What’s your unpopular Hermes opinion?

[880]

a retail client who is not product driven

Forgot to add this unpopular opinion abovemeans I miss out on product on a regular basis,
but I console myself with 1. if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be, and 2. They will always make more next season

 

[Veritybelle]

Like premier boutique watch brands whose supply cannot begin to meet demand, H does not favor certain types of clients in descending order: resale flippers; chronic traveling clients, called travelers (visiting an H indiscriminately in every port); and, even any who resell for any reason, including simply cleaning out ones closet. Stock is so scarce that H can afford to cherry pick its clients, and thus, I have been told from more than one SA/SM, is the reason for opaque criteria).

Isn’t it strange that H does not favour the travelers! I feel like I’m stuck in 1999 when I say this, but surely at least some significant part of its “desired” customer base (ie people who can afford its products and don’t need or want to resell) enjoys a lifestyle that involves travel and discretionary spending during one’s travels. My home and wardrobe reflect a lifetime of travel, so I do have trouble understanding a brand that actively DOESN’T want me to spend in all its stores (of course, the shoe is unapologetically and hypocritically on the other foot in my home city - I don’t want to compete too much with tourists there ).

And I’m with @lurketylurk that, as much as I hate the reseller thing, once someone buys an item it is theirs to do with whatever they want. In particular, the existence of a robust and discerning vintage (ie not flipper) market is a compliment to the house, reflecting the quality, beauty, genuine collectibility and timelessness of its creations.

H is not the only force in the growth of the resale market in the past ten years (obviously also SM and rapid growth of huge new consumer markets with an appreciation and appetite for the product to name just a couple of market distortions) but as the source of the product H is a very significant player in perpetuating that market. My unpopular opinion is that (a) if H hates resellers so much it needs to review its client policy since the cherry-picking clearly isn’t working at all and (b) if it really wanted to quash the flipper market it could probably do so overnight simply by raising the price of B/K/C to the same level as reseller prices. *runs and hides*

 

[880]

Isn’t it strange that H does not favour the travelers! I feel like I’m stuck in 1999 when I say this, but surely at least some significant part of its “desired” customer base (ie people who can afford its products and don’t need or want to resell) enjoys a lifestyle that involves travel and discretionary spending during one’s travels. My home and wardrobe reflect a lifetime of travel, so I do have trouble understanding a brand that actively DOESN’T want me to spend in all its stores (of course, the shoe is unapologetically and hypocritically on the other foot in my home city - I don’t want to compete too much with tourists there ).

And I’m with @lurketylurk that, as much as I hate the reseller thing, once someone buys an item it is theirs to do with whatever they want. In particular, the existence of a robust and discerning vintage (ie not flipper) market is a compliment to the house, reflecting the quality, beauty, genuine collectibility and timelessness of its creations.

H is not the only force in the growth of the resale market in the past ten years (obviously also SM and rapid growth of huge new consumer markets with an appreciation and appetite for the product to name just a couple of market distortions) but as the source of the product H is a very significant player in perpetuating that market. My unpopular opinion is that (a) if H hates resellers so much it needs to review its client policy since the cherry-picking clearly isn’t working at all and (b) if it really wanted to quash the flipper market it could probably do so overnight simply by raising the price of B/K/C to the same level as reseller prices. *runs and hides*

100% agree. Hermes certainly encourages travelers and holiday purchases that bring in enormous revenue. I shop when traveling too. But I’m not sure that a Local H sees as much urgency in rewarding those customers. Probably simply a matter of degree.

I meant that top consideration for coveted QB may be fast tracked to those it considers top echelon local. Of course those lucky enough to have enormous budgets for high multiples across a number of stores are treated very well too. This is just my impression; others may have a different viewpoint too

ETA: high net worth VIPs and long time VIPs (I am not one) may be exceptions to all this of course. An unpopular opinion might be that a successful luxury business needs to differentiate clients in this fashion. Loyalty may be to shareholders, not client base. As a company, H doesn’t care if an individual client gets a QB.

 

[benjinito]

I am primarily a retail client who is not product driven. I don’t have a set list or even a specific idea that I must have. Rather I have to fall in love with something that happens to be in the store; in my budget; and that will work happily with items I already own.If I see items that meet those criteria, I will purchase.

I wish I could be like this! But I have FOMO I've picked up pieces before not realizing that there are different versions (different prints, colors, lengths, and design differences) that I might prefer over the piece I purchased and it gives me a tinge of regret.

 

[HoneyLocks]

H does not favor certain types of clients in descending order: resale flippers; chronic traveling clients, called travelers (visiting an H indiscriminately in every port)

What is the problem with "travelers“?
If one does not live near a boutique, this often is the only chance for shopping at H.
I dislike how far H's expectations of their customers is from my reality of life.

 

[KellyObsessed]

My unpopular opinion is if H doesn't like "travellers" they are being very provincial.
Not everyone can afford to travel, and visit H stores all over the world, and many of the products that H produces have their roots in travel.

 

[880]

When I said H does not prioritize travelers Or consider them top echelon local (based on various conversations I’ve had with different H SAs/SMs, I did not at all mean to imply that H discourages customers from shopping worldwide. I simply meant ones local home boutique may not fast track or prioritize a client who is perceived to buy indiscriminately throughout the world to the detriment of the local store.

Hermes values the total revenue brought in by travelers, but an individual traveler is not ‘rewarded’ if one views the reward as a closer step towards a QB. If H truly valued such traveler clients individually, prespend would be calculated via some kind of worldwide tier, not just locally. That’s also why I think unless one truly desires non leather boutique merchandise, it’s hard to build a relationship that results in QBs.

If one does not care about QBs, then the world of boutiques is more than welcoming. I have a regular FSH SA, but the first time I stepped into George V, the RTW specialist (who knew my FSH SA) asked if I enjoyed FSH and still handed me her card. Not only does H want clients to shop worldwide, it would also be happy if clients shopped different boutiques within the same city lol. (very different from whether this is beneficial for the client pursuing a bag)

As I think more about this, my unpopular opinion is that as long as H SAs are compensated (re store sales goals) and store budgets determined by local custom, the current method is the only feasible way to distribute coveted, limited supply. Is it fair to those who do not live within range of a home boutique. Hermes would take the position that an individual client is not entitled to be sold a QB at the boutique. Premier big business luxury doesn’t exactly care about fair. Another unpopular opinion is that it is really unfair to blame an individual SA for not being able to sell an individual a bag. An SA doesn’t make any profit by selling a QB, but she actually may not have much say over whether one is available.

 

[1CC]

Another unpopular opinion is that it is really unfair to blame an individual SA for not being able to sell an individual a bag. An SA doesn’t make any profit by selling a QB, but she actually may not have much say over whether one is available.

My unpopular opinion. SAs bait clients into spending beyond the boutiques qb prespend level. Matter of fact, they contribute to the increasing prespend ratios.

In fact I overheard an SA convo with a colleague bragging and mocking of making her client desperate (I just happen to know her language). What a beetch

 

[880]

That is terrible. At the same time, clients should only buy items they love and would purchase without a d*mn bag

 

[1CC]

Yuck. That is terrible. At the same time, clients should only buy items they love and would purchase without a d*mn bag

Exactly. My friend in Canada is buying cups, saucers, blankets and other H crap and I lmao but she’s not a home decor person. Her SA tells her to keep buying because she’s on target for a QB

 

[yuzulife]

chicken pox!

My unpopular opinion is I dislike ostrich on bags...the bumpy skin is like a bad rash and makes me feel itchy when I see it.

I told my SA I thought they looked like pimples so please, no ostrich

 

[Pessie]

I feel like I’m alone in not getting the point of the Evelyn tpm? To me it’s just ridiculously small. But then I can’t wait for the end of the mini bag trend in general. I am not a doll

 

[coloradolvr]

I feel like I’m alone in not getting the point of the Evelyn tpm? To me it’s just ridiculously small. But then I can’t wait for the end of the mini bag trend in general. I am not a doll

You are not alone. I purchased one a few years ago, when I thought I was being offered a highly sought after bag. Reality was it just didn't work for me and I ended up selling it. I don't get the tiny bag craze. I need to actually carry a reasonable amount of things in my bags.

 

[AmalieLotte92]

My unpopular opinion. SAs bait clients into spending beyond the boutiques qb prespend level. Matter of fact, they contribute to the increasing prespend ratios.

In fact I overheard an SA convo with a colleague bragging and mocking of making her client desperate (I just happen to know her language). What a beetch

Exactly. My friend in Canada is buying cups, saucers, blankets and other H crap and I lmao but she’s not a home decor person. Her SA tells her to keep buying because she’s on target for a QB

I know at the end of the day, Hermès is a corporation that wants to maximize profits, and that the individual boutiques, store managers, SAs, support staff, artisans etc. need to do what's necessary to earn and bring in money.... But this feels gross. And the opposite of a luxury experience.

My unpopular opinion (although many may agree): these QBs aren't worth it for the price, and the psychological games some of these boutiques play. Yes, they want people to spend - and won't block folks if they freely choose to drop hundreds of thousands to millions per year - but baiting clients.... There are other beautifully made (AND more functional) bags from other design/luxury houses that will treat their clients better as a rule.

I have a few items on my wishlist -less popular non-quotas and 1 Kelly - but I honestly would prefer to shop other categories outside of leather. Love the Birkin and Evelyne I already own, not sure if I really want anything else.

 

[880]

Unpopular opinion: I would not shop at H (or any other luxury store) if I did not trust and align with my SAs taste and sensibilities, and shopping doesn’t come with a rush or deadline. I’ve been fortunate to be offered some very nice bags, including QBs, and no one has had to bribe me to shop. ( Sometimes I’m not sure if customers are enabling SA poor behavior or the other way around). @1CC, maybe your friend is buying that stuff as gifts if she isn’t into home goods for herself? I read somewhere that a long-standing chanel RTW client buys H cups to give as gifts to others, including her chanel SAs. It took months for my teacups and teapot to come into the Boutique and my Saint-Louis oxymore crystal has not yet arrived after many many months, so I almost envy that it’s so easy for some to pick up home goods lol

ETA: My SAs in NY and FSH have point blank told me not to buy X bc it really does not flatter. They also know that I will eventually find something else that does. I wish others had this experience too.