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Having been in and around the m/c biz most of my life, I'm terrible when confronted by salespersons. If they don't know anything I'm not too interested in talking with them -- just let me have a brochure, please....

Well, the other day S.O. and I wandered into a local Yamaha shop. Whereupon a nicely-dressed, bright-looking, young (they're all young) salesguy walked up and began 'the talk'. I asked him if he could explain how Yamaha's cross-plane crankshaft works in the '09 R-1. Well, ya' know what?, he gave a reasonanly accurate expanation. I was impressed -- and told him so.

We left with a couple brochures.... :)

 
Refer to Forum Guidelines, specifically:

"5. No personal attacks. However, when some asshat desperately needs it for violating Rules 1-4, group dog-piles are perfectly acceptable."

There will always be those who do not understand or have any depth of knowledge about that which they sell. OTH, there are those who are very knowledgeable about their product lines. Let's face one fact about motorcycle consumers, most of them already have an understanding about the bike they prefer and, if they've done their research beforehand, should know more about that motorcycle than the salesman. I guarantee you that those of us who p[urchased our FJRs via the PDP knew much more than the salesmen and usually knew more than the dealer about how the PDP worked and many future owner "babysat" the system to make sure their order was sent in a timely manner.

So what!?!?!? :rolleyes:

I don't expect a salesman to educate me. I'm please when they actually do have information I don't, but in the case of purchasing tangible goods, I expect to know more about my "heart's desire" than they do.

As to Yamaha not advertising the FJR, one would have to know the actual numbers/percentages of the competing product lines before one could make an educated guess as to how they should spend those funds. It could well be they sell more Personal Watercraft than they do FJRs. If so, WE who ride them and interact with the riding and non-riding citizenry are the best sales representatives they have.

 
I kinda a chuckle when I read some posts about salespeople being "dumbasses", ignorant about their product, etc.
I wonder, you guys who beat up so hard on dumbass salespeople, what kind of businesses YOU are in. I'm guessin' businesses that don't employ salespeople.

I've been in the radio business 41 years, and anyone who knows anything about commercial radio is that the ONLY thing we make money on is advertising. That is, selling NOTHING! Yep, a business that sells absolutely no tangible product. We sell minutes, not doodads. And for the very successful company that I work for, we have MANY salespeople who regularly make 6 figure salaries on commission alone.

And you know what? Each and every single fucking one of them is a dumbass. Ignorant monkeys. Completely incapable of taking a piss without instructions. Can't attach a file to an email. Call the I.T. guy 'cause their printer isn't working and it's only out of paper. Don't know the DJ's names. Don't know what kind of music we play. Complete and utter fucking nincompoop morons. The hiring criteria boils down to ONE single pre-hire test: They're handed a mirror and see if they can fog it up. If they breathe, they have a job.

What's my point? it's simple. Salespeople, at least good ones, don't have to know a goddamn thing about what they sell. All they have to do is be good salespeople. That's it. You've heard the old expression "he could sell an icemaker to an eskimo"? That's a good salesman. He doesn't have to know how the icemaker works, what the icemaker is made of, how long the warranty on the icemaker is, what problems are intrinsic to that particular icemaker. He only has to be a good seller. Someone who knows how to close a deal.

Today was a PERFECT example of what I'm talking about, and it relates right to discussions in this thread.

I had to supervise and produce a 3 hour "remote" broadcast at our local motorcycle superstore. Kawasaki/Honda/Yamaha/Piaggio/KTM dealer. Place was packed. I wandered in during a lull and a salesvulture swooped down on me, all smiles and handshakes. "How can I help you?" "I'd like to see the new Concourse" I tell him.

He immediately takes me over to a row of lined-up ZX10s and 14s. Not a Concourse in the bunch. And proceeds to "sell" me a new C14 with his patented pitch, with no Concourse in sight. I play stupid and ask him "which one is it?" "All of them" he says. What a putz! Obviously didn't know Zedshit from Conshinola! Yet in the course of the three hours we were at the dealership, he sold 8 units! EIGHT!!! What you wanna bet the owner couldn't care less he didn't know the diff between a Z14 and a Concourse?

It's US, the consumer, that needs to be knowledgeable, not the poor shmuck who writes the order. And beating up on them is about as fulfilling as beating up on a Harley. About as satisfying as pushing some kid in his wheelchair down the stairs.

So you guys taking pleasure on beating up on salesmonkeys at bike dealerships.....cut them some slack for ****'s sake. They're probably making more money than you. :****:

YOU'RE A TOTAL JACKASS JUST LIKE THE FUCKIN DUMBASS SALESMEN YOU ARE STICKING UP FOR!

 
Refer to Forum Guidelines, specifically:"5. No personal attacks. However, when some asshat desperately needs it for violating Rules 1-4, group dog-piles are perfectly acceptable."

There will always be those who do not understand or have any depth of knowledge about that which they sell. OTH, there are those who are very knowledgeable about their product lines. Let's face one fact about motorcycle consumers, most of them already have an understanding about the bike they prefer and, if they've done their research beforehand, should know more about that motorcycle than the salesman. I guarantee you that those of us who p[urchased our FJRs via the PDP knew much more than the salesmen and usually knew more than the dealer about how the PDP worked and many future owner "babysat" the system to make sure their order was sent in a timely manner.

So what!?!?!? :rolleyes:

I don't expect a salesman to educate me. I'm please when they actually do have information I don't, but in the case of purchasing tangible goods, I expect to know more about my "heart's desire" than they do.

As to Yamaha not advertising the FJR, one would have to know the actual numbers/percentages of the competing product lines before one could make an educated guess as to how they should spend those funds. It could well be they sell more Personal Watercraft than they do FJRs. If so, WE who ride them and interact with the riding and non-riding citizenry are the best sales representatives they have.
Well said, but in my case the saleman was very up to date on the FJR & told me alot about the bike & showed me everything. Like where to adjust the suspension & remove bags & how (if i wanted too) adjust the drivers seat , & he`s in his 40`s . Radiohowie is right on the aspect of some sales men not knowing a product & can sell the hell out of it, as when i worked for a tire company , the boss hired his cousin that was in the meat buisness & didn`t know a thing about tires. But he would go out every day & sell the crap out of them & pick up new customers every week. (will miss you Stanly, aka sir farts alot)

 
Unquilifided sales people are all over the place and are makeing a killing .I have a feind that buys cars and bikes every 3 years and does not do any type of homework if the stickers say xyz he pays xyz. his purchases hi end harleys and the high end fords . So you have unqulifided buyers out there also. Now take the very nice people on this forum 99 percent of go to the bike shop for price only so it does not matter if the salesperson has 3 heads or does not know a fjr between a moped .

 
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Wow, this is getting interesting.

A Mortician Newb hurling insults... in all Caps no less?

Pass the pop corn...

 
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YOU'RE A TOTAL JACKASS JUST LIKE THE FUCKIN DUMBASS SALESMEN YOU ARE STICKING UP FOR!
May I refer you to this:

(madmike2 @ Dec 7 2008, 10:47 AM) *Refer to Forum Guidelines, specifically:

"5. No personal attacks. However, when some asshat desperately needs it for violating Rules 1-4, group dog-piles are perfectly acceptable."
Should you continue in your current vein of thought....

...perhaps an admin will be along to reinforce the idea.

IMO, it would be much better for everyone to use a little self control and good manners.

 
First off, I really do not care if Yanaha advertises the FJR or not. I got mine and looking back, had no real problem finding out information on the bike. I liked the PDP thing, made me feel like I belonged to an exclusive club. Oddly, still feel that way....

As for the non-motorcycling public not being able to tell what kind or make of bike it is, they are "non- motorcyling" , and thus know dick about almost any bike, When I owned a Vulcan 750 , many of these folks thought it was a Harley. So who cares what they think anyway?

I'm not going to take sides in the issue of dumbass salesfolk. (But real bad form "Joy of Riding" , you sound like a jackass yourself to me)

But I will say I do appreiciate a salesman that knows his product. Granted, for large dollar purchases, I likely have already done some extensive reasearch and may know quite a bit about a product before even approaching the salesman.

As pointed out, I bought a FJR knowing alot about them before I even got to see one in real life, so it be hard to say they are a "secret" as little old me found them.

The dealer I bought from (Donnelson Cycles , St. Ann MO) has been in the area since I was in in grade school. (I'm 54 now) I bought my first Yamaha there, (a '78 RD400) and the salesman that sold me my 82 Seca 550 , back in 82, still worked there and sold me my 2006 FJR.

As for knowledge, he likely knows more about bikes than I do, but his biggest selling point (not that I needed one) was the fact that although he worked for a dealler that sold Hondas, Triumphs, Moto-guzzis,Ducatis, MVs and Yamahas..and he could have his pick of any bike to own himself...The bike he got for himself was a 05 FJR.

If a salesman does not know about his product, that makes it more likely that I may end up going finding another place to buy. I don't hold it against the sales person, it may just be another job to them and everyone needs a job. But that does , to me, reflect on the dealership itself for hiring someone to sell bikes that knows nothing about them. It tells me they don't really care about motorcycles and motorcycling in general, they just want to make money selling them....it's just a business to them.

So if I were to walk into a Kawasaki dealer and say I am intrested in buying a C-14 , and the salesman said they don't carry that brand, they only sell Kaw's...I'd smile and walk out. I am sure there are salesmen that can sell someone a brand new Whaszat without even knowing what a Whaszaat is...but , not to me. Sure , they are those out there that might be dazzled by the salesmans pitch, but there are many out there like me that know what they are looking for , and find it a bit insulting to end up informing the saleshelp about the product they are selling....and may take their business elsewhere.

KM

 
Awesome topic :clapping:

I usually try to explain to people that my bike is larger than a crotch-rocket but smaller than a Goldwing.

If that doesn't work, I usually tell them it looks like the North Las Vegas BMW RTP's that the cops use around here.

Even then, people still don't get what the bike is until they see it.

I have to say that it's pretty cool that the bike is as rare as it is...

 
Well, it was a good thread.
:argue: :skull:
Might as well throw it in the resurecting pointless threds now :angry2: I was pointing out how great this bike is & it`s a shame it isn`t advertised & BAM it all went in the toilet with name calling. Geeze :(

 
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YOU'RE A TOTAL JACKASS JUST LIKE THE FUCKIN DUMBASS SALESMEN YOU ARE STICKING UP FOR!
May I refer you to this:

(madmike2 @ Dec 7 2008, 10:47 AM) *Refer to Forum Guidelines, specifically:

"5. No personal attacks. However, when some asshat desperately needs it for violating Rules 1-4, group dog-piles are perfectly acceptable."
Should you continue in your current vein of thought....

...perhaps an admin will be along to reinforce the idea.

IMO, it would be much better for everyone to use a little self control and good manners.
Sorry, but I couldn't resist!! Anyone who knows about sales should automatically know that you should be well versed in the product you are trying to sell. People can sniff out the bullshiters and move on. Some people are just plain ignorant; Probably the same nimwads that voted for Bush when he was re-elected!

 
Sorry, but I couldn't resist!! Anyone who knows about sales should automatically know that you should be well versed in the product you are trying to sell. People can sniff out the bullshiters and move on. Some people are just plain ignorant; Probably the same nimwads that voted for Bush when he was re-elected!
You are the poster boy for winning friends and influencing people, aren't you!?!? :dribble: C'mon, stop the charade, take off the kid gloves and let us know how you really feel. :assassin:

Er...uhm...Forum Guideline #2:

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For your reading pleasure: Link to Forum Guidelines.

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Refer to them periodically to determine if you can still handle the load.

 
Unquilifided sales people are all over the place and are makeing a killing .I have a feind that buys cars and bikes every 3 years and does not do any type of homework if the stickers say xyz he pays xyz. his purchases hi end harleys and the high end fords . So you have unqulifided buyers out there also. Now take the very nice people on this forum 99 percent of go to the bike shop for price only so it does not matter if the salesperson has 3 heads or does not know a fjr between a moped .

All the salesfolk talk conjures memories of the movie "Used Cars" with Kurt Russell. I remember laughing my ass off the first time I saw it (I was pretty young, then). Not so much as I got older.

 
Time for an old favorite:

38441_7dtr2scy8f_l.jpg


 
Sorry, but I couldn't resist!! Anyone who knows about sales should automatically know that you should be well versed in the product you are trying to sell.
Gee. Who woulda guessed from your prior message that you are in sales?

Some people are just plain ignorant; Probably the same nimwads... <political crap snipped>
ignorant

Main Entry: ig·no·rant

Pronunciation: \ˈig-n(ə-)rənt\

Function: adjective

1 a: destitute of knowledge or education ; also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified

b: resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence

I vote for 1b.

See ya!

 
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