.e., multiple QBs) and asked me to come back to work with their boutique. And, no, I did not return to the store. This is the moment that I learned this: It is OK to bring up the issues to the SM or even to the Corporate. Don't be shy or afraid of retaliation, etc. Let me repeat this: I am definitely going to escalate the issues to the SM and then to the Corporate if I am not treated well.
After this very first QB, my SA and I always make mutual decisions on (1) which bags to prioritize first, and (2) the expected timeline and alternatives even before pre-spends occur. We also review and discuss our "bag acquiring plan" regularly.** For example, my SA offered me Maxi Kelly 42 and a SO placement in early 2024 without any (or minimal) pre-spends (after I came back from the vacation since I was gone for the whole December 2023). We then also made a decision to wait and get the BBB35 by the end of 2024. Unfortunately, the BBB35 never arrived in the store in our specified timeline. When we found out that the store would not get the BBB35 in 2024, my SA gave me multiple alternative options (e.g., B25 and B35), and I accepted the gold B35 phw. My SA has also repeatedly promised me that she will offer me a BBB35 when it arrives in the store this year. (So, we will have to see how it goes. If I never get this, I may need to talk to the SM, and to the Corporate eventually; But, I hope I wouldn't need to.)
**Side note: My SA also knows that I visit other stores (e.g., Boston, NJ, and Vegas) routinely to gather information on "better SA deals" (e.g., how soon/easy I can get certain bags, etc.). My SA usually assures me that I wouldn't need to worry about "pre-spend because there is no such thing" (but I don't fully believe her since most TPFers here say differently otherwise), and she always promises me that I will get the bags and that it is just a matter of time.
@fabhermesgirl - I hope my story is helpful.
💯 I agree. By the way, bag-centric clients are sometimes viewed as if they don't fit into Hermes, etc. on this Forum. But, some SAs truly know how to help their clients, including those who are bag-centric like me.🤣 ETA: By the way, my SA once told me that she really likes me because I am very straightforward and not pretentious or fake. She told me that some clients tell lies as if they love non-leather items when they actually only love and want to focus on the bags only. (I think some SAs can tell this by communicating with the clients...? My SA just appreciates who I am by expressing that I am bag-centric. lol) Again, YMMV.
I started my H journey in the summer of 2023 in CT. Back then, my goal was to get the Birkin 30 in black/ghw for my mom's birthday in December 2023. So, I had a very specific timeline for myself. I spent about $6,000 in a month or so with a (semi senior?) male SA there. I tried to bring up the B30, but he did not even listen to my wish, and in fact, he acted as if he's a racist. (I honestly don't know if he actually is a racist or not, but my gut is saying that he is.) So, I knew that my plan was not going well.
Then, I visited one of the stores in NY and met an SA (who is now my current SA). I clicked so well with her, and told her directly that I really want to get the B30 black/ghw for my mom's birthday. (Yes, I expressed which specific bag I really want in the very first meeting!) She reviewed my purchase history and profile together with me, and suggested to switch a store and work with her directly. In that meeting, she also promised me that she would help me get the exact bag by the timeline. (We mutually set a timeline that is "by the end of November 2023" since I will be gone in December.) ETA: In that meeting, I also told her that I only learned recently about Hermes because of my mom and sister. I expressed to her very specifically that I am bag-centric (but not literally) since I want to buy bags for my family members, and I myself am not into Hermes bags or Hermes per se. (Side note: But then, I also got addicted to Birkin bags later.🤣)
I hesitated a bit since my pre-spend amount was quite significant (at least to me) in CT. I visited the store in CT again, but the SA still acted like a jerk. So, it was the moment I decided to move to NY. I then started working with my current SA, and it was still the late summer of 2023. And, here is the outcome: I received the exact specs of bag (i.e., B30 in black/ghw/togo) within 3 months (i.e., a week or two before Thanksgiving) with a pre-spend ratio of 0.932:1; Fyi, this ratio excluded any online purchases or those from the CT boutique.
Side note: I happened to visit the boutique in CT in the summer last year [I even posted the boutique pictures in the CT thread], and the SM greeted me. (She remembered me very well.) She and I clicked, and she reviewed my profile. I directly told her that I left the store because of that racist-acting SA. (I explained what happened to me.) She apologized several times to me. She took my wishlists (i.e., multiple QBs) and asked me to come back to work with their boutique. And, no, I did not return to the store. This is the moment that I learned this: It is OK to bring up the issues to the SM or even to the Corporate. Don't be shy or afraid of retaliation, etc. Let me repeat this: I am definitely going to escalate the issues to the SM and then to the Corporate if I am not treated well.
After this very first QB, my SA and I always make mutual decisions on (1) which bags to prioritize first, and (2) the expected timeline and alternatives even before pre-spends occur. We also review and discuss our "bag acquiring plan" regularly.** For example, my SA offered me Maxi Kelly 42 and a SO placement in early 2024 without any (or minimal) pre-spends (after I came back from the vacation since I was gone for the whole December 2023). We then also made a decision to wait and get the BBB35 by the end of 2024. Unfortunately, the BBB35 never arrived in the store in our specified timeline. When we found out that the store would not get the BBB35 in 2024, my SA gave me multiple alternative options (e.g., B25 and B35), and I accepted the gold B35 phw. My SA has also repeatedly promised me that she will offer me a BBB35 when it arrives in the store this year. (So, we will have to see how it goes. If I never get this, I may need to talk to the SM, and to the Corporate eventually; But, I hope I wouldn't need to.)
**Side note: My SA also knows that I visit other stores (e.g., Boston, NJ, and Vegas) routinely to gather information on "better SA deals" (e.g., how soon/easy I can get certain bags, etc.). My SA usually assures me that I wouldn't need to worry about "pre-spend because there is no such thing" (but I don't fully believe her since most TPFers here say differently otherwise), and she always promises me that I will get the bags and that it is just a matter of time.
@fabhermesgirl - I hope my story is helpful.
💯 I agree. By the way, bag-centric clients are sometimes viewed as if they don't fit into Hermes, etc. on this Forum. But, some SAs truly know how to help their clients, including those who are bag-centric like me.🤣 ETA: By the way, my SA once told me that she really likes me because I am very straightforward and not pretentious or fake. She told me that some clients tell lies as if they love non-leather items when they actually only love and want to focus on the bags only. (I think some SAs can tell this by communicating with the clients...? My SA just appreciates who I am by expressing that I am bag-centric. lol) Again, YMMV.
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Really the best advice on this topic. There’s no magic formula for an offer. It was a bit easier to get a bag offer a decade ago given much less competition. But ymmv today given all the variables. I see too many clients Obsessing over others’ experiences and Not only will it not make a bag anppear any faster it’s very unhealthy. This experience requires patience. Most of the time there are no shortcuts. One’s ability to obtain a bag offer is also no major life achievement. These offers happen every day in multiple boutiques around the world. Of course there are outliers with bad boutique staff but that’s unfortunately a risk everyone needs to take into account before shopping the brand.
Does anyone know for a fact whether certain boutiques in the US have a designated/soft “waiting period” ie ~6 months between consecutive QB offers? I’ve been at a relatively small boutique, my parents have a separate acct at Madison with QB offers (ironically also dealing with similar issues) but I’ve never purchased on their acct so my entire history has been at this local boutique. While QBs for me have previously come within an expected prespend range (2-3x) and my SA has been pretty predictable with offers, I’ve been relaxed with spending the past year and have only yesterday realized how much I’ve spent since my last QB (😳🫣) -but of course nary an offer in sight. However, it’s only been 4 months since my last offer. I recognize it hasn’t been long, there are other clients waiting, perhaps it just boils down to the unease I’ve felt the last few months, I think it’s a combination of 1) spending has truly gotten out of hand and 2) in response to this, rather than some effort to curate purchases as I’ve acquired enough over the years for him to get a jist for style/preferences, there’s instead been increased pressuring/pushing of items that clearly don’t work for me, I.e. size is clearly off or is clearly not for my body type. We’re not talking about a difference of opinion - just garments that obviously don’t fit. I guess these these are two separate issues, but I’m just a bit disappointed after 8- 9 years of being a client that the visits are now starting to feel increasingly transactional and if I’m being honest, disappointment that the generous spend hasn’t translated to easier access to bags (I’m not currently after absurdly specific or unicorn bags). Maybe the responsibility lies with me to slow my spending (that seems obvious) and yes I do recognize it’s possible the SM put the kibosh on an offer in close succession to the last and if it’s as simple as that, I can accept it. I guess for the immediate period wondering about whether QB offer are spaced out as a way to start managing my own expectations. I do recognize boutiques vary tremendously in practice but any specific knowledge is greatly appreciated 
There are literally zero "facts" when it comes to Hermes quota bag policies so I'm not sure you are going to find the answers you want here. If a store wants to offer a client a bag, they will. If they don't want to, they won't. Period. To me, it sounds like you are just being a bit impatient. There are likely many other clients who are spending the same and have gotten fewer bags. Non-exotic quota bags in general seem to be extremely sparse right now across the board. Its not uncommon to see people with $80k, $90k+ etc spends still waiting.Does anyone know for a fact whether certain boutiques in the US have a designated/soft “waiting period” ie ~6 months between consecutive QB offers? I’ve been at a relatively small boutique, my parents have a separate acct at Madison with QB offers (ironically also dealing with similar issues) but I’ve never purchased on their acct so my entire history has been at this local boutique. While QBs for me have previously come within an expected prespend range (2-3x) and my SA has been pretty predictable with offers, I’ve been relaxed with spending the past year and have only yesterday realized how much I’ve spent since my last QB (😳🫣) -but of course nary an offer in sight. However, it’s only been 4 months since my last offer. I recognize it hasn’t been long, there are other clients waiting, perhaps it just boils down to the unease I’ve felt the last few months, I think it’s a combination of 1) spending has truly gotten out of hand and 2) in response to this, rather than some effort to curate purchases as I’ve acquired enough over the years for him to get a jist for style/preferences, there’s instead been increased pressuring/pushing of items that clearly don’t work for me, I.e. size is clearly off or is clearly not for my body type. We’re not talking about a difference of opinion - just garments that obviously don’t fit. I guess these these are two separate issues, but I’m just a bit disappointed after 8- 9 years of being a client that the visits are now starting to feel increasingly transactional and if I’m being honest, disappointment that the generous spend hasn’t translated to easier access to bags (I’m not currently after absurdly specific or unicorn bags). Maybe the responsibility lies with me to slow my spending (that seems obvious) and yes I do recognize it’s possible the SM put the kibosh on an offer in close succession to the last and if it’s as simple as that, I can accept it. I guess for the immediate period wondering about whether QB offer are spaced out as a way to start managing my own expectations. I do recognize boutiques vary tremendously in practice but any specific knowledge is greatly appreciated
The SA behavior of pushing items is a more concerning part of this imo. I might even consider switching to a new SA if that behavior continues. What does your SA say when you ask for a bag?
I’ve traditionally discussed bags 1-2x per year. Yes there’s definite impatience on my part, probably due to the changes I’ve described. We had a convo 2 months ago, all was fine, “yes we can definitely do that”and notes it down. After all these years I would have thought 80-90k without a bag is uncommon, if this has truly become “not uncommon” this is a definite cue for me to go resale, not just for bags but for everything, for the sake of my wallet and sanity, which is ok too, again just so I know where to go bc seems am at a bit of crossroads