Emoto?

[Paul in NZ]

Yup – a few years back one of Dads regulars was a very well known ex all black southland farmer type who came from a VERY established family that were frankly loaded. He however always looked like an angry rhino had just dragged him across a paddock and thrown him through a blackberry bush into his car. His car was generally really late model – VERY expensive and driven flat out everywhere. He called in one day perplexed that his El Camino (dog box fitted ‘beauty’ in the back) had got a puncture and used a pint of oil driving up from Southland at a pace that would make Burt Munro blush. The tyres were darn near new but he insisted that it needed a new set and that Dad needed to fit a new engine (rather than rings in the old one) and that since he didn’t have time to run stuff in 9ie he just couldn’t drive slowly) the ‘boy’ (ie me) should run it it… It ended up with a HUGE engine in it and I had a ball….
Anyway – his girl friend accidentally set fire to an exotic car and he needed a replacement. He asked dad about “one of them new jag’s” Dad said – ‘Oh an XJ6? “Shit no – one of the 12 cylinder bastards…” Dad was a bit worried about the prospect of servicing that so suggest a Benz… Oh – a Kraut car? Any good?? Well grab yer hat n coat and we will go look at one…
So dads in his overalls – hes in his farm clothes and hes slamming doors and kicking tyre on a new SLC (or whatever).. The salesman was APPAULLED until he flopped out his check book and he saw the name and then turned into a quivering toad… Dad was laughing about it for weeks…

[kiwi cowboy]

, although I will say I've purchased vehicles I was previously indifferent towards, after a test ride.]


Been there too,

Looked at the impulse when they came out in the paper and said to my brother they were fuggin ugly.
Saw one in a shop a week later and test rode it on insistence of salesman and bought the next one in the door.(the one I test rode was sold).
Loved that bike in the end and now race a gsxr400 same year, same motor and bullet proof they are too

[300weatherby]

So, your are selling your bike on Tard me, and some random wanders up looking like he doesn't have money or a clue and wants to take the bike for a ride, just to try it and "see if he likes it", your response to this is?

Pete has had a couple of high end bikes badly damaged by what turned out to be total muppets early on when he kicked off importing.

Stopped allowing test rides, changed to pay up front in full, then allow 48hrs for return in same condition it left if you didn't like it. If you don't have the money in the first place and are not serious about that bike, you have no business "test riding" it

Have bought two high end bikes from him, no dramas, and now because we have history, I can test ride one of his bikes just to see if I like it, not necessarily because he expects to sell it to me, it is about trust that you are for real, for every one bike sold, there are hundreds kick the tyres first, some sales people can cope with that, some cannot.

Do you want the phone call some muppet has hit a car in town, and can you go get your bike now?

[jasonu]

Yup – a few years back one of Dads regulars was a very well known ex all black southland farmer type who came from a VERY established family that were frankly loaded. He however always looked like an angry rhino had just dragged him across a paddock and thrown him through a blackberry bush into his car. \…

Grizz Wiley perhaps?

[Murray]

Grizz Wiley perhaps?

Grizz wasnt from Southland, suspect maybe Lester Rutledge

[the oldstuff]

I also swore off Casbolts like many others, for the last 27 years when I was looking to step up from my first bike (RD50). They missed out on ALOT of sales over those years. Eric Wood looked after me well back then...
However, I have returned to Casbolts several times recently and almost had my arm twisted to take a Ducati for a test ride. Very different atmosphere, very helpful - well done.
So I guess things do change so maybe in 20 odd years I'll check out Emoto again. Until then I'll buy my Aprillias out of town.

[pritch]

Well, it must be something you do, or something you give off subconciously... perhaps in your mannerisms, the way you speak, the clothes you wear?

Not at all. There is one local dealership where it is not uncommon to be ignored completely for an extended period. Even when it is reasonably obvious that the people in the shop are experienced motorcyclists and could reasonably be assumed to be holding folding.

In the normally busier one I deal with, the staff seem to greet anyone who enters the shop. That is probably not a coincidence.

Another not to hold a grudge but if I wasn't happy with the local agent I would take the bike to a different dealer in another town to get serviced. Bikes are for riding after all.

[Erelyes]

'Reading' someone is a skill. If the dealer hasn't got that skill... sucks to be them, but why are they in the job, it's pretty important. Would ya get a job as an arborist if you didn't have a head for heights? Note that 'reading' someone includes greeting them and talking to them, as said above you can't judge at face value, but you can judge quickly when engaging with someone.

Remembering people is also a skill. Went to a new coffee place in Wellington in the middle of town once, ordered my shit. Returned three days later and he remembered what I'd had last time. Made a fucking good coffee too and I went back numerous times as a result. Same with a bike shop, if the dealer doesn't remember the guy that bought gloves or a helmet or was at the rally or whatever... they may well miss out on a sale they'd have had otherwi

Re: the chance of muppets writing off the bike they're test riding - my thoughts A) have insurance, B) learners/restricted only get to test ride if they rode there, C) photocopy their licence, D) to all business there is an element of risk, if you can't hack that go be an employee someplace.

[rastuscat]

Grizz wasnt from Southland, suspect maybe Lester Rutledge

More likely Kenny Stewart, from Balfour.

[sharp2183]

Well, it must be something you do, or something you give off subconciously... perhaps in your mannerisms, the way you speak, the clothes you wear?

When I walk into a bike shop, and take an interest in a bike, they ask me if I want to test ride it.

I have another friend who is the same as you, and I won't speak ill of a friend, same result as you. But bikes are delicate, so unlike a car the salesman needs to do a little more to protect the interests of the business. Whether that is right or wrong, that's for you to decide, although I will say I've purchased vehicles I was previously indifferent towards, after a test ride. In contrast, I didn't even bother riding the blade, I just said get me one (actually I was happy with the one on the floor, but they insisted on having one still in a crate sent down, which was a nice touch, cheers Hamptons )

I dunno dude, I had the same experience as the OP with Emoto. I touched a bike and they guy yells out angrily 'are you gonna buy that!?"

That's not on.

[EJK]

I dunno dude, I had the same experience as the OP with Emoto. I touched a bike and they guy yells out angrily 'are you gonna buy that!?"

That's not on.

I believe the bikes on Emoto showroom is just ornaments and room decorations to make the building look "biker-ish". All they really sell is bike gears...

[JimO]

I dunno dude, I had the same experience as the OP with Emoto. I touched a bike and they guy yells out angrily 'are you gonna buy that!?"

That's not on.

did you touch it with your cock??

[Ender EnZed]

I touched a bike and they guy yells out angrily 'are you gonna buy that!?"

That's not how salesmen respond to people they see as customers (for good salesmen customers = everyone). For some reason he genuinely thought that no matter how your time at Emoto went you weren't going to buy a bike there. He must have. Because he almost certainly earns commission on each bike he sells.

Or maybe he's trying to get fired. Or just has enough money that he doesn't worry at all about how he works.

[sharp2183]

did you touch it with your cock??

I said I touched it, I didn't say I broke it.

I agree with the customers=everyone. I go out to give free quotes to those that ask. Imagine what people would think if I answered the phone saying 'you better be paying me.'

[imdying]

I dunno dude, I had the same experience as the OP with Emoto. I touched a bike and they guy yells out angrily 'are you gonna buy that!?"

That's not on.

Just tell him only if he's not going to be a cock about it. There's only room for one alpha.