Getting What You Want In A "Man's World"...

[Annie]

I have wanted a motorcycle for as long as I can remember. Back in the 90’s I had one picked out…. It was an 883 Hugger that was built a bit lower to the ground…. just my size! I went into the dealer ready to buy one, but in the days that followed, I found out that I needed a divorce more than that Harley.

I remember walking into the dealer with a friend of mine. We had three salesmen greet us at the door, ready and willing to answer any questions, explaining the finer points of the bike, that were geared towards the new breed of women riders. I left feeling really good about that dealer and that beautiful bike. I never stopped wanting that bike… I knew some day I would have it!

That “someday” is coming soon, I’ve been looking. I needed a new jean jacket and saw one online at a Harley dealer, so I went in the other day to see if they had it in my size, but I also wanted financing information and to have a look around. When I walked in the door I walked right past several salesmen, while they were chatting in the very back of the showroom. Not one of them said hello. Not one of them acknowledged me in any way. Then, I wasn't sure where I should pay for the jean jacket I picked out, so I was standing by the parts counter. One of them walked up, looked over at me and said, "you have to pay for that over there" and he pointed to the sign and walked away.

I’m still trying to figure out what happened. I’ve always been a bit of tom-boy. I was in the Army Reserves, I was a mechanic, I was the only female in my auto shop class back in the mid 70’s. I always been a woman making her way in a “man’s world” and I‘ve always had confidence to stand up for myself in situations that arise from that.

I don’t want to say the “d” word, but when I walked in that door to that dealer I never felt so out of place…. (Vic told me to just go back in there with a $100.00 bill taped to my forehead….)

Has anything like this ever happened to you? What was your reaction?

[Shiane]

I’m still trying to figure out what happened. I’ve always been a bit of tom-boy. I was in the Army Reserves, I was a mechanic, I was the only female in my auto shop class back in the mid 70’s. I always been a woman making her way in a “man’s world” and I‘ve always had confidence to stand up for myself in situations that arise from that.

I don’t want to say the “d” word, but when I walked in that door to that dealer I never felt so out of place…. (Vic told me to just go back in there with a $100.00 bill taped to my forehead….)

Has anything like this ever happened to you? What was your reaction?



Sighs.... Annie I'm probably the worst person in the world to give you advice because I don't tolerate being a second class citizen. I recently went to a John Deere dealership to pick up a part for my dad. I too am quite mechanically inclined, I am not some frilly little girl afraid of breaking a finger nail, I can get just as crude and dirty as any man. My dad had a question about if he needed the an additional part. So I asked the sales guy the question my dad had. Instead of answering me, the dickhead made the mistake of saying well hunnie this "thingy" is quite complicated, why don't you have your dad give me a call.

I said well hunnie, first of all my name isn't hunnie and I didn't ask for a condescending, egotistical prick like you to give me the whole you're a woman and you wouldn't understand it crock of shit! I asked you a simple question and I expect you to give me an answer and if you have a problem with that you can go get your manager.

As for the dealership, well I would march right in there look around a bit and see just how long it takes one of them to ask if you need any help. After 10 minutes I would walk up to the counter and ask to see the manager. I would let him know exactly how you were treated the first time, and how long you have been waiting this time. Ask him if that is how he does business because there are plenty of other businesses around that would love to do business with you. Say I came here looking to buy a bike and either you want to sale one or you don't. I would suggest that you make it VERY clear to your salesmen that EVERY single person, man or woman who walks through this door is a potential client and to get off of their egotistical asses and get to work.

Or go somewhere else and buy it and bring the bike by and ask to see the manager and the salesmen and say, see you just lost a sale because your salesmen saw a woman, not a potential client. Turn to the salesmen and say you guys work on commission right..... big mistake, hugeeeeeeee! I have to go shopping now lol (gotta love Julia Robert's in Pretty Woman!);)

[Pebbles]

Or go somewhere else and buy it and bring the bike by and ask to see the manager and the salesmen and say, see you just lost a sale because your salesmen saw a woman, not a potential client. Turn to the salesmen and say you guys work on commission right..... big mistake, hugeeeeeeee! I have to go shopping now lol (gotta love Julia Robert's in Pretty Woman!);)

Think that is a good idea!! I would make a BIG DEAL OF IT!!

Be a Erin Brockovich!! (another one of Julia Roberts movies).

[Shiane]

Think that is a good idea!! I would make a BIG DEAL OF IT!!

Be a Erin Brockovich!! (another one of Julia Roberts movies).

LOL :55

The world has changed, and women have become very successful. We are not men, but we do deserve the same respect, we've earned it!

[Annie]

Or go somewhere else and buy it and bring the bike by and ask to see the manager and the salesmen and say, see you just lost a sale because your salesmen saw a woman, not a potential client. Turn to the salesmen and say you guys work on commission right..... big mistake, hugeeeeeeee! I have to go shopping now lol (gotta love Julia Robert's in Pretty Woman!);)
I like this answer! I found a dealership right near St Louis that's owned by a woman, it's 5 hours away, but might be worth a few phone calls and a trip....

[Annie]

LOL :55

The world has changed, and women have become very successful. We are not men, but we do deserve the same respect, we've earned it!Well Amen for that!!!


(no pun intended)

[dartgirl]

I work at a auto repair shop. It really pisses me off all the women who come in here for a second opinion because the shop down the street saw a women and immediately saw a sucker. The other shops will tell them that they need a whole list of repairs and the car wouldn't be safe to drive without them.

A friend of mine went car shopping and the salesman told her to have her husband come in and they would discuss terms. She let him know that she was the one buying the car and not her husband and ended up buying the car at a different dealership.

Men need to wise up and realise things have changed. Women are making more money and are not afraid to buy things and make decisions without a man being there.

[Annie]

Men need to wise up and realise things have changed. Women are making more money and are not afraid to buy things and make decisions without a man being there.What kills me is that the 883H and the newer model 883L were designed with women in mind. They're small, they sit lower to the ground and they're easier to handle. Too bad the dealers didn't get the memo.

[WandaRing]

:spbx: We may be in the 21st century but some guy’s still see women as nothing more then frail, brainless dames and a walking baby carriage.

It may be true that I don’t have a lot of knowledge of how a car works or how to repair motors. I may not be stronger then you and I may not be as fast as you are, I do however have brains cells…and they really do work and I do use them.

I am so tired of being treated like an idiot by (some) men, I do and will say something to them…

Standing in line at McDonalds the other day, a guy walked in front of the line. I was pissed because it was already a long wait and I wasn’t going to let him just cut in.

So of course I let him know where the line started. I heard loud laughter from a man behind me, so I turned to him, he was a very, very big twenty something, before I said anything he said “Got to love these little women in Vancouver, they take on the world and make it fair for all of us. I was going to say something to him but I think it sounded better from you…way to go!”

just know guys, that one day when you’re old and wrinkly and need care…it will be a young female nurse giving you your sponge bath….and for those few chauvinist pigs, …I hope its ice cold water and the room is freezing….then you can show the wee man you really are….:na

“We Are Women, Hear Us Roar, In Numbers to Large To Ignore!”

[spare_change]

Ok --- time to start a firestorm ---

Shiane -- you don't deserve respect -- you earn respect. You earn it in the way you carry yourself, in the way you talk to people, in the way you react to things.

Most men demand respect. Salesmen know that if we don't get service, we will leave, we will bitch, or we will complain - loudly. Women need to demand respect, as well -- the answer isn't to complain here (we all agree with you). The answer, Annie, is to complain there -- loudly. You were frustrated, but you didn't let them know you were frustrated. Stand up and be a man! (Ok -- I had to say that, but you know what I mean!)

The answer isn't to go 5 hours away, where you can be coddled BECAUSE you're a woman. The answer is to demand respect and service BECAUSE you're a customer. You don't have to deal with those assholes -- they've made their own bed. But, you damn sure owe it to the next woman who walks in there to make sure they know what they've lost, and will continue to lose if they don't straighten up.

Nobody gets respect just because they're breathing - you demand it, you expect it, and you earn it.

[Annie]

Most men demand respect. Salesmen know that if we don't get service, we will leave, we will bitch, or we will complain - loudly. Women need to demand respect, as well -- the answer isn't to complain here (we all agree with you). The answer, Annie, is to complain there -- loudly. You were frustrated, but you didn't let them know you were frustrated. Stand up and be a man! (Ok -- I had to say that, but you know what I mean!)

The answer isn't to go 5 hours away, where you can be coddled BECAUSE you're a woman. The answer is to demand respect and service BECAUSE you're a customer. You don't have to deal with those assholes -- they've made their own bed. But, you damn sure owe it to the next woman who walks in there to make sure they know what they've lost, and will continue to lose if they don't straighten up.

Nobody gets respect just because they're breathing - you demand it, you expect it, and you earn it.
You're right, I should have complained there. I let them disregard me and later I was kicking myself for letting them piss me off.

I e-mailed the dealer sales department the following:

To all those hot sales guys you have working there....

I came in on Friday afternoon. I walked right past all of you, while you were chatting. Not one of you said hello. Not one of you acknowledged me in any way. Then, I wasn't sure where I should pay for the jean jacket I picked out, so I was standing by the parts counter. One of you walked up, looked over at me and said, "you have to pay for that over there" and he pointed to the sign and walked away.

I remember when I went I went in to another dealership to look at a brand new Hugger back in the early 90's. There weren't very many women riders back then, but when I walked in the door I had three salesmen walk up to me and at least show me a little respect. Maybe because I was hotter back then, but you know what? I had a little less money to spend then. Today I can afford to buy that little 883 that I always dreamed of, but damn it, I sure don't want to give YOU the respect that you denied me.

Regards,

Annie

[spare_change]

You're right, I should have complained there. I let them disregard me and later I was kicking myself for letting them piss me off.

I e-mailed the dealer sales department the following:

To all those hot sales guys you have working there....

I came in on Friday afternoon. I walked right past all of you, while you were chatting. Not one of you said hello. Not one of you acknowledged me in any way. Then, I wasn't sure where I should pay for the jean jacket I picked out, so I was standing by the parts counter. One of you walked up, looked over at me and said, "you have to pay for that over there" and he pointed to the sign and walked away.

I remember when I went I went in to another dealership to look at a brand new Hugger back in the early 90's. There weren't very many women riders back then, but when I walked in the door I had three salesmen walk up to me and at least show me a little respect. Maybe because I was hotter back then, but you know what? I had a little less money to spend then. Today I can afford to buy that little 883 that I always dreamed of, but damn it, I sure don't want to give YOU the respect that you denied me.

Regards,

Annie


In the words of my dear, sainted grandmother .. OUT-fucking-STANDING!

You can bet your letter will be posted in the break room -- and won't be forgotten! Ain't a manager in the business who wants to receive one like that!

[Pebbles]

In the words of my dear, sainted grandmother .. OUT-fucking-STANDING!

You can bet your letter will be posted in the break room -- and won't be forgotten! Ain't a manager in the business who wants to receive one like that!

Think this is correct! Plus the managers don't want to loose that money from a sell...or bad words a person can spread by gossip. You could do alot of damage by word of mouth..:55