|   Should reps get nasty?? | Dougal
Dec 17, 2001 10:36 PM | | What do you guys think a company rep or importer should act like online?
I've just been ripped into by the RS/GT importer on www.mountainbike.co.nz
Dougal.8m.com |
| where? can't find the diatribe, invective whatever... | Shylock
Dec 18, 2001 7:05 AM | | ...saw your name, though.
feel the gin
Most Reps are nasty -- even if they pretend they aren't at first. The Specialize Reps are the worst. |
| Post by Alister | Steve from JH
Dec 18, 2001 8:34 AM | | I think D. is referring to the post by Alister in the Tech forum questioning D's credentials and experience.
Dougal is hard on Rock Shocks but my experience makes me agree with him. I think he is too hard on the I-Drive, but they probably won't be around to be kicked much longer.
Shylock, you're not a rep but you're often nasty and don't even pretend not to be.
Feel the Celebrex. |
| Oh, I know that.... | Shylock
Dec 18, 2001 2:29 PM | | ...Too much gin, I suppose. ....Or maybe it's cuz I' m reading too many evil, convoluted political theory texts...Dunno.
Why are we talking about me, anyway?
Feel the paxil |
| re: Should reps get nasty?? | Brian Peterson
Dec 18, 2001 9:01 AM | | As a rep myself, I will say that it is a fine line you have to walk. I try keep some level of professionalism in my answers, but I will say this, it get pretty hard sometimes. There have been times where I have probably crossed the line, but I am actually suprised I haven't been called out it on more. But it is easy to loose your cool when it is almost like people are just looking for a way to prove you wrong.
But, should a rep tear you a new a$$? For the most part no. At least not on a public board for the world to see...
Brian Peterson
Marzocchi USA |
| if i were you... | zedro
Dec 18, 2001 10:32 AM | | when i'd walk the line with stronger personal opinions, would drop the Marzocchi tag below your name at least; that way your personal opinions wouldnt be so strongly connected to company ones (hell you gotta be yourself some of the time). Everyone would still know its you, it could at least free you a bit from PR policy.
Zedro
Esquire |
| I'm glad... | Sofa King Wee Todd Id
Dec 18, 2001 10:53 AM | | BP throws the Marz tag on his replies. It lets us know that this person is gonna probably be right in their answers about Marzocchi stuff. Would I ask BP if a Supernova is better than a Z1? Probably not. |
| Ironicly enough.... | Brian Peterson
Dec 18, 2001 11:18 AM | | I still get questions like that..... And since my riding time on the competition's forks is admitting limited, I usually leave those questions to the people out there who have spent more time on some of the othe forks. Seems to work better then to say so and so products suck.
Brian Peterson
Marzocchi USA |
| Well how long has the rep been with the company? | DeeEight
Dec 18, 2001 9:36 AM | | Locally the reps seem to change brands they represent as often as they change underwear, so its doubtful any have a clue as to what they're talking about past the last model year or two. Take it as a bad sign
when the rep hasn't been biking longer than the company he/she is fronting for has been in business. Most reps I find are 90% marketing skill and 10% real technical/sport related skill.
Typical for MTB reps around here are either retired racers who needed to do something when they became uncompetitive, relatives of racers
or worse, people from other winter sports who need something to represent during the summer and as a result have super fancy bikes that never see usage and mostly sit in various stores around town acting as product displays.
As to what they should act like online, hmmm, well, Thorsten would be an example of what they SHOULD act like online. |
| go look over there...... | heff®
Dec 18, 2001 10:47 AM | | .....I posted a response to your response to Allister's response to your post.
That's about as complicated as a Maverick rear end, I think.......I lost myself.
heff® |
| send him to me | JimC
Dec 18, 2001 12:47 PM | | so I can tell him about the RS shock on my wife's GT LTS... I can't get service or parts for, or my old RTS GT ...no parts no service NADA.
The only line he doesn't represent is American Motors. Wait, maybe he sells tehm too? Too bad the Gremlin died.
Shouldn't be allowed into the colonies, IMHO. Jim (in BC) |
| If you think bike reps are bad, try ..... | TC
Dec 18, 2001 1:19 PM | | The I.T. industry!!! i think all the former used car salesmen have become salesmen for I.T. support companies. i get at least 3 calls a day from someone doing I.T. "market research" whom i promptly hang up on!!! |
| re: Should reps get nasty?? | Brian Peterson
Dec 18, 2001 2:50 PM | | Dougal,
I took alook at that thread... IMO what he said wasn't that bad. He was just questioning your background. That is often helpful in determining how you can explain things to people. I think I have posted worst than that and I won't even go into the letter my boss sent a guy who called him a "bonehead". That was a beauty...
But, like I said before, you have to mind yourself in a public forum. Anybody remember the Morewood threads not too long ago?
Brian |
| a little knowledge | derby
Dec 18, 2001 2:54 PM | | As a sales person he bases his reputation (sales rep) upon the authority of others. He'd be an engineer if he could, but must serve engineers (actually serve their bankers) as representatives of their products. He only knows what he's been told by engineers (or non-engineers). And he finds authority in the status labels that other's honor by sentimental agreement. And there is much experiential basis in the labels, banners, totems, or whatever else we status to academic degrees and business titles. But an engineering degree from ten years ago won't get you much of a technical job today without constant emersion in the evolution of engineering knowledge in the years since accumulating a resume of experience.
The professional title of "Senior" or "Architect" is short hand for many years of professional experience. But in technology, like anything, even professional experience is limited to accumulated moments of focused specialization. Few can make a family living at bikes alone and must focus on other things most of the time. There is virtually no established bicycle academia where theories and ideas are shared and criticized and refined and spun off into industry like in IT.
The bike forums we are participating in are the emergence of bicycle academia, of the blending of discoveries, ideas, and perceptions, by those not committed to financial alliance and the secret formulas within a commercial klan.
The old guard in bikes would best be listening and hopefully participating in the new on-line bike academia. Else be left behind the industry spin off of improved ideas.
The sales man needs to be proud of his reputation to be a convincing salesman to others with little experiential knowledge. This RS/GT salesman, who questioned your experience, is looking for the best authority to represent. He seemed to be standing up for the best he knew from the little knowledge he actually has about bikes. Perhaps he will dig in and become more defensive. Or hopefully he's listening to criticism from any source with experience and communicate the issues with his engineers so the engineers may gain greater perspectives and improve their breed.
Cheers!
- ray |
| dude.... | zedro
Dec 18, 2001 4:27 PM | | that was absolutly way too intelligent and insightful for this site. Please reduce your intelligence quotient for mass consumption.
nice job ;) |
| That is exactly... | xerxes
Dec 19, 2001 12:23 PM | | why I plug in to this site every day. One of the few instances where I get out way more than I put in.
Note to Dougal: That guy's post didn't sound too bad to me at all. It's obvious that if he is questioning your advice, he lacks the knowledge to know whether or not what you are saying is correct. I don't blame him one bit for wanting to know your background. His point seems to be more that your attitude comes off like the sermon on the mount, rather than confidence in your personal expertise and experience (I don't agree, I like confidence from someone deigning to give tech advice, if I disagree, it's up to me to prove him wrong). When you're out in the real world making a living, it gets worse. |
| Salesman..1st....knowledge 2nd.... | John
Dec 19, 2001 7:48 AM | | With reading the text of the impasses im going to assume that your know ledge probuly overshadows his. From there it's a battle of ego's not engineering. |
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