Treatment in Hermes Stores

[periogirl28]

I don't understand why it's necessary to point out the person's nationality.

Mistikat - I don't think the poster means any harm mentioning her nationality. Because of that detail, I know exactly which SA is referred to and many here have experienced her outbursts and less than stellar service. Long ago I myself had a shocking response my first time and left empty handed while the next day she was all smiles and sold me a Birkin! It's quite mystifying. Since then I have avoided her as I have other lovely SAs I look for now. I have witnessed rude behaviour, and really feel terrible, especially at those unsuspecting young guys who go in to ask on behalf of their wives, girlfriends, sisters, mums etc. They get shouted at, immediately.

 

[chicinthecity777]

Mistikat - I don't think the poster means any harm mentioning her nationality. Because of that detail, I know exactly which SA is referred to and many here have experienced her outbursts and less than stellar service. Long ago I myself had a shocking response my first time and left empty handed while the next day she was all smiles and sold me a Birkin! It's quite mystifying. Since then I have avoided her as I have other lovely SAs I look for now. I have witnessed rude behaviour, and really feel terrible, especially at those unsuspecting young guys who go in to ask on behalf of their wives, girlfriends, sisters, mums etc. They get shouted at, immediately.

I agree with you. I think it's just the most simple easiest way to identify her without knowing her name.

 

[periogirl28]

I agree with you. I think it's just the most simple easiest way to identify her without knowing her name.

 

[AZPurseGirl]

I was in Ala Moana Hermes today and the SAs there were all very helpful and cordial. Great experience!

 

[mad_for_chanel]

I had a conversation with an Hermes Associate while on vacation and during a hunt for a constance bag… I thought I'd share what he told me.



He told me that Hermes doesn't like to sell birkins, kellys, or constance bags to people who ask for them. He said the majority of people that he has sold these bags to, are people who bought other thing and didn't ask for anything, and then Hermes offered it on their own. He said unless someone is extremely persistent and buys things like their ties, hand bags, belts etc. in large amounts over a spam of a long time, they will never be offered a bag. Your name will go on a list for when they get a bag in, or they'll take down your name just to humor you, but you'll be on that "list" for a VERY VERY long time and you'll get the color and leather they give you



He also said that Hermes will offer you any color birkin, Kelly, constance, in any style you want within 3 months - but only if they believe that you "fit the life style'. He says they determine if you fit the lifestyle by the other things you buy from the store. He said people who buy leather goods, even if they spend extravagant amounts on those leather goods, or people who buy ties, belts, are not their favorite.



Their ideal client is someone who buys the fine jewelry, the clothes, the china, etc. and really has a high end lifestyle. He said if they see a customer opting for those items, they usually offer them any bag they want since that is their indication that the person lives the lifestyle of Hermes.



I think it's kind of crazy to me to judge someone's life style based on what they buy just from just one brand. But, for those of you that had a fairly easy time getting your bag, do you fit in one category or the other?



i.e. are you someone who buys fine jewlery, china, clothes etc. from Hermes, or have you only purchased enamel bracelets, leathers, and ties? What are your thoughts on what this associate said, and has that also been your experience?

I have 4 Hermes boutiques within walking distant from my home, so I'll drop in wearing shorts & flip flops or jogging outfits . Still I got my Lindy bolide double San & CDCs. Also returned the items (unused of course) often as I'm also really fickle . Didn't bother with kelly & Birkin as I got them as walk in customer at Hermes overseas.

Told the SAs that I'll want a croc someday, just not yet.. Also that if she doesn't find me the stuffs I want too bad , I won't step in & will get them elsewhere. I say all these with a smile & wink. She doesn't disappoint so far.

 

[newmommy_va]

I've never asked the nationality or ethnicity of an SA... nor have I ever assumed the nationality or ethnicity of an SA.

That being said... labelling a person's nationality or ethnicity is not terribly helpful as it plays into the stereotypes that people posses. Moreover, when such labels are incorrect/inaccurate, it may be offensive to the person being described.

e.g. I met a lovely SA at a boutique... and discussed her with another SA at another boutique (nearby)... who was genuinely confused as to whom I was referring. She had labelled this SA by nationality and ethnicity, based solely on her appearance, incorrectly/inaccurately (which, to be honest, was offensive to me).

Mistikat - I don't think the poster means any harm mentioning her nationality. Because of that detail, I know exactly which SA is referred to and many here have experienced her outbursts and less than stellar service. Long ago I myself had a shocking response my first time and left empty handed while the next day she was all smiles and sold me a Birkin! It's quite mystifying. Since then I have avoided her as I have other lovely SAs I look for now. I have witnessed rude behaviour, and really feel terrible, especially at those unsuspecting young guys who go in to ask on behalf of their wives, girlfriends, sisters, mums etc. They get shouted at, immediately.

 

[Fabfashion]

I was in Ala Moana Hermes today and the SAs there were all very helpful and cordial. Great experience!

Glad you had a great experience. I love dealing with the Ala Moana store, all the SAs are nice and they help each other. My fave is Ka Wai. I view this store as my local H store even though I only go to Hawaii once a year. The treatment at the Waikiki store was always hit and miss. One SA, Minako, is rather pushy. She kept saying you need to build history and buy other items. I never get pressured at the Ala Moana store. Can't wait to go back next October! I'm going to Miami next month and hope I'll have a good experience there. Fingers crossed.

 

[dooneybaby]

I agree! I have only ever heard perfect things about Wall St. client service!

And I understand not getting a bag and the awkward process in trying to get a bag may be misconstrued by some as racism, but trust me when I say I have seen plenty of blond haired, blue eyed people getting rejected when asking for a birkin....

The only real difference in treatment I've noticed is when I go into the store wearing no Hermes as opposed to wearing something.
But the treatment, to me, is noticeable.
Now, I just go in wearing H.

 

[dooneybaby]

That's totally not acceptable!! I am sorry this happened to you!!
I thought you need to speak good English so to work for Hermes??

You can't discriminate against hiring someone because they have an accent. If that were so, very few people would have jobs.
As a matter of fact, the more languages a person speaks, the more of an asset she is, that includes in Hermes.
There are a lot of people living in the Washington metro area who are from other countries, and some shoppers like it when a SA is able to communicate with them in their native tongue.

The SA's rudeness is separate from her English, and I would never walk out of a store without straightening out a rude SA.

As far as her broken English, sounds to me like she communicates just fine.
The customer was told she wasn't important enough to get a Lindy and she left.

 

[dooneybaby]

Mistikat - I don't think the poster means any harm mentioning her nationality. Because of that detail, I know exactly which SA is referred to and many here have experienced her outbursts and less than stellar service. Long ago I myself had a shocking response my first time and left empty handed while the next day she was all smiles and sold me a Birkin! It's quite mystifying. Since then I have avoided her as I have other lovely SAs I look for now. I have witnessed rude behaviour, and really feel terrible, especially at those unsuspecting young guys who go in to ask on behalf of their wives, girlfriends, sisters, mums etc. They get shouted at, immediately.

I'm sorry, I don't understand walking out of store when a SA tells you off.
I grew up in the early 70s in New Hampshire, were I was followed in stores, including lower end department stores.
I didn't always get good service because of my skin color.
Now that I can afford to shop at Hermes, I don't care what a SA says to me, I'll tell her off right back. And she WILL serve me damn it!
Don't make me have to straighten someone out! She'll be the one who's embarrassed!

 

[Suncatcher]

You can't discriminate against hiring someone because they have an accent. If that were so, very few people would have jobs.
As a matter of fact, the more languages a person speaks, the more of an asset she is, that includes in Hermes.
There are a lot of people living in the Washington metro area who are from other countries, and some shoppers like it when a SA is able to communicate with them in their native tongue.

The SA's rudeness is separate from her English, and I would never walk out of a store without straightening out a rude SA.

As far as her broken English, sounds to me like she communicates just fine.
The customer was told she wasn't important enough to get a Lindy and she left.

I want to shop with you, LOL!


Everyone has an accent. Imagine if you were trying to speak a second language when English is your native tongue. You would speak that language with an accent.


I agree with the posters who say it is not right to refer to someone's nationality. It is stereotyping in its most benign form and racial profiling - even racism - in a more insidious form.


There are certainly SAs who are really unpleasant to deal with. Whether you walk out of the store or straighten out the rude SA or otherwise, all options are fine. Life is too way short to engage in negative experiences, especially when it comes to shopping. Do what suits you best. And remember there is another thread which discusses nice SAs around the world ...

 

[catluc]

Hello! I have been on the Hermes forum for quite some time... And want to ask... Do you think paying with cash is frowned upon at Hermes? Last time I went in, I ended up buying a long Kelly wallet and a belt for my husband and paid cash since I wanted to surprise him... All of our cc's are linked. However, my SA who was lovely on the phone and right up until... then suddenly she acted not so nice. And then when I asked her about the B, she said the wait list is really long and pretty much it seemed like she was saying I will never get it. So, do you think paying with cash is not preferred at hermes?

I once paid a birkin 60% in cash and 40% on card, the SA and cashier were fine. I told the SA beforehand that I would pay a lot of cash.

I think some Hermes SA act really agitatedly when someone asks them about B and K.

 

[crazyforbag]

You can't discriminate against hiring someone because they have an accent. If that were so, very few people would have jobs.
As a matter of fact, the more languages a person speaks, the more of an asset she is, that includes in Hermes.
There are a lot of people living in the Washington metro area who are from other countries, and some shoppers like it when a SA is able to communicate with them in their native tongue.

The SA's rudeness is separate from her English, and I would never walk out of a store without straightening out a rude SA.

As far as her broken English, sounds to me like she communicates just fine.
The customer was told she wasn't important enough to get a Lindy and she left.

seriously I wanted to be a Hermes SA at some point. The advantage is I can also shop there get myself the dream bags I wanted for years and see the things I loved everyday. But I was afraid to go to job interview because of my English. As you may notice English is not my first language and I do speak broken English.

 

[dooneybaby]

seriously I wanted to be a Hermes SA at some point. The advantage is I can also shop there get myself the dream bags I wanted for years and see the things I loved everyday. But I was afraid to go to job interview because of my English. As you may notice English is not my first language and I do speak broken English.

I certainly wouldn't let that stop me from going for the job that I want.
I took Spanish throughout school and I still can't speak or write it very well. You speak English a lot better than I can speak Spanish.
I'm going to have to start watching my telenovelas again!

 

[dooneybaby]

I once paid a birkin 60% in cash and 40% on card, the SA and cashier were fine. I told the SA beforehand that I would pay a lot of cash.

I think some Hermes SA act really agitatedly when someone asks them about B and K.

I personally think it's risky to carry that amount of cash around. In the future, use a card that is tied directly to your checking account if you don't want to use a credit card for the whole thing.
Personally, I would put the entire amount on a rewards credit card. Then I would pay the amount off online. That way I could take advantage of the free gifts the credit card rewards program provides.
Dooneybaby doesn't miss a trick!