Service nowadays?!

[Macktheknife]

Gee now I'm confused, I'm not supposed to go straight up to people, if I wait too long they'll leave.

NOW you're getting it Lou! lol

Seriously though, I went into another bike shop, not far from the one mentioned in fact, and got really crappy service followed by insults and abuse when I brought it to the manager/owners attention. That was 9 years ago, I have told everyone I know that is into bikes about that event and neither I nor them have spent any money there. This may sound extreme but I think that the level of dis-service in NZ is often disgusting and those who choose to be rude to customers should reap their own rewards. I go into that shop every 6 months or so just to find out if things have changed, not yet, so I still havent spent a cent there.

[Gremlin]

Gee now I'm confused, I'm not supposed to go straight up to people, if I wait too long they'll leave.

Exactly, what did you think?? I mean you get all the bikes to ride in, it has to be hard somewhere.

Anyway, you know me. Straight to you, making you stop your yarning with your brother or anybody else, stop you talking shit on the forum. Make you deal with my not-so-important problem and yarn with me instead. ME ME ME. (p/t)

And always so helpful...

[Posh Tourer :P]

is there a problem with asking a salesperson for help? I'm quite happy to go up to someone and ask for their help/opinions on xyz, normally after I've browsed whatever is on the shop and have some idea what I want. If I'm in a hurry I'll go and grab someone immediately, particularly if I cant be bothered spending 20mins looking for the product on endless shelves.

Ask for service, and you will get it. It can be hard to tell between serious people and tyre kickers sometimes.

[Dafe]

It seems the shops are flat tack.

I tried to book my SV thou into Wgtn Motorcycles for it's 12,000K service and for it's WOF. Nov 17th is the next available booking they said. Bugger that, two and a half weeks?
I rang Dave Anderson Suzuki in Masterton, I'm riding there tomorrow morning. He's servicing my bike straight away as I wait.
Good stuff Dave Andersons!
I would rather take my bike to Wellington Motorcycles but they're just too popular. Great service deaprtment though.

[tracyprier]

Yeah, like when you go to Asia and have any number of sales people standing right there, staring at you, or pushing things in your face...makes the shopping experience so relaxed and allows a well comtemplated decision...

If that's your thing, you want people fussing over you and hounding you, fine...

But friendly, good service on demand is far more what I go for, rather than some pushy prick jumping me.

I agree, that gets up my tits as well but I wasn't talking about Asia. I am talking about the lacklustre, couldn't-give-a-fuck approach that is all too common here.

And before anyone else jumps down my throat, of course there is good service here too but I think that we still put up with more shitty service than we should.

[Swoop]

Statistically..... If a salesperson makes contact with you early in your visit, even with a simple, "How are you today, let me know if I can help you with anything".... There is a much much higher chance you will actually purchase something.

Having studied a little (and only a little) of the science of retailing I'm constantly amazed how most bike shops stay in business...

Hit the nail right on the head there!
Having been doing the tour around Aucklands bike shops recently "re-equipping", I have been very happy with the service of Red Baron, Cyclespot, Cycle Treads, and Atomic bike wreckers (OK - we all need bits for older bikes... )

There was a couple of retailers who I didn't even get a courtesy "Hi there" as I walked in but then, hey that's gonna happen sometime.

[inlinefour]

if you dont like it then let your feet do the talkin

[SlashWylde]

I tend to prefer being left to browse around until I'm ready to approach a salesperson rather than being leaped upon as soon as I have entered the shop.

I do think however that a lot of businesses in NZ let themselves down simply by not giving a toss about doing business with customers. Over the years I have quite often gone into shops or else been calling suppliers/contractors as part of my job and have been left with the feeling that they are not interested in my or my companies business. I'm actively wanting to buy stuff from them but they could care less. Weird.

As for the experience with test riding the C50, had exactly the same when I was shopping for my new bike a few months ago. One of the shops in Hamilton had a brand spanking Honda Shadow 750 on the floor but it had no fluids and they weren't prepared to wet it up for me. Exactly the same story with a shop on the North shore too. I'm thinkin "OK guys, what use is it having a bike on the showroom floor if no one can test ride it to get excited 'bout it and buy the damn thing?"

Both shops asked for my Ph No. so they could call me when they next had one in, but when they did call about 2 or 3 weeks later I had allready bought the Kwaka VN800 after receiving exemplary service from Mike and the crew at Mt Eden MCs.

Maybe one of you sales guys can give us a good reason why this pattern repeats itself but it just doesn't make sense to me.

[partnersintriumph]

ago we were looking at purchasing 2 new helmets. Went to a few bike shops to compare prices etc. Went to shop where we purchased our newest bike from to see what deal they would give us. Hubbie and I ended up standing there for about 10 mins while two salespeople argued over which helmets (the two most expensive in the shop) would be better for us . This is after they had tried to RAM a helmet on my head that was way too small. Not once were we asked what we wanted. We ended up purchasing from Cyclespot. A lot of the reasoning was the service. It was outstanding. Let us browse for a while then asked us if there was anything in particular we were looking for, what type of helmets we wore etc. The Guys at C.S went out of their way to ensure we had exactly what we were looking for and on top of all that chucked in awesome discount . We will definitely be returning there.

[Lou Girardin]

The demo bike issue is an interesting one. Just because the bike is on the floor doesn't mean it's available for demos. No-one else will buy it as new if it's got 500 km's on it and it's obviously been used. Sometimes dealers simply can't get demo bikes.
A little understanding of the other side helps.

[vifferman]

We ended up purchasing from Cyclespot. A lot of the reasoning was the service. It was outstanding.

Well, you were very, very lucky. I know many Honda riders who have been bitten by the sharks at Cyclespot.

[ManDownUnder]

Why not do both? I'm a firm believer in telling the world if service is crap.

I hear ya - and good on ya... but my approach is to give them a second shot - let's face it they MIGHT have the best deal - and if you don;t go back... you lose out too.

If they're still slack 2nd time up - then yeah... it's not just a chance happening, and I can expect others to have a bad time in there too.

[Paul in NZ]

Now THIS is what I call SERVICE!

Designer creates wall of breasts
A Dutch designer has created a wall of fake breasts to help male shoppers buy bras that fit their wives or girlfriends.

Wendy Rameckers works at the Piet Zwart Institute for Retail and Design in Rotterdam, reports Het Nieuwsblad.

"Most men have a selective memory," she explained. "They know all about their car, but never seem to know their wife's bra size.

"When trying to buy a sexy bra for their wife or girlfriend, usually they point to other women in the shop or, when asked about size, they say a 'handful'."

The wall consists of rows of silicon breasts in all sizes. By look and touch, male shoppers can work out the right size, she says.

[Lou Girardin]

I don't want to see the 'older woman' wall.

[Paul in NZ]

I don't want to see the 'older woman' wall.

Thats OK Lou.. We will blindfold you and you can do it by touch.. 'down a bit, bit more, bit more...'