Bike shop cruising today...

**ynot slow** · 27th May 2007, 16:56

agree with all said here,i went to anza in palmy for great service,i needed pants,jacket,helmet,gloves they took time to tell me about the gear,whether it would be totally waterproof,cleaning etc,normally i deal locally but as we were in palmy for dirty weekend hehe,i called in just to see what was available,walked out $700 lighter but satisfied.same when i upgraded tyres,never bought any for bike so totally foreign territory,once i settled on brands,checked out several outlets in the naki and aside from one guy who still has to email me prices shopped locally.
at present we are looking to buy a car after ours was totalled,should see the prize dicks when my wife asks them about engine specs and running gear,she is more than capable of doing maintenance,i.e brake pads replaced,bleeding them when she thinks new fluid needed.we have about $6000 or so to spend so will be fun,i.e dirty clothes along with our rough painted celica which goes well,if dealers not interested then we come back next day minus car and better clothed,then tell them sod off.funny thing is my main part of job for 20 years is measuring and installing blinds etc,guys are the exact opposite as in they have no knowledge of whats needed sometime(unless they're gay),and girls informed to heck,but i still don't talk down to the guys,i don't like it when happens to me so i don't do it to others.especially when wife let out of kitchen and clothed to buy a new stove and fridge.memo to self watch back from angry ladies.

**klingon** · 27th May 2007, 21:45

Originally Posted by insane1

what shops did you go to and what bikes were you looking .at have a look at motohaus fella named kerry top bloke and good bikes just by motomail outlet store kingsland.

Funny you should mention Kerry. I was just talking about him this morning because when I went looking for parts yesterday he talked directly to me, and not to the blokes who happened to be there with me. I was impressed, because in my experience that's not how it normally goes.

There's a definite pecking order. When I'm with my brother, sales people of every kind ignore him and talk to me. My Bro is an amazingly intelligent guy who restores classic cars in his spare time and is in a wheelchair. Somehow people only see the wheelchair and either talk to me because I happen to be there, or if they do talk to Bro they shout at him as if he's a bit deaf!

I also went shopping once with a Somali friend (male) and found the same thing - people talked to me.
"Would he like this one or that one?"
"I don't know. Why don't you ask him yourself?!"

Pecking order:
Able bodied white males
Able bodied white females
Disabled white males/ able bodied African males

I guess a disabled African female might as well never bother leaving the house!

**insane1** · 28th May 2007, 02:08

there is another store worth a visit it"s a new honda shop in new lynn the guy there seems to know what he"s talking bout was going to let me borrow brand new vfr800 for a couple of hours very much worth a look tell him bout kb if you do visit,

**Swoop** · 28th May 2007, 09:22

Originally Posted by Miss.L

Then I went to Spectrum Motorcycles in Takapuna, Grant is awsome. Needless to say hes now got my loyalty and my guy was so impressed that when hes ready to get a bike hes gonna be dealing with Grant too.

Bloody impressive service at Spectrum! Folks who will give you some damn good information and provide excellent work/service!

Originally Posted by insane1

there is another store worth a visit it"s a new honda shop in new lynn ... was going to let me borrow brand new vfr800...

Wild West Honda.
Drooled over that VFR myself, before getting the current ride.

**slinky** · 28th May 2007, 09:28

Originally Posted by LilSel

Meh!!...
Went to look at some bikes today with a couple of mates, asked a few ?'s about a couple of bikes that were there... The guy that worked there talked down to me and pretty much insinuated that because im a female I wouldnt be able to ride a bike such as the one I was checking out... kept talking about 'learner bikes'... I had already said that I was looking at bikes for when I move to my full licence and upgrade... I dont think he got that bit!!...
One of the guys I was there with, doesn't own a bike or have a licence... however the guy at the bike shop didnt try show him any 'learner bikes'...

Totally sexist!

I told my mum when I got home this afternoon and she said that its not uncommon... when she was looking to buy dad a new ute... she had the same issues... she stated that she wanted a 'late model XR8 ute that wasnt brand new but still under warranty with a canopy'... most of the car dealers were pricks because she's a woman & was looking for a fairly costly 'ute'... she ended up getting dad a mint silver XR8 Boss from one of the nice guys... the others lost out on the sale just for being rude and undermining to a woman.

I just felt like sharing my story cuz it kinda pissed me off... I wont be going there when I get my full and have cash in hand!!

Im a guy in my sub 20's had a similar experience.
was out with mates, and wanted to show them what i was saving for.
so having a look at the new 600's and the guy rocks up and tries to introduce me to their range of 250's......... err, "but mate, i have a fireblade"

**terbang** · 28th May 2007, 09:54

I'm a bit of a country bumkin at heart, live on lifestyle blocks and I guess I do dress appropriately from time to time. A few Years back I was in the market for a new bike and did the tour of the CHC shops. I knew what I wanted as I had done all the research. I had just sold one of my Cessnas so I had more than enough cash in my pocket. The laconic and disinterested reactions I got from flashey salesmen to my enquireys showed that they were sellers of poor quality and worth. I had been judged on my my jeans (not moleskins), swandri and boots. A gentleman from European motorcycles called Robin, took me for what I was, a prospective buyer and I rode out on a brand new bike that afternoon.

**LilSel** · 28th May 2007, 10:22

Wow... quite a few replies... I guess its a somewhat common thing...

Im glad there is a few nice guys out there tho...

What kinda urked me most is that I see them here on KB (n they are nice)... and I was in good spirits heading in there... then had that experience??...
Maybe I should have introduced myself as LilSel from kb LOL!!!! might've got better treatment lol!

**peasea** · 28th May 2007, 17:51

Originally Posted by LilSel

Meh!!...
Went to look at some bikes today with a couple of mates, asked a few ?'s about a couple of bikes that were there... The guy that worked there talked down to me and pretty much insinuated that because im a female I wouldnt be able to ride a bike such as the one I was checking out... kept talking about 'learner bikes'... I had already said that I was looking at bikes for when I move to my full licence and upgrade... I dont think he got that bit!!...
One of the guys I was there with, doesn't own a bike or have a licence... however the guy at the bike shop didnt try show him any 'learner bikes'...

Totally sexist!

I told my mum when I got home this afternoon and she said that its not uncommon... when she was looking to buy dad a new ute... she had the same issues... she stated that she wanted a 'late model XR8 ute that wasnt brand new but still under warranty with a canopy'... most of the car dealers were pricks because she's a woman & was looking for a fairly costly 'ute'... she ended up getting dad a mint silver XR8 Boss from one of the nice guys... the others lost out on the sale just for being rude and undermining to a woman.

I just felt like sharing my story cuz it kinda pissed me off... I wont be going there when I get my full and have cash in hand!!

Name the bastards!!!

Any shop that treats any customer differently to the last (male, female or otherwise) deserves a lambasting. (See other thread re; 'words you don't often hear' etc etc).

My lady took her Sporty into AMPS for a tyre to get a WOF, they told her the rear pads were in need of replacement. She told them her man (that's me) would look into it. The pads are still in there nearly THREE YEARS later! There was plenty of meat on them then and they are only now looking like being in need of replacement. They obviously thought "here's a dumb broad, we'll lighten her purse some" but it didn't work.

We now only buy parts from them when nobody else has them and/or we're in a hurry.

Look, word of mouth advertising is the best/worst advertising. If you get a good deal or good service, tell others. On the flip side, if what you get is b/s; tell others.

What were you thinking of buying? If there's a dealer near you that has what you are after and has good rep I'll let you know.

**98tls** · 28th May 2007, 18:05

Got to agree with peasea...........name em...........you would think that bike shops would do better by know..........i sold cars for a Toyota dealer years ago........one of the many things i learnt about dealing with the public is never judge a book by its cover.........corny but so true.........

**peasea** · 28th May 2007, 18:36

Originally Posted by 98tls

Got to agree with peasea...........name em...........you would think that bike shops would do better by know..........i sold cars for a Toyota dealer years ago........one of the many things i learnt about dealing with the public is never judge a book by its cover.........corny but so true.........

Cheers.
I have a mate who's worth truckloads and he's a jeans and T-shirt kinda guy. He gets service, he buys. He gets sideways looks in the new car showrooms, he leaves.

We tried it a while back; went to Giltraps on the North Shore, both of us dressed in jeans and T-shirts, got great treatment, bought a car.

It ain't rocket science.

**Edbear** · 28th May 2007, 19:22

Originally Posted by peasea

It ain't rocket science.

To some it might as well be...

Sales training courses are only useful in a limited fashion. Successful salespersons are genuinely interested in people and their stories. You can try to fake it but not many customers are fooled.

Commission-only sales put a lot of pressure on salespersons and they usually have pretty tough sales targets to meet as well. I think I have the best compromise of retainer/commission and my company is very supportive.

I looked at vehicle sales jobs, admittedly selling cars not bikes, but turned them down as it seemed that the mighty dollar was King above all and it was obviously going to be a high pressure job. Maybe bike shops are more relaxed but it's good to hear of genuinely helpful sales staff. Most of the bike shops I've been into, admittedly as a middle-age white male, I found the staff keen bikers and interested in my comments.

Seems my first impressions of Spectrum were correct! Pleased they looked after you Miss.L. I have no hesitation in recomending Matthew at Bikesport in Helensville where I bought my bike, as well as Kaiwaka Suzuki - Kelvin and his wife are nice people!

**peasea** · 28th May 2007, 20:41

Originally Posted by Edbear

To some it might as well be...

Sales training courses are only useful in a limited fashion. Successful salespersons are genuinely interested in people and their stories. You can try to fake it but not many customers are fooled.

Commission-only sales put a lot of pressure on salespersons and they usually have pretty tough sales targets to meet as well. I think I have the best compromise of retainer/commission and my company is very supportive.

I looked at vehicle sales jobs, admittedly selling cars not bikes, but turned them down as it seemed that the mighty dollar was King above all and it was obviously going to be a high pressure job. Maybe bike shops are more relaxed but it's good to hear of genuinely helpful sales staff. Most of the bike shops I've been into, admittedly as a middle-age white male, I found the staff keen bikers and interested in my comments.

Seems my first impressions of Spectrum were correct! Pleased they looked after you Miss.L. I have no hesitation in recomending Matthew at Bikesport in Helensville where I bought my bike, as well as Kaiwaka Suzuki - Kelvin and his wife are nice people!

Course or no course, look after the punter.

I worked my own mechanical shop for nine years from '89, in 98 I went freelance journo. If I produce shite it doesn't go to print, I don't get paid. It's NOT rocket science. Produce the goods, satisfy the customer, get referrals etc.

I think a good/bad bike shop reference site is a great thing; sure we all have 'bad hair' days and if you strike the wrong person on the wrong day the the shop will have hard time rebounding, but they NEED to know. The best way to do that is name them, name the problem and maybe they'll sort it. If they don't, and more posts arrive regarding the same shop, then fuck em.

I advertised once in nine years, the rest was WOM. I paid all my bills, reduced my mortgage by 75%, brought up two girls, fed a bike and a V8, partied and had regular holidays during that time. I didn't get rich but I had a good time through hard work and LOOKING AFTER THE PUNTERS!

And I've never been on a course other than the course of life. The bottom line is getting to know your customers, taking care of their needs and never getting above your station in life. Some 'big time' bike shop owners seem to have forgotten that.