What a disappointment....

[immigrant]

There are a few things I look forward to in life. One is the Dakar Rally, one is my annual bike trip, and the other is the annual Motorcycle Show in Edmonton, AB, Canada. I took 3 night shits off, drove 500km and paid stupid high prices to stay in a hotel - but it is usually worth every penny and minute of my time. But this year Yamaha insulted its loyal fans. The retards working at the booth had no idea about their products, the one guy thought the 2014 Super Tenere "ES" stood for "special edition" and did not know about the electronic suspension. When I asked about the WR 450 R he said all my questions would be answered in the brochure or I can look it up on the internet, the same for the new MT-09, and the same for the FJR. All bikes I am genuinely interested in buying "It's all in there bud" he said after handing me the brochure.

So yamaha, next time you have a show, train your guys on the products they need to sell, or get the guys on this forum to represent your brand!!!

The only person that was enthusiastic to help me as the girl that wanted my e-mail address so they can send me promotional material

 

[arjayes]

Too bad. Hope the trip wasn't a total waste. But honestly my experience with salespeople at the local Yamaha (/Suzuki/Honda/Kawasaki) dealers is not much different.

Any test rides up there or weather wouldn't allow?

 

[escapefjrtist]

Too bad, though pretty typical no matter which event you attend. ::022::

--G

 

[RED CAT]

In general, most of the Dealership riders are either Street or Dirt oriented. Not many Adventure Bike sales people working at Dealerships. Even at Blackfoot Motorsports, the largest Dealership in the country, the salespeople know very little about the S10. They hardly sell any. But they do sell a lot of BMW GSs. Riders still haven't discovered how great the Yamaha really is. I was lucky enough to catch the Canadian Yamaha Rep at the Bike Show. He seemed well informed.

 

[greg the pole]

sorry to hear that Immigrant. Did you read my blog?
Went to the Calgary show with CAmshaft, and Wade, bumped into a few guys I knew, Red cat and the rest of the misfits.

There was a guy at the yamaha booth that was well versed in the product. Said that the fjr was not selling too well, but the fz9 was doing well. He flat out told me that no, the 660 is not coming, no matter how hard we stomp our feet.

Guy over at honda was very well versed in his line up. I asked him why the hell honda thought it would be a good idea to go to a single line dealership. He informed me that all the guys on the ground opposed the idea, but some bright guy up top pushed the idea throught.

Otherwise wondered around, and was not too taken by most things out there. I'll have proper anwsers in the firs week of march about the abilites of the fz9, as i'll be riding it in the hills of LA for a week. Stay tuned.

 

[Checkswrecks]

We went to the DC show and Yamaha had the usual mix of people there. About 2/3 are from local dealerships or the region and have responses like mentioned in the original post. The few who are corporate are the ones you sometimes get new info from.

 

[sportsguy]

When I go to these shows, I reserve questions for vendors about products: helmets, boots, jackets, gloves, etc.

I rarely talk to people in the manufacturer's booths as most often they don't have answers to even basic questions. I look at the bikes, take pics of models, details or equipment that interests me and research online. If I absolutely HAVE to know something on the spot, I grab my phone and look up the info.

The staff in booths are rarely trained well, they rarely know the products well and usually are armed with the simplest of answers, which they usually picked up when overhearing a coworker talk to someone.

If I'm with a friend, we'll talk about the bikes, etc., otherwise, I try to avoid talking to people in the bike booths. Which is sad, because i'd like to be able to approach the person with the Yamaha, or Honda, or Ducats shirt on with real questions, from the real world and get rational answers.

Not like we hold back on asking stuff in places like this. What's missing is the manufacturer actually listening.

 

[KCampbell]

I've been to the Progressive show a couple of times here in Seattle, and the booth workers seldom know anything much about the bikes - the accessory vendors are almost always well informed. I guess it's a matter of expectations.

Kevin

 

[Hungry Tiger]

Greg: Let me know if you'd like company when you're doing Angeles Crest. I'm in NE corner of L.A., 10 mins from the Rose Bowl.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk now Free

 

[jrb_nw]

So, were there any hot women?

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[barkingllizard]

Yet, more reasons not to attend these 'events', inadvertently designed for the tourists who never will ride.
Now Joe Six-Pack will think he knows something when he asks ""why don't you ride a Harley?""
But of course instead of saying Harley, he will drag it out all cool and such, ""HHHhhhOOOoooGGGggg.""

 

[Hamlet]

I've been to the Progressive show a couple of times here in Seattle, and the booth workers seldom know anything much about the bikes - the accessory vendors are almost always well informed. I guess it's a matter of expectations.

Kevin

+1 I feel the same way about the Progressive show in Long Beach. I guess they're just supposed to smile and hand you a brochure.

I agree the booth people are a different story.......well informed and friendly. Of course they want me to walk out with some of their product......which I did.

 

[greg the pole]

Greg: Let me know if you'd like company when you're doing Angeles Crest. I'm in NE corner of L.A., 10 mins from the Rose Bowl.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk http://tapatalk.com/m?id=10']now Free[/url]

by all means.
I'll post up a day or two before heading out to your neck of the woods.
Should be on the road on the 27th, in Lake Elsinore on the 28th in the afternoon.

 

[kmac]

So, were there any hot women?

::025::
In Long Beach there were 2 chicks at this Ducati booth, not the Ducati showroom, but this little booth, that guys were taking Photos with, dressed like the typical Euro trophy girls in SHORT shorts and little tops....but these girls were ugly....no I mean UGLY !!!
They BOTH looked like they fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down and they had the bruises all over their fat legs to prove it. It was like a train wreck, my buddy and I kept walking back past them just to laugh again.

 

[twinrider]

There are a few things I look forward to in life. One is the Dakar Rally, one is my annual bike trip, and the other is the annual Motorcycle Show in Edmonton, AB, Canada. I took 3 night shits off, drove 500km and paid stupid high prices to stay in a hotel - but it is usually worth every penny and minute of my time.

That's hardcore giving up three night shits to attend the show, very sorry to hear it wasn't worth it....

 

[sportsguy]

That's hardcore giving up three night shits to attend the show, very sorry to hear it wasn't worth it....

Awesome catch!

 

[immigrant]

Awesome catch!

;D
I meant to say "overtime shifts".

 

[djm_ct]

;D
I meant to say "overtime shifts".

We figured..

 

[kmac]

Isn't a work "shift" and...well the other thing, pretty much the same thing?
It is if you are a drywaller.

 

[immigrant]

Overtime=double pay=motrbikes!! ::022::