He said WHAT?!

[BatGirl]

I was browsing through the ski racks at the swap taking place at the Dulles Expo Center and came across a pair of Atomic Metron X's. I was checking out the price ($225, with bindings) when some guy wandered over. He looked from me to the skis and said, "Oh, they're good skis, but too much for a woman to handle."



"ExCUSE me?!"

He again made the claim that the skis would be more than a woman could handle. To which I told him he didn't know what the he!! he was talking about. Comprex was with me and mentioned that he knew a few Divas have this ski in their quiver.

Well, Divas, now I do, too. These skis may be above my ability level right now, but you better believe that by the end of this season, I'm going to be skiing these things. Just because some Neanderthal told me a woman couldn't.

ETA: Just had to add a few details I left out originally. The skis are actually the right length for me at 157 cm. Also, I wish I'd had a camera for Comprex's face when he went goggle-eyed at the price and when he stepped back out of the line of fire after the guy's comment.

 

[Lilgeorg]

You go girl!!

 

[liquidfeet]

When I was buying my first-ever skis two seasons ago, I had the same problem. I was a 53 year old beginner skier woman, HEAVEN FORBID!!! Every salesman was a man, and they all told me anything I was asking for was too much for me. Finally I found a kid (20-something) who asked me what sports I did off-season, and I told him (gym 5 days a week, plus lots of road-running), and he told me OK, he'd sell me what I wanted.

This resistance sure led me to believe that the skis I had picked out were MONSTER skis for me (which who knows??? maybe they were, and maybe they weren't).

I now take EVERYTHING in the way of advice about skiing from a man with much skepticism.

We women have to stick together, because we have the possibility of understanding one another.

 

[ski diva]

This is, as they say, beyond the beyond. How did this goofball know who he was speaking to? For all he knew, you could be an Olympian -- or close to it, anyway.

This guy's an idiot, Batgirl. And he'll always be an idiot. At least you recognized it and didn't buy his baloney. Good for you.

 

[Jilly]

You go girl. Don't let them lead you!! The only thing I found with the Metron's were that they were heavy to lug around. Other than that, the ski, skis great. Look out powder and crud, here come Bat Girl!!

 

[BatGirl]

liquidfeet, you are a better woman than me. Unless that was the only store in town, I would have taken my business elsewhere if the salesmen refused to sell me the skis I wanted. Especially if I'd done my research, as you probably did, and knew they were the right skis.

 

[BatGirl]

This is, as they say, beyond the beyond. How did this goofball know who he was speaking to? For all he knew, you could be an Olympian -- or close to it, anyway.

This guy's an idiot, Batgirl. And he'll always be an idiot. At least you recognized it and didn't buy his baloney. Good for you.

The first thing that went through my head after I calmed down was that this guy was probably the owner of the skis who wanted to make sure they sold. Because, boy, did he use a great sales tactic. He knew exactly what buttons to push. I hadn't been interested in them until he opened his mouth. I was just looking at them because Comprex's eyes bugged out when he noticed the price, and I had asked him what made them so special (still new at this, so learning by asking as many questions as possible).

Turns out the previous owner was a woman (saw the name on the swap receipt) who must have gotten some good use out of the skis, judging from their condition. How's that for a capper to the story? :D

Jilly, they are heavy. I'm going to have to do upper body work just to haul these things around. It'll be worth it, though.

 

[SnowHot]

I was browsing through the ski racks at the swap taking place at the Dulles Expo Center and came across a pair of Atomic Metron X's. I was checking out the price ($225, with bindings) when some guy wandered over. He looked from me to the skis and said, "Oh, they're good skis, but too much for a woman to handle."



"ExCUSE me?!"

He again made the claim that the skis would be more than a woman could handle. To which I told him he didn't know what the he!! he was talking about. Comprex was with me and mentioned that he knew a few Divas have this ski in their quiver.

Well, Divas, now I do, too. These skis may be above my ability level right now, but you better believe that by the end of this season, I'm going to be skiing these things. Just because some Neanderthal told me a woman couldn't.

ETA: Just had to add a few details I left out originally. The skis are actually the right length for me at 157 cm. Also, I wish I'd had a camera for Comprex's face when he went goggle-eyed at the price and when he stepped back out of the line of fire after the guy's comment.

Batgirl, true story, If the Lady Bear/Diva's have already heard it as I've posted it on Epic, please be patient.

I was really serious about buying a Metron, didn't know if I wanted the M11 or the B5. so I went to the ski shop to get demos. Good idea, right?
The shop manager actually looked at me, tried to talk me into different skis(lower intermediate models), and said, "I could let you demo the Metrons, but you'd never be able to use them to their potential".

Guess where I didn't buy my metrons?

On a regular basis I see shock on the faces of guys. One even said, "That's an awful lotta ski for a little girl!" He never caught me once we got off the lift.
I vaguely remember hearing a mumble from him about snow spray in his face.

 

[SnowHot]

Jilly, they are heavy. I'm going to have to do upper body work just to haul these things around. It'll be worth it, though.

You'll find the weight to not be an issue as much as you may think right now.
My B5's are really heavy but I rarely even think about it any more. Although it's really hard to catch any kind of air on them. You'll want to keep a lighter ski for jumping and such.

 

[Marigee]

Hey Batgirt, I went to the Expo Center this weekend too and I have my own male chauvenist story to add.

The employee of a store I frequent (mainly for accessories and b/c they have given me good deals on kids equipment with buy backs, etc.) basicaly told me I was skiing the wrong ski (dynastar exclusive legend.) The conversation started when I mentioned that I noticed they didn't carry dynastar in their store. He never asked me how often I ski or my level. He just looked at my size and said that my ski was too stiff for me and too long (152 cm.) Now, I used these skis last year in CO and LOVED them and had no trouble. Fortunately the manager of this store knows me and doesn't treat me this way or I might not patronize them for my twins junior equipment.

Just because I am small and light doesn't mean I need intermediate level equipment!

 

[ski diva]

Man, I hope some of the retailers from Epic are lurking on this board. Women skiers have a lot of purchasing power, and clearly we've had some bad treatment buying equipment. It's time people in ski shops realized that they should make no assumptions regarding a woman skier's abilities. Any decent sales person knows that it takes real engagement to make a sale. Asking questions, treating the buyer with respect without regard to gender, appearance, color, race, religion, you get the picture, and listening to the customer is key. Treating a customer the way reported here is more than just insulting; it's also an easy way to lose a sale -- now and in the future. Not to mention the ripple effect it can have on a woman's friends and family. All in all, not a good way to do business.

 

[BatGirl]

SnowHot - Good for you to be able to show up those guys like that! I think that's the best way to silence a jerk - don't respond; just let the skis (or whatever skill you excel at) do the talking.

Marigee - You might want to let your friend who manages that store know what happened. Not to get the idiot you dealt with in trouble, but because, as SkiDiva said, that employee could become a liability to your friend. He could end up costing the store business.

 

[Snowsong]

Stories like these really burn me! :mad: Too many times, personnel in ski shops think that all women who walk in are intermediates or don't have the potential to move up, and sell a woman a ski that she outgrows in a season. Or the young man overdosing on testosterone who is only interested in telling me what a hot skier he is (hello! what is that doing for me as a buyer?). In my personal experience, I have found that the shops that do custom fittings usually take their customers seriously and try to recommend the proper equipment. I live in a bootfitting void, so I drive 2 hours to get fitted. The owner of the shop was a former racer, and his wife is PSIA certified, so I was taken seriously. I also paid attention to how the shop personnel treated other women who came while I was there. Unfortunately, many women are not educated about equipment, and rely on some poor advice from some shops.

 

[dburdenbates]

I don't mean to hijack, but...

It's not just in skiing gals. When I was car shopping a couple of years ago, I had done my research and knew I either wanted a VW Passat Quatro or a Subaru Outback.

I test drove the VW first. The salesman talked to me like I was an idiot and even had the nerve to say to me, "and if you ever open the hood, because of the way the engine is designed, you won't get your frilly blouses caught in anything" (I wasn't wearing a frilly blouse and don't think I even own one). :mad: I left and never went back.

The Subaru dealer talked to me about the boxer engine, horsepower and the AWD system like I was an educated person (which I was). You know which car I bought!

 

[marta]

Me too! When boot shopping, I had called around a few shops to ask if they carry a particular model. One shop said on the phone "Well, if you think you can flex that..." Uh, yes actually, I can.

Another store simply said "We don't carry women's boots like that, most women want comfort and warmth, not performance. But we'd be happy to order you what you want." as if!

Only 2 out of the five shops I visited actually asked me how I ski and where.

p.s The day I got my boots fit, Jeannie Thoren was there doing her thing, personally helping women find better boots.

 

[Snowsong]

Marta, good point about the shops not carrying higher end equipment because they think women don't want it. If you happen to live in a small market, many shops don't carry anything but beginner and intermediate equipment for women. Another reason I drive a couple hours for equipment. Sure, they might order it for you, but I'll never buy boots without being able to try the exact model I want.

 

[marta]

I suppose they know what sells in their store, as unfortunate as it seems. Stores don't want a bunch of non-selling stock laying around.

I now know which shops in my area have the best bootfitters, the same shops here that cater to race kids, which is what I ended up with for a boot. I knew I was in the right place, when the boot doc overheard me talking to a sales guy, came over to me and said "sit down, I'll be right back..." and brought out a pair of Lange jr race boots. (I'm tiny and have tiny feet which is another issue altogether..)

 

[volklgirl]

I just love walking into ski and bike shops that don't know me. I don't say anything at first - I just wait to see where they take the 'short, fat chick'. They usually take me right to the lower end gear and go on and on about how comfortable and easy it is. Eventually I'll make some comment so they'll actually ask me what I'm on now. Oh the looks on their face when they find out I'm on a $3000 bike or serious race skis....all of a sudden there's all kinds of questions about what I do and where I do it.

If they don't ask the questions first, I'll just walk out later knowing that they now know they lost a potentially high $ sale .

 

[Thatsagirl]

He looked from me to the skis and said, "Oh, they're good skis, but too much for a woman to handle."

At which point I would have probably said, "Well, then, I better start practicing building my upper-body strength by whacking you over the head with them! :p

It never ceases to amaze me that this nonsense still happens. :( It's been a long time since I've run into this kind of thing, but only because I now go to only 2 or 3 shops that are first rate.

I hate it every time I hear it! And yes, I walked out whenever it was directed at me, or even if I simply overheard it being said to another woman in the store.

Thatsagirl