Can I View My Hermès Quota Bag Offer Outside the Private Room?

Dear PurseBop,

So I was offered my first quota bag. Yay! But I thought the experience was a bit odd. We were in a private room and my SA brought the bag. I felt the lighting altered the color. I asked if i could see it in natural light and SA politely declined. Said she would get in trouble if the bag was seen by other customers in the store if I bring it out to the window (just right by the room). I ended up googling before accepting the bag. Is this common? It’s a beautiful bag and I’m glad I got it but it feels a bit odd to not know how it would really look like until I got home.

Dear Odd Experience,

Congratulations on getting your first quota bag. That is very exciting. Unfortunately your experience is not unusual.

The reason Hermès quota bags are generally offered in a private room, a dressing room, or in an out of way place, is to protect your privacy and to offer you an exceptional experience. When other customers see a quota bag being offered there is the possibility that they will believe they could get the same bag if you refuse it, or they may want to see the bag. This practice is not permitted due to the private nature of offers and the scarcity of all Hermès bags.

We are sure your SA was not deliberately preventing you from seeing the true color of the bag. They were merely protecting your experience and the integrity of your offer. Do not take it personally.

Unfortunately, we all have experienced the extremely poor lighting in the Hermès store, particularly in one of the private rooms. This is a difficult situation for the SA. Rest assured that it is merely Hermès’ practice and protocol, and was not done to prevent you from experiencing your new bag.