To all bike shops...

[SpankMe]

Yup... Red Baron was a nightmare for this, I once went in there to look at a bike, after looking and walking around and not even getting a look from the staff I went up to them and asked if someone could help me, his responce was as if he was talking to a child "and what colour bike would you like hmm?"

[Hitcher]

If any bike shops are genuinely interested in getting sales, perhaps you would be so kind as to get off your butts and come and talk to me when I've made the effort to come in.

Women aren't the only people ignored by "sales" staff in bike shops, RR. I have on several occasions been stultifyingly ignored when I have been most interested in bikes -- and even procuring accessories. Sometimes I have given such shops the benefit of the doubt. Where I have been disappointed a second time by sub-optimal customer engagement, I don't go back. Such is the case with Marie Celeste Motorcycles Ltd in Lower Hutt, as one such example.

Some advice: Try exclaiming loudly "Is there any danger of anybody here selling me something?" and see what happens. Failing that, just wheel out the door anything that takes your fancy and hot-wire it at your leisure. I reckon some shops wouldn't even notice anything had gone until end-of-year stocktaking. Maybe.

[Pogo2]

Great replies everyone!!

Hey you have to give RB's some credit - their consistant with their poor service right accross the board with everyone!

[Big Dog]

Some advice: Try exclaiming loudly "Is there any danger of anybody here selling me something?" and see what happens. Failing that, just wheel out the door anything that takes your fancy and hot-wire it at your leisure. I reckon some shops wouldn't even notice anything had gone until end-of-year stocktaking. Maybe.

Hotwire? why when they were busy a nameless mout eden store handed me the keys to a bike I had shown interest in and told me they would be more able to help when I came back!
Had they taken me this seriously while they had live customers I would not have cared, gone for the demo and maybe bought.

But they were looking up parts to order with a sales rep.

if that is the snap to on a purchase what was the service going to be like if there was a problem?

I left the keys where they sat, and bought a better bike same day.

they are lucky I'm honest.

[Big Dog]

Great replies everyone!!

Hey you have to give RB's some credit - their consistant with their poor service right accross the board with everyone!

Not everyone.

I always get good service, and some hefty discounts.
They reward repeat business.

[c4.]

Hey RR,
I've recently had a whole lot to do with Haldanes Mt Eden rd.
Now I know some on this site have had issues with them, however, I have to say that they treated me pretty damn good compared to the other shops I've had dealings with.
My Duc was outa action for 5 weeks whilst waiting for a new ECU.
They let me take home bike after bike, put miles on them, and sign nothing.
If you are looking for a new 600, I'd definitely suggest you test a GSR 600.
I really wanted to hate it when they let me take it, I nearly didn't give it back. I envy you going shopping with the bucks in place. Try them all.

[Brian d marge]

Everytime I have gone into a NZ bike shop ..Ive always felt I know shit ... I sort of leave thinking to myself ....Hang on a min this is what I do for a living ..how is it I feel like a N00B

One place I felt at home was, pitlane in Chch and Twin city in Napier , the boss fella there seems nice ...

Also Scott 411 was straight up with the purchase of an older cr .. Can recommed them

Now days I just go in and get what I want ,,( most likely I will order over the internet , easier and cheaper )

As for buying a new Bike ...I have my Enfield and 1 spare engine ..... I wont be trading in for some time to come

Stephen

[SARGE]

so ok.. what cheeses you off more ?.. lack of attention when you go in to browse .. lack of after sales service..what does it for you?


on the other side.. what make a stellar service?.. do you expect a few minutes to look around or do you enjoy the Piranha Effect as soon as you walk in?

i walked into a major electronics retailer recently and was jumped by 3 drones within 5 minutes.. even though each one saw me tell the last one i was just looking ..

too much is as bad as too little .. where do YOU draw the line?..

i personally tried to at least acknowledge each customer when i first noticed them.. (Maori wave)


i got a 'just looking ' and i told them to give me a holler if they needed any info and went back to hem when i saw them hovering around a particular bike ..

no presure.. no hard sell.. and i still managed to sel a few and gain some repeat business..


i was asked the other day in a PM how many kb'rs i sold bikes to and how many were happy with the service ...


i lost count to be honest

[onearmedbandit]

Every customer is different. But every customer should be at least acknowledged when they enter the store, and that's more than just eye contact. At the least it can be a 'wave' of sorts if you're busy, but generally a welcome to the store and a leading question that doesn't require a yes/no answer. Then it is up to the salesperson to work out if this person needs space, selling to, advice etc.

[Wellyman]

Thank God is wasn't Dovered!

Just as well it wasnt skidmarked .
WM

[Forest]

I once bought a bike from a dealership who shall remain nameless.

The salesmen didn't even bother to get up and introduce themselves (useless bastards!). So I chose the bike I wanted, went up to the spare parts guy (who had been friendly to me in the past) and told him that I wanted to buy the bike.

Of course the spares guy didn't know how to fill out the paperwork so he grabbed a manager. I insisted that the spares guy got the sales commission because after all - he was the one that had just sold me the bike!!

[Riff Raff]

i personally tried to at least acknowledge each customer when i first noticed them.. (Maori wave)

i got a 'just looking ' and i told them to give me a holler if they needed any info and went back to hem when i saw them hovering around a particular bike ..

That's exactly what I'd like to see more of. I don't mind being approached when I walk in the store - they just need to ask if I want to browse or if there's something specific they can help me with. If I don't want their help just yet I'll let them know - but when I'm ready for help I know who to go to.

Seems the sales people aren't too accessible in a few bike shops - they're hidden away in an office instead of being on the shop floor doing their jobs.

[Mom]

Yup... "and what colour bike would you like hmm?" - huh... wtf... I said in my most sheepish voice "a red one please" -

Joni.....this is what I had to say when it happened to me......"a nice shiney red one please"

man the arrogance of some folks has to seen/read to be believed........this happened in a shop I used to own too.....LOL....sigh......have to say the service improved once his wife recognised me......

[Jantar]

Its not just young females who get treated like noobs in a bike shop. It even happened to me quite recently.

A new sales manager at a bike shop where I am well known lost a $17K sale even when I had the bike and accessories pre ordered. He treated me like a brand new rider who knew nothing about bikes, yet the shop's owner and I used to race against each other some 30 years ago, and the sales manager hardly rides at all.

I bought my new Strom from another dealer 240 kms away and was treated as the experienced owner that I believe I am. The sales manager of that shop is the owner's son, and the owner of that shop also used to race in the same events 30 years ago. Even though I hadn't bought a bike from the second shop since they changed from Suzuki to Honda in 1974, and only recently changed back to Suzuki, I was treated like a long time loyal customer. I'll keep on dealing from both shops, but next time I want a new bike, it'll probably be a 240 km ride when I start looking.

[onearmedbandit]

Jantar, just out of couriosity, if you were good friends with the owner of the first shop why didn't you alert him to the way you felt you were treated. He would've appreciated the feedback, taken care of the sale himself, and may have even sweetened the deal. Unless he doesn't care about his business.