Sexism at the LBS

[brigada]

I wasn't sure where else to post this, but I had to endure the dumbest stereotype-fuelled conversation at the LBS when trying out a new helmet yesterday.

So, I was checking out several helmets for fit when the LBS guy approached me to tell me where the mirror is "so i can check how it looks on me". I said it's okay because I'm far more interested in how it fits. He actually retorted by saying "Nah, you're a girl, it's important to look good! How can you tell if you look good if you won't check it out?". At this point, I just said that I'm not riding to show off on the trails, but it was still not enough for him! Once more he tried to insist that girls only care about the looks, and not the fit before he finally realised I did not need his "assistance".

I did not expect such an infuriating encounter at the LBS. I did manage to find a helmet, but I was quite angry when i left. Easy for me as I can hold my own and don't really need his help, but this is a popular LBS and this is how he "assists" female customers?

I find it hard to believe that the guy had any interaction with girls that exist outside of romantic comedies prior to this point. On a brighter note, I bet he's still wondering what the hell happened there

[Catrin]

I would consider saying something to his boss. Not only was that offensive, but it could certainly drive business away from the store.

[Fredwina]

+1. My thought when I read this was that would have found somewhere else to buy the helmet rather than giving them my money.

[Irulan]

Was the floor guy a "kid"? I'd cut him a little slack but still might have a chat with the manager about inappropriateness. Sometimes the young guys just have to learn what is appropriate or not.

[vhj]

Try contacting the owner and let him know your complaint. As a small business owner I would love to have customers come to me with this. This kind of sales technique is not in anyone's best interest and certainly not how I would want to have my name and store represented. Correcting this situation would be a kindness both the store owner and the sales clerk.
When in doubt kill them with kindness.
If that doesn't work, in the south we can fall back on the old saying: "Well, bless his heart!"

[brigada]

I wish, but he was 30 at least. I would have bought the helmet elsewhere, but this was the only decent one in my budget range out of several LBS offerings. I'm still considering e-mailing the management, but I'm not sure they'd care. Such attitude towards female riders isn't that rare here, I'm afraid. No wonder the population of serious female riders is near extinct

[nuliajuk]

Wow, I encountered this sort of attitude back in the late 70s-early 80s, but I'm surprised to see it still going on in 2013. Definitely contact the shop owner. Tell him/her that this attitude is turning away a potential of 50% of the population from the shop. Money talks.

[Skippyak]

IME the people who work retail don't tend to be in it for the intellectual component. The thing here is to tell the clerk that you don't want or need help to choose your helmet? The trouble with working retail as an actual life job is that this poor guy is working retail as a life job. He probably can't afford to look at the helmets himself because at my LBS helmets seem to be $100 range.

[Irulan]

Instead of emailing, why not pick up the phone and call? Find out when the manager is in and go in, in person, and talk to them I find that if you have a polite conversation (instead of being a faceless email) with a real person - if they care about thier business - they will listen. They may not change anything, but it's more effective than sending an email that may or may not get read out into the ether.

I had a similar experience not too long ago at a shop that I frequent. I was looking for flat shoes like a 5-10 and flat pedals. The just under 30- young man was pretty insistent on "why do you want to get rid of your clips". I've probably been biking since he was in kindergarten. I took the manager aside and told them that I thought it was inappropriate for this young man to say this... especially when I am a known mtb rider in the area. Being one on one with the manager (and later, the owner) made me feel listened to, and hopefully they did something about it. Way better than faceless input, I'm sure.

[nuliajuk]

Is it possible that this guy was making a clueless and clumsy attempt to flirt with you? This thread brings back memories of similarly clueless men when I was young and single. Some men just didn't get it that women's humour is different than mens and we generally don't do the sort of banter that they do between themselves. They'll make insulting remarks in what they think is a joking manner and are puzzled when we don't find it appealing or funny.

[TigerMom]

I wasn't sure where else to post this, but I had to endure the dumbest stereotype-fuelled conversation at the LBS when trying out a new helmet yesterday.

So, I was checking out several helmets for fit when the LBS guy approached me to tell me where the mirror is "so i can check how it looks on me". I said it's okay because I'm far more interested in how it fits. He actually retorted by saying "Nah, you're a girl, it's important to look good! How can you tell if you look good if you won't check it out?". At this point, I just said that I'm not riding to show off on the trails, but it was still not enough for him! Once more he tried to insist that girls only care about the looks, and not the fit before he finally realised I did not need his "assistance".

I did not expect such an infuriating encounter at the LBS. I did manage to find a helmet, but I was quite angry when i left. Easy for me as I can hold my own and don't really need his help, but this is a popular LBS and this is how he "assists" female customers?

I find it hard to believe that the guy had any interaction with girls that exist outside of romantic comedies prior to this point. On a brighter note, I bet he's still wondering what the hell happened there

For myself, I definitely care more about comfort than looks.

However, I cannot completely blame this salesperson's attitude...because the truth of the matter is that a lot of women care more about looks than comfort. Look at how many women wear painful super-high heels. I would have just been straight up with the guy and told him that "I don't care a lot about looks, but I do care a lot about how the helmets fit on me and how comfortable it is".

[ny biker]

For myself, I definitely care more about comfort than looks.

However, I cannot completely blame this salesperson's attitude...because the truth of the matter is that a lot of women care more about looks than comfort. Look at how many women wear painful super-high heels. I would have just been straight up with the guy and told him that "I don't care a lot about looks, but I do care a lot about how the helmets fit on me and how comfortable it is".

You do have a point here. I remember when I lived in NYC, I was amazed at the number of women who wore pumps in the snow.

Still, the sales person was out of line.

[lph]

Ok, I'll admit it.

When asked for advice on climbing helmets I would always say "get the one that makes you look really awesome. They're equally safe. But when you pull out the photos to brag you're going to be wearing it in every single shot, and you don't want to look dorky."

But I did say that to both men and women

[ridebikeme]

I would definitely VOICE your opinion to the shop owner,and like some others, wonder if this was an attempt at flirting as well. Now,that doesn't mean that I condone those actions regardless of how they were intended. But I will say this, we have the upper hand in how we deal with situations like these, and that is to voice your opinion and SPEND your money ELSEWHERE. From a shop owners perspective, the thing that truly gets through is the bottom line... and perhaps the cash register ringing a few less times will have a much larger impact!!

[ny biker]

Ok, I'll admit it.

When asked for advice on climbing helmets I would always say "get the one that makes you look really awesome. They're equally safe. But when you pull out the photos to brag you're going to be wearing it in every single shot, and you don't want to look dorky."

But I did say that to both men and women

I expect to look dorky in pretty much any helmet I wear.

However I do take them into the fitting room when I try them on so I can use the mirror. It's one way to know if the helmet fits well.