Customer Service

[Thorn]

Yep...treat me the same, but know that I'm different. The roads I ride are the same roads as the men. Many of the guys are faster, but some are slower than me. I ride for some of the same reasons and I want a bike for the same range of reasons.

The differences comes in size. Make sure there is someone who understands this and can help. As mentioned, saddles are a big one (heck, even saddle manufacturers don't seem to get it, sometimes), but also handlebars. And, of course, bikes. But, please don't put me in a corner....

But, most important, is attitude. Don't assume women want hybrids and cruisers. Talk to the women. Ask them questions. And treat them like intelligent consumers. Yes, I will do research before buying, but help me out by giving me ideas of things to look for. Stretch me by giving me ideas I hadn't considered. If I'm buying a bike, make me test drive above and below my price range so that I understand what I'm buying.

[KnottedYet]

Don't assume women want hybrids and cruisers.

Don't assume we all want high end strollers, either. My teenager just won't fit in a stroller anymore. And when we did pull him behind the bike, it was usually behind his DAD'S bike.

Perhaps men would be the ones most interested in strollers? Instead of boasting about how they reduced bike weight with hollow carbon titanium dilithium kryptonite brake levers, they could be boasting about how much weight their baby gained and how it hasn't slowed 'em down a bit!

[Zen]

+1 for Knott

[rhiannon008]

In my opinion, a must have in any shop is female employees with real riding and technical experience. In the area where I live there are a ton of shops to choose from, but very few women wrenching or dealing in high end sales.

I think it stands to reason that women may feel more comfortable shopping in a place where a staff member actually understands their unique needs and have used alot of the equipment themselves. Let's switch the scenario up a bit, would most men feel AS comfortable in a shop exclusively owned and operated by women? Judging by the fact that I have yet (but would love) to see this, I would say the answer is no.

[smilingcat]

I hate it when the sales person or mechanic don't take me seriously. I do most of the "wrenching" myself. And I do know what I'm talking about. Well most of the time. And I prefer to talk to another woman who knows what she is doing. Personally, I don't care if she is a lesbian, its perfectly fine with me. And don't put me in a corner. I'm not a second class citizen. I may be a minority but not a second class person.

Also I would like to see some decent cloth. Not for some waif or twiggy. You can't ride if you are twiggy. Oh a fitting room would be nice.

the LBS I like is a shop where they treat me like one of the boys. The mechanics and the owner treat me like someone who knows. I ask for something and its never "are you sure?" or "do you know how to install it?"

Another shop I like happens to have a butch (oops naughty word, sorry to web master). She's pretty cool. When I asked about a groupo, she suggested SRAM FORCE, DA or Campy Chorus/Record and skipped over 105/Sora/Centaur. She and I had been talking about a Tom's Farm TT course and Santiago Canyon TT course... the gal is also on the shop sponsored race team.

I prefer sales staff to ask questions first instead of assuming. it's just so condescending.

As for strollers keep it out. If I need one, I would go to a mall and not look in a bike shop!! And if its a trailler for the back of the bike don't put it with the women stuff. Generally men pull the trailer NOT US.

If you decide to go high end do carry women's high end bike like Orbea Diva. Or atleast be in touch with the distributor who can get you the bike.

sorry but these are my peeves.
smilingcat

[sbctwin]

Have smaller bikes on hand for us 'shorties' . I was sold on my LBS when they had a couple of smaller bikes (with 650c wheels) for me to try. Clothes for women who aren't twiggy, never was and never will be. But also, clothes that are 'reasonably' priced. Anymore, prices are so steep, I don't know how people afford it.

[WhirlyGirl]

Have smaller bikes on hand for us 'shorties' . I was sold on my LBS when they had a couple of smaller bikes (with 650c wheels) for me to try. Clothes for women who aren't twiggy, never was and never will be. But also, clothes that are 'reasonably' priced. Anymore, prices are so steep, I don't know how people afford it.

We were typing at the same time! I agree about prices, I just put in a big clothing order last week, I was SHOCKED at my wholesale price!!! And yes I did get L_XXL too. Great suggestion on smaller bikes in stock!

[short cut sally]

I agree with tuckerville, get real sizes. There is nothing more discouraging than going into a bike shop and the only size of clothing they have is size small. Ok, my arm might fit into the body of the shirt. I would love to support the local shops, but size small...come on. They reply, oh, we had other sizes in that color/style. Well, get more than! And different ranges of quality of clothing (thinking more shorts/bottoms here) so someone can see the differences in chamois and have someone that can explain that not all chamois are made equally. I like colors and prints and agree that everyone doesn't like that style or color so get different assortments or at least supply a catolog or pictures of what can be ordered. I agree, the corner thing is horrible, reminds me of grade school and the dunce cap. One bike shop that I go to has the womens seperate from the mens section, its decorated where the rest of the shop is plain, and the dressing room is right there too, and its kinda like its own floor/section vs. "just a corner". AND there is nothing worse than going into a bike shop to get something for MY bike or have something tweaked on MY bike and if my DH happens to tag along, who do they talk to and explain yada yada to? It aint ME! Hello..I"m the one who's bike you're working on-talk to ME. OK, I'm off my soapbox now. Good luck with the bike shop. Keep us updated on how you do, etc.

[KnottedYet]

Women's clothing section - yes
Women's gear section - no

Segregate the clothes and use that lovely 15x20 space to house the biggest darn women's clothing section in the entire state! That's where you'll get some impulse buys. "Look, dear, they didn't have this at Performance!" or "Wow, this is cool and it's in MY size! And there are 3 colors to choose from!"

But please don't put the "women's" helmets in there, or the pink Serfas floor pumps, or the pink pedals or baby blue cranks, or the wider "T" shaped saddles. Mix those in with the rest. Some women don't *need* a wider saddle. Some men do. Some don't *want* the uber-phallic pink floor pump. Some women have heads that don't fit in tiny helmets. Some men have heads that are too small for a "man's" helmet. Some men really like the hot pink cranks. Make women welcome through-out the entire store! The chickie on her way to buy her helmet might discover BuddyFlaps. (cha-ching!) The gal perusing the saddles might catch a glimpse of a rack. (cha-ching!) And then she'll see the Ortleib Backroller panniers and start really thinking (BIG $$$ cha-ching!)

If you isolate the women's gear (other than clothes) into one section, how many women will go beyond that section? How many will start thinking, "Hey, I can DO this bike thing! I think I'll buy my own damm Park Tool I-Beam, and my OWN tire levers! This entire store is for me, and I don't have to wait for hubby or son to maintain my bike! In fact, I'm gonna ask that mechanic over there to explain how I lube my chain and I'm gonna buy lube and degreaser and a Park Tool Chain Gang! I walk thru this whole store to buy things, so I'm not afraid to walk over to the mechanic!"

If you must put some gear in with the women's clothes, why not make it a display with a big placard "Explore the Store". Have clerks keep an eye out for women who want to see more in the store. Walk them through. They will come back, and they'll encourage other women shoppers. (Hey, I've helped other women customers at my LBS. Sometimes they get the deer-in-the-headlights look, and all they really need is to see another woman who is comfortable in the shop.)

Free "Fix A Flat" classes are an awesome idea. If you can have a women's only class, and have it be taught by a woman, even better! The best Fix A Flat class I ever took was taught by a woman. She understood that our hands weren't as strong, our arms weren't as long, and our leverage just wasn't the same. She knew some tricks other than just muscling the tire and tube, and you should have seen the confidence level rise in that class! Pretty soon we're talking derailleurs and brakes and slinging back wheels and chains around fearlessly.