What percentage of people who try to get B/Ks succeed?

[periwinklepenguin]

I feel like I see/hear so much discussion about how difficult it is to get a Birkin or Kelly (leading me to believe that some people have not been successful), yet at the same time, I seem to also see plenty of people who have multiple Birkins or Kellys.
This leaves me feeling confused about how many people actually have success when it comes to getting Birkins or Kellys. Does the average Hermes customer who tries for a quota bag (and who ends up establishing an SA relationship, developing a spend history, etc.) succeed? Excluding the people who walk in and ask for a Birkin or Kelly their first time in the store?
If you're willing to share, I'd love to hear what your success or lack thereof has been like, and your perception of how certain it is that you'll get a B/K if you go through relationship/prespend process!

 

[khirad]

Following

 

[miss mitzi]

I feel like I see/hear so much discussion about how difficult it is to get a Birkin or Kelly (leading me to believe that some people have not been successful), yet at the same time, I seem to also see plenty of people who have multiple Birkins or Kellys.
This leaves me feeling confused about how many people actually have success when it comes to getting Birkins or Kellys. Does the average Hermes customer who tries for a quota bag (and who ends up establishing an SA relationship, developing a spend history, etc.) succeed? Excluding the people who walk in and ask for a Birkin or Kelly their first time in the store?
If you're willing to share, I'd love to hear what your success or lack thereof has been like, and your perception of how certain it is that you'll get a B/K if you go through relationship/prespend process!

I’m a long time lurker but newbie myself, only started seriously shopping and building a relationship since Nov 2021. I read the entire thread of “how to build a H relationship”, my particular store’s shopping thread, as well as all threads for newbies.

I’m no expert and apologies for not linking above mentioned threads, as I don’t know how to do it on my phone browser. If you browse around you should be able to find all.

My personal experience is that it’s entirely possible to get a Birkin or Kelly from H boutiques, despite doubting it from time to time while waiting. From what I read/learned here, the question isn’t whether you’ll ever get one, rather it’s about “how soon” and “how much prespend”.

I got my k25 on the very day of my 1st year anniversary of shopping with my SA, which I discovered by accident many months later. Coincidence? Who knows. Lol

I never really calculated my prespend.. It was for sure over 2.5x or even 3? I don’t care to look. At first I worried that I’d never be able to find enough items to buy, but the more I shopped the deeper I fell in love with H products. It’s a very slippery slope.

If you have the patience, keep shopping and the B or K will arrive. If “building a relationship” isn’t your thing, reseller route is the way to go.

 

[hermesgeek]

Hello it really depends on multiple factors. This is what many call the Hermès game, which truly is a mystery.

But to answer your question regarding success of obtaining a quota bag when an average customer establishes a prespend/relationship with a SA, yes, you’re definitely going to get an offer EVENTUALLY haha However, the question is WHEN you’re going to get an offer. Now this is when the multiple factors come into play such as where your store is, how much you’ve spent, how long you’ve built your profile, what bag you’re asking for, etc..

Based on experience, and I’m sure it’s been discussed here, the best way to get a quota bag is to stick to one SA you like working with and just continue buying items you like from them. IMO, it’s also best to let them know the quota bag you’re after but not early on in your relationship or in a way your purchases revolve around it. I feel like you have to establish yourself as a returning client instead of a client ready to ditch them once they’ve offered you what you want. It also depends on your store’s location. If you’re shopping in an established, relatively smalller Hermès store in a non-touristy location, chances are you’re competing with a long list of long time spending clients so it’ll definitely take you more time. The same goes with your SA, if your SA have been with the store for a long time, chances are they may prioritize their established clients more so you have to stand out as a client whether through your charm or spending(we all know charm can only get you so far as it’s a business, it’s a numbers game). This, I suggest, for obtaining a bag in your home store.

If you don’t have patience and you’re not into the idea of building a relationship with a SA, one option is to shop tremendously at a store considered touristy such as Las Vegas or Hawaii. Spend on multiple items such as homeware, blankets, scarves, ready to wear, shoes, jewelry and there’s a big CHANCE you’ll get offered something right on the spot.

If you’re not into any type of the game, there’s nothing wrong with buying from reputable resellers.

Good luck on your shopping and you can check out threads in the Hermes shopping to get an idea of how the store you’re considering is operating.

 

[carolle]

I've been going to and buying from the same store since 2010. I buy a variety of stuff, but mostly scarves and bracelets. Recently I started buying porcelain, shoes and blankets. Over the 13 years, I have had 4 different SAs (I am assigned a new one when the old one leaves). And over the same period, I got 5 Birkins (2 are SOs), 3 Kellys, 1 picotin, 1 lindy, 1 bolide,1 cinhetic clutch and 4 Evelynes (+2 more that I gifted to my mom and MIL). I am currently waiting for a Constance, which I requested only this year.

I have bought stuff from other H stores in NY, Paris, Beverly Hills and SFO, but the bulk of my purchases is from my local store.

Although there is no guarantee, I think the best chance of getting a QB is by being a longstanding customer.

 

[880]

As a general rule nowadays, if one enjoys purchasing in-stock boutique merchandise, especially from RTW or home, and is also pleasant, patient, and low maintenance, boutique offers will eventually come. I’ve never shopped with the main intention of building profile for a Qb. I love everything that I have purchased, and I would have bought these things even if there was no possibility of a QB offering. I also don’t have a wishlist, but count on having my SA know my taste. I am not shy about refusing a QB. And, I don’t think of shopping as a zero-sum game or a game at all. I think that’s why SAs have been happy to offer them to me.

ETA: you do not have to be best buddies with your SAs, but it helps if they understand or share your aesthetic.

 

[haute okole]

So far, we are at 100%. I am a 10 year client. It was much easier a decade ago. I am a huge RTW fan and love the blankets. You will get one, but it is an expensive endeavor. Buy what you really want and will use. I don’t know about the concept of competitive store vs. easy store. Just go to the most geographically convenient store and have fun and remember to be nice and pleasant. Hahaha @880! We are posting at the same time! Muah! Maganda! If there is a Hermes Success story, it would be @880.

 

[880]

So far, we are at 100%. I am a 10 year client. It was much easier a decade ago. I am a huge RTW fan and love the blankets. You will get one, but it is an expensive endeavor. Buy what you really want and will use. I don’t know about the concept of competitive store vs. easy store. Just go to the most geographically convenient store and have fun and remember to be nice and pleasant. Hahaha @880! We are posting at the same time! Muah! Maganda! If there is a Hermes Success story, it would be @880.

It’s a mutual admiration society here!
Hugs

 

[showgratitude]

I feel like I see/hear so much discussion about how difficult it is to get a Birkin or Kelly (leading me to believe that some people have not been successful), yet at the same time, I seem to also see plenty of people who have multiple Birkins or Kellys.
This leaves me feeling confused about how many people actually have success when it comes to getting Birkins or Kellys. Does the average Hermes customer who tries for a quota bag (and who ends up establishing an SA relationship, developing a spend history, etc.) succeed? Excluding the people who walk in and ask for a Birkin or Kelly their first time in the store?
If you're willing to share, I'd love to hear what your success or lack thereof has been like, and your perception of how certain it is that you'll get a B/K if you go through relationship/prespend process!

After your first QB offer and purchase, the succeeding ones usually become easier. I would like to attribute it to the fact that at that point, you have established yourself to be a loyal client/potential long-term purchaser of H, and they know you somehow already---your preferences, dislikes, style, and your financial capacity.....and also more importantly, you and your SA get along good. Even if I buy from H and have bags from them, I don't really know one actual formula that works for all, because I don't believe there is one. Remember, you can buy a lot of H items and still not be offered a QB. But I know how not to get one-that is if your SA is not feeling the vibe with you or don't see you as a long term customer or both, that is when you get lines like: "there are no bags available or that bags are hard to come by, or that there is no shipment or delivery lately, or that there are no deliveries on weekends, or there are no deliveries on weekdays, or that there is a waiting list that is 3 years long!"

 

[tinkerbell68]

I've said it before in other threads but I think it all comes down to your relationship with the brand and your SA. If you have an authentic admiration for H items in any genre (probably more areas is better!) and a real relationship with an SA (you don't have to be besties but it has to be authentic), you'll get offers eventually. If you seem eager to spend in order to get an offer, both H and your SA would be stupid if they didn't take advantage of your enthusiasm. So buy what you love, be honest about what you don't and you'll get an offer.

 

[cloudsz]

It's entirely possible to get quota bags from the boutiques through relationship building, getting what you love, and simply enjoying the brand. What Hermes is looking for is a long term relationship with their clients while weeding out potential resellers.

 

[FlairBear]

I am a failure. I ended up at almost 2:1 before I gave up and resorted to a reseller. I am in the Los Angeles/OC area. I felt my store was too competitive based on my friend spending way more than me and still not getting a quota bag eventhough she seemed to have a great relationship with her SA; she is STILL waiting and it’s been just about 3 years. Her spend is like 4:1. My attempted relationship with my SA was definitely subpar to hers, no drama, nastiness, etc…all fine courteous etc. I was just a bit more uncomfortable, anxious, and maybe intimidated by her and by the whole game. I didn’t vibe with her like I did with my other SAs at Chanel, Dior, LV etc. I was also a bit more upfront in the beginning saying I wanted a quota bag which maybe perhaps didn’t sit well with my SA. Also, she seemed to ghost me after she offered me a non quota bag which wasn’t really what I wanted, because she expected me to accept it, drop everything and come down that afternoon although the store is not located that close to my house and would take me at least an hour and a half to get there. I also have little patience maybe and need instant gratification when I want something. My dream is to get a bag in Paris, but I have already been unsuccessful once. I ended up going through a reseller and now just pop by the stores to buy random things or online, no pressure. I know, I like other H things, besides quotas, but yeah no pressure. I have also joked with 3 friends of friends who I know who have connections, where they can possible throw me a bone lol, if they don’t need another quota. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask. I feel like I need to start over with a new SA if I want to play the game and get offered a quota in a new store.

I am a FAILURE at the game… sitting in the sidelines with my 1 B25 from a reseller.

 

[CherryBomb2305]

My experience if from Europe : Home town, Paris and few other EU/Non EU cities like Firenze, Madrid, Dubai, Abu Dhabi...

- Got my first QB in December 2020 in Home country but not home store, had back then less than 1K purchases. Just went in a H store in a city I was visiting for the day, they had B's in display and just ask to see one, a B25 Gold/GHW. I was not aware at that time of all the process/drama of getting a QB. So just tell I like it and would like to purchase, SA asked me my name, left and came back with Box and everything saying she had the GO from store manager.

- Second one in October 2021, was aware of the process and asked my Husband to "make a wish" for me in another store in our home country, we visit this store quite often in the year. He had profile 0 and made a wish on March 2021, October we got the call my B30 Black GHW was here. It was my second choice, as first one was Etain.

- Third one in January 2023 : Got lucky at Paris Lottery and ended up with a B30 Sellier.

- Fourth one in January 2023 : Back in December 2021 my husband made another wish for me, still with profile 0 but the Birkin. It came in January 2023 so a bit later than 1year. No purchase in between, just me, few little things but on my profile not husband one. Got what I asked : K28 Gold with GHW

- Fifth one in May 2023 : Got lucky again at Paris lottery and ended up with another K28, light gray, GHW

In the meantime, got 2 Lindy 26 at my home store with my profile, I have a wish going on for more than 2years in this store but still nothing popped. It's the store where I made most of my purchases and despite a good SA relationship, nothing.

Never got lucky in Walk-ins in other cities/countries visited. But I am not a big buyer so will def not spend xxx to "hope" for a bag.

I am not sharing this story to "brag" or anything, just to encourage the ones that deeply want a bag and do not have time/money to go often to the store and buy hundreds of items to "play the game".

At least in EU countries and in Paris my statement is : No matter how much you spend, put yourself on the wishlist, pop up from time to time, even if it's just to say hello, dont be "pushy", and always act nice, not frustrated Same advice for Paris : be nice, polite, dont let the SA feel you are desperate for a bag. Do not dress up or pretend to be someone else.

Im answering questions in DM or public chat with pleasure, if any

 

[hermesgeek]

I am a failure. I ended up at almost 2:1 before I gave up and resorted to a reseller. I am in the Los Angeles/OC area. I felt my store was too competitive based on my friend spending way more than me and still not getting a quota bag eventhough she seemed to have a great relationship with her SA; she is STILL waiting and it’s been just about 3 years. Her spend is like 4:1. My attempted relationship with my SA was definitely subpar to hers, no drama, nastiness, etc…all fine courteous etc. I was just a bit more uncomfortable, anxious, and maybe intimidated by her and by the whole game. I didn’t vibe with her like I did with my other SAs at Chanel, Dior, LV etc. I was also a bit more upfront in the beginning saying I wanted a quota bag which maybe perhaps didn’t sit well with my SA. Also, she seemed to ghost me after she offered me a non quota bag which wasn’t really what I wanted, because she expected me to accept it, drop everything and come down that afternoon although the store is not located that close to my house and would take me at least an hour and a half to get there. I also have little patience maybe and need instant gratification when I want something. My dream is to get a bag in Paris, but I have already been unsuccessful once. I ended up going through a reseller and now just pop by the stores to buy random things or online, no pressure. I know, I like other H things, besides quotas, but yeah no pressure. I have also joked with 3 friends of friends who I know who have connections, where they can possible throw me a bone lol, if they don’t need another quota. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask. I feel like I need to start over with a new SA if I want to play the game and get offered a quota in a new store.

I am a FAILURE at the game… sitting in the sidelines with my 1 B25 from a reseller.

You are not a failure I hope you don’t give up on this and find a store elsewhere to continue your hunt for your bag/s. I think I know which store you’re talking about because I used to shop there (though it wasn’t as competitive as it is today) and I’ve heard from family and friends that the past several years it had become completely different. I used to go there just because I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket which was actually a successful strategy back in the day, I just stopped because they always had the worst stock and wasn’t worth the time traveling there anymore so I focused on my other home store which is much much closer. Based on what I’ve heard from some of my friends and family, many of them have had 2:1/3:1/4:1 without offers for anything and it seems to have been its norm. You are not alone, many people despise that store as it had the worst inventory. Some on this forum even said it was hopeless. However, they did a renovation a couple years ago so I can’t speak for what it is today. But, I totally understand what you went through.

This is why on my post above I talked about one of the factors being the location and size of the store wherein it’s good to look through threads here in order to get an idea of how stores operate. It’s annoying to call it a game but it kinda really is a challenging game, which should be enjoyed by anyone playing it.

You might have tried already but the bigger store in the more popular location (my only home store now) is way better to build a relationship in. They have the best inventory and it’s a more iconic location so that’s a plus mentally. I’m rooting for the day you get invited to a private room/hidden area to receive whatever bag you desire!

 

[ny.lon]

I am a failure turned success story. The short version (YMMV) is, if you aren't lucky, you have to be patient, and love of the brand and the relationship with your store/SA matters if you can't drop thousands for the sake of it.

Long version -
I started buying scarves approx 12 years ago (my first purchase after my first "big job" paycheck was a Hermes scarf). My salary was "small" relative to the price of most Hermes goods even then, so I could only really afford silk and silk/cashmere scarves, and that's all I wanted. Plus, my store was small so they didn't have RTW or homeware; IDK if I was naive or this was the early days of internet-influenced shopping but I don't think they really had the concept of seeing something online and ordering to store back then? After a year or so, I asked to be added to the list for a Birkin. Despite reliably shopping scarves and ultimately homeware (but in moderation), 5 years later I still hadn't received the call/email, despite following up a few times.

I relocated countries a couple of times but still made a habit of visiting that same store to buy H (am I a masochist?). As my disposable income grew and as I became more certain that a QB wouldn't come, I started engaging with other brands. However, several years ago I evaluated my luxury brand collection and realised that, without trying, the most popular coloured box in my wardrobe was still orange. I decided that, for whatever reason, I was still loyal to H over other brands, and decided to try the QB game again, this time at a different store. However, I still only bought what I truly wanted. 9 months later...

The moral of the story: YMMV, but the connection with your store and SA matters. Don't be afraid to move store (if you can) or SA. This is especially true if you only want to buy what you love i.e. you can't drop $$$ just to get a bag. IMO a good SA will know if you are just spending for the sake of it. This method carries no promises, but at least you'll not have wasted money with no guarantee.

Patience is necessary, especially when bags are in such high demand these days (so effectively you are always being "evaluated" against others for that scarce good). But if you are a repeat, thoughtful customer, you have to put faith in the fact that H will see you as such and offer a bag at some point, if only to keep you interested. If the the carrot never came, you wouldn't play the game, and they would ultimately lose revenue. Their customer acquisition cost might be v low these days, but it's definitely $0 for a loyal customer.