Thoughts on Purseonfleek’s latest video about Hermes experience?

[Minibaglover1998]

I find it really odd that she was contacted by HR, maybe she was mistaken? HR handles the internal side of things and a big company like Hermes must have other departments to handle customer communications. I appreciate that Hermes HR is protective of their employees however (if what she said is true) their handing of the situation is unprecedented.

 

[Yoshi1296]

Okay wow...I feel bad for this youtuber because its a stressful situation overall...

But...her emails were very intense. I don't think I or anyone I know write emails this long and detailed...not even for work!

I do think purseonfleek has good intentions, she was just a bit...clingy maybe?

I think that if she was less demanding and asked for things one by one it would have been better, she was trying way too much to just get every single thing and was wayyyy too demanding and specific...such hard color combos too!

Also I understand being friendly, we all have to be nice and respectful! And a little bit of small talk here and there is normal. But I would NEVER go as deep as purseonfleek did and mention such personal stuff. For example, my SA and I are friendly and we talk about like local restaurants, neighborhoods, concerts we've attended, basic stuff! She is my SA...not my therapist!

I think my success with getting my wishlist items was being incredibly chill and laid back with my SA. I barely email her, I only emailed once when the pandemic hit just to wish her wellness and safety and that I'd see her in the future. I didn't get a response so I just backed off, I'm sure she read it and meant well, I'm not paranoid or self conscious over it, I still havent gone back because I'm focused on other stuff, I'll go perhaps next year...if that means I need to build a new relationship...so be it, you gotta be relaxed about this...this is just material stuff! I think purseonfleek needs to learn to be the same way.

 

[nzilbz98]

I've messaged her before and she has always been really nice/responsive but I find it weird how she doesn't see how telling your SA about your baby-making plans and stuff that's just plain TMI is unncessary. It's apparent that she's not super self aware of how she interacts with her SA who probably doesn't want to hear about those things and it is just a job at the end of the day. You can be super friendly with your SA, but don't mistake that for actually being friends.

 

[Classy Collector]

She must not have wanted the mini rouli that badly. It's for sale on her eBay store as well.

Someone who’s resold multiple H handbags in a short period each time (i.e. a few months each time): B25, Constance, mini roulis, etc. definitely has reseller tendency, no matter where the bag came from. It’s worse if bought from H boutique and highly frowned upon by H boutiques. I know my SA always asks me if I still have a particular X bag, which is not even a B/K. If I resold X bag in a few months and keep repeating this behaviour with other H bags, I know she would probably blacklist me from the holy grails. I’m not surprised this type of behaviour doesn’t get offered a B/K and gets strung along until HR...

 

[jenayb]

This entire thread has been really fascinating to me!

I had no idea that she had essentially resold every single bag/item that she bought from H... of course that gives off reseller vibes.

I know that she had mentioned not having the lifestyle or income or however she put it that other clients do. And it made me think - wtf? Why is that your SA's problem?

If you cannot afford H, well, no one is forcing you to shop........ Also, buying and immediately reselling just tells me that you cannot actually make this type of spending work, and that you are perhaps just thrill-seeking and/or trying to have your perceived luxury shopping experience (wanting your SA to cater and bow down to you, etc) without the proper money to back it...

 

[haute okole]

I have not reviewEd this video nor do I want to because the woman sounds mentally ill and quite manipulative based on what I am reading. From a legal standpoint, the only reason HR would get involved in this type of situation is if the sales associate felt harassed, intimidated, etc. I don’t know what the laws are like in Australia, but employers are typically required to provide a safe work environment for their employees. If this woman is as bananas as she seems from what I am reading on this thread, and she has churned through SAs, sent long detailed emails and whined....oh Lawd, I would file suit against Hermes if they constantly required that I cater to someone so unhinged.

 

[etoile de mer]

I've just read through this thread, but have not watched the video. So, just reacting to the summary here, the whole situation just feels sad...the customer seems so all consumed with the quest for things, and her sales associate must have felt completely overwhelmed. And all happening when emotions are raw...as we're still in a pandemic!

Maybe I just wasn't paying attention, but I just don't remember there being so much focus and chatter here in the past regarding how much to spend (and in which categories), to secure a bag. I just don't think Hermes has some sort of mathematical formula for this. And if there were one, not my cup of tea to speculate about it, or even chat about it! If shopping at whatever store brings about so much distress, really best to step back.

 

[tonkamama]

why she sold her pink Birkin and ask for more pinks, simply based on her buying and reselling patterns that these cute little pink bags are worth a lot more once she post “it” on her eBay account.... it’s easier to let go a bad employee than to gain a good customer, however in this regard Hermes has made its decision siding with their employee.

Good lord... all the problems people are facing in the world right now.. she’s spoiled and expecting.. she sold the first pink birkin but then proceeds this year to list bubblegum, rose sakura, pink colors on her list of ideal dream color birkin? I can see how it could rub the store the wrong way.. she goes on and on in her emails about personal things. I went into this video open minded trying to sympathize with her but couldn’t finish the video, she just acts entitled. I sympathize with the SA. At least they email/text her back. She expects too much.

 

[A74]

I feel a little bad for commenting, particularly as I barely ever comment (but do often read TPF).

I watched her video and I truly believe she does not see how she comes off.

The store offered her a birkin, which she sold. The store offered her a Constance (not a quota bag but nonetheless very hard to come by), which she sold. She wanted a Barenia (popular and hard to get leather) bag, which she is selling.

She also bought a LV Multi Pochette Accessories (or whatever it is called), which she sold for parts. She bought a popular Chanel bag in some metallic purple color, which she immediately sold. She seems to chase super popular items and sell them immediately after purchase.

Her ever changing (ever adding) Hermes wishlist seems to be the most popular and in-demand colors & styles, and it seems to any outsider that it’s because she wants to resell. It may not be the case, but her history and wishlist certainly suggest it.

Her emails are LONG, have so much irrelevant info and so many items included. Her reveals, on the other hand, are usually Twillys and Calvis and scrunchies and smaller items. I can’t imagine an SA investing so much time for so little.

If I had to guess, HR called because she was bringing up what other customers were getting. I get that the SA mentioned that the particular customer was her client, but imagine being an SA confronted by another customer every time the SA made an offer to someone else. That’s very jarring. And it makes it hard for the SA to do her job (the SA could be worried that the next offer to another customer would result in another uncomfortable exchange). Yes, the manager should probably have handled it, but the reality is that store does not want her as a client. And the manager may similarly not want to discuss or be questioned on what others are getting.

As for spend, I have spent far far more than her in the same period, and have “only” been offered 3 of the more “desirable” bags. I’m thrilled. Every offer came unprompted (I never asked or gave a wishlist). For me, the fun is that my SA always seems to have on hold for me something I might like (from any category) and she’s usually spot on. If I gave her a list, I’d probably be less happy with what I got.

Ultimately though, shopping should be fun, not stressful and certainly not as transactional-feeling for the customer as she wants it to be.

I do wish her the best.

 

[nzilbz98]

I feel a little bad for commenting, particularly as I barely ever comment (but do often read TPF).

I watched her video and I truly believe she does not see how she comes off.

The store offered her a birkin, which she sold. The store offered her a Constance (not a quota bag but nonetheless very hard to come by), which she sold. She wanted a Barenia (popular and hard to get leather) bag, which she is selling.

She also bought a LV Multi Pochette Accessories (or whatever it is called), which she sold for parts. She bought a popular Chanel bag in some metallic purple color, which she immediately sold. She seems to chase super popular items and sell them immediately after purchase.

Her ever changing (ever adding) Hermes wishlist seems to be the most popular and in-demand colors & styles, and it seems to any outsider that it’s because she wants to resell. It may not be the case, but her history and wishlist certainly suggest it.

Her emails are LONG, have so much irrelevant info and so many items included. Her reveals, on the other hand, are usually Twillys and Calvis and scrunchies and smaller items. I can’t imagine an SA investing so much time for so little.

If I had to guess, HR called because she was bringing up what other customers were getting. I get that the SA mentioned that the particular customer was her client, but imagine being an SA confronted by another customer every time the SA made an offer to someone else. That’s very jarring. And it makes it hard for the SA to do her job (the SA could be worried that the next offer to another customer would result in another uncomfortable exchange). Yes, the manager should probably have handled it, but the reality is that store does not want her as a client. And the manager may similarly not want to discuss or be questioned on what others are getting.

As for spend, I have spent far far more than her in the same period, and have “only” been offered 3 of the more “desirable” bags. I’m thrilled. Every offer came unprompted (I never asked or gave a wishlist). For me, the fun is that my SA always seems to have on hold for me something I might like (from any category) and she’s usually spot on. If I gave her a list, I’d probably be less happy with what I got.

Ultimately though, shopping should be fun, not stressful and certainly not as transactional-feeling for the customer as she wants it to be.

I do wish her the best.

Well put! I agree with you

 

[Allthesmallthings]

This entire thread has been really fascinating to me!

I had no idea that she had essentially resold every single bag/item that she bought from H... of course that gives off reseller vibes.

I know that she had mentioned not having the lifestyle or income or however she put it that other clients do. And it made me think - wtf? Why is that your SA's problem?

If you cannot afford H, well, no one is forcing you to shop........ Also, buying and immediately reselling just tells me that you cannot actually make this type of spending work, and that you are perhaps just thrill-seeking and/or trying to have your perceived luxury shopping experience (wanting your SA to cater and bow down to you, etc) without the proper money to back it...

I agree. I’ve watched a ton of her videos and this is precisely the vibe that I’ve gotten. She’s not in the income bracket to be spending all of this money at Hermes if she’s constantly reselling and also selling China (?) goods on her eBay store. I’m not judging, I’m not in that income bracket either but also this is why I don’t pretend to be some VIP either.

 

[Mousy]

Based on the information presented: HR, in my mind, without a doubt should have referred this issue back down to the store manager. HR shouldn't have any interaction whatsoever with a store's customers.

I just can't imagine loving a brand so much as to invest that much time or emotion into them though. But I also can't imagine defending a brand who did what they did in this instance, if what was presented is to be believed.

The more I think about this the more I believe HR was the right entity to contact Mel. If the employee or manager had talked to her, they risk being raked over the coals on YouTube and possibly harassed by a few of Mel’s enthusiastic followers who do not have both sides of the story. Who knows, maybe they did say something (passively), but her need for a B or K caused her to ignore the signals. HR interference also tells me there might be more to the story than we’re being told.

As for the passion for H Mel displayed- it was a little intense for me. I love Hermès bags. I’ve wanted a Kelly bag for 50 years. I‘m finally getting one as a gift to myself for beating a major health issue. I could be waiting a year, two years, or maybe five years. It’s just a bag. My life will go on- in the meantime, I will buy other bags I adore and when my dream bag comes in, it’s arrival will be a happy surprise. I’d love for Mel to appreciate and enjoy what she has and not spend her life looking ahead to the next new thing. I’m sure she’s a lovely person who needs to focus on spending time on post-Covid vacations with her family and other satisfying things.

 

[lolakitten]

I don’t have anything constructive too add other than, I can’t believe I spent an hour of my life, that I’ll never get back, watching a child whine about not getting something she wants.
My actual *children* don’t do that.

Lots of good points in this thread. Definitely comes off as a reseller.
Hermes has always treated me over the top well!

 

[880]

I feel a little bad for commenting, particularly as I barely ever comment (but do often read TPF).

I watched her video and I truly believe she does not see how she comes off.

The store offered her a birkin, which she sold. The store offered her a Constance (not a quota bag but nonetheless very hard to come by), which she sold. She wanted a Barenia (popular and hard to get leather) bag, which she is selling.

She also bought a LV Multi Pochette Accessories (or whatever it is called), which she sold for parts. She bought a popular Chanel bag in some metallic purple color, which she immediately sold. She seems to chase super popular items and sell them immediately after purchase.

Her ever changing (ever adding) Hermes wishlist seems to be the most popular and in-demand colors & styles, and it seems to any outsider that it’s because she wants to resell. It may not be the case, but her history and wishlist certainly suggest it.

Her emails are LONG, have so much irrelevant info and so many items included. Her reveals, on the other hand, are usually Twillys and Calvis and scrunchies and smaller items. I can’t imagine an SA investing so much time for so little.

If I had to guess, HR called because she was bringing up what other customers were getting. I get that the SA mentioned that the particular customer was her client, but imagine being an SA confronted by another customer every time the SA made an offer to someone else. That’s very jarring. And it makes it hard for the SA to do her job (the SA could be worried that the next offer to another customer would result in another uncomfortable exchange). Yes, the manager should probably have handled it, but the reality is that store does not want her as a client. And the manager may similarly not want to discuss or be questioned on what others are getting.

As for spend, I have spent far far more than her in the same period, and have “only” been offered 3 of the more “desirable” bags. I’m thrilled. Every offer came unprompted (I never asked or gave a wishlist). For me, the fun is that my SA always seems to have on hold for me something I might like (from any category) and she’s usually spot on. If I gave her a list, I’d probably be less happy with what I got.

Ultimately though, shopping should be fun, not stressful and certainly not as transactional-feeling for the customer as she wants it to be.

I do wish her the best.

Love everything about this post! I hope you will comment more often!
p.s. I’m the same way with my SA and no real want list. It works very well.

@Sourisbrune, congrats on your future kelly and beating your health issue! That’s a wonderful way to commemorate!

 

[hermes&chanel]

Shopping should be a fun and rewarding experience. Especially when the world and our lives endured dramatic changes due to the pandemic. I have encountered frustrations with Hermes as well and totally understand the situation. However, I also work in the customer service/retail industry and can see why the SA might feel the pressure from Mel. Either way, if she doesn’t feel they have earned her business, then stop buying from Hermes Sydney.