Female Bikers Walk In A Bike Shop...

[Elke0602]

So last tuesday me and the girlfriend decided to visit some bikeshops.
We did a total of 4 shops.
Shops 1 & 2 didn’t even see us walking in and leaving.

In shop nr 3 I ordered a new mirror for my Kymco, as the guy was one of the few dealers here in Belgium. It was a relativly small shop, with a few different brands all packed together.
After admiring some of the beautifull specimens he had there, we approached the guy who seemed like the shop owner, sitting bored at his desk.
I explained him my problem and he immediatly made me/us feel like “fake bikers”... Couldn’t really put my finger on it. We both had the feeling like we were swooped out of the shop with a broom like some insect.
Little did he know that my girlfriend is currently looking for an upgrade and was genuinly interested in one of his bikes.
The feeling like we didn’t belong there was enhanced by the fact that, when a big bald guy with his blonde girlfriend (obviously bikers) walked in, “desk guy” jumped up like Trump just walked in and started showing him around...
We went back to the car with a confused frown.

Something similar happened in shop nr 4.
This was a much bigger store, only 2 brands selling new and a second hand department. Around 3 times the size of shop nr 3 and 4 times more employees.
This shop seemed a lot more busier. We weren’t the only ones in the store, so we walked around unnoticed. My girlfriend fell in love with one of the new bikes there and considered she had already driven the brand, she decided to get some information.
We lingered around the specific model she wanted, waiting for one of the salesmen (all behind the front office, eather calling, drinking coffee or having a chat with eachother or a customer) to notice us.
She tested it.
I tested it.
She tested it again...
Nothing happens Untill!
In walks the biker with his girlfriend we saw in shop nr 3! Belgium indeed is a small country!
But to our greater surprise, one of the salesmen puts his coffee down, grabs a folder and walks over to them! :s
That’s when my girlfriend spoke the words: “are we not being taken seriously here because we are young, female drivers?”

After being 95% sure she wants that bike but just wants a testdrive to see if it will fit her (she is rather small :3) she walks over to the front desk where biker-guy and co are having a friendly chat.
One of the salesmen looks at us, then hides his face again in his mug...
Our blood started to boil at this point.
We both have jobs where customer service is key. This is the type of service we would NEVER give to a (even potential) customer...

So we wait, even though I wanted to go and talk to one of them, but they all seemed so uninviting... One wrong look and I would have poured his coffee over his head, haha!

Biker-guy leaves without actually buying something and we emediatly grab that salesman by the arm. Turns out he was the shopowner...
“Can we talk to you about buying the *bike*?”
The surprise we saw in his eyes surprised us.
At the end of our long and enjoyable conversation AND testdrive, we told him about our experience in the shops we visited that day.
He admitted that women walking into bikeshops, unless wearing gear and seen arriving on a motorcycle, were rarely worth the effort. “They are mostly looking for attention”...


So, what does this community think about the situations we found ourselves in and about women walking into bikeshopes.
I don’t get it... Everybody walking into my shop, however big, small, age, gender, color underwear,... would be a potential client for me and would be greeted accordingly.
Even a simple “hello!” would have made the whole experience ten times better already.
Thank you for your input and enjoy your weekends! Ride safe!

 

[R-Rated]

What you are describing is what happens sometimes. It is not right and happens on different levels to different people whether the bias is based on sex, skin, or brand/style of bike the person currently rides.

I say the only way to correct the behavior is to contact the regional sales representative for the brand and file a formal complaint.

In the US HD is in the process educating dealers into the mindset of developing new riders. The general manager of one the HD dealers close to me and I have had several philosophic discussions. We both agree that women are essential to growth of the sport. We are still trying to work out tapping into the younger market of riders because some older riders see Millinials as a problem. So you see a bias that must be dealt with.

I would be curious if some of us motovloggers did a bit of social experiment on camera to see if women customers were being treated equal to men. We have the cameras and can react the shops identification.

It would bring the problem out into daylight if there is one.

 

[SighBored]

My guess would be that since you girls went to the shops in a car, hence the staff did not expect you to be bikers, it's not an excuse, but trust me, if you had shown up on your bikes, or in riding gear/attire, they might have taken notice.

It's the shop's own loss if they don't give equal attention to every customer regardless of their age/gender/appearance that walks in.

Over here if a girl walks into a bike shop, she will get attention.. Mostly because the staff are bored having to entertain all the Rossi Wannabes all day and probably wanna get cheeky/flirty with girl customer.. LoL..

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I've been brushed off by sales guys when I wanted to buy a £15k Ducati, I don't think it is always gonna be due to your sex, I think sales folk are just generally dicks lol

 

[lupin]

You do realise men are afraid of women in general. Even more so when they hunt in packs.

I've had it happen before. I took great pride in showing up at that dealership a week later on a brand new bike purchased elsewhere.

 

[scooterwuf]

It sounds like they're bias, but maybe worse, burnt out and jaded. When someone doesn't give a sh-- about their work there's not going to be much effort put into anything else. I've seen it many times myself, and it's happened to me and my wife in everything from a mattress store, to a Kitchen remodeling shop. People ignore you unless they think you're made of money, or really there to buy something.

- Wuf

 

[Lurch]

I'd have thought females in a shop would be the ones more likely to buy. Too many men go dream shopping and want to look at/test pilot bikes the can't afford at a guess.

 

[burlyjack]

Everyone gets brushed off and stereotyped everywhere. I feel like most sales people brush me off because I don't look like I have a lot of money. I told this one salesman he just lost out on a $65k truck sale because of the way he treated me.

Women aren't very popular in the motorcycling scene, at least where I'm at. Women are usually the ones on the back, not the ones riding. It's sad and I try to change that mentality in other people but that's just the way it is.

If you were in my shop, unless I was busy, I'd pay more attention to you since you didn't particularly look like a rider. My mentality would be help educate you and get on a bike in general. Sorry you guys had to go through that.

 

[Lurch]

You wouldn't even need to do that. Doesn't matter if a customer is educated. Saying hello is good manners, followed by an open invitation to feel free to ask you anything when the customer is ready. That way they know they're welcome, and know that they can come and get the information they want.

 

[Elke0602]

My guess would be that since you girls went to the shops in a car, hence the staff did not expect you to be bikers, it's not an excuse, but trust me, if you had shown up on your bikes, or in riding gear/attire, they might have taken notice.

It's the shop's own loss if they don't give equal attention to every customer regardless of their age/gender/appearance that walks in.

Over here if a girl walks into a bike shop, she will get attention.. Mostly because the staff are bored having to entertain all the Rossi Wannabes all day and probably wanna get cheeky/flirty with girl customer.. LoL..

Hahah, we were actually scared that would happen

 

[Elke0602]

You do realise men are afraid of women in general. Even more so when they hunt in packs.

I've had it happen before. I took great pride in showing up at that dealership a week later on a brand new bike purchased elsewhere.

That's exactly what we're gonna do The shop where I ordered my mirror failed to call me when it arrived (I'm sure it's laying on his desk somewhere ) so when the girlfriend gets her new bike we're gonna pick the mirror up and film the whole thing

 

[Elke0602]

It sounds like they're bias, but maybe worse, burnt out and jaded. When someone doesn't give a sh-- about their work there's not going to be much effort put into anything else. I've seen it many times myself, and it's happened to me and my wife in everything from a mattress store, to a Kitchen remodeling shop. People ignore you unless they think you're made of money, or really there to buy something.

- Wuf

I think it's really sad to do your job/live your life like this The general "I-don't-give-a-foop-ness" in this country is trough the roof... And it's starting to affect me up to the point of really thinking about leaving Belgium.
I wouldn't know where else to go tho, I haven't travelled a lot yet.

 

[Elke0602]

Yeah, I'm surprised too and think like Lurch.
Maybe things are different in that part of town...
You can't get too upset about it since it must be difficult for them to show high enthusiasm all the time especially when they get many non serious browsers.

Just be glad that you could surprise them

I changed workplace (not the actual job, just the building and city where I work) 6 weeks ago. It's the slowest shop I've ever seen and it's driving me crazy. The few people that actually walk in just pass by the window of my department and very rarely buy anything. BUT (!) I always say "hello", "goodafternoon" or "goodevening". A lot of times they answer me they're just looking, not buying. And then I answer I'm just saying hello, cuz I have nothing to do all day and just looking to have a conversation.
I'm not a super social person, I would call myself an introvert. But 9 hours a day with just my co-worker to talk to...
No thank you!
But at least it starts a connection, and they will leave my shop with a positive feeling.
That's what people forget in sales...

 

[Elke0602]

Wow, I'm very glad to have so much feedback on this! I'm happy to see a lot of you don't think this is normal.

A few days after this post we went back to order the bike. This time there were 3 of us and we came with our bikes.
100% attention as soon as we walked in. We spent almost 2 hours in the shop, of which 1 hour talking to the shopowner.
This time, we felt welcome and accepted. I'm actually thinking to buy my next bike in the same shop, but first I have to get that lisence out of the way, haha!

 

[SighBored]

... This time there were 3 of us and we came with our bikes.
100% attention as soon as we walked in. ...

Told ya!

 

[Lurch]

Wow, I'm very glad to have so much feedback on this! I'm happy to see a lot of you don't think this is normal.

It's not whether it's normal or unusual, it just shouldn't happen. Customers are customers, be they boys or girls.

 

[WheelyPerd]

Wow, I'm very glad to have so much feedback on this! I'm happy to see a lot of you don't think this is normal.

It shouldnt be the norm. We have a similar issue here, where shops heavily judge you on your appearance.
Reason I didnt buy a Triumph, local dealership wasnt interested in my money. Salesman just looked at what I was wearing and went back to Facebook, not even a "hi".

 

[Superballs]

What you are describing is what happens sometimes. It is not right and happens on different levels to different people whether the bias is based on sex, skin, or brand/style of bike the person currently rides.

I say the only way to correct the behavior is to contact the regional sales representative for the brand and file a formal complaint.

In the US HD is in the process educating dealers into the mindset of developing new riders. The general manager of one the HD dealers close to me and I have had several philosophic discussions. We both agree that women are essential to growth of the sport. We are still trying to work out tapping into the younger market of riders because some older riders see Millinials as a problem. So you see a bias that must be dealt with.

I would be curious if some of us motovloggers did a bit of social experiment on camera to see if women customers were being treated equal to men. We have the cameras and can react the shops identification.

It would bring the problem out into daylight if there is one.

I think HD really needs to smarten up in where their target demographic is. I'm hoping their bid on Ducati is a move to do so and I hope they don't destroy the brand and mishandle it like they did with Buell.

The thing is, the 70s biker style is in decline and Millenials are starting to turn 40. Our economy is also drastically different.

Personally, I think drawing generational boundaries is very reductive thinking. One area that HD seems to be having difficulty coping is in the fact that people are starting to wise up when it comes to brands, and a lot more people just don't care about brand x vs brand y. We want what works for us. Harley Davidson Motorcycles is a brand that at times has had to survive on it's branding. I mean people who have never been on a motorcycle can be seen wearing their logo. There are Harley Davidson trim Ford F150s (and I think the Dodge Ram had one too).

We've entered into a time where we are spoiled for choice with motorcycles. We have the Grom, we have the CBR and Ninja 300. The KTM RC390, we have an entire line of Harley Davidson Cruisers and Tourers, we have naked bikes we have adventure bikes we have supersport race replicas, we have sport tourers. Harley has unfortunately found themselves pigeon-holed.

The Street 500 and Street 750s are nice steps in the right direction. They are modernizing, but they are going to have to start embracing the fact that some people want a "crotch rocket" *shudder* (pet peeve term) and some people want something in between and they are missing out on an ENORMOUS segment of buyers in the small displacement market.

Unfortunately, the average household just doesn't have the disposable income all the time to spend 20-30,000$ on a vehicle period, let alone a motorcycle. It's not just Harley that is affected by this either, it's not like you see GoldWings, or Valkyries all over the place either, or big Indians, or even new Hayabusa's, people are gravitating toward the less expensive bikes more often now.

Anyway, now that I've fully deviated from the topic, let me take the long walk back to it.

Ok, I've caught my breath, didn't realize there were stairs.

All of those store owners lost potentially large sales, simply because they didn't treat a potential customer like they were a potential customer. It's a shame. Really I love seeing women riding, and after we have our child, my wife and I are likely going to work on getting her her M license as well so we can ride together, or ride together. I really don't know what to say though, it's shameful for any business owner to just ignore anyone who comes into their store. I'm sure most of the people who walk in, simply walk out without buying anything, people like to look around, to simply say that women are usually just looking for attention...well...even if that were true, just give them the damn attention...if they ever decide to get on a bike, they will remember how awesome you were.

 

[mcpro]

I've been brushed off by sales guys when I wanted to buy a £15k Ducati, I don't think it is always gonna be due to your sex, I think sales folk are just generally dicks lol

I used to be sales, I was awesome though i just loved to talk to everyone hehe

 

[Hippo-Drones]

hahahaha.... I had heard that you were the exception to the rule! ;-)