Customer Service

[Eden]

Yeah, but you look like a cyclist and athlete

and they still treat me like I don't know a thing........

Not at every shop of course, but at some of them I can just expect that kind of treatment.

[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]

Wow, I'm impressed at the many responses and the great thoughts!

I do have to say the idea behind the "corner" came almost two years ago when I myself started riding. Our shop had everything it needed but on a small and limited basis, we have just finished doubling our physical space and have room for a "corner" but it is really a section of the store the space size is 15x20 and will have Womens specific information, products, clothing. Bikes will be racked with other bikes. It's just a space I want women to come to to feel comfortable, it's right by the dressing room, the wall is a different color etc. Definately DONT want anyone to feel they have cooties. But my main thought was for those women that aren't packing on huge miles, may have weight to lose, are unsure of what they are getting into, that they have a place that is comfortable with the products they need. We have a very large store with a great reputation with hard core and family types, this is our "missing link" I want the wives/moms of our current clients to be riding!!!
I will take extra caution in making women feel superior here, not a second class citizen!! Thank you all again for your input on this!

[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.

[Brandi]

I am short, or I should say my inseam is so when I got a new bike when I started seriously riding 5 years ago I started having problems cause I was not fitted right.
Then when we started looking for a higher end bike, no one had one that would fit me. I had to look else where and ended up with a frame from ebay!
I just wish my lbs had had one 14 inch frame I could have tried. They kept saying they could order one but I had to give a deposite. Ahhh how do I know it is going to work? And they wanted a $600. 00 deposite for it. Nope ,no way! Lucky for me my husband really did he's research and worked it for me. Hey have him work at your store!
Good luck!

[Andrea]

- Women's bib shorts: STOCK THEM!!!!

- Carry a wide variety of saddles (men/women/unisex), and try to provide customers with a return/exchange program for trying them out.

- A wide price range of bikes: while it's a great place for racers, the shop that sponsors my team is like the luxury car dealership of bike shops, so I end up hardly ever recommending it to newbies who don't want to spend their life savings on a carbon fiber speed machine.'

This is all I can think of for now.

P.S. Bike mechanics (male and/or female) that are easy on the eyes help, too

[onimity]

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!"

...

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.

Amen to that. The only woman-specific thing I buy is clothes. My favorite LBS had a maintenance clinic and they really encourage women and men alike to take it. They have a stand where customers can work on their bikes and they encourage women to do that. When I bring my bike for a repair they always ask: do you want us to fix that, or do you want to do it yourself. I almost always choose the latter and while they have missed out on some repair charges they have sold me a lot of tools and parts.

Also I would like to see some decent cloth. Not for some waif or twiggy. You can't ride if you are twiggy.

Sorry, I just disagree with this. I fit this description by most accounts and I've ridden 4,000 miles so far this year, and I don't think I'm the only thin-framed woman on this site that has a *really* hard time finding cycling clothes because most are not built for tall women. Shorts are fine, but forget about finding tights and jerseys in a store that only stocks one or two brands. Women of *all* sizes need cycling clothes. If I owned a shop I'd carry clothing from a variety of mfrs.

Anne

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

When I go into a bike shop and look at the women's clothing. there is usually nothing but smalls and x-smalls of everything. I then ask if they have mediums or larges, and am always told "well we had them but they are sold out."
DUH!!!!!! Could that possibly be because "most" women are not size S or XS?? ....So you just leave all the small clothes hanging there, like I should just buy those instead?
I also happen to dislike how so many bike shop women's clothes seem to be either pink or baby blue. Funny...I don't "feel" like a baby!
(apologies to pink fans)

I've given up on buying clothes at bike shops for those reasons. I'll just buy gloves and lube and stuff.

[Grog]

I have no strong opinion on whether the women's clothes should be separated from the men's, but I strongly disagree that women's gear should be set apart. I find that most things that are advertised as women-specific are making fun of women buyers, and possibly disguising poor-quality products under a pink coat of paint. As others have said, there are men that need wider saddles (and women that need narrow ones), men's and women's helmets make no sense (what makes sense is "small" and "bigger" helmets), and I can imagine that a man with longer legs and shorter torso that would like a bike proportioned like a supposedly WSD bike.

I hope you put only "clothes" in your corner.

Good luck!

[Eden]

I have to agree with Anne - I am small and thin and I have a really hard time finding clothing period, cycling included, that fits me properly. I find it to be very frustrating that so many people talk very negatively about clothing only being made for small thin people. It's not true. Along with your XL's try to make sure you have some of the smallest sizes too.

I also agree that beyond the stuff that is women's specific for a fit reason I don't need things that are just packaged for women. No small pink pumps (which really did not sell well around here - I see them on sale everywhere) or other things like that. I am perfectly capable of using the same tools and accesories as the men.

[Bluetree]

I have to agree with Anne - I am small and thin and I have a really hard time finding clothing period, cycling included, that fits me properly. I find it to be very frustrating that so many people talk very negatively about clothing only being made for small thin people. It's not true. Along with your XL's try to make sure you have some of the smallest sizes too..

+1.

The American size small seems to be getting larger and larger every year. And what's especially frustrating is when manufacturers don't even bother to make sizes in XS. Fortunately, my new club understands this and has ordered the team kits with women's XS bib shorts.

...the thing that pisses me off more than anything is if the high-end stuff is all for men, and the specific women stuff is all mediocre.

In most stores, yup! While I'm not a proponent of many WSD items (I think some of it is very valid, some more marketing ploy) it doesn't hurt to stock a wide variety of components. For example, offer the same high-end handlebars in a 38, instead of just 42s and the occasional 40.

[mimitabby]

Yeah, but you look like a cyclist and athlete

not to everyone!

and KNOT you look like a buff cyclist to me!


bike shop, yes,... my thoughts. Do treat each customer as if they MAY know something but be there for them.
A woman's corner? are you sure that's necessary? I guess that's where you can sell the sports bras, because that's really the only thing I can think of that women need and (most) guys don't need.