Treatment in Hermes Stores

[Ethengdurst]

Yesterday was my first time ever in a H store and it was the PA location. I did a some research before going and decided to not stress too much about “looking” the part, this is Silicon Valley after all

Anyway I had read that Saturday afternoons are very busy but it was practically deserted. I also felt the same at first, they greet and say hello as you walk in but don’t approach, on their phones with clients most of the time and you feel awkward interrupting. But once I flagged someone for help I got great service and information. I think they treat all walk-ins this way, only the regulars were approached immediately by a SA.

That’s great to hear you had good service. I’m not discouraged though, it’s still closer to me than SF and we go to Stanford shopping mall maybe once a month anyway so I’m still gonna drop by to browse. And if they help me or not, it’s fine, maybe I’ll just call it in to my other SAs if I like something, then have it delivered or pick it up. I’m not a big spender like their regulars are probably so I don’t think I’ll be offered a B/K/C there anyway.

 

[craielover]

I’ve been trying the new store in Palo Alto and although I’ve read here in the forum that they have the friendliest staff, I just haven’t experienced it. Went twice on weekdays when it’s slow and only one or two other clients are in the store, but never felt welcomed. Last visit I couldn’t flag an SA down because they were all bent over their phones. Maybe I don’t look like I could pay for their stuff.

I do have SAs in San Francisco, Las Vegas and NYC so I don’t know what I’m doing wrong in PA. Was just hoping to change home stores since it’s the one closest to me.

Since you mentioned you have SAs in those stores I don't think it's really worth changing to PA. Unless you are not after coveted bags then you can go and they are very happy to help you. My personal feeling is that they are not so eager to approach walk-ins because they know they have no B/K/C to offer.

No it's not about the way you dress - in fact most regulars just dress like ordinary folks.

 

[Ethengdurst]

Since you mentioned you have SAs in those stores I don't think it's really worth changing to PA. Unless you are not after coveted bags then you can go and they are very happy to help you. My personal feeling is that they are not so eager to approach walk-ins because they know they have no B/K/C to offer.

No it's not about the way you dress - in fact most regulars just dress like ordinary folks.

Yeah, I probably wouldn’t change SAs but I’m not after coveted bags anymore and I’d just want to browse and shop other items... the only other coveted item I’m after is a Rodeo
I’ve read somewhere that they have to wait a while to get offered quota bags, so I’m not hoping to score one from them as I’m not a big spender compared to their regulars probably.

 

[craielover]

Yeah, I probably wouldn’t change SAs but I’m not after coveted bags anymore and I’d just want to browse and shop other items... the only other coveted item I’m after is a Rodeo
I’ve read somewhere that they have to wait a while to get offered quota bags, so I’m not hoping to score one from them as I’m not a big spender compared to their regulars probably.

There is a small size rodeo on display last Thursday (gold/blue/some other color). Probably not the most well-stocked, but you can certainly browse, and once you get to know an SA it will start to feel better.

 

[thelucky1]

Yeah, I probably wouldn’t change SAs but I’m not after coveted bags anymore and I’d just want to browse and shop other items... the only other coveted item I’m after is a Rodeo
I’ve read somewhere that they have to wait a while to get offered quota bags, so I’m not hoping to score one from them as I’m not a big spender compared to their regulars probably.

Sorry you had a bad experience there! I do think the SAs there do a lot of communicating with clients on the new iPhone system, this is how my SA usually works with me when I'm not there, but agree it can look off-putting if you're trying to get some help! I was there yesterday and my poor SA was trying to help three people at once, so I do think they generally try their best. Hope it gets better if you decide to keep shopping there. I haven't yet found an SA there that I wouldn't want to work with.

 

[cncm]

This may be a stupid question but I was at the Madison Ave store for the first time recently and was browsing around for awhile with no one coming up to ask if I needed help. What do you guys do in that situation? Keep browsing until an SA comes up to you? Or are you supposed to flag someone down? I ended up flagging someone down but he acted like I was really rude for doing so (I asked nicely). Not sure what the right etiquette is.

 

[momoc]

This may be a stupid question but I was at the Madison Ave store for the first time recently and was browsing around for awhile with no one coming up to ask if I needed help. What do you guys do in that situation? Keep browsing until an SA comes up to you? Or are you supposed to flag someone down? I ended up flagging someone down but he acted like I was really rude for doing so (I asked nicely). Not sure what the right etiquette is.

That’s interesting I just dropped by the Madison store today and they were quite busy (it was like 10 min before close and the store was bustling with customers) but an SA asked if I’m waiting to be helped and proceeded to help me (I was trying my luck looking for a very specific twilly and they didn’t have it so I said thank you and left). I should mention that it looks like this SA just wrapped up helping his previous client and also took note of me standing around looking like I’m trying to find someone (I walked to the silk area and was not at the entrance, and did stand there for a bit because everyone I see was busy helping someone and I was waiting for one to be free before asking).

However I think that generally it can be common for them to greet you with a hello but not come up and ask you. Happened in the Meatpacking store to me as a matter of fact! I normally take a look around then ask someone who doesn’t look busy. I think flagging someone is the right thing to do in this situation and sorry to hear you had an SA being rude to you for doing the right thing, I think that shouldn’t have happened!

edit: some stores on the hand will have SAs come up and ask about if you need help - my home store is that way. I think it depends on the store culture but yeah again, I think flagging someone is not the wrong etiquette!

 

[DoggieBags]

This may be a stupid question but I was at the Madison Ave store for the first time recently and was browsing around for awhile with no one coming up to ask if I needed help. What do you guys do in that situation? Keep browsing until an SA comes up to you? Or are you supposed to flag someone down? I ended up flagging someone down but he acted like I was really rude for doing so (I asked nicely). Not sure what the right etiquette is.

If no SA has approached you, it’s fine to approach someone for help as long as they’re not busy helping someone else.

 

[lulilu]

IMO, the H boutiques are no different from other high end stores -- go in, look around, and if no one approaches you, ask someone for help.

 

[Gen_lux]

Hi All. Im currently vacationing in Lisbon. Went to Hermes store there this evening. I was helped by a female SA Sofia. I waited for 20 minutes to be helped since there were only 2 SAs. Sofia is helpful. I purchased shoes And bag charms and bracelets and twillies totaling to 5500 euros. And then I started asking about B/K/C since I saw another SA showing a client an etain b30. She said it's a waiting list in Lisbon unlike in US we establish relationship with our SA and that's when you start obtaining BKC. I was a little disappointed that the store can not offer you if you spend so much money with other items.

 

[HermesAmasser]

Hi All. Im currently vacationing in Lisbon. Went to Hermes store there this evening. I was helped by a female SA Sofia. I waited for 20 minutes to be helped since there were only 2 SAs. Sofia is helpful. I purchased shoes And bag charms and bracelets and twillies totaling to 5500 euros. And then I started asking about B/K/C since I saw another SA showing a client an etain b30. She said it's a waiting list in Lisbon unlike in US we establish relationship with our SA and that's when you start obtaining BKC. I was a little disappointed that the store can not offer you if you spend so much money with other items.

Strange, did they offer you any other bags?

 

[Gen_lux]

Strange, did they offer you any other bags?

No. How I wish...

 

[JA_UK]

Hi All. Im currently vacationing in Lisbon. Went to Hermes store there this evening. I was helped by a female SA Sofia. I waited for 20 minutes to be helped since there were only 2 SAs. Sofia is helpful. I purchased shoes And bag charms and bracelets and twillies totaling to 5500 euros. And then I started asking about B/K/C since I saw another SA showing a client an etain b30. She said it's a waiting list in Lisbon unlike in US we establish relationship with our SA and that's when you start obtaining BKC. I was a little disappointed that the store can not offer you if you spend so much money with other items.

Is it a small store? Perhaps they want to keep their quota bags for local customers...

 

[Gen_lux]

Is it a small store? Perhaps they want to keep their quota bags for local customers...

Yeah. The store is not that big and yeah she said the bkc s are waiting list for local customers.

 

[eagle1002us]

Has anyone had experience with bossy SA's that push a particular color or item on you even tho you want something else? I had one of those recently. I wanted to nab a pastel kachinas but SA wanted me to get something else. I kept saying, "I will never see this colorway again." Still she wouldn't back off. I took the pastel kachinas.

On the other hand, she pushed a vivid pink Arctic when I wanted a neutral one. I got the pink to, ah, how do you say, "shut her up." She admitted the pink didn't go with the outfit I was wearing (which was why I wanted a neutral). Got home and the pink went beautifully with an outfit in the close I wrote her to thank her for the pink but got no reply. I'm kinda not surprised she didn't reply.

Sometimes I think people should be screened for carefully to be SAs. Not everyone can work in luxury goods. Some people may be envious. This is maybe the first time I wondered this after decades of buying H in various boutiques but there's always a first time. She was impatient. I was getting things in assorted departments. There was no browsing. The implication is that I should just buy what she thought was appropriate. I will never work with her again. Probably won't go into that boutique again for quite some time.