Grrrr, why do they always assume?

[KnottedYet]

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.

[sundial]

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

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

[sgtiger]

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.

[Running Mommy]

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!

[GLC1968]

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.

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.

[sundial]

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

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.

[sundial]

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.

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.

[indigoiis]

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.

[mimitabby]

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.

I did not buy a bike from them.