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

imatlas · Dec 20, 2010

Originally Posted by Holdfast

I'd disagree with this. Most are pretty reasonable. At the very least, Hermes is on the far extreme end of the spectrum when it comes to this sort of exclusivity approach to being able to play in their sandpit. It's the lux version of the Disney vault.

I'll definitely grant that Hermes is the extreme end of this spectrum, but I've had similar treatment walking at Neiman Marcus and Saks - the level of service (often) depends on the SAs perception of the likelihood of a sale, not on some minimum standard of service that everyone receives.

someotherstyle · Dec 20, 2010

Originally Posted by Mr. Moo

Wallet is actual size

Slewfoot · Dec 20, 2010

Generally speaking...

Sazerac · Dec 20, 2010

I once went into that same Hermes shop. I told the SA I was looking for a gift for my wife for our anniversary. She didn't ask my price range or what I was looking for. She pulled a block of paper from a drawer and said, "these is the least expensive item we have. They're $25. They're like Post-It notes with the Hermes logo on top, see?"

I was speechless.

She continued: "Won't she love getting something in a little Hermes box?"

I had to leave before I shot up the joint.

celeste_pista · Dec 20, 2010

Originally Posted by imatlas

I'll definitely grant that Hermes is the extreme end of this spectrum, but I've had similar treatment walking at Neiman Marcus and Saks - the level of service (often) depends on the SAs perception of the likelihood of a sale, not on some minimum standard of service that everyone receives.

this happens all the time and it drives me nuts...I go into a store well dressed and I get top notch service, I stop in wearing jeans and a t-shirt and the sas are aloof. social profiling.

Originally Posted by ter1413

they look at that as a small time sale and why waste their time on that when they can sell a 5k+ item very easily..

waste their time on a small time sale because good service brings people back

makewayhomer · Dec 20, 2010

it is stunning how obnoxious people can be based solely on the store they work at

I once stopped going to a bakery b/c the employees were so obnoxiously better than you

imatlas · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by makewayhomer

it is stunning how obnoxious people can be based solely on the store they work at

I once stopped going to a bakery b/c the employees were so obnoxiously better than you

Tartine Bakery?

imatlas · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by Sazerac

I once went into that same Hermes shop. I told the SA I was looking for a gift for my wife for our anniversary. She didn't ask my price range or what I was looking for. She pulled a block of paper from a drawer and said, "these is the least expensive item we have. They're $25. They're like Post-It notes with the Hermes logo on top, see?"

I was speechless.

She continued: "Won't she love getting something in a little Hermes box?"

I had to leave before I shot up the joint.

I'll bet she sells a lot of those post-it pads.

TheDarkKnight · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by mafoofan

To celebrate my birthday, my wife took me to Hermes on Madison Avenue to order a dark green breast wallet in pebble-grain calfskin. The following account is unedited and unabridged.

........

"Great, what different models are there?"
"Well, we have two to choose from." She takes out two wallets and shows them to us. One is more substantial than the other and the one I prefer. I don't remember the names.
"This one is exactly what I'm looking for. How much is it?"
"Oh, I don't know. I'd have to check on that."
A long silence. She makes no motions suggesting she's going to do so. I notice a piece of paper in the wallet.
"Well, umm, there's a tag in here. It says $XXXX."
"Oh, that's interesting. I'd have to check and see if that's correct. It might be."
"Okay, well, I assume it won't be far off at any rate. We're interested in ordering this in dark green."
"Oh, here's one." She pulls out a not-green wallet. It is the color of day-old pea soup that's been left out of the fridge. Or vomit.
"Well, I'm really thinking of a dark, forest green, not so much . . . this."
"Oh, I see." She takes out all of the wallets in the case and in the drawer beneath, laying them out for me to see. None of them are green, dark or otherwise. "Which color do you like?"

I would have walked out at this point

"Honestly, I'm only interested in dark green, though some of these are very nice."
"I'm not sure if we have dark green."

"Well, is there a way to check? If you don't have one in stock, I'd be happy to do a custom order."
"I can't discuss that at this time."
"I'm sorry . . . what?"
"I'm not sure if we have dark green."
"Right, but can you check if you do, or maybe look into a special order? We'd like to buy this today"
"It depends. I don't have access to all the colors."

At this point, I am trying very hard not to show my utter disbelief and frustration. Above all, I'm confused.

"Umm, do you have a book of leather swatches we can look through?"
"No, there's no such thing."
"That's funny. The last time I was in your Chicago shop a couple years ago, there was one out on the table and I was told I could do special orders out of it."
"Well, it depends. There's such a book, but it depends on what you're ordering."

. . .

"What if I'm ordering this wallet?"

. . .

"It depends. I don't know what colors we have access to. They're in Paris."
"Okay, so I can't have this wallet in dark green, I take it?"
"I don't know if the color you're thinking of is available."
"Well, does the swatch book tell us what's available?"
"Yes, but I don't know if it has dark green in it. Also, even if there is dark green, it might not be in a hide that we can use for the wallet."
"Err, do you know what hides can be used?"
"I don't, but it says in the book."
"So, couldn't we just look through the book and pick a color in a hide that works?"
"Uhh, I suppose theoretically. Umm, yeah, why not?"

I would have killed her with my bare hands at this point

Aside from the fantastic feeling of watching the life die from this woman's eyes as you throttled her to death, shouldn't you just never ever go to this store again?

Shop at a more independent store or online and be rewarded by good service and discounts.

Metlin · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by TheDarkKnight

Aside from the fantastic feeling of watching the life die from this woman's eyes as you throttled her to death, shouldn't you just never ever go to this store again?

Shop at a more independent store or online and be rewarded by good service and discounts.

Dude, remind me to never piss you off. Ever.

Douglas · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by HRoi

It's like they size you up

Aaahaaaaaaaa

SkinnyGoomba · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by imatlas

I'll definitely grant that Hermes is the extreme end of this spectrum, but I've had similar treatment walking at Neiman Marcus and Saks - the level of service (often) depends on the SAs perception of the likelihood of a sale, not on some minimum standard of service that everyone receives.

It's a terrible idea on the SA's part to assume, I've had little old ladies and guys dressed in jeans/t-shirt pull out Centurion cards.

TRINI · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by Sazerac

She pulled a block of paper from a drawer and said, "these is the least expensive item we have. They're $25. They're like Post-It notes with the Hermes logo on top, see?"

I need to cop.

Crane's · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba

It's a terrible idea on the SA's part to assume, I've had little old ladies and guys dressed in jeans/t-shirt pull out Centurion cards.

Exactly. I know some very wealthy people and they make it a point to not play the part when shopping for expensive goods.

softy · Dec 21, 2010

Originally Posted by George

You should have just wrote down the SF web address and your username on a piece of card, slid it casually over the counter then given a knowing nod and wink.

I think she'd have got the message.

I'm thinking he was wearing this:

Also, this anecdote reminded me of:
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Mafoofan struggles to buy breast wallet at Hermes . . . arises victorious!

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