Snotty Salesmen (continued)

[byron]

I have been told that a good boat salesman ignores what people are wearing but does check out (a) the wristwatch and (b) the shoes a potential customer is wearing. If the watch is an Omega/Rolex/Piaget etc. and the shoes by Church's then they come alive. To test this theory I sent my mate to the Princess stand wearing a Piaget watch and a pair of Church's.
He was arrested for indecent exposure as that is all he wore. The Magistrate took one look at him and threw the case out for lack of evidence. (Luckily he only has a itsy bitsy willy )

©2001

 

[Guest]

Re: hee hee nm

 

[duncan]

still he had the right watch and shoes.........can't have everything

)

 

[jfm]

Re: the right watch

Piagets are for evenings. Not sure when you would wear a Rolex these days. This is a boat BB, so Breitlings please.

JFM

 

[markc]

Re: the right watch

so I should have passed on both fronts then....was wearing a Breitling and deck shoes...still snotty. Maybe they hadn't been on watch identity training yet?!!

 

[byron]

Re: the right watch

I wear my Piaget all the time even if it did cost me 40 quid which is 15 quid more than I paid for my Rolex. Same as my boat, it's really an Avon 3.10 with a cardboard cutout of a Broom 50 around it. I also stuff my pants with towel roll and my wife does the same with her Bra.

©2001

 

[peterg]

hello sailor!

you let your wife stuff your pants with her bra? very naughtical

 

[paulineb]

Re: the right watch

Chris Perrott told me about you Byron, but I thought he was exaggerating - obviously not ;-)

Pauline B

 

[byron]

Re: the right watch

Chris is no good in bed, you ask any of the wives on the Thames.

©2001

 

[ChrisP]

Re: the right watch

Never could see the point in playing with women. Nasty tempremental things. Give me a big boat with a fuel account any time.

CP

 

[hlb]

But The yacht shoes I keep on the boat and a watch I havent owned for twenty years, What the hell are Churches!! Or unless?? Thats daft. The spire would never fit in the cabin.
Looks like I cant really afford a boat after all.

Haydn

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: the right watch

Now I'm on your side!!!!

 

[Guest]

I came away from the boat show with a fewmixed feelings about salesmen, but overall, a high regard for their fortitude, patience and courtesy.

I was down there to start looking around for something in the 32 - 35ft class and like most people. I suspect, who are going to route march themselves around a huge display all day, I wore clothes (and more importantly shoes) which were going to be comfortable rather than haute couture (wassat?) or 'nautical'.

On most of the stands, the staff couldn't have been more helpful, despite my honest declaration that I was no more than formulating opinions and ideas at this stage. Their reaction will, of course, go a long way towards the decision as to which boats to look more seriously at - good (potential) customer care now is indicative of the way that I will be treated in terms of after sales care.

Then again, on a few stands, I was either actively discouraged from examining the goods, or despite spending a considerable time on or around a boat, totally ignored. Now I know that some people don't like to be pestered by pushy salesmen while making up their minds, but a simple 'can I help' or 'If you need assistance , just let me know' would be common courtesy.

My own observation was that the worst culprits were the young ones, dressed to the nines in nautical shore based flavour gear (expensive deck shoes, blue jacket and all important name badge proclaiming who they were). Some of them haven't a clue about real sailing. However, they work in a sales/service environment, where customer care means the difference between profit and loss, so their employers are equally to blame for lack of training or supervision in a critical area. If the attitude prevails, they may well go bust in the near future.

They were however, a very small minority, and at the risk of starting another thread here, is it not the same with yacht clubs? The genuine yotties and their clubs are all very friendly and couldn't give a damn whether you dress in Armani or ex-army, whilst a few (perversely the ones with the longest waiting lists I suspect) need to examine your bank account and a reference from the chief constable and prefer that you attend every social function rather than sail.

Iso

 

[Guest]

So who really gives a damn about what watch I am wearing or who's particular deck shoes I've got on at the time.
Surely the point that everyone on this forum is making is that, 'Boat Shows', are a paid public show of marine goods for sale.
Do they ask you if you are buying? or 'just looking'? when they sell you a ticket at the turnstiles and price your ticket accordingly, no I don't think so!.
If someone pays the price of entry to a 'Boat Show' then surely they have the right to explore what is on offer, and if not, why exhibit in the first place?
My personal belief is that, all these comments should be passed on to the organisers of the shows, who should then in turn decide whether they invite the general public to these Marine extravaganza's or just the social elite. We all have to deal with 'posers' in our lives, why should the boating fraternity be exempt.
The reality is that most people in boating spend far more than they should on their hobby. I think a little respect is due in return.