Grrrr, why do they always assume?

Does this happen to you?

You decide to drop by a bike shop to browse. You enjoy looking at the new racy bikes, browsing the cool technical clothing and surveying the bike accessories you might just need for the fall season. You are enjoying the moments of pure bliss.

Then the bike shop boy comes over. He gives you a once over.

You know that look.

He then ushers you to the comfort bikes and clothing because you don't *look* like you cycle more than 12 miles a month. After all, you aren't a size 0, and you're not a 25 year old either. And you probably won't want to test ride the Madone on such a warm day. It's easy to get a little hot. It does take a while to work up to a lot of miles each week.

Excuse me?

Listen Sparky, my happy hiney could probably outride you any day. You may be faster, but I'm built for endurance and I'll see you in my mirror as you bonk.

Sigh.......why do they like to patronize us?

Ignorance.....
when I went to purchase my race bike, for actual racing, the guys in the shop kept looking at my husband (who I believe was supposed to back them up that I should get the bigger bike, which would have been totally wrong for me.) At least I went in knowing exactly what I wanted and they didn't try to talk me out of that, but I don't think that they were taking me at all seriously. Of course, a few weeks after I picked up my bike I took 3rd place in the race that they sponsored and they started respecting me a whole lot more.

It might be an interesting experiment to go into a bike shop cold and see what they want to show me.

I was kinda getting the pooh-pooh brush off at one shop until I mentioned my Waterford and my Surly. (I was shopping for panniers.)

Then they were a little nicer.

I found that once I got to know the guys at my bike shop, they treated me like another biker. I can now walk in and the owner and sale guys all know me by name.

I have experienced the same thing when buying a car. Never take a man with you if the car is for you. The salesmen will only talk to the man, even if the man keeps saying "Talk to her, she's the one buying the car."

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Originally Posted by sundial

Does this happen to you?

You decide to drop by a bike shop to browse. You enjoy looking at the new racy bikes, browsing the cool technical clothing and surveying the bike accessories you might just need for the fall season. You are enjoying the moments of pure bliss.

Then the bike shop boy comes over. He gives you a once over.

You know that look.

He then ushers you to the comfort bikes
....

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Exact same thing happened to me. I was at a shop that's a Specialized dealer for a saddle - not my usual shops. While there, I wanted to see how Specialized clamps their seatposts on their carbon bikes. Because I had an issue with one of my three carbon bikes... shop kid points me towards their WSD aluminum bikes (not that there's anything wrong with that,... I have two of those too!)

Because the guys at the shop are in a weird situation.

On the one hand, they know jack about you and appearances are all they have to go on. Let's be realistic here, human beings are programmed to make judgements about other people based on appearances.

On the other hand, they are constantly getting flak in the cycling press for focusing on selling nothing but carbon-fiber race bikes when all the person really wants is something for riding down to the store.

Obviously, the best policy is to spend some time chatting with a prospective customer and finding out where they are and what they want.

This doesn't just happen to women either. I've hand salespeople confidently tell me there is no way I'll be able to haul my body and my loaded touring bike over mountain passes with the gearing I had mere days after having done precisely that.

I usually just get ignored by bike shop staff. Sometimes the attitude pisses me off and sometimes it makes me laugh, depending on what kind of mood I was in to start with. :rolleyes:

The funny thing is, I've visited bike shops in different regions and it's interesting how they approach me and are presumptuous about my fitness level. I usually wear loose clothing (shirt jacket, cropped pants, etc.) so my physique is kinda masked.

My LBS treats me with respect now that they know where I ride and how often. Plus I bought my Roubaix from them. ;)

I got called "sir" in REI's bike department.

I was traumatized.

(guess the kid thought only men would be looking at the road bikes, and I was a tall critter, so with 2 data points he confidently said, "Can I help you, Sir?")

Dex, did you know you look a little like DJ Irene in your avatar?

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I was kinda getting the pooh-pooh brush off at one shop until I mentioned my Waterford and my Surly. (I was shopping for panniers.)

Then they were a little nicer.

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I mentioned the word Surly to a bike shop, and they rolled their eyes. (You *really* don't want a heavy steel bike. What you need is.......)

Knotted, my hubby has an alto voice on the telephone and he's been called ma'am on several occasions. :p

I haven't had the pleasure of being mistaken for a sir. :p

I don't know a shop around here that has a mechanic older than 30. It's very sad--they treat me like their dull-minded mother because they're stinking TEENAGERS. And they know nothing about friction shifters and have no appreciation for lugged steel. :mad:

Karen

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Originally Posted by sundial

Listen Sparky, my happy hiney could probably outride you any day. You may be faster, but I'm built for endurance and I'll see you in my mirror as you bonk.

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I know Sparky. And his friends Spanky and Bunky :D
I thought I was the only one who uses the phrase 'happy heiney". But I usually don't say heiney.

Steel bikes are pretty hot stuff around here, maybe because we have steel frame builders in the area.

Surly bikes are popular here, too. I've had two different steel bike shops refer to Surly as "Seattle" bikes.

No-body's tried to talk me out of steel yet.;)

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Originally Posted by boy in a kilt

Dex, did you know you look a little like DJ Irene in your avatar?

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Heh. I'd never noticed, but now that you've mentioned it, I see it. (That's awesome, because the only celeb-type comparison I've ever gotten in the past is Margaret Cho.) :cool:

wait, dex, is that your real hair?

If so, AWESOME

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

I don't know a shop around here that has a mechanic older than 30. It's very sad--they treat me like their dull-minded mother because they're stinking TEENAGERS. And they know nothing about friction shifters and have no appreciation for lugged steel. :mad:

Karen

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Hey, I feel your pain!

The bike mechanic at my local LBS is about 17 and looks like Peter Brady from the Brady Bunch. (Not Greg Brady, mind you, but PETER Brady!) :eek: :(

I have to keep myself from saying things like "If you scratch my bike I'll ground you for a month" :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I got called "sir" in REI's bike department.

I was traumatized.

(guess the kid thought only men would be looking at the road bikes, and I was a tall critter, so with 2 data points he confidently said, "Can I help you, Sir?")

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I got called "sir" from the front the other day at the Einstein Bros. Bagel shop! The guy behind the counter glanced up quickly and said "May I have yur order, sir?" When I started talking, he looked back up & immediately apologized over & over & over...
I can see how it would happen- I've got really short hair, about 5'6", and have wide shoulders. It took me a couple of minutes to convince him that I really didn't care and that he didn't have to find a manager to give me my food for free :rolleyes:

better I suppose than being taken for a kid.... (and even a little boy). At 5 feet I'm probably only the size of your average 12 year old. My husband has been complimented on his son before.... (yes the guy was drunk and I was wearing a hat and rain jacket), but seriously sometimes I get over looked in stores, like at the deli counter. I think people assume I'm someone's kid waiting with them.

*edit* - looked it up, yup I am the size of your average 12 y.o.......

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Originally Posted by Kimmyt

wait, dex, is that your real hair?

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Real hair, yes. Natural color, no. ;)

I once got respect in a bike shop just for walking in with my spd shoes aaaaand ... Impeach Bush bike socks. Had a long conversation with them about where to get the socks and how many they should stock. Also a conversation about exchanging my comfort bike for a flatbar road bike, now that I'd outdone myself by doing 42 miles of the Cindy on the "old grey mare" and was ready to move up to something real. Maybe I'm thick-skinned, but I didn't feel like they dissed me, and I was not only middle-aged, female and overweight, but actually came in on a big clunky comfortbike. So I guess some shops treat people right. Which I guess is why we come back and actually shop there.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

No-body's tried to talk me out of steel yet.;)

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That's because you would put the hurt on their.....feet! :D

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Originally Posted by Duck on Wheels

I once got respect in a bike shop just for walking in with my spd shoes aaaaand ... Impeach Bush bike socks.

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Around here it would be I Miss Bill socks.

I haven't worked in a bike shop, but I have worked for years in retail and customer service, so take my opinion for what it's worth. I think it's bad form for them to assume anything about you. In my experience it was important to ask a few good open-ended questions so that I could make recommendations based on the customers' replies. Sometimes they would come in with no idea what they were after, but they usually knew what they were trying to accomplish.

I went to a seminar held by a VERY well respected guy in the retail- and specifically bike- industry.
He talked about how the bike industry is in the pits right now with no growth- but then he talked about WHY bike shops are floundering.
This was one of his main topics. He hammered away on this, and I was nodding my head "YES" the entire time. I am one of those "cyclists in disguise" and have been looked over in shops MANY times.
This is one of the reasons why *I* am designing the floorplan, merchandising, and picking all the soft goods for the store. It's also another reason why I wanted to go with Giant. The take WSD seriously from the ground up.

Sigh... I promis ladies when "Estrella Mountain Cyclery" is up and running it will be the MOST friendly shop for ALL!!! And I'll make darn sure of that!

I have a long history in retail management, and I know that it IS possible to hire and train employees to treat your customers correctly, including not making snap judgements. Because of this, I hold all retailers to a high standard - mine. :cool:

That said, this phenom is rampant not just in cycling shops, but in the entire fitness industry. I get sick and tired of going to new gyms, fitness equipment shops, GNC type places, bike shops, etc and basically getting ignored or belittled. I walk in with my average sized husband and they immediately zone in on him. I'm the one with the fitness/sports/cycling knowledge, interest and history. He just happens to look the part and apprently, I don't. SOOOO frustrating.

Editing to add: I'm pretty sure that it's not gender-related, either. I think that if I was the one who looked super-fit and he was overweight - the situation might reverse.

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

I'm pretty sure that it's not gender-related, either.

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My hubby's friend, a male, also is a serious cyclist in diguise and he has heard his share of condescending quips from bike shop boys.

You know, not every cyclist is built like a greyhound.

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

I get sick and tired of going to new gyms, fitness equipment shops, GNC type places, bike shops, etc and basically getting ignored or belittled. I walk in with my average sized husband and they immediately zone in on him. I'm the one with the fitness/sports/cycling knowledge, interest and history. He just happens to look the part and apprently, I don't. SOOOO frustrating.

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That reminds me of a funny story. Some time ago I was an AFAA certified aerobics instructor and I taught step aerobics. We moved from the town that I used to teach and after we moved to the new location, I decided to join a mom and pop fitness center. I learned that they taught aerobics and I decided to drop by after work and ask about the program.

The so called instructor gave me a good look and suggested that I might be more comfortable in the back, where the new people and large people like to be. :rolleyes:

I think it goes both ways.
Sometimes, we women go in assuming the bike shop will treat us a certain (prejudiced?) way, and we carry our attitudes with us.

I try to go in and give them a quick "spec sheet" about me: in a nutshell - this is what I ride, how long I've been riding, what I am here for.

They want to sell stuff to you. that's their job. Make it easy for them and you may be rewarded with a quick and easy transaction, and a good relationship.

Sundial, great story.
My experience in bike shops (when I'm noticed at all) is that they act very uncertain because they can't categorize me. I'm old but not overweight. It's kind of fun (when i'm noticed at all)

bad experience: when i was trying to get my bianchi to fit me, we decided we'd put a steel fork on it. I went to the bikeshop (eastside bikeshop) without DH so it was just me and the people that work there; all 30 and under. I told them i wanted a steel fork and 4 or 5 of them insisted that carbon was better... They actually ganged up on me!
So i wasted my $$$ and got another carbon fork. I got home and DH said "I thought you were getting steel?!?!?" I was outnumbered, they didn't listen, they all knew SO MUCH MORE than ME. :confused:

I did not buy a bike from them.

Just had an odd bike shopping experience!

During my lunchbreak I went to the same shop that needed prompting to pay attention to me. I needed a t-handled 5mm wrench and bar tape. I had my "L" Allen with me, so I could show them how it was too short to reach into the brake lever and measure it against a T handle to be sure it would fit.

Desk chickie wasn't sure what I was asking for, but was trying to help. A *customer* (man in his 20's) was being a royal pain! He was insisting that what I already had would work, that the "Y" handle with the stubby wrench part was just the same, that all I needed was to buy a set of "L" wrenches and take the ring off, and got mad at me when I kept saying no!

I went to the back of the shop to the mechanic, cuz I figured he would at least take me seriously enough to listen long enough to know what I was asking. Nice guy, treated me well. He found the same brake-only lever and tried the 'Y' they sell on it, showed me how to trim it with a knife to make it fit into the lever. Whew!

I Love that you call him Sparky; that kills me!!!

I can now see why the Bike Gallery consistently wins high marks as a LBS here...the mechanics are older, the salespeople are totally NOT snobbish. I think they figured out the customer service part....

I just wish more women worked in bike shops...thats one
thing I like about River City. I ASKED for a woman salesperson, got one, and she was great. Made me try 3 different sizes of the same bike....

In the end I had to pick between a 52 that fit great but didn't have a walk through...and a 53 that did. I took the 53.

not quite sure what that has to do with it...:rolleyes:

I'm waiting for Knotted to open a women friendly bike shop. She can instruct the gals how to choose the right bike, maintenance, and most importantly, good footwear with the correct insoles. ;)

I used to manage a shop. First thing I learned was to keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut :D That policy saved my bacon daily.:D

Knotted - These are the wrenches you need. They are ball ended so you can get at stuff at wonky angles.

El Hombre - those are so beautiful they bring tears to my eyes.

So far I've trimmed the "handle" of the 5mm and 6mm ends of my $5.95 "Y" Allen wrench so they fit in the brake lever and the bar-con stopper.

I'm really trying to love the bike shop down near where I work, but nothing compares to my LBS: www.recycledcycles.com I was having trouble with the bar-cons just a few minutes ago, and called them for help. They were closed (winter hours now) and in a staff meeting, but they put me on speaker phone so they could brainstorm to help me.

I love LOVE Recycled Cycles!:D

'K, so mine aren't as flash as those Pedros numbers, but the first bike tool I bought was a set of decently-long, ball-ended allen keys. So fricken' useful.

After we got married in 1986, Silver took auto mechanics with a couple of women from work.

A few months into our marriage, we went to buy a car.

While Silver is under the hood talking with the salesman about rack and pinion "this" and fuel injected "that", I'm inside playing with the stereo buttons going "this is really cool!" and feeling the upholstery!:rolleyes:

The salesman couldn't process this at all.:rolleyes:

So, I told Silver to negotiate the price of the car.:eek:

We knew we did the right thing when, after two days of haggling, she set the price that we were willing to pay and the sales MANAGER said "shouldn't I be talking to your husband?":eek: :eek: :cool:

Well, Silver got a great deal and I'm convinced it was because SHE knew what she was talking about and THEY couldn't handle a strong minded woman with knowledge!:p :p

Next time someone treats you like a "little girl", you show them what you know!;) :D :p

I can't remember having to endure this at any of the bike shops I have been to. But I usually go in acting and knowing what is going on and what I want. I hate to be pesterd by sales people until I have a question I want anwserd. The only problem I had was when I first got my bike I should have made sure it was a better fit, and had them replace the 172 cranks with 170 before I left the shop. I have been reaping this stupidity for years now.

I recently posted on a ski related forum I go to, but this seemed relevant. I went into a ski shop to look at gear and immediately a salesman asked me what color I was looking for while I looked at the (pitiful) selection of skis they had.

I walked right back out, but then came right back in to tell the idiot that his idea of humor, wasn't.

K.