Mafoofan struggles to buy breast wallet at Hermes . . . arises victorious!

[CBrown85]

I'm almost through that Bringing Home the Birkin book by Michael Tonillio or whatever. It's hard to put down, the guy basically explains this thread.

There's a formula to purchasing stuff from Hermes, apparently. You'd have to get in there and grab a few more items before you were able to get something custom like you've asked for. The guy walks in off the street and could get a Birkin in any location he wanted just by ordering like $1000 bucks worth of things BEFORE he asked for the bag. Mostly scarves which he resold... sounds like fun but I'm not sure I really want anything from Hermes after reading his book and this thread. Exclusive, yes, but worth my time?

 

[D Yizz]

Originally Posted by CBrown85

I'm almost through that Bringing Home the Birkin book by Michael Tonillio or whatever. It's hard to put down, the guy basically explains this thread.

There's a formula to purchasing stuff from Hermes, apparently. You'd have to get in there and grab a few more items before you were able to get something custom like you've asked for. The guy walks in off the street and could get a Birkin in any location he wanted just by ordering like $1000 bucks worth of things BEFORE he asked for the bag. Mostly scarves which he resold... sounds like fun but I'm not sure I really want anything from Hermes after reading his book and this thread. Exclusive, yes, but worth my time?

Was it so hard for the SA to explain that in detail instead of just saying "I cant discuss that at this time"? Whether it's a case of bad SA training, or lack of skills, truth of the matter is, with an approach like that, they shy away potential long term customers. I'm sure just a small percentage of the people that go to the stores with the intention of buying do so after extensively researching all of their customer policies and available product options.

 

[in stitches]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

I'd like to point out that nothing I reported here says anything about Hermes's special order policy. Nobody should jump to any conclusions about what they do or don't do based on my posts.

understood, nonetheless the SAs behavior was absurd

 

[teddieriley]

What I want to know is whether cakeymakeybakey is hawt.

 

[TheFoo]

All you guys talking about building special relationships with SAs or having to cross a certain dollar threshold in purchases are either blowing hot air or simply off the mark.

I just received an e-mail from the SA notifying me that she thinks they can do the order, but they need final confirmation from Paris.

 

[dsmolken]

Y'know, maybe I don't spend enough time on this forum, but every time I see the letters "SA" I read them as "Sturmabteilung". That makes this thread even more entertaining.

 

[CBrown85]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

All you guys talking about building special relationships with SAs or having to cross a certain dollar threshold in purchases are either blowing hot air or simply off the mark.

I just received an e-mail from the SA notifying me that she thinks they can do the order, but they need final confirmation from Paris.

Well hopefully I'm just off the mark. That said, the books is primarily about Birkin bags, which I think at the time were more "exclusive" than green breast wallets. I don't think it's impossible to imagine this from happening though.

 

[JesseJB]

Originally Posted by CBrown85

I'm almost through that Bringing Home the Birkin book by Michael Tonillio or whatever. It's hard to put down, the guy basically explains this thread.

There's a formula to purchasing stuff from Hermes, apparently. You'd have to get in there and grab a few more items before you were able to get something custom like you've asked for. The guy walks in off the street and could get a Birkin in any location he wanted just by ordering like $1000 bucks worth of things BEFORE he asked for the bag. Mostly scarves which he resold... sounds like fun but I'm not sure I really want anything from Hermes after reading his book and this thread. Exclusive, yes, but worth my time?

Crazy... I read "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost its Luster" ( http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-How-Lux.../dp/1594201293 ) and out of all the mainstream luxury houses it seemed Hermes and Chanel were the only ones that lived up to their craftsmanship hype. Let's just say Micheal Kors and LV are at the other end.

 

[intent]

I don't think I've posted in here yet. Shame.

 

[Gus]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

I just received an e-mail from the SA notifying me that she thinks they can do the order, but they need final confirmation from Paris.

It's nice that she is taking time out of her busy Holiday plans to help out Foo

 

[OttoSkadelig]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

What I want to know is whether cakeymakeybakey is hawt.

 

[greekgeek]

^I hate you.

 

[tj100]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

All you guys talking about building special relationships with SAs or having to cross a certain dollar threshold in purchases are either blowing hot air or simply off the mark.

I just received an e-mail from the SA notifying me that she thinks they can do the order, but they need final confirmation from Paris.

My experience with Hermes sales associates is that they get jerked around by the HQ as much (or more) than they jerk around with customers, and it often creates some real challenges for them. It seems like the only thing they know with any certainty is that they can sell what they physically have in the store at the moment that you're in there.

When you ask, "is such and such available", their answer tends to be "I don't know, maybe" - and it's the god's honest truth. They don't know. They've probably asked HQ for it four time for four customers in the past, and twice it came through without a problem, but twice the response from Paris was "c'est impossible! why would you think we could do that?"

I've found that when I'm looking for something specific, if the SA can find it in stock somewhere in North America, odds of getting it are very good. If they can't, odds of getting it are still decent, it just might take a while.

 

[A Guy from Shanghai]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

I just received an e-mail from the SA notifying me that she thinks they can do the order, but they need final confirmation from Paris.

Have you had a chance to discuss it with the SA prior to this?

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by A Guy from Shanghai

Have you had a chance to discuss it with the SA prior to this?

After visiting the shop? No.