Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

katkave
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Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby katkave » Tue Sep 08, 2015 2:07 pm

When your a woman, you get to a certain age and become invisable, this I can accept. What I cannot, and refuse to accept is condecending bike shop owners/sales men who assume with obvious indignation that because one is female over fifty and not a retired professional bike rider or interested in taking up A) Road Racing B) Mountain Bike/Trail Bike Riding C) Bike touring. One is not worthy of their time, or expertise to be sized up, correctly fitted out and sold a bicycle suitable for daily use that is able to provide if not all, but most of ones requirements. In Europe many women well into their 80s still ride daily to shop, go to the markets or attend appointments. Sadly this sort of biligerent male attitude maybe why so many older women in Australia dont ride. Needless to say, Im put off and certianly not in a hurry to go into a bike shop and enquire about purchasing a bike in the inpending future.
Last edited by katkave on Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:20 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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biker jk
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby biker jk » Tue Sep 08, 2015 2:16 pm

While I fully understand your perspective, you certainly don't need to be a woman to receive shockingly poor service from a local bike shop.

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Derny Driver
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby Derny Driver » Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:03 pm

Don't let it put you off Kat. I know for a fact that my local bike shop would be very happy to help you. They have a whole ladies bike section section upstairs and female staff as well. If you are close to Wollongong NSW they would love to see you.
Try another shop.

katkave
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby katkave » Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:30 pm

biker jk has a good point! in retrospect it may have been less to do with my being female and more to do with the fact I was not interested in purchasing a high end athlete sport bike. When next in the city my husband and I will try another shop.

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RonK
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Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby RonK » Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:00 pm

biker jk wrote:While I fully understand your perspective, you certainly don't need to be a woman to receive shockingly poor service from a local bike shop.
Amen to that.
However, there are (a few) shops which specialise in the right type of bicycle/riding for you.
Where are you located? Members may be able to point you to more obliging shops.
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brumby33
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby brumby33 » Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:14 pm

I think too katkave is that if going to a bike shop just to have a look at what's available in bike types and such, if the sales bloke can sense that you're not ready to pull out the credit card and do a deal TODAY.....he'll likely try and palm you off and as has been said by bikerjk, you don't have to be a woman to experience that.
Being a middle aged guy who may be overweight (me) and want to look at certain bikes....they may give me some time but they lose interest quick.
Unless you're in a small country town....there are no real shortage of bike shops....NEXT!!

Don't give up on looking for your appropriate bike.....sooner or later you'll find a bike shop you'd be glad to give your business to...sometimes it just takes a while to find the right place.

Cheers

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newie
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby newie » Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:33 pm

Don't let that bad experience put you off. There are plenty of great bike shops out there that treat all ladies and gents with respect, no matter what their budget. Those shops with condescending attitudes eventually go out of business. I can think of one notable example in NW Sydney which closed down. Can you give us a guide to what city/town you are in and I am sure someonecan give a couple of recommendations. If you don't get many responses with this thread (the women's subforum is a bit quiet these days) try asking over in the general buying a bike section.

thecaptn
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby thecaptn » Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:49 pm

Yeah it's not just women that get this treatment, it's one reason why more cyclists are inclined to build, service and repair their own bikes plus they can save a fortune by shopping around for parts. Forums like BNA are a great place to start, there's literally hundreds of lifetimes of experience here, given freely and without consideration to personal gain. My advice, take control, do your own research and if you're not sure ask. You may even be lucky enough to borrow some bikes to try.

katkave
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby katkave » Tue Sep 08, 2015 8:41 pm

Hi, One and All. Thank you to everyone for all your enlightening comments and advice. I live in Country WA, my closest major town is Bunbury. If anyone can recommend a good bike shop, retailer or bike mechanic that is willing to take the time to size and fit out a bike suitable for me down this way it would be greatly appreciated. My budget is around $1,200.

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Thoglette
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby Thoglette » Tue Sep 08, 2015 10:12 pm

katkave wrote: I live in Country WA, my closest major town is Bunbury. If anyone can recommend a good bike shop, retailer or bike mechanic that is willing to take the time
On your budget you should have sales-droids drowning in the own saliva!

More seriously, there's two approaches. But both involve getting up to the "big smoke". First, hunt down shops selling bikes for the rest of us with a good reputation (like Mercers, at least a few years ago) and pony up your readies. Second, bide your time and keep an eye on the sales for the right moment. Reid Cycles were flogging really not bad bikes for sub $250 recently (half rrp - but I have it on good report that they are now out of small ladies bikes but there's some medium and a lot of large around).
Stop handing them the stick! - Dave Moulton
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rusty842
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby rusty842 » Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:23 pm

Kat, interested to see where you are. I grew up in Bunbury.

Variety will be on offer in Perth. One tip go during the week. Take a day off. It's not busy and they have time. Outside of this it's a rush and its hit or miss. I would assume same with Bunbury.

Don't forget local support. Bikes aren't set and forget.

zebee
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby zebee » Wed Sep 09, 2015 6:58 am

My elderly mother had very good service and attention in Bunbury from Fitzroy Cycles on Spencer St. They have a wide variety of bikes. Note that I have no idea of their fitting expertise just that they were polite and helpful and the experience was very positive.

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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby AUbicycles » Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:02 pm

Late to the conversation and sorry to hear of the experience, sadly there are plenty of bike shops out there who don't realise that customers are a vital part of running a retail business - while we don't do the name and shame on this forum, by all means share your experience with others and when you get a good shop, likewise share this around.
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princessbumblebee
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby princessbumblebee » Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:25 pm

I've found it hit and miss with LBSs - ironically I got better service when a new cyclist compared to now when I know more. Maybe because I didn't realise they were talking down to me? Now, I find a lot of bike stores get annoyed when I used technical terminology which has been off-putting.

It may or may not be a gender issue - my partner has been treated very poorly by some shops also. He's definitely been talked down to a few times and treated as if he knows nothing.

In general I've had poor experiences so I shop online where possible and am learning to become more self-reliant (or partner-reliant) with maintenance.

softy
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby softy » Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:33 pm

I have been to so many bike shops,

Poor service being a headliner. I don't think it is exclusive to being a woman with a style of riding, it is everywhere, MTB, roadie, Commuting, etc. It is all type placing. A lot of time bike workers and mechanics talk down to you, even being a man.

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bychosis
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Re: Why? Chauvinist Bike shop

Postby bychosis » Sat Feb 06, 2016 10:57 pm

I think there a lot of cyclists out there that only want the best and think others should have only the best. Undpfrotunately these knowledgable cyclists can be employed in bike shops, employed for their knowledge, not attitude. This seems to be a common trait in specialist retail outlets, and an unfortunate one. A good salesperson will listen to your wants, your budget and guide you to the best solution for you, not the best profit margin for them.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.

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