[nighthawkvtx]

The other day I stopped in to a couple of local bike dealers and asked a few questions. Mostly about the upcoming Biketoberfest, and when the big boys were going to start their demo rides. Not a single one of them knew anything about the demo rides. Now I realize that things like that are organized at a cooperate level, but how can you be a Florida bike dealer and not know anything about Daytona events? Even if was from past experiences.One guy told me that he had never been to Daytona! I was puzzled, but wrote that off. What really stunned me was the lack of knowledge of their own products. Just one of many examples was the Suzuki dealer, not knowing that the new Boulavard c 109 is coming out this year. They kept insisting that it was the M109, and it had been out for several years now. I could pick an example from each dealer but you get the point.
I guess the point of my rant is. If you make your living by selling a product, no matter what it is. I would think you would want to know every thing possible about it, maybe even some about your direct competition as well.
Heck I've learned more from just this forum, than some of the sales reps I've talked to.
Ok that's better rant over

 

[VACMAN]

How true, in my business or others I have worked the sales reps know very little about there products

 

[Bigdog 1]

I liked the one about the Honda service dept. that didn't know what molly paste was. Or my all time best was 3 weeks before the 1300C was due come out a lot of salesmen didn't know what it was. They are about the most uninformed people out there. Now you know why I do my own service and mechanical work on my bike.

 

[Caps]

I stopped at the Honda dealer the other day with my bike. It looks like my signature picture below. The guy that runs the service department was walking outside and came over and asked me what kind of bike I was riding :roll: I know it looks different with the paint job and a 240 kit but this guy stares at VTX's all day and sells the parts. He even schedules the services. I know he's worked there at least 2 years.

 

[Morgan Buchanan]

In my experience, salespeople seldom know anything, actually. The more you know the HARDER it is to sell things, you see, because it forces you to LIE instead of just make crap up. For example, the salesman with the C109 vs the M109... if he KNEW the C109 was coming out he might feel the need to tell a customer that it was coming out and potentially lose the sale of the M109 that's sitting on his floor. In the technical world, if a salesman says "yeah we can do that" it's much easier to sell a service or product, even if it's not technically possible. Then it gets dumped on the technical people to try to DO what the salesman promised the customer they'd do. Neat, eh?

 

[DandE]

I'm with you there, their lack of knowledge of their products make me shake my head.

Like you, I would like to sell bikes, but I couldn't afford the pay cut :wink:

Dale

 

[Firemanirfd]

I was in a Honda dealer one time and a small women was looking at a Honda Rebel 250. The dip-fudge salesmen said "Woah, your going to have to be careful not to pull to many wheelies with this one!" I shook my head and kept on walking, but atleast they know what moly paste is (It was the other dealership in my area that had no clue what moly paste was)

 

[Bladerunner]

OK, time to show my ignorence here...

What IS Molly past?

 

[monster]

Molly paste

Molly paste....probably the same or similar to "pooky".

Our car salesman here at the dealership used to be that way...NOT any more. They are all very well trained in the products and get tested all the time in knowledge and for thier "walk-around" presentation.
I was asked to judge a presentation a couple of months ago, and was
amazed how well versed in all three car lines that they were. The times
have changed for THIS industry.
The bike dealers should do the same thing. It would really benefit them.

Ken

 

[X8urHD]

Moly paste is this:

(http://www.hondadirectlineusa.com/stores/product.asp?pid=4330&str=1&ID=465085274)

You need it on a VTX for the drive splines in your rear hub.

Car salesman are no different than the bike salesmen that have been mentioned. Seems like folks at dealerships of all kinds intentionally stay uninformed. Maybe they are so sick of their job they don't want to get into it. I know a few auto mechanics that won't touch a wrench outside their job and they don't know much about other brands/models they don't service. :roll:

Later,
Rob

 

[haveme1]

I'm thinking that will be the kind of job I get when I get back out in the world.
If I do I know i'll have my puter on and I'll be coming here to get the questions answered.
:wink: I can see it now....me telling the customer "let me go check this out" and I'll be looking it up here !!!!!!!

 

[HDKLR]

OK, time to show my ignorence here...

What IS Molly past?

"Moly" is short for "molybdenum." The paste that it's contained in is a tad "stiffer" than grease, so it's less likely to fling off or run out. Personally, I use Slick 50 One Grease (with Teflon) -- I'm just careful about how much of it I use...