I don’t care for Ellena either, ducks, lol!
What’s your unpopular Hermes opinion?
- Thread starter wowzers1941
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Agree on everything
H need to step-up their bottle game overall.
Gallop is fab in all respects, the flask as I'd expect at the price point.
Haven't held the proper Barienia bottle yet. It gave me Valentino Rockstud meets Avon novelty bottle when I first saw a pic.
I have an adorable Avon snail (and its contents — I think vintage Avon charisma — and they leave Barenia in the dust (no doubt that this could also qualify as an UO)
UO: I like wearing bags that deliberately don’t coordinate perfectly or match. Or dressier bags with shorts. The juxtaposition can tone down an outfit or add an unexpected spark
ETA: I also think it’s almost more modern not to coordinate too much. And, the more you acclimate a bag to your wardrobe, the easier it is to wear and the better cost per wear
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Another UO is H could use some variation in packaging to generate excitement. It feels kinda ... basic compared to other luxury brands.
Their perfume game really could use an upgrade
My unpopular opinion #1 is that nowadays people buy B/K and Hermes bags in general not because they do like it and do like the brand but because it has become a social status symbole "look at me how I am rich and how I am lucky, I have B/Ks", to show off Instagram and Tiktok. I preferred the time when people were going to Hermes because they love the equestrian universe and B/K were recognizable only by certain people. Now you see them (and fakes) on everyone and sometimes on people with really bad style ... Social media IMO kind of ruined the quintessence of the Brand.
opinion#2 B/K should not be tied to spending history so not only super rich people can afford (Speaking of US/Asia as in Europe we do have wishlist system not tied to spending history and its so much fair).
opinion#3 Hermes should do something like some watches brand to monitor who is reselling and just ban those people from buying coveted items again. If resellers where no able to resell, B/K will be easier to get for people that really want to enjoy the bags and not make money out of it.
opinion#2 B/K should not be tied to spending history so not only super rich people can afford (Speaking of US/Asia as in Europe we do have wishlist system not tied to spending history and its so much fair).
opinion#3 Hermes should do something like some watches brand to monitor who is reselling and just ban those people from buying coveted items again. If resellers where no able to resell, B/K will be easier to get for people that really want to enjoy the bags and not make money out of it.
My 'unpopular opinion' may I feel tend to be the opposite.
I actually deplore the new-ish (I've noticed it more post-pandemic) Hermes sales model of 'upselling' and advising clients that they have not spent enough to 'qualify' for a bag offer.
I find it very distasteful-
I realise that building a profile based on loyalty and and buying across various catagories has been an integral part of their sales model for some time BUT I feel that in the last year the upselling and push to spend spend spend has become more agressive to the point of belittling customers by saying things like "you have'nt spent enough"..well maybe they've spent what they can comfortably afford.
Or maybe they've just spent money on what they love or WANT to own.
Having just read the 'Hermes relationship' thread and seeing posts from members lamenting their Sales assistants and leaving the brand (granted one was due to unforseen circumstances) I wonder if this pressure to upsell and make clients spend more is having a negative impact on the staff and causing the SA's with integrity to leave the company.
I speak as someone who works in sales and has recently left a company after 12years because I did'nt agree with my company's more recent focus on numbers being more important than loyalty and relationship building-4 of my team have left in the past year (long term staff members) to join other companies because we cared about our clients and our relationships with them and did'nt just want to push push push them to buy in order to make our targets.
My own SA left Hermes this year and I have'nt found a replacement because I want shopping to be relaxing, sociable & fun!
I find life pressured enough-I dont want to feel pressure when I'm spending my hard earned cash on 'stuff' I dont really need.
I feel sad the way that the popularity of the brand and leathergoods in particular seems to be creating a toxic shopping and selling enviroment.
I hope this post makes sense-the client/sa relationship is something I care deeply about and the fact that I want to leave a shop feeling happy I wouldnt want to leave a shop feeling 'not good enough' or that I'd been pressured into buying something I did'nt really love.
I actually deplore the new-ish (I've noticed it more post-pandemic) Hermes sales model of 'upselling' and advising clients that they have not spent enough to 'qualify' for a bag offer.
I find it very distasteful-
I realise that building a profile based on loyalty and and buying across various catagories has been an integral part of their sales model for some time BUT I feel that in the last year the upselling and push to spend spend spend has become more agressive to the point of belittling customers by saying things like "you have'nt spent enough"..well maybe they've spent what they can comfortably afford.
Or maybe they've just spent money on what they love or WANT to own.
Having just read the 'Hermes relationship' thread and seeing posts from members lamenting their Sales assistants and leaving the brand (granted one was due to unforseen circumstances) I wonder if this pressure to upsell and make clients spend more is having a negative impact on the staff and causing the SA's with integrity to leave the company.
I speak as someone who works in sales and has recently left a company after 12years because I did'nt agree with my company's more recent focus on numbers being more important than loyalty and relationship building-4 of my team have left in the past year (long term staff members) to join other companies because we cared about our clients and our relationships with them and did'nt just want to push push push them to buy in order to make our targets.
My own SA left Hermes this year and I have'nt found a replacement because I want shopping to be relaxing, sociable & fun!
I find life pressured enough-I dont want to feel pressure when I'm spending my hard earned cash on 'stuff' I dont really need.
I feel sad the way that the popularity of the brand and leathergoods in particular seems to be creating a toxic shopping and selling enviroment.
I hope this post makes sense-the client/sa relationship is something I care deeply about and the fact that I want to leave a shop feeling happy I wouldnt want to leave a shop feeling 'not good enough' or that I'd been pressured into buying something I did'nt really love.
Wow! Very sorry to hear that. However I thought that is in London did not get this kind of pressure no?
OT but I think most retail enviroments are under more pressure at the moment with the global economic slowdown.
Back to Hermes-
I think the Pressurised selling at Hermes is due to the growing popularity of the brand-supply vs demand.
When I was a child, the bags used by people with middle and upper socioeconomic status in my city were usually LV. In the early 2000s, I first saw a Hermès bag in Istanbul (I’m from Istanbul). Since then, I’ve always had my eye on Hermès. Back when I was a young girl, models like B or K were definitely aspirational items that only very high-status people could own. They weren't as common as they are today, and the concept of reselling didn’t even exist back then. Even in Paris, there were long waiting lists for quite a while.
In just the last 10 years, the reseller market has rapidly developed. People have found ways to market these bags, and acquiring a B or K has evolved into something different from simply waiting on a long list and making a huge financial investment. In reality, nothing seems to hold its original value anymore. While the increased accessibility is nice, it feels like everything's value is quickly diminishing.
I started earning my own money at 23. With my first paycheck, I bought a Monogram Pochette. I still use it, and I carry it proudly because it's a reward for my hard work. Even though I had the financial means back then, I didn't feel mature enough to carry an H bag. Today, I don’t feel entitled to comment on those in their 20s who carry them, but I believe that one should have the maturity to understand the value of everything before owning it.
For this reason, I made my first Hermès purchase at 30. Between the ages of 30 and 35, I only bought Twillys and Gavroches. During those five years, I also tried to make an appointment. At 35, I bought my first B bag in my friend's name. Unfortunately, in the following three years, I faced cancer and underwent very intense treatments. This year, I was finally able to return to Paris after those three years. To start building a shopping history, I began purchasing only the items I love. My one-month summer vacation was adorned with two non-QB pieces. I returned home with a Picotin and a Constance Élan. Yes, I have a dream of owning a Kelly, and I’ve even added a Kelly Pochette or Élan to my list. But that's it. In other words, it’s not about being part of the shopping game to own more.
I've gained a lot of information from many friends in the forum, and it has greatly contributed to my personal development, for which I am grateful. Thanks to them, I’ve gained a different perspective on my fashion taste and developed new focal points. For example, while I love Hermès scarves, I learned that I can actually create M2M pieces from them. I’ve set this as a goal for myself. Let’s see who I will twin with on this journey. Loool.
Here is my Unpopular idea.
Carrying an H bag just because it’s hard to obtain, without understanding the meanings it carries.
I don't want to carry this bag just to prove that I can own it. I want it because it is a rare piece that maintains its delicacy in our increasingly synthetic world, allowing me to be part of the elegance it embodies.
I hope I haven't strayed off topic.
In just the last 10 years, the reseller market has rapidly developed. People have found ways to market these bags, and acquiring a B or K has evolved into something different from simply waiting on a long list and making a huge financial investment. In reality, nothing seems to hold its original value anymore. While the increased accessibility is nice, it feels like everything's value is quickly diminishing.
I started earning my own money at 23. With my first paycheck, I bought a Monogram Pochette. I still use it, and I carry it proudly because it's a reward for my hard work. Even though I had the financial means back then, I didn't feel mature enough to carry an H bag. Today, I don’t feel entitled to comment on those in their 20s who carry them, but I believe that one should have the maturity to understand the value of everything before owning it.
For this reason, I made my first Hermès purchase at 30. Between the ages of 30 and 35, I only bought Twillys and Gavroches. During those five years, I also tried to make an appointment. At 35, I bought my first B bag in my friend's name. Unfortunately, in the following three years, I faced cancer and underwent very intense treatments. This year, I was finally able to return to Paris after those three years. To start building a shopping history, I began purchasing only the items I love. My one-month summer vacation was adorned with two non-QB pieces. I returned home with a Picotin and a Constance Élan. Yes, I have a dream of owning a Kelly, and I’ve even added a Kelly Pochette or Élan to my list. But that's it. In other words, it’s not about being part of the shopping game to own more.
I've gained a lot of information from many friends in the forum, and it has greatly contributed to my personal development, for which I am grateful. Thanks to them, I’ve gained a different perspective on my fashion taste and developed new focal points. For example, while I love Hermès scarves, I learned that I can actually create M2M pieces from them. I’ve set this as a goal for myself. Let’s see who I will twin with on this journey. Loool.
Here is my Unpopular idea.
Carrying an H bag just because it’s hard to obtain, without understanding the meanings it carries.
I don't want to carry this bag just to prove that I can own it. I want it because it is a rare piece that maintains its delicacy in our increasingly synthetic world, allowing me to be part of the elegance it embodies.
I hope I haven't strayed off topic.
This is something that really deserves reflection. All of this is part of consumption.
Agree about social media, I like that I can learn about the bags, see bag reviews, but influencers constantly unboxing new items/PR gifts/ad placements just got to a point where it doesn’t provide any value to me as a customer… they just say “oh I love this” and no real review/information you can learn about the item… especially Hermes unboxings seem unreasonable in this economy
My UO is that if people could see Hermes for what it really is, people would adjust their expectations to reflect REALITY. Whatever anybody’s personal, subjective feelings and emotions are about owning anything Hermes, Hermes is a for profit, publicly traded company. No matter how they market the dream, Hermes’ first priority is continued business survival and success. Their first priority is making their shareholders happy by continuing to beat and increase margins, retain high performing staff, and maintaining good relationships with their most lucrative customers. Hermes is not a government entity that owes any citizen anything. Nobody is entitled to a Birkin because they want them now, especially when anyone can get a Birkin from elsewhere from someone who got that Birkin from the store just to turn around a resell it for double.
If people just shifted their perspective a bit, one would feel less frustrated about the shopping experience. It is not personal when you do not get a Birkin when you want it, it is just business.
If people just shifted their perspective a bit, one would feel less frustrated about the shopping experience. It is not personal when you do not get a Birkin when you want it, it is just business.
My UO. The desire for suspension of reality is why most shop at Hermes. The queues, the waiting, the frustrations are all preambles and delayed gratification until reality melts away. It's both trophy hunting and collecting art all at once.
It's like a reality-free zone, a respite, a sanitary away from reality. It's a theatre, an oasis, an alternative universe, where people go to experience the sensual pleasure of silk and leather, colours and reflection of light and shade, creativity, beauty and perfection. Even in the pre-loved market, H products are infused with the magic. It is about belief, but then so is everything.