Grrrr, why do they always assume?

[dex]

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

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.)

[Kimmyt]

wait, dex, is that your real hair?

If so, AWESOME

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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.

Karen

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!)

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

[Andrea]

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?")

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

[Eden]

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.......

[dex]

wait, dex, is that your real hair?

Real hair, yes. Natural color, no.

[Duck on Wheels]

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.

[sundial]

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

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

[sundial]

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

Around here it would be I Miss Bill socks.

[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.