How to get an Hermès Quota Bag: Common Reasons Revealed

We've all read dozens of articles on how to acquire the much-desired Birkin and Kelly, but why, after following all these bloggers' steps, are we still waiting? Getting your dream quota bag can quickly become a frustrating journey when you are continuously working on your Sales Associate (SA) relationship and most likely spending more money than you planned.

We know the feeling of asking your SA that one question: ‘when do you think my wish will be fulfilled?’ only to be replied to with uncertainty or the need to spend more. We have put together an introduction to how the Hermès quota system works and three common reasons why you might still be waiting.

 

How does the Hermès quota bag system work?

The allocation of quota bags varies from store to store, but the general procedure involves several steps:

1. Bag Wishlist Submission: Clients express their interest in specific bags.
2. Bag Arrival & Hold: Upon arrival, SAs temporarily hold the bag to wait for the manager’s review. This is where having a strong relationship with your SA becomes essential.
3. Manager Approval: The manager evaluates the wishlist and the client's account—wishlists typically requiring a minimum of six months old and considering sufficient past purchases.

 

3 common reasons why you might still be waiting: 

Awaiting manager approval:

A common reason for the extended wait on Quota Bags is typically because your SA hasn't asked the manager to review your wish list yet. This could be because they think you haven't spent enough to get approval, or they might have forgotten about your wish list.

The strength and experience of your SA are also crucial. Since only a few bags come into the store, SAs need to compete among each other to reserve them for you. New SAs or trainees will usually find it harder to reserve popular bags for you, unless you buy a standout piece such as a rare piece of jewelry or a £10k coat, for example.

So, choosing the right SA is essential to securing your dream Hermès bag. We will share even more tips on choosing the right SA in our next story.

Store Target already reached:

It’s important to understand from the start of your Hermès journey that every boutique is different, and the rules differ between them. The store manager, as mentioned, has a lot of influence, and their focus is on meeting the store targets.

Stores have daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly targets, and if a threshold isn’t met, then they will delay wishlist approvals until the store target has been reached. For example, if you go early on a Monday, even asking for a Picotin might be difficult as it’s a new week and a new target.

We have also noticed among our client stories that in the middle of a quarter, wishlist approvals can be slower as the stores push for their clients to buy more of the harder-to-sell pieces. We suggest visiting the store at the start of a quarter to mention your wish before coming back at the end to try and secure it.

Popular bag choice:

For our third reason, we have picked one of the most common reasons that a bag wish can be delayed. Bag color - when choosing your wish, an SA might make comments around the bag you’re wishing for. If, for example, you choose a Mini Kelly in ‘Gold, Etoupé, or Nata,’ they might say that it will be hard to get, and to be honest, if this is your first bag, it is true… not impossible, but think about building your account first.

If you’re just starting your journey, maybe be a little more broad with your choices to allow your SA to have more ability to get your first wish granted. When you wish for your second bag, you can become more specific as you have begun building your SA relationship as well as a reputation within your chosen boutique.

In addition to bag color, it is worth remembering that Hermès bags are normally created in batches of the same color and leather. This is the reason why on social media you will see a lot of people receiving similar bags of the same color being purchased at a similar time of the year. This is not something that we as Hermès lovers can control but a reason we suggest patience.

 

Our advice to all our Hermès lovers:

Waiting for your dream bag can be stressful enough, but we truly believe you should enjoy the experience. Buy pieces that you truly like, be direct with your SA, and understand how much you need to spend and what you can afford from the start.

Hopefully, these insights can help all our H lovers secure their dream bags. Remember, your H journey is about more than just making a wish. It’s about the relationship you build with your SA, the joy of discovering items you truly love, and understanding the strategy behind your desired orange box. Stay tuned for more upcoming tips, exclusively available in our WhatsApp community.