Welcome to Dear PurseBop where we seek to answer your burning questions relating to our favorite subject – purses! We recently launched Dear PurseBop so you would have a safe space to ask your questions related to purses and luxury shopping. It is designed to be an ongoing advice column that can be accessed at any time.You may access boptalk.com to view all the questions and answers.
We hope you will visit our site often to submit your questions and to read the questions and answers previously submitted. We intend to share your Q/A’s in our newsletter on a weekly basis as well. We welcome your comments and suggestions as we embark on this exciting new adventure with you.
To give you an idea of the type of questions we have received in the past week, we are sharing a few, but there are many more for you to read here.
@elb4z
Will be in Paris in September. Do I need to make appointments at Hermes and Chanel?
Dear Appointments at Hermès and Chanel:
At Hermes in Paris you only need an appointment if you desire to purchase a leather bag or quota bag. To purchase items in other departments of Hermes you do not need an appointment. Just find an available SA and ask for assistance. They can usually help you in almost every department of the store, sometimes even non-quota leather bags. All you have to do is ask. However, the shoe department is the busiest area and they do have one SA putting names on a waitlist. They will text you when a SA is available to assist you so you can browse the entire store while waiting. They will also be able to tell you how long the wait time is likely to be.
If you would like to purchase a leather bag or a quota bag, there is an online lottery system that you must apply to on the day prior to the day you intend to shop. It is extremely difficult to get an appointment through the online system but you still must try. In addition, when you arrive at the Hermes store you can also ask if there have been any cancellations and request an appointment that way. It is possible at times to get an appointment this way but very difficult as well.
Read our most recent articles on the appointment system.
My Hermès FSH Reveal and Paris Appointment System Experiences
Hermes Reveals from My Magical Trip to Paris
With respect to Chanel you do not need an appointment. Sometimes there is a waiting list inside to wait for an available SA. If you know someone who has recently been to Paris and worked with an SA you could ask them for the SA’s contact information. Then you could contact that SA and schedule an appointment with that person. Or you could arrive at the Chanel boutique near the time it opens and there will likely not be any wait for an available SA. There are many Chanel boutiques in Paris so you could visit more than one.
What should I do if I am too intimidated or nervous to walk into a Hermès, Chanel, or other luxury boutique?
Dear Too Intimidated To Shop,
It is understandable for a first-timer to be nervous about walking into a luxury boutique. It can be overwhelming, intimidating, or awkward. But it does not have to be. Here are several suggestions to help ease your anxiety.
- Bring a friend with you who has a love of shopping or likes new adventures. Look at it as a new experience or adventure that you are doing together. Once you enter the store and start browsing and looking at all the beautiful items with your friend it will feel less intimidating because you have company.
- Call the boutique or look online for their appointment procedure. Since Covid, many luxury boutiques offer appointments even if you do not have an established relationship with an SA. This way you will have a set time to arrive, usually a limited time to shop (an hour is common), and your SA will meet you when you arrive. The SA can introduce you to the brand, show you different options, and assist you in making decisions. There is no obligation to buy anything so just enjoy the experience.
- Dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable, confident, and yourself. It does not mean you have to dress up, just dress in a way that makes you feel good about yourself. That could be a pair of your favorite jeans, a t-shirt and a cardigan or it may be a summer dress and sandals. There are no rules for what you must or should wear. Just feel comfortable and confident in your outfit that day so it is one less thing to worry about.
- Another suggestion is to visit a large department store such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman (in NYC), Saks Fifth Ave, or some Bloomingdales that have small Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and other boutiques inside the store. This may feel less intimidating or overwhelming. The boutique is often much smaller and you can enjoy exploring the well curated pieces they have on display.
Read also:
What Do You Wear While Luxury Shopping
Any advice on what to do if your dream Quota Bag arrives in the exact specs you wanted but you’re faced with an unexpected emergency that requires a large amount of funds (for example, major renovation work)
Dear Unexpected Emergency:
Buying luxury pieces is just that – a luxury. It should be approached with caution, a clear head, and without impulse. It is a large sum of money not to be taken lightly. If there is a major expense that is necessary for you or your family you must take that into consideration. Your SA will understand if it isn’t the right time for you to make this purchase, even if it is your holy grail bag (HGB). Be honest with your SA and let them know that circumstances beyond your control are occurring but you hope to renew this request in the future and be able to purchase this bag. It is possible, depending on what specifications the bag has, that the opportunity will arise again in the future for you to purchase your dream bag. Good luck.
How do we deal with women who share the same SA as you, who keep asking you why you get offers they don’t? Or they go directly to your SA and ask him/her why they don’t get the same items or offers as you?
Dear Individual Journey:
A good rule of thumb is never compare your journey with another person’s journey. Everyone has their own unique situation and their own unique relationship with their SA. No two experiences are ever the same. Unfortunately, we cannot control other people. Let your SA know this is occurring and request that they inform their client that each person has a different journey and no two are alike. However, your SA may not feel comfortable addressing this issue with their other clients. In that situation it is best to take the high road and do not respond to people who do not share in your joy. Life is too short to spend time with negative people who have jealousy in their heart. Spend time with the people who love you. There are a lot of those people.
Read also:
How to Build a Successful and Gratifying Relationship with Hermes
@pursepotter_karenzkloset
How do I decline “politely “ an Hermes bag? I feel like I must be thankful and accept whatever she/him is offering and accept, because if I don’t she/him would be mad and won’t offer anything, ever.
Dear No Thank you:
Your SA wants you to love and cherish every Hermes bag you purchase. They will not be mad at you for refusing a bag offer. They will be able to sell it to another person for sure. Sometimes they are not able to fulfill the exact specifications on your wishlist but they want to offer you a bag. They offer you a bag you may or may not be interested in adding to your collection. If you do not love the bag, you should not accept the bag.
Being honest with your SA is the best way to approach everything. Buying an Hermes bag is a large financial and emotional commitment. You should not make any purchase from Hermes (or any other boutique) that you do not truly love. If you reject a bag offer, this is an opportunity for your SA to get to know your likes and dislikes better. You will be offered another bag. It may take awhile to get what you want, but it will be worth the wait.
Read also:
Birkin Bait: Is it Loyalty to the Brand or ‘A Means to an End’?
10 Tips to Help You Establish an Enduring Relationship with Hermes
Kelly 25 Sellier Noir/Gris Perle Special Order (left), Kelly 25 Retourne Bleu Zanzibar (right)
Hi! I have a Caviar Black Mini rectangle that I have owned and used for a few years (18C Iridescent black). I also have a brand new Caviar Black Mini Top Handle rectangle with GHW. Which one do I keep? I like the idea of a new bag with top handle versatility, but the mini caviar is such a classic silhouette! Help !!!
This is quite a dilemma. Both bags are classic and unavailable in the boutique to purchase as new since they ceased making the mini classic flap in caviar. Both have excellent resale values provided they are in very good or excellent condition.
If you must sell one for your own personal reasons, it seems you have already decided which one to sell. You stated that the mini classic with the top handle has more versatility than the mini classic rectangle flap bag. I have to agree with you completely. It is nice to have the option to carry the bag as a top handle, particularly for evening events.
Just make sure before you sell one of your bags that you will not regret it in the future since it cannot be replaced, except at a premium. Obviously, no one can predict the future, just be sure to consider all possibilities. And remember my motto: Doubt means Don’t. If you have any doubt about which bag to sell or whether to sell one, this may not be the right time to part with one. If you are able, waiting until you are absolutely sure which way to proceed is always something to consider.
Read:
Updated: August 17th, 2022
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